I’ll be moving to Tokyo this fall for at least one year (maybe I‘ll stay, depending on job opportunities in my home town and in Japan) to study at Rikkyo University (Ikebukuro campus), and I’m currently trying to figure out the best housing option. I’d really appreciate some advice from people who have lived in Tokyo long-term, especially students or women living alone.
A few details about me:
- Female student
- Budget: ideally under ¥100,000/month including rent + basic fees (less would obviously be great)
- I cook a lot myself, so kitchen quality/space matters to me
- I’ve lived in share houses before and actually had a pretty positive experience overall
- I speak little Japanese but I will try to make it conversational until then
Right now I’m trying to decide between a small apartment (1R/1K) more centrally located (Ikebukuro/Shinjuku/etc.) to live my city girl life or a bigger apartment (2DK maybe?) further outside, in quieter areas. Or even a share house/private room setup.
I’d love to hear:
- Which areas would you recommend for someone studying at Rikkyo?
- Are there neighborhoods that are especially good for women living alone?
- Is it worth sacrificing space to live more centrally in Tokyo? Or is commuting worth it?
- If you were in my position, would you choose a private apartment or a share house?
- Any share house companies/buildings you had genuinely good experiences with?
Would love to hear honest opinions, especially from women or other international students living in Tokyo 🙂
Thanks! ♡
by JuggernautMost1021