7 Best Share Houses in Tokyo (where I stay + more)

I spend nearly half the year in Tokyo. I take multi-month trips at a time and I always stay at a share house when I’m there. They’re just too convenient not to use!

So after a few years of testing different companies, I’m sharing my favorites. These are the best share houses in Tokyo.

My top two picks are Borderless House and Oakhouse, it’s where I usually stay. But there are a few more worth mentioning.

So let’s do this!

Table of Contents Show

Why Stay at a Share House in Tokyo?

I love share houses. They make my life as a flaky digital nomad so much easier. And Tokyo has so many options, we’re spoiled for choices.

But before getting into all that, let’s look at why they’re so great and some things to keep in mind.

Benefits of Tokyo Share Houses

• No long-term contracts

• No utilities bills

• Usually furnished (or can be for a small price)

• It’s an instant community

• Many planned social events

• A lot cheaper than an apartment

Downsides of Tokyo Share Houses

• Can be messy

• You can’t choose your housemates

• You need to share bathrooms, common areas and kitchens

• Rooms for desirable spots and houses not always available

Explore more:
➤ Pros and Cons of Living in Japan

7 Best Share Houses in Tokyo

1. Borderless House

Feels like home

Borderless House was my first love. It’s where I stayed after deciding to become an English teacher abroad. I ended staying with them once more, a couple years later.

And honestly, I’ve had the best experiences in Tokyo while staying with them. My roommates were always amazing (still great friends to this day) and the staff were always incredible too.

So rest assured you’re choosing a good company with Borderless House.

Pros

• Easy-to-use website

• Cleaning staff

• Run frequent discounts

• Have houses in Osaka and Taiwan too

• Lots of houses to choose from

• Good diversity – each house has an equal balance of women to men and foreigner to Japanese residents

Cons

• Limited availability

• More expensive

• Age limit (wide range though: 18-39)

2. Oakhouse

Membership perks and a big inventory

Oakhouse is my other go-to share house company (beside Borderless House). They have tons of inventory, a smooth process and their site makes it easier to search for properties.

Plus, they have lots of ways to save with membership points and a tenant portal that makes it easy to manage your account, fill out forms (like move-out applications) and pay rent.

Pros

• Huge inventory

• Weekly cleaning

• Online payment system

• Easy to search properties on their website

• Smart membership option to save money

• Earn “PAO points” with their affiliate program

• Cheaper rooms available

• Female-only options

• Toiletries and kitchen goods included for many houses

Cons

• Not always an equal tenant ratio

3. Sakura House

Have rooms for many different types of travelers

If you’ve searched up ‘share houses in Tokyo’, you’ve probably seen Sakura House. They’re a popular choice and specialize in private rooms, dorm-style rooms and apartments for people with a non-Japanese passport, such as visitors on a tourist visa.

They also have a Sakura Hotel and Hostel for short-term visits (of a few days or a few weeks).

Pros

• Nice staff and good customer service reviews

• Good locations and lots of inventory

• Affordable hostel and dorm-sharing options

• Room options for families or groups

• Options for staying less than one month

Cons

• Pricier for private rooms

4. Come On UP

The ‘mom and pop shop’ of share house companies

I first heard about Come On UP through my job as an English teacher with GABA. They offered a discount to teachers if you stayed with them. So they are legit! Their website just needs some love.

Some pages on their site either don’t load correctly (need to be refreshed) or aren’t filled out completely (like the staff page – it has no staff information).

Their inventory is limited, but the houses look cozy and quaint. For me, it feels like the mom and pop shop of share house companies – which I can appreciate.

Pros

• Small and cozy house options (5-9 people)

• They have 1 pet-friendly property

Cons

• Website isn’t great

• Small inventory

• More expensive for stays less than 1 year (¥30,000 deduction from the deposit)

5. Kimi

The multi-service share house company for foreigners

Kimi Information Center is more than a share house company – they provide various ‘life services’ for foreigners in Japan. They have a translation service, a telephone answering service and various job listings.

But let’s focus on the share house side of things.

They have a large inventory of many affordable and flexible share house rooms for rent. It’s easy to search on their site and they include lots of information for each room on listing pages.

Pros

• Easy to search rooms and use their website

• Large inventory

• Many affordable options

• Short-term stays available

Cons

• Dated website

6. Social Apartment

For longer-term Japan residents who want a stylish stay

Social Apartment is Boujee. They’re stylish and give tenants awesome amenities, great locations and vibes to boot.

The biggest downside is you’ll need a Japanese bank account (i.e., you need to be a resident, such as an English teacher or worker). Plus, they require 6-month leases for most properties.

But honestly, the houses they have listed look super cool – it’s worth at least browsing. I’m tempted to get another teaching job just to chill here for a few months lol.

Pros

• Aesthetic, stylish and luxurious

• Many amenities in house

• Variety of tenants and no age limit

Cons

• Mostly unfurnished

• Requires residence card and Japanese bank account to pay rent

• 6-month minimum stay (some 3 months options)

7. Tokyo Sharehouse

Explore multiple companies with advanced filtering

Tokyo Sharehouse is more like a “portal site” for listing rooms from many different companies. I like them because it’s a convenient search tool to see what’s out there.

You can even search based on your needs and lifestyle preferences.

Pros

• See inventory from multiple share house companies

• Advanced search filtering

Cons

• Website can be overwhelming (too many options)

• Can feel a bit confusing about who you’re actually renting from

Choosing a Good Share House in Tokyo (4 quick tips)

Do a House/Room Viewing

A room viewing before you commit to a contract is a smart move. And if you’re overseas, most share house companies can do an online viewing (through Skype). You’ll have this option when putting in an application and connecting with the company.

Given my cavalier attitude, I always just winged it and moved in based on the photos. I never had major issues (except for one share house company, which isn’t listed here).

Explore more:
➤ My Top Tokyo Travel Tips

Ask About the Current Tenants

Many share house companies will want to hop on a quick Skype call with you. This is just a formality to get to know you (and make sure you’re a real person). It’s super low-stress.

But while you’re on that call (or through email), it never hurts to ask about the current tenants – their hobbies, age range, the general vibe…

I’ve done this before. And it’s nice to know what you’re moving into.

Check the Distance to the Nearest Station

If you can find a place that’s super close to the train station, that’s awesome. But many share houses I’ve stayed at had a long walk (15-20 minutes). This is pretty normal for Tokyo living, but if you can, opt for one closer to the station.

You’ll thank yourself when you’re lugging heavy suitcases or dealing with the Japanese summer heat (which is intense).

Explore more:
➤ Unique Things to do in Tokyo

Plan Ahead

To ensure you get a good house (maybe even your top pick), plan ahead. You can sign up for alerts, give your preferences and put down a deposit months in advance for many companies.

And if there’s a house you really want to live in, you can ask about getting put on a waiting list or get notified when it’s available.

Just don’t wait until the last minute unless you’re super flexible and just need a room somewhere in or near the city (I’ve done this too).

Explore more:
➤ How to Keep Travel Stress-Free

Later ✌️

Tokyo has a ton of share house companies. And choosing the right one is important. The companies listed above are ones I either have direct experience with or come recommended through my previous work as an English teacher.

Check for important things like visa requirements, contract length, furnished vs. unfurnished rooms, location, additional fees and the current tenant situation.

But share houses are super fun and an amazing way to meet other travelers and Japanese locals.

I’ve had incredible experiences in Tokyo through them and have met some of my closest friends there.

So enjoy! And do some epic Tokyo exploring.

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