Tokyo average 1-bed rent: ¥150,000/mo Year-on-year rent increase: +7.5% Tokyo rents rise at fastest pace in decades Foreign demand lifts central wards Guarantor company fees under review Key money (reikin) and deposit (shikikin) are negotiable and increasingly zero. Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted from the deposit (MLIT guidelines). Tokyo average 1-bed rent: ¥150,000/mo Year-on-year rent increase: +7.5% Tokyo rents rise at fastest pace in decades Foreign demand lifts central wards Guarantor company fees under review Key money (reikin) and deposit (shikikin) are negotiable and increasingly zero. Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted from the deposit (MLIT guidelines).
Japan · Rent guide
Tokyo Rent Guide 2026
Average rent costs by neighbourhood, yearly rent increases and tenant rights in Tokyo. The typical one-bedroom rent is ¥150,000 per month, up 7.5% year on year.
Average rent by neighbourhood
| Neighbourhood | 1 bedroom | 2 bedrooms | Yearly increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minato | ¥230,000 | ¥360,000 | +6.8% |
| Shibuya | ¥200,000 | ¥310,000 | +7.4% |
| Shinjuku | ¥170,000 | ¥260,000 | +7.9% |
| Nerima | ¥105,000 | ¥155,000 | +6.5% |
Indicative 2026 figures (per month, JPY). Compare with real tenant-reported rents on RentScore.
Average rent per square metre in Tokyo
¥3,000 / m² per month
City-wide indicative average, based on a typical 50 m² one-bedroom flat. Central neighbourhoods cost more:
- Minato: ¥4,600 / m²
- Shibuya: ¥4,000 / m²
- Shinjuku: ¥3,400 / m²
- Nerima: ¥2,100 / m²
Deposit laws in Tokyo
- Key money (reikin) and deposit (shikikin) are negotiable and increasingly zero.
- Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted from the deposit (MLIT guidelines).
- Always get a written inventory with dated photos at move-in to protect your deposit.
How do foreigners and expats without a local credit score find a home in Tokyo with RentScore?
- Check the building first: read verified tenant reviews, rent history and street safety on RentScore before you contact a landlord.
- Know the fair price: use the neighbourhood averages above and the RentScore rent estimate so you are not overcharged as a newcomer.
- Replace the missing credit score: offer an employment contract, recent payslips, a reference from your previous landlord and your RentScore rental history.
- Consider a rent guarantee service or a larger (but legal) deposit instead of a local guarantor — never pay more than the legal limit shown above.
- Upload your lease to the free RentScore contract check: RentScore flags hidden clauses, unfair rent increases and deposit traps in your own language.
- Ask the RentScore advisor below any local question, in any language.
Tenant rights in Tokyo
- Key money (reikin) and deposit (shikikin) are negotiable and increasingly zero.
- Normal wear and tear cannot be deducted from the deposit (MLIT guidelines).
- Ordinary leases renew automatically; landlords need 'just cause' to refuse.
- Renewal fees (koushinryou) are common — check the contract.
Ask the RentScore advisor about renting in Tokyo
Ask anything about rents here
For example: Which neighbourhood is cheapest for a 2-bedroom? Can my landlord raise the rent twice a year?
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