Market Trends

Average Rent for Major Cities in Japan: Are you paying more?

Below is the average rent per square meter for the major rental markets around Japan, from January to October 2015, as reported by Tokyo Kantei.

Are you paying more than the average rent in Japan?

Multiply the average rent/sqm by your apartment’s floor size in sqm to see how your rent compares to the average.

To convert price per square meter into price per square feet: (price per sqm) x 0.093 = price per square feet.

Keep in mind that average rent in Tokyo varies widely by ward!

See this article to drill down to the average rent by ward in Tokyo.

Central Wards

Average rent in Tokyo’s central wards (Chiyoda, Chuo, and Minato) are significantly higher, as these are the areas where many high-end and ex-pat apartments are located. For example, in Minato ward (which includes upscale neighbourhoods such as Aoyama, Minami Azabu and Roppongi), the 2015 average rent per sqm was 4,409yen/sqm, which was the highest average in Tokyo.

Also keep in mind that average data does not account for such things as the distance of your building from the station, the age of the building, the floor that your apartment is located on, the amenities included, and other factors that determine the rent that you are paying.

Takeaways

  • The main takeaway from this data (as we’ve said in other posts and we’ll say again!) is that in general, the further you live outside the center of Tokyo the lower your rent and the more spacious apartment you’ll be able to rent.
  • Another key takeaway is that outside the 23 Wards, the average rent per square meter in most of Japan’s rental markets is down year-on-year.

Average Rent in Tokyo 23 Wards

2015 average rent in Tokyo 23 Wards = 3,256yen (+2.2% v. 2014 average)

Average family-type apartment size = 56.49sqm (608 sqft)

Ballpark average rent/month = 184,000yen ($1,491)

Average Rent in Yokohama City

Yokohama City is Japan’s second largest city by population, after Tokyo. It is located on Tokyo Bay about an hour south of Tokyo.

2015 average rent in Yokohama City = 2,147yen (-0.7% v. 2014 average)

Average family-type apartment size = 59.81sqm (644 sqft)

Ballpark average rent/month = 128,000yen ($1,037)

Average Rent in Saitama City

Saitama city is located about 25km north of central Tokyo.

2015 average rent in Saitama City = 1,773yen (-.67% v. 2014 average)

Average family-type apartment size = 64.26sqm (692 sqft)

Ballpark average rent/month = 114,000 yen ($924)

Average Rent in Chiba City

Chiba City is located about 40km southeast of the center of Tokyo on Tokyo Bay.

2015 average rent in Chiba City = 1,459 yen (-3.6% v. 2014 average)

Average family-type apartment size = 69.89 (752 square feet)

Ballpark average rent/month = 102,000 yen ($827)

Average Rent in Osaka City

Osaka is Japan’s third largest city by daytime population. It is a major commercial center in western Japan and is located about 500km to the southwest of Tokyo.

2015 average rent in Osaka City = 2,104 yen (-2.6% v. 2014 average)

Average family-type apartment size = 53.54sqm (576 square feet)

Ballpark average rent/month = 113,000 yen ($916)

Average Rent in Kobe

Kobe is the sixth largest city in Japan and is located about 30km west of Osaka on Osaka Bay.

2015 average rent in Kobe = 1,768 yen (-2.2% v. 2014 average)

Average family-type apartment size = 63.60sqm (685 square feet)

Ballpark average rent/month = 112,500yen ($912)

Average Rent in Nagoya

Nagoya is the capital of Aichi prefecture and is one of Japan’s major port cities.

2015 average rent in Nagoya = 1,691 -0.3% v. 2014 average)

Average family-type apartment size = 69.91sqm (753 square feet)

Ballpark average rent/month = 118,000 yen ($956)

 

Top photo: Studio apartment in Osaka


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