Average Rent in Japan by Prefecture

We recently posted articles on the average rent in Tokyo, and for the Kinki region (Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe). In this follow up, we’ll look at average rent for every prefecture in Japan, broken down by floorplan.

There is a more recent version of this article, please click: Average rent for an apartment in Japan by prefecture (May 2022)

Average rent for a 1R in Tokyo more than 1.5 times national average

The first chart below shows data for 1R, 1K and 1DK apartments.

The “R” in 1R stands for “room”, so a 1R means a one room apartment. Except in rare cases, 1Rs usually include an ensuite unit bath (sink, toilet, and shower/tub) and a kitchen unit (sink and stovetop) in the corner of the room. 1Rs are typically about 20 to 30 square meters, but sometimes can be smaller.

“D” stands for “dining” and “K” stands for “kitchen”. A 1K is an apartment with a main room and a kitchen that may be separated from the main room by a wall, but sometimes is not. A 1DK has a main room, with a dining area and a kitchen (which again, may not be separated by a wall).

The average rent for a 1R in Tokyo is 78,000yen a month, which is more than 1.5 times the national average of 44,000yen. The least expensive 1R, 1K and 1DK apartments can be found at the northern and southern tips of Japan. In Miyazaki prefecture in Kyushu, the average rent for a 1R is 34,000yen and in Hokkaido, it is 37,000yen.

If you work in Tokyo, you could save substantially on your rent by living in the surrounding prefectures: Kanagawa (59,000yen), Saitama (53,000yen), Chiba (53,000yen).

National average rent for 1LDK, 2K, 2DK apartments is 59,000yen

The chart below shows data for 1LDK, 2K, and 2DK apartments.

“L” stands for “living”. A 1LDK apartment has a living room, dining area, kitchen and one additional room; 1LDKs are bigger than 1Rs/1Ks/1DKs.

The number in front of the K or DK stands for the additional number of rooms, so a 2K has two rooms and a kitchen. A 2DK has two rooms plus a dining area and kitchen. A 2DK apartment in Tokyo is typically about 40 square meters, but this can vary.

The national average rent for a 1LDK, 2K or 2DK apartment is 59,000yen a month, which is less than half the average rent (123,000yen) for a comparable apartment in Tokyo. Yamagata prefecture on the northwestern coast of Honshu has the lowest average rent in this category, at 45,000yen.

Average rent for a 2LDK, 3K, 3DK in Tokyo is more than double national average

The chart below shows data for 2LDK, 3K and 3DK apartments.

A 2LDK apartment has a living room, dining area, kitchen and two additional rooms. The size of a 2LDK varies widely, but is usually between 45 and 80 square meters.

The average rent for a 2LDK, 3K or 3DK apartment in Tokyo is 143,000yen a month, which is more than double the national average of 68,000yen. In Osaka, a comparable apartment would rent for an average of 83,000yen and in Kyoto, the average is 95,000yen.

National average rent for a 3LDK, 4K, 4DK is 88,000yen

The chart below shows data for 3LDK, 4K and 4DK apartments.

The average rent for a 3LDK, 4K or 4DK in Tokyo is 162,000yen a month, which is almost double the national average of 88,000yen. Saga prefecture, in Kyushu, has the lowest average rent in this category at only 60,000yen, which is less than the Tokyo average for a 1R apartment (78,000yen).

Article updated: October 19, 2015

Data source: Homes.co.jp (Japanese)

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