I’m coming to Japan to study, help me find an apartment: Commuting to Suidobashi

In this installment of the “study here, live here” series, we feature neighborhoods that offer a great balance of short commute time to Suidobashi as well as high livability and affordable rent.

In the last segment, we covered Yoyogi. Please click here to see the featured school and recommended neighborhoods.

Today’s featured school is the Tokyo Designer Gakuin, located in Suidobashi, between Suidobashi and Ochanomizu Stations on the JR Chuo-Sobu line. Suidobashi is also a stop on the subway Toei Mita line.

Tokyo Designer Gakuin is one of schools available through the GaijinPot Study program. Its curriculum is focused on preparing students to enter the design industry, and students have the opportunity to practice in a real working environment while being tutored by industry professionals.

The school has eight departments: graphic design, visual image design, product design, interior design, architectural design, illustration, manga, and comic. To apply for these programs you need a minimum of JLPT Level N2. To learn more about the school and how you can apply through GaijinPot Study, please visit: Tokyo Designer Gakuin.

Suidobashi

Suidobashi is a centrally located neighborhood and station on the JR Chuo-Sobu line. It is also a stop on the subway Toei Mita line.

Birdseye view of the Thunder Dolphin roller coaster above the shopping center Laqua Tokyo Dome City Mall and Tokyo Dome stadium, May 03 2021, via iStock 1345003802 Credit:kuremo)

Its main claim to fame is being the easiest station for accessing the Tokyo Dome City complex, a sprawling entertainment complex complete with a baseball stadium, called the Big Egg, where the Yomiuri Giants play; event hall, spa, amusement park, and many retail shops and restaurants.

Suidobashi is also home to the campuses of no less than seven different universities (Tokyo Dental College Suidobashi Campus, Tokyo Dental College Junior College, Chuo University Korakuen Campus, Toyo Gakuen University Hongo Campus, Nihon University College of Economics, Nihon University School of Law, and Senshu University Kanda Campus); and many vocational and cram schools.

The neighborhoods surrounding Suidobashi, namely Korakuen, Ochanomizu, and Kanda are also known for their high concentration of universities and other educational institutions.

As a student, of course, you can live right in Suidobashi or any of the surrounding neighborhoods. However, because Suidobashi is rather centrally located (part of the neighborhood is in Chiyoda Ward and part is in Bunkyo Ward), average rent here is not inexpensive.

As of October 2021, average rent in Suidobashi by room layout:

  • 1R: ¥108,500 ($952 USD)
  • 1K: ¥101,500 ($890 USD)
  • 1LDK: ¥175,400 ($1,538 USD)

Here is an example of a typical 1R apartment currently available for rent in Suidobashi.

1R (one room) apartment currently available for rent in Suidobashi, just a 3-min walk from Suidobashi Station. No key money. Total Monthly Rent for this property is ¥68,300 ($599 USD). It is available through the GaijinPot Housing Service. For more information on, please click the image to see the full listing and to inquire! Image: SkyCourt

Please click here to see all apartments for rent in Suidobashi.

There are also many neighborhoods from which you could commute to Yoyogi.

In this post, we feature three highly recommended ones:

Koiwa

Station: Koiwa on the JR Chuo-Sobu line

Time to Suidobashi: 21-min direct ride to Suidobashi

We recommend apartments near Koiwa Station because it is a neighborhood known for having excellent value (below market average monthly rent), high livability, and a very commuter-friendly distance to Suidobashi.

It is also in a very convenient location for getting to Chiba. Koiwa is in Edogawa Ward but the next station over to the east is Ichikawa, in Chiba.

This neighborhood is very popular with workers and students commuting into central Tokyo.

Average Rent in Koiwa

Average rent in Koiwa by room layout:

  • 1R: ¥57,300 ($503 USD)
  • 1K: ¥67,100 ($589 USD)
  • 1LDK: ¥99,200 ($870 USD)

Featured Property in Koiwa

Total Monthly Cost: ¥57,000 ($500 USD)/month

Total estimated move-in costs: ¥250,500 ($2,197 USD)/month

  • No key money

Internet: Internet not included in rent

Utilities: Not included in rent

Our featured property this month in Koiwa is a very clean and functional 1K apartment with a full closet, with toilet room separate from bath. Please click on the photo for the full listing. Image: SEIKA
Full kitchen with gas burner and cabinets. Many 1K apartments are equipped with a kitchenette with an electric cooktop, not a full kitchen, so this is a nice amenity of you like to cook. Please click on the photo for the full listing. Image: SEIKA

Please click here to see all apartments for rent in Koiwa.

Shin Itabashi

Station: Shin Itabashi on the subway Toei Mita line and (Itabashi) on the JR Saikyo line

Time to Suidobashi: 11-min direct ride to Suidobashi

We recommend Shin Itabashi because it is a great value in terms of location (on two major train lines – the Toei Mita subway and the JR Saikyo line) and will get you directly to Suidobashi in 11-minutes!

Shin Itabashi is a quiet residential area but is just an 11-minute direct ride to Ikebukuro and 16-minutes to Shinjuku.

Like Koiwa, this neighborhood is very popular with workers and students commuting into central Tokyo.

Average Rent in Shin Itabashi

Average rent in Shin Itabashi by room layout:

Average rent in Koiwa by room layout:

  • 1R: ¥61,000 ($535 USD)
  • 1K: ¥85,800 ($753 USD)
  • 1LDK: ¥129,700 ($1,138 USD)

Featured Property in Shin Itabashi

Total Monthly Cost: ¥61,550 ($540 USD)/month

Total estimated move-in costs: ¥182,550 ($16,01 USD)/month

  • No deposit, no agency fee

Internet & utilities: Not included

Furniture: Fully furnished

Our featured student-friendly property in Shin Itabashi is this fully furnished 1K apartment, just a 4-min walk from Shin Itabashi Station. Please click on the photo for the full listing and ton inquire directly to the agent. Image: J Homes

Please click here to see all apartments for rent in Shin Itabashi.

Funabashi

Station: Funabashi on the JR Chuo-Sobu line in Funabashi, Chiba

Time to Suidobashi: 35-min direct ride to Suidobashi

We recommend Funabashi for people who are ok with a slightly longer commute (about 35-minutes direct to Suidobashi).

There are many advantages to living outside Tokyo, the main ones being lower cost of living and less crowded conditions when you get home from school. However, Funabashi is a major station in the JR East network, so will have to deal with packed trains. Funabashi has fantastic shopping near the station and plenty of restaurants and convenience stores, so you will not have to venture far for your daily needs.

Keisei Funabashi Station is also nearby, which means that you will have easy direct access to Narita Airport.

Average Rent in Funabashi

Average rent in Shin Itabashi by room layout:

Average rent in Koiwa by room layout:

  • 1R: ¥59,000 ($518 USD)
  • 1K: ¥67,300 ($591 USD)
  • 1LDK: ¥115,500 ($1,013 USD)

Featured Property in Funabashi

Total Monthly Cost: ¥60,550 ($531 USD)/month

Total estimated move-in costs: ¥78,574 ($689 USD)/month

  • Very low move-in costs — No deposit, no key money, no agency fee

Internet: Available for an additional ¥2,310/month (optional)

Utilities: Not included

Furniture: Fully furnished

Special promotion: This agent is currently running a promotion with up to two months’ rent FREE. Please see the full listing for details.

Furnished apartment for rent in Funabashi currently available! Total monthly cost is ¥60,550, with up to two months’ free rent. Please click on the photo for details! Image: Bridge Life Real Estates

Please click here to see all apartments for rent in Funabashi.


GaijinPot Housing Service

If you are looking for an apartment in Japan (whether you’re applying from overseas or are already in-country), check out the GaijinPot Housing Service. With the GaijinPot Housing Service, you:

  • Can choose from 3,000+ properties throughout Japan.
  • Don’t need a guarantor.
  • Can apply from overseas.
  • Pay all your upfront costs and monthly costs with a credit card.
  • Receive full English service, from the room view, to application, to post-move-in support.

Learn More About the GaijinPot Housing Service

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Lead photo: Tokyo Dome City via via iStock 1345003802 Credit:kuremo


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