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What Is a Share House in Japan?
A share house (シェアハウス) is a house or building divided into private bedrooms, with shared facilities: kitchen, bathrooms, toilets, laundry and usually a lounge. The operator furnishes the house, manages it and signs a contract with each resident individually, so you do not need to find housemates yourself.
- share houses range from a converted family home with five or six residents to purpose-built buildings with dozens of rooms;
- "social residences" is the name some operators give to large share houses with extra facilities, such as gyms, co-working spaces or theatre rooms;
- dormitory rooms shared between several residents are still offered in some houses, at the lowest prices.
Most residents are in their twenties and thirties, and many houses mix Japanese and foreign residents.
How Much Does a Share House Cost?
The main saving is upfront. Renting an unfurnished apartment usually costs about 3 to 5 months' rent before you move in (key money, deposit, agency fee, guarantee company, fire insurance), then furniture and appliances. A share house removes most of that:
| Share house (major operators) | Unfurnished apartment | |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit, key money, agency fee | None at Oakhouse and Crosshouse | Usually 2 to 4 months' rent in total |
| Guarantor or guarantee company | Not required | Required, typically 50–100% of a month's rent |
| Furniture and appliances | Included | To buy, from about ¥100,000 second-hand |
| Minimum stay | From 1 month | Usually a 2-year lease |
Monthly rent depends on the city, the room and the facilities: Crosshouse advertises share house rooms from ¥24,800 a month. Check what the rent includes, as many houses add a monthly fee for utilities, internet and cleaning of the shared areas, and some charge an administration fee when you sign. For the full breakdown of apartment costs, see our guide to the initial costs of renting in Japan.
Pros and Cons of Living in a Share House
Pros
- low upfront cost and no guarantor, which matters most in your first months in Japan;
- ready to live in: furnished, with appliances, and often internet already set up;
- English-speaking staff and contracts, at the operators that focus on foreign residents;
- flexible stays, from one month, and some operators let you move to another of their houses;
- a social life from day one, with residents from Japan and abroad.
Cons
- shared facilities: you plan your time around the kitchen, showers and washing machines;
- noise and cleanliness depend on the other residents and on how strictly the operator enforces house rules;
- building quality varies: some houses are new, others are older converted homes with thin walls and limited insulation;
- house rules may restrict guests, noise hours or cooking times;
- over a long stay, the rent per square metre is high compared with an apartment.
Share House Operators for Foreign Residents
Oakhouse
One of the largest operators, with more than 1,000 share houses and nearly 9,000 rooms across nine prefectures, including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Aichi and Fukuoka. It also runs large "social residences" and furnished apartments. No deposit, key money or guarantor; stays from one month; online help in English and other languages. See Oakhouse's available rooms.
Crosshouse (XROSS HOUSE)
A Tokyo-based operator of share houses and furnished apartments, with share house rooms from ¥24,800 a month. No deposit, key money or agency fee, furniture included, stays from one month, contracts online in many languages, and free moves between its properties. See Crosshouse's available rooms.
How to Choose a Share House
- compare operators on location, room type and what the monthly fee includes;
- visit before you sign if you are already in Japan, or ask for a video tour: photos rarely show the state of the shared kitchen and bathrooms;
- ask about the residents: how many share each bathroom, the mix of Japanese and foreign residents, and how long people usually stay;
- read the house rules on guests, quiet hours and cleaning before you commit;
- check the contract terms: notice period, early departure fees and what happens to any deposit when you leave.
Moving On to Your Own Apartment
Many residents use a share house as a first base, then rent their own apartment after a year or two, once they have a job, a bank account and some knowledge of the neighbourhoods. When you start searching, our guide to Japanese apartment layouts (1R, 1K, 1LDK) explains the listings, and our moving checklist covers the procedures.