One of the biggest hurdles to starting a new life in Tokyo is the “housing hunt.” For those coming from abroad, Japanese rental customs can be incredibly complex, and finding “foreigner-friendly” properties is often easier said than done. Having spent years observing the Tokyo sharehouse scene after my own experiences living overseas, I’ve reached one definitive conclusion.
“If you’re looking for a Share House (co-living) in Tokyo, your first stop should always be Oakhouse.”
In this article, I’ll draw on my own experiences to explain exactly why Oakhouse is my top recommendation, and what your best “Plan B” should be if you don’t find your dream room there right away.
Peace of Mind is Everything: Why Oakhouse Should Be Your First Choice
There are countless sharehouse operators in Tokyo, but Oakhouse stands out as the industry pioneer and the largest player in the game. They provide an environment that is perfectly tailored for international residents looking for a smooth start in Japan.
Think of them like the Marriott or Hilton of the share house world in Japan: no matter which property you choose, a certain high standard of service is guaranteed. If you suddenly had to move to a foreign country tomorrow, you’d feel a lot better staying at a Marriott because you know exactly what to expect, right? It’s the same vibe here.
That doesn’t mean it’s overpriced, though. Just as Marriott has everything from the luxury Ritz-Carlton to the budget-friendly Courtyard, Oakhouse’s massive inventory allows you to pick a place that fits your specific budget.
Let’s dive into what makes Oakhouse so great:
- Massive variety: 250 properties and 5,000 rooms
- Multicultural houses with excellent English-speaking support
- Transparency: Resident “demographics” are listed for every house
- High management standards (professional cleaning, etc.)
An Unbeatable Selection of 250 Properties and 5,000 Rooms
The sheer scale of Oakhouse is the biggest reason I recommend them. They currently manage about 250 properties and 5,000 rooms, mostly centered around the Tokyo metropolitan area. With those numbers, your chances of finding a place that fits your needs—whether in trendy hubs like Shinjuku and Shibuya or quieter, more affordable suburbs—are significantly higher.
Here is a general idea of the rent:
- Affordable private rooms: ¥50,000 ($326) 〜
- Popular properties in central Tokyo: ¥95,000 ($620) 〜
A Global Community with Smooth English Support
Oakhouse is already home to a diverse community of people from all over the world. Because they handle such a high volume of international residents, their staff is incredibly experienced. From the initial contract paperwork to post-move-in support, communicating in English (and other languages) is surprisingly seamless. Even if you’re worried about your Japanese skills, you can get through the leasing process stress-free.
Transparency: See Who You’ll Be Living With
The biggest worry when choosing a sharehouse is usually, “Who else lives there?” On the Oakhouse official website, they actually publish the age range, gender ratio, and nationalities of the residents for each property. This allows you to find your perfect community, whether you want a house with people in your age group or a highly international vibe where you can speak English.
Source: Oakhouse Website
Top-Tier Management You Can Count On
I actually lived in an Oakhouse property myself, and what struck me most was how professional the management was. In many “budget” sharehouses, cleaning is left to the residents on a rotating schedule, but Oakhouse is different.
Cleaning is handled by external professional contractors, ensuring that shared spaces like kitchens, showers, and toilets are kept spotless. It’s a professional service that makes the management fee well worth it. Plus, if any trouble arises between residents, the management steps in quickly to mediate.
(Note: A tiny minority of apartment-style “room share” units might require self-cleaning, but consider those the exception to the rule.)
What to Do If You Can’t Find an Oakhouse Room
In the rare event that Oakhouse doesn’t have an available room that hits all your marks, your next move is to check broader portal sites (like Hitsuji Fudosan or Tokyo Sharehouse).
Pro-Tips for Using Portal Sites
While portal sites are convenient for comparing many properties, there are a few things to keep in mind. Many listings are just direct translations of Japanese sites, which makes filtering the good from the bad quite a chore.
- Information Freshness: Often, rooms that are already taken remain listed.
- Inconsistent Support: Even if a site says “Foreigners OK,” some management companies may still require high-level Japanese proficiency.
- Management Quality: Since you’re dealing with many different companies, there’s a risk of landing in a house where the cleaning isn’t up to par.
Therefore, if you use a portal site, you’ll need the patience to inquire about each house individually and visit them in person to check the quality of the management with your own eyes.
My Top Portal Recommendation: TOKYO SHAREHOUSE
If you want to search across different companies, I recommend TOKYO SHAREHOUSE.
This portal has a large number of listings and is fully accessible in English. While there are other portals out there, most are Japanese-only or have poor English support, so if you’re worried about the language barrier, this is the site to use.
Conclusion: Start Your Tokyo Life the Smart Way
If you want to save time and secure a clean, friendly environment, I strongly suggest checking the availability on the Oakhouse official website first. With the ease of starting for around ¥50,000 ($326) in initial costs and the peace of mind that comes with the industry leader, they really are in a league of their own.
I’m rooting for you to have an amazing start to your new life in Tokyo!
