- Ikebukuro is a terminal served by eight train and subway lines, so a room here or one or two stops away keeps Shinjuku, Shibuya and central Tokyo close.
- Rent near the station is high: for new buildings within a five-minute walk, SUUMO puts the average one-room at ¥135,000 a month. Older buildings and the next stations out cost less.
- A furnished apartment spares you the large upfront payments and furniture costs of a standard lease, and you can start with a one-month stay.
- At XROSS HOUSE, furnished apartments need no deposit and no agency fee, and the registration fee is ¥30,000 under the current campaign (normally ¥50,000). Guarantee company fees are separate.
Why Rent a Furnished Apartment in Ikebukuro?
Ikebukuro Station is one of Tokyo's biggest rail hubs. Eight lines stop here: the JR Yamanote, Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines, the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi, Yurakucho and Fukutoshin lines, the Seibu Ikebukuro Line and the Tobu Tojo Line.
That means short, direct rides to the places most residents need. Shinjuku is about five minutes away on the Saikyo Line, Shibuya about 11, and Tokyo Station under 20 minutes on the Marunouchi Line.
Around the station you have Sunshine City, the Seibu and Tobu department stores, large electronics stores and late-opening supermarkets. Daiso, Don Quijote and Nitori branches make it easy to pick up the few things a furnished room does not include.
A furnished apartment suits Ikebukuro because many people who move here are on a fixed timeline: a language school term, a work assignment or a first year in Japan. Buying furniture for a short stay, then paying to get rid of it, rarely makes sense.
Types of Furnished and Monthly Apartments in Ikebukuro
Japanese listings describe apartments by layout code rather than by bedroom count. Here is how the main options compare.
| Type | Typical size | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1R (one room) | 15–25 m² | One room with the kitchen along a wall; private bath and toilet | Solo renters on a budget |
| 1K / 1DK | 20–35 m² | Bedroom separated from the kitchen (1DK adds a small dining area) | Solo renters who cook at home |
| 1LDK | 35–50 m² | One bedroom plus a living, dining and kitchen area | Couples or remote workers |
| Monthly apartment | Usually 1R / 1K | Furnished room rented by the month, often with utilities in the price | Stays of one to a few months |
| Serviced apartment | Varies | Furnished with hotel-style services such as cleaning | Corporate stays with a housing budget |
| Share house | Private room (varies) | Private room with a shared kitchen, bathroom and lounge | Lowest monthly cost and a ready community |
If you are weighing hotel-style options, our guide to serviced apartments in Japan explains what you pay extra for. If shared living suits you, see our Ikebukuro share house guide.
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How Much Does an Apartment in Ikebukuro Cost?
Rent depends on building age and walking time to the station more than anything else. SUUMO's rent data for new buildings within a five-minute walk of Ikebukuro Station shows these averages for unfurnished apartments:
| Layout | Average monthly rent (new, 1–5 min walk) |
|---|---|
| One room (1R) | ¥135,000 |
| 1K | ¥136,000 |
| 1DK | ¥141,000 |
| 1LDK | ¥203,000 |
Source: SUUMO, rent averages for Ikebukuro Station (Japanese; figures for new buildings within a 1–5 minute walk, updated October 10, 2026)
These are the top of the market. Older buildings, rooms 10 to 15 minutes from the station, and the next stations along each line usually rent for noticeably less. Furnished monthly apartments generally charge more per month than an unfurnished one-year lease, because furniture, appliances and flexibility are built into the price.
Upfront costs: a standard lease vs. a furnished apartment
The bigger difference is often what you pay before you move in. Initial costs for a typical Japanese rental (deposit, key money and agency fee) often reach four to six months' rent, before you buy a single piece of furniture.
| Item | Typical unfurnished lease | XROSS HOUSE furnished apartment |
|---|---|---|
| One-time move-in fees (deposit, key money, agency fee) | Deposit and key money often about one month's rent each, plus an agency fee of about one month's rent | A registration fee of ¥30,000 under the current campaign (normally ¥50,000). No deposit and no agency fee |
| Furniture and appliances | Bought by you | Included |
| Contract length | Usually two years | A one-year fixed-term lease that you can end after one month with one month's notice |
You do not need a personal guarantor at XROSS HOUSE. For an individual contract you normally join a rent guarantee company instead, and its initial and monthly guarantee fees are charged separately, on top of the registration fee. If you pay everything from the registration fee to the move-out costs in one lump sum when you move in, you do not need to join a guarantee company at all.
Other fixed fees are listed up front: a monthly support fee of ¥1,500 covers help with any trouble in your home, and furnished apartments have a move-out fee of ¥55,000 when you leave. Campaign terms can change, so check them in your quote.
Best Areas Near Ikebukuro for a Furnished Apartment
You do not have to live next to the station to enjoy Ikebukuro. One or two stops out, rents usually drop and the streets get quieter, while the ride back stays under ten minutes.
Higashi-Ikebukuro
East of the station around Sunshine City, with newer apartment buildings, supermarkets and the Toden Arakawa streetcar. It is within walking distance of Ikebukuro, and Higashi-Ikebukuro Station on the Yurakucho Line is right there too.
Kanamecho and Zoshigaya
Each is one stop from Ikebukuro: Kanamecho on the Yurakucho and Fukutoshin lines, Zoshigaya on the Fukutoshin Line. These are residential neighborhoods with local shopping streets, and the Fukutoshin Line runs straight through to Shibuya.
Otsuka and Sugamo
One and two stops north-east on the Yamanote Line. Otsuka mixes older shopping streets with newer buildings, and Sugamo is known for the Jizo-dori shopping street and its relaxed, local feel.
Mejiro and Takadanobaba
One and two stops south on the Yamanote Line. Mejiro is a quiet, tree-lined residential area, while Takadanobaba is a student neighborhood full of inexpensive restaurants. See our Takadanobaba furnished apartment guide for that area in detail.
Kita-Ikebukuro, Shiinamachi and Itabashi
The first stops on the Tobu Tojo Line, the Seibu Ikebukuro Line and the JR Saikyo Line. They are a few minutes from Ikebukuro and tend to be among the more affordable areas around it. Our guide to living near Kita-Ikebukuro Station covers that neighborhood.
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What Comes With an XROSS HOUSE Furnished Apartment?
XROSS HOUSE furnished apartments are private one-room or 1K units with their own kitchen, bath and toilet. They typically come with:
- Bed, desk, chair and storage
- Refrigerator, microwave and washing machine
- TV, air conditioner and curtains
Equipment varies slightly by property, so check the room page for the exact list. In the Tokyo area, plan to rent a futon and mattress set: XROSS HOUSE offers it for ¥3,300 a month (minimum six months) or ¥22,000 as a one-off payment with no minimum period.
Utilities and internet
In a furnished apartment you hold your own electricity, gas and water contracts, as with any Japanese rental. You have two easier routes. A partner company can set up the contracts for you free of charge, with multilingual support.
Or you can choose the Lifeline plan: XROSS HOUSE holds the contracts and you pay ¥15,000 a month for electricity, gas and water, with no paperwork when you move in or out. Internet is arranged separately, and XROSS HOUSE can introduce an affordable eSIM partner.
How to Rent a Furnished Apartment in Ikebukuro
- Search and ask. Browse rooms on the XROSS HOUSE website, then contact us by email or WhatsApp. We support English, Chinese, Korean and more.
- View the room. Visit in person or take an online viewing, which lets you choose a room before you arrive in Japan.
- Apply. You need your passport, a photo, an emergency contact in your home country and your personal details. Applications are accepted on any residence status, including student, working holiday and tourist visas.
- Screening and contract. After screening, you sign the contract online and pay the registration fee and, if applicable, the guarantee fees.
- Move in. You can move in as early as seven days after applying. Furnished apartments accept residents aged 18 to 59.
If you plan to stay about a month, our guide to renting an apartment in Tokyo for one month walks through short stays in more detail.
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Flexibility Once You Live There
Plans change, especially in a first year in Tokyo. The contract is a one-year fixed-term lease, but you can stay as little as one month and move out by giving one month's notice.
You can also move to another XROSS HOUSE property, in Ikebukuro or another prefecture, or switch room type. There is no moving fee, no registration fee at the new home and no move-out fee at the old one. If you joined a guarantee company, it re-screens you for the new room and charges its own fee.
FAQ: Furnished Apartments in Ikebukuro
How much does a furnished apartment in Ikebukuro cost per month?
It depends on the building and the distance to the station. For new unfurnished buildings within a five-minute walk, SUUMO puts the average one-room at ¥135,000 a month (October 2026). Older buildings and the stations around Ikebukuro rent for less, while furnished monthly apartments usually cost more per month than a one-year lease. Current rents for XROSS HOUSE rooms are shown on each room page.
Can I rent a monthly apartment in Ikebukuro for just one month?
Yes. Monthly apartments are built for stays of one month or more. At XROSS HOUSE the minimum stay is one month, and you can leave by giving one month's notice.
Which areas near Ikebukuro are cheaper to live in?
Look one or two stops out: Kita-Ikebukuro on the Tobu Tojo Line, Shiinamachi on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, Itabashi on the Saikyo Line, Kanamecho on the Yurakucho and Fukutoshin lines, and Otsuka on the Yamanote Line. All are only a few minutes from Ikebukuro by train.
Is Ikebukuro a good place for foreigners to live?
For many people, yes. Eight lines stop at the station, shops and supermarkets stay open late, and you can reach Shinjuku in about five minutes. The streets right around the station are busy into the evening, so if you prefer quiet, look at residential areas such as Mejiro, Zoshigaya or Kanamecho.
Are utilities included in a furnished apartment?
In XROSS HOUSE furnished apartments you hold your own utility contracts, but a partner company sets them up for free. Or you can choose the Lifeline plan, where XROSS HOUSE holds the contracts and you pay ¥15,000 a month for electricity, gas and water. Internet is arranged separately.
Can I rent a furnished apartment in Ikebukuro before I arrive in Japan?
Yes. XROSS HOUSE offers online viewings and online contracts, so you can secure a room from overseas. You apply with your passport, a photo, an emergency contact in your home country and your personal details, on any residence status, including a tourist visa.
Do I need a guarantor to rent a furnished apartment in Ikebukuro?
Not a personal one at XROSS HOUSE. For an individual contract you normally join a rent guarantee company, whose initial and monthly guarantee fees are charged separately. If you pay everything from the registration fee to the move-out costs in one lump sum at move-in, you do not need to join a guarantee company. See our FAQ for more.
Summary
Ikebukuro gives you eight rail lines, big-city shopping and fast rides to Shinjuku and Shibuya. Rents right by the station are high, but the neighborhoods one or two stops away offer better value with the same access.
A furnished apartment lets you skip the deposit, agency fee and furniture shopping, and start with a one-month stay. If you would like help finding a room near Ikebukuro, XROSS HOUSE can help.
- Written by the XROSS HOUSE editorial team. XROSS HOUSE is a Tokyo-based property management company running furnished apartments and share houses.
- XROSS HOUSE has housed over 50,000 residents cumulatively and operates in 11 prefectures across Japan.
- Information as of October 2026.
