1K or 1LDK? Choosing Your First Tokyo Layout

Browse Tokyo apartments for rent and you will see the same codes again and again: 1R, 1K, 1DK, 1LDK. They look similar, but the difference in rent can be more than ¥100,000 a month. Here is how to pick the right one for your first year in Tokyo.

What the letters mean

• 1R: one room with the kitchen inside it. Usually 15 to 25 m².
• 1K: one room plus a small kitchen behind a door. Usually 18 to 25 m².
• 1DK: one room plus a dining kitchen big enough for a table. Usually 25 to 35 m².
• 1LDK: a separate bedroom plus a living, dining and kitchen room. Usually 35 to 45 m². This is the closest match to a Western one-bedroom.

What each layout costs

Averages for units within a 10-minute walk of a station, Hato Mark Site, April 2026. In Shinjuku, a 1K or 1DK averages about ¥100,800 and a 1LDK about ¥182,200.

Choose a 1K if...

• You live alone and spend most of your day at work, school or out in the city.
• You want to live centrally on a modest budget.
• You are staying one or two years and plan to move later.

The door between kitchen and room matters more than it sounds. Cooking smells stay out of your bed and clothes, which is the main reason most renters choose a 1K over a 1R.

Choose a 1LDK if...

• You live with a partner.
• You work from home and need a desk away from your bed.
• You plan to stay three years or more.

If you want a 1LDK on a normal budget, look at the outer wards. A 1LDK in Katsushika, Nerima or Itabashi costs about the same as, or less than, a 1K in Shibuya (about ¥111,500).

Don't forget move-in costs

Whatever layout you choose, plan for 4 to 6 months of rent upfront. That covers the deposit, any key money, agency fee, guarantor company fee, fire insurance and the first month's rent. A bigger layout raises every one of those numbers, so the gap between a 1K and a 1LDK grows on move-in day.

For ward-by-ward rent tables, real move-in quotes and what a typical 1K includes, read this guide to the 1 bedroom apartment in Japan.

Start searching

Filter by layout, budget and station walk on the Tokyo apartments for rent page, or compare cities on the full apartments for rent search. Arealty works with landlords who accept foreign tenants and supports you in English from inquiry to contract.

The best layout is the one you can afford comfortably for the whole lease, not just the first month. With that rule in mind, Tokyo apartments for rent get much easier to compare.