Loft Apartments in Tokyo: Cozy Hideaway or Summer Sauna?

Scroll through cheap Tokyo listings and you will see a lot of small apartments with a ladder leading up to a loft. On photos they look charming. A little sleeping nook above your living space, and more room for the same rent.

Lofts can be a great deal. They can also be a mistake. Here is how to tell the difference before you sign.

What counts as a loft in Japan

In Japanese rentals, a loft (ロフト) is an upper storage space that is not counted as a room. To stay outside the official floor area, it generally has to have a low ceiling and a limited size compared with the room below. That is why most lofts are too low to stand up in.

This matters because you are not paying for the loft as floor space. A 1K with a loft is still legally a 1K.

The good side

• More usable space. Sleeping up top frees the main room for a sofa or desk.
• Separation. It feels more like a bedroom than a bed in the corner.
• Storage. Even if you do not sleep there, it holds suitcases and seasonal items.

The pitfalls

• Heat. Warm air rises. In a Tokyo summer, a loft without good airflow can be very hot at night.
• The ladder. Climbing down half asleep is not fun. Check how steep and stable it is.
• Cleaning and dust. Lofts are easy to forget.
• Low ceilings. Sitting up in bed may not be possible.

Our article on the pitfalls of renting a loft apartment in Japan covers each one in more detail, with tips to avoid them.

Questions to ask at the viewing

1. Is there an air conditioner, and can it cool the loft?
2. Is there a window or vent in the loft?
3. Is the ladder fixed or removable?
4. How high is the loft ceiling at its highest point?

Where to find loft apartments

Nakano ward is one of the best places in Tokyo to look. Areas around Nakano Station, Arai and the Seibu Shinjuku line stations such as Saginomiya have many compact apartments with lofts, popular with students and young workers. The JR Chuo line gets you to Shinjuku in minutes.

You can browse current listings on the Nakano-ku apartments for rent page.

Find your apartment

Search all apartments for rent by layout and budget, or visit Arealty to have our English speaking agents check the loft details for you.