A working holiday is one of the best ways to experience Japan. You can work, travel and live like a local for up to a year, or longer for some nationalities. Finding a place to live, though, is often the hardest part.
Here is how renting works on a working holiday, and where to start looking.
Why renting is harder on a working holiday
Most Japanese landlords prefer tenants who will stay for two years and have a stable Japanese employer. A working holiday visa does not fit that picture neatly:
- Your visa is short, so a standard two-year contract may not make sense.
- You may not have a job yet when you arrive.
- You might not have a Japanese bank account or phone number in your first weeks.
None of this makes renting impossible. It just changes which options work best.
Your realistic options
- Share houses: the most popular choice. Short contracts, furnished rooms, low move-in costs and an instant community.
- Monthly or furnished apartments: private space with utilities included, usually with no guarantor needed.
- Regular apartments: possible if you find work quickly and use a foreigner friendly guarantor company.
For costs, documents and tips for each option, see our guide to renting an apartment on a working holiday visa.
Why Ikebukuro is a good base
Toshima ward, home to Ikebukuro, is a great first area for working holiday makers:
- Transport. Ikebukuro Station is served by the JR Yamanote, Saikyo and Shonan-Shinjuku lines, three Tokyo Metro lines, and the Seibu and Tobu private lines.
- Jobs. Restaurants, retail and hospitality work are everywhere around the station.
- Value. Rents are generally lower than in Shibuya or Minato, especially a few stops out on the Seibu or Tobu lines.
Browse what is available on the Toshima-ku apartments for rent page.
Your first two weeks checklist
- Register your address at the ward office within 14 days of moving in.
- Join National Health Insurance at the same time.
- Get a Japanese phone number, then open a bank account.
- Keep copies of your pay slips. They help when you apply for a regular apartment later.
Ready to find your place?
Explore all apartments for rent in Japan, or visit Arealty to get help from English speaking staff who work with working holiday tenants.
