Osaka University is one of Japan's top national universities, and it welcomes thousands of international students. But its campuses are spread out, and choosing the wrong area can add a long commute to every school day.
If you study at the Suita campus, living in Suita city is often the easiest choice.
Know your campus first
Osaka University has three main campuses:
- Suita: the largest, home to engineering, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and several research institutes.
- Toyonaka: for many first-year general education classes, plus science, law, economics and letters.
- Minoh: the School of Foreign Studies, next to Minoh-Semba-Handai-mae station.
Many students spend their first year or two at Toyonaka, then move to Suita for specialized courses. Plan your housing around where you will spend most of your time.
Our Osaka University student housing guide compares dormitories, share houses and private apartments for each campus.
Why Suita works for students
Suita sits just north of Osaka city and is full of students. Kansai University's main campus is here too, so landlords are used to young tenants.
Popular student areas include:
- Kita-Senri: the end of the Hankyu Senri line, with supermarkets and a short ride to campus.
- Yamada and Banpaku-kinen-koen: on the Osaka Monorail, which runs directly to Handai-byoin-mae station on the Suita campus.
- Senri-Chuo: a major hub with shopping, the Osaka Monorail and the Kita-Osaka Kyuko line connecting to Umeda and Namba.
You can compare current listings on the Suita-shi apartments for rent page.
Tips for international students
- Apply for the university dormitory early. Places are limited and fill quickly before April and October intakes.
- Check bicycle routes. Suita is hilly in places. A short ride on the map can be a steep climb.
- Look for furnished options in your first semester. It gives you time to learn the area before signing a two-year lease.
- Prepare your documents. Most landlords ask for your residence card, certificate of enrollment and an emergency contact.
Find your student apartment
Browse all apartments for rent across Japan, or visit Arealty for English support finding a student friendly home near your campus.
