Monthly Furnished Apartments in Tokyo: Costs, What's Included, and How They Work (2026)

A monthly furnished apartment in Tokyo is a move-in-ready rental you can take for one to twelve months without key money, a personal guarantor, or agency fees. These rentals are often called "monthly mansions" in Japan. Monthly rent usually runs from ¥100,000 to ¥250,000 for a furnished studio or one-bedroom, with everything from the bed to the Wi-Fi already in place.

This guide explains what they cost, what is included, and how to book one as a foreigner.

Monthly furnished apartments, explained

A monthly furnished apartment is a fully equipped home rented on a flexible 1 to 12 month contract. You arrive with a suitcase and the furniture, appliances, and kitchenware are already there. Unlike a standard Japanese lease, a monthly rental skips the traditional upfront costs that make renting in Japan expensive, including key money and a guarantor company.

Monthly apartments sit between a hotel and a long-term lease. They suit corporate transfers, remote workers, students, and anyone who needs a real home for a few months without committing to a two-year contract.

Monthly furnished apartment costs in Tokyo

Monthly furnished rent in Tokyo depends mostly on the layout and the ward. The table below shows typical ranges for central and mid-range areas.

Quieter wards outside the city center can start lower, with compact studios from around ¥100,000 to ¥120,000 per month. Premium serviced units in central Tokyo can run far higher.

What a monthly furnished apartment includes

Monthly furnished apartments include the furniture, appliances, and most daily essentials. A standard unit comes with a bed, sofa or table, refrigerator, microwave, washing machine, kitchenware, and Wi-Fi. Many also include an air conditioner, which is standard in Japan. If you have never used one, our guide on how to use a Japanese air conditioner covers the basics.

Cove's furnished apartments in Tokyo come with all of this in place, so a clean, move-in-ready home is the starting point rather than a project. Tenants notice the difference day to day:

"The place has a great atmosphere. It's clean, modern, and very comfortable. It really feels like a perfect balance between comfort and city living."
Shansuma Reina, Cove Japan tenant

Utilities are usually included but capped. A common arrangement bundles electricity, gas, and water up to a monthly cap of around ¥20,000, with anything above the cap billed separately. Normal single-person use rarely exceeds the cap.

An exit cleaning fee is common and scales with your stay. Cleaning fees often run from around ¥10,000 for very short stays up to ¥30,000 to ¥50,000 for stays of six months or more. Always confirm the cleaning fee and the refundable deposit before you book.

Monthly apartment vs hotel vs traditional lease

A monthly apartment becomes cheaper than a hotel for any stay longer than about two weeks, and far cheaper to start than a traditional lease.

A traditional Japanese lease can require four to six months of rent upfront once you add deposit, key money, agency fee, and guarantor costs. A monthly apartment replaces all of that with a deposit and a cleaning fee, which is why it stays cheaper to start even when the headline rent looks higher.

Renting a monthly apartment as a foreigner

Foreigners can rent a monthly furnished apartment in Tokyo, often with only a passport. Because monthly operators do not use the traditional guarantor system, the paperwork is far lighter than a standard lease. Many providers let you inquire, view a video walkthrough, sign electronically, and pay before you ever land in Japan, so the apartment is ready when you arrive.

A residence card helps but is not always required for shorter monthly stays. If you are still sorting out your status, our guide on renting in Japan as a foreigner explains the documents most landlords ask for.

Best Tokyo neighborhoods for monthly stays

The best neighborhood depends on your budget and commute. Minato, Roppongi, and Azabu are popular with corporate transfers for their international feel and central access. Shibuya and Shinjuku put you in the middle of transport and nightlife. Meguro and Nakameguro offer a calmer residential feel with quick central access at slightly lower rents.

For a fuller breakdown, see our guide to the best places to live in Tokyo for foreigners. And if you want hotel-style housekeeping and a front desk on top of the furniture, compare a monthly apartment with our guide on serviced apartments in Japan.

Find a furnished monthly home in Tokyo

Cove offers fully furnished apartments in Tokyo with flexible terms, bundled utilities and Wi-Fi, and no key money or guarantor. Browse available furnished apartments in Tokyo to find a move-in-ready home for your stay.