When you look for share houses in Tokyo, you’ll find photo-worthy Nordic-style lounges, work booths, theater rooms, and even kitchens with bar counters—just looking at them makes you want to move in right now. However, the reality is that those very properties often charge private room rents of ¥90,000–¥140,000, which in some areas is on par with—or even higher than—a studio apartment. A bit expensive (well, quite expensive)! Considering that the rent for my current studio is in the ¥60,000 range, living stylishly and happily in a share house seems a bit unrealistic...

If you shift your thinking, you can use amenities like chic lounges, theater rooms, and working rooms while even lowering your rent compared to your current studio!! That is, instead of Tokyo, look toward areas “just outside Tokyo”—Chiba and Saitama. Some may think that even though you live in Tokyo now, moving to Chiba or Saitama would put your workplace farther away and hurt your time efficiency. Here, we’ll introduce areas in Chiba and Saitama that are as close to Tokyo as possible, allowing you to keep time efficiency from dropping significantly while living in high-quality share houses. There are many areas in Chiba and Saitama from which you can reach central Tokyo in about 20–25 minutes. In that case, commuting to work or school feels no farther than living in Tokyo’s Itabashi, Kita, or Adachi wards.

This time, we’ll assume Akihabara—recently popular with inbound visitors—and introduce areas and properties with that in mind.

A lovely lounge where you can feel the textures of wood and greenery—so alluring. However, the rent starts at ¥94,000.

Includes a sauna and personal training within the property. However, the rent starts in the ¥90,000 range.

You know those properties that make you reflexively think, “Like!”

Which areas offer both time efficiency and cost performance?

Areas to target are exactly the following three, which have high daily-life convenience, are reasonably priced compared to Tokyo, require no transfers, and don’t take that long to access central Tokyo (aim for within 25 minutes), and also have high-quality properties that make you think “Like!” We’ll make their appeal easy to grasp in table form.

＞＞ Merits and Drawbacks of Minami-Nagareyama Station ＜＜

Minami-Nagareyama is an interchange node where the TX and JR Musashino Line intersect, and it’s about 20–23 minutes to Akihabara. For singles, the foremost attraction is its “good time efficiency.” Supermarkets, drugstores, and 24-hour gyms are compactly clustered around the station, making chores and shopping easy even when you get home late. The streetscape, which is undergoing re-development, has relatively wide sidewalks and is easy to get around; rent levels are also mid-range for the TX line. It’s an area where you can balance central-city access with controlled spending.

On the other hand, the number of eateries is not large; late-night dining options are limited and may feel lacking for those who eat out often. Also, TX fares are slightly higher than JR’s; while most movement will be within your commuter pass, off-pass trips can quietly add to expenses.

Recommended Share House near Minami-Nagareyama Station

＞＞ Merits and Drawbacks of Shimōsa-Nakayama Station ＜＜

Right in front of the station you have a 24-hour Seiyu, drugstores, and everyday eateries clustered together, so even for singles “daily necessities are completed at the station area.” On days off, you can do bulk shopping on foot at Nikke Colton Plaza, and the approach to Hokekyō-ji Temple is great for a stroll. Rent levels are comparatively modest for the Sōbu Line corridor, making it easy to strike a balance between a quiet residential feel and convenience.

On the other hand, because it’s not a rapid-service stop, peak-hour crowding on the local trains can be stressful. The in-station retail area is small, and late-night dining options are limited. The town leans more “down-to-earth” than glitzy and cutting-edge, so it may feel lacking if you’re night-oriented and eat out often. If you’re concerned about soundproofing, avoid properties along the tracks; considering bus access when selecting a place can also help you avoid missteps.

Recommended Share House near Shimōsa-Nakayama Station

＞＞ Merits and Drawbacks of Nishi-Kawaguchi Station ＜＜

Nishi-Kawaguchi offers direct access to central Tokyo via the Keihin-Tōhoku Line, with frequent trains so you’re not kept waiting—that’s its first major strength. Around the station you have 24-hour supermarkets and drugstores, 24-hour gyms, and multinational eateries, keeping daily life pathways short for singles. Rents are slightly lower than at Kawaguchi’s main station, and there’s a wide range of choices from older to newer buildings.

On the other hand, rush-hour crowding is heavy, and the area around the station is lively even at night. On the west side and elsewhere there are adult-entertainment establishments, and you may encounter solicitation at certain times. Because residents come from diverse national and cultural backgrounds, differences in daily habits such as garbage disposal and living noise can more easily cause friction. Choose properties on the residential-area side with well-lit routes at night; if you confirm patrol frequency of management, multilingual notices, security cameras and bicycle parking, and check the local crime map during viewings, it can become a cost-effective base.

Recommended Share House near Nishi-Kawaguchi Station

Which is best: Minami-Nagareyama, Shimōsa-Nakayama, or Nishi-Kawaguchi?

In conclusion, any of them can work. However, Nishi-Kawaguchi may present some concerns regarding public safety. In Minami-Nagareyama, Chiba Prefecture statistics show the “number of crimes per 1,000 people” at 4.1, below the prefectural average. In Shimōsa-Nakayama, the same indicator is 5.8—higher than in Nagareyama City—but as a local stop on the Sōbu local line, the station area centers on practical shops and is average overall. Kawaguchi City’s **number of recognized Penal Code offenses is 4,529 in FY 2024 (confirmed figure)** and is large in scale within the prefecture. Therefore, if you place priority on public safety, you might exclude Nishi-Kawaguchi and find Minami-Nagareyama the most reassuring.

Comparing the most common price range, walking distance from the station, and time to Akihabara for each property gives the following.

If you want to live in a high-quality property but can’t compromise on time efficiency and cost performance, starting with TheFinest Minami-Nagareyama may be a good idea.