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Exploring Rent Trends in Japan's Major Cities

As of December 2025, Japan's rental market is witnessing notable changes across its major urban areas. A recent study conducted by Athome, a prominent real estate information service based in Ota City, Tokyo, sheds light on the rental price trends for apartments and shared living spaces in key metropolitan areas. The research has been initiated by Athome Lab, focusing on consumer-oriented residential rentals.

Overview of Findings

The findings highlight a consistent increase in average rental rates for both apartments and shared living spaces across ten crucial regions, including the whole of the Tokyo metropolitan area (Tokyo’s 23 wards, Tokyo suburbs, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba), as well as Sapporo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Kobe, and Fukuoka.

Apartment Rentals

In all thirteen areas analyzed, rental costs for apartments suitable for couples and families have exceeded last year’s figures. Particularly striking is the trend observed in Tokyo's 23 wards, where apartments aimed at singles have hit peak prices for 19 consecutive months, while Osaka has reported similar rises for 17 months straight. Notably, the average rental price for large family-oriented units in Tokyo has soared to over 400,000 yen, marking a significant milestone in the real estate sector.

Over the last three months, the entire area of Tokyo's 23 wards has recorded notably high rental prices for apartments, indicating a strong demand that surpasses previous records.

Shared Living Spaces

Similar trends are apparent for shared living spaces. For both couples and families, rental prices in these areas have similarly outpaced last year's costs. Significantly, Tokyo's wards have shown consistent growth in average rental prices for shared living into the third month running, suggesting a robust demand for such spaces in the city.

Research Details

The study encompassed thirteen regions, including the Tokyo metropolitan area (Tokyo’s 23 wards, Tokyo suburbs, Kanagawa, Saitama, and Chiba), as well as Sapporo, Sendai, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, and Fukuoka. The research analyzed data from athletes who had registered their residential apartments and homes for rent on Athome’s real estate platform, ensuring all duplicate listings were unique for accurate analysis.

Definitions Used in the Study

• - Rent is defined as the total monthly payment, including rent and management fees or shared costs.
• - The study categorized living spaces based on size: units under 30 square meters are termed "single-oriented"; 30 to 50 square meters are "couple-oriented"; 50 to 70 square meters are "family-oriented"; and units over 70 square meters are classified as "large family-oriented."
• - The average rent index used in this study aligns with January 2015 set at 100.
• - Additionally, increases in rental prices are presented as rounded figures and reflect the top three growth rates based on pre-rounded data.

Conclusion

The rental landscape in Japan's urban areas is evolving at an impressive pace, with significant price increases reflecting the current housing market's dynamics. As December 2025 approaches, potential tenants and stakeholders in the real estate market should remain alert to these trends that influence rental living. For more in-depth insights, interested parties can download the full report from Athome's official website at Athome Rent Trends Report.