Where Do Language School Students Live? Dorms, Share Houses & Homestays

The Options at a Glance

Here is how the four main options compare. Figures are typical monthly ranges and vary by city and provider.

School Dormitories

Many schools run their own dormitories or student residences, and these are usually the most affordable choice. You typically get a furnished room (private or shared) with shared kitchens and bathrooms, often near the school. Because the school arranges everything, there is no key money, no guarantor, and just a small refundable deposit.

School housing is common: around two in three schools in our directory list their own accommodation, so check what your school provides before looking elsewhere.

• Pros: cheapest, simple to set up, easy to meet other students.
• Cons: less privacy, house rules, and limited rooms that fill up early.

Share Houses

A share house gives you a private bedroom with shared kitchen, bathroom, and living areas. Rooms are furnished, leases are flexible, and move-in costs are low, usually just a small deposit with no key money or guarantor. It is a popular middle ground between a dorm and your own apartment.

• Pros: private room, furnished, flexible terms, a built-in community.
• Cons: shared common areas, quality varies a lot between providers.

Homestays

With a homestay you live with a Japanese host family, usually with breakfast and dinner and utilities included in the price. It is the most immersive option and a gentle introduction to daily life and the language, which makes it popular for the first few months. Expect to pay roughly ¥100,000–¥160,000 a month, reflecting the meals and support included.

• Pros: the best language immersion, meals and support included, a soft landing for newcomers.
• Cons: the priciest option, family house rules, and usually a shorter-term arrangement.

Private Apartments

Renting your own apartment gives you the most independence, but it is the hardest option for a newcomer and comes with Japan’s famously high move-in costs. On top of the first month, you may face several one-off charges:

• Deposit (shikikin): often one to two months of rent, partly refundable.
• Key money (reikin): a non-refundable gift to the landlord, often one month of rent.
• Agency fee: usually about one month of rent.
• Guarantor: most landlords require a guarantor or a paid guarantor company.

Altogether, moving into a private apartment can cost two to four months of rent up front, which is why most students wait until they are settled. For how this fits your overall budget, see our guide on how much a Japanese language school costs.

Where to Find Housing

Beyond what your school offers, several English-friendly services make searching from abroad much easier. These are popular starting points, but always check current terms and prices yourself:

• Share houses: Sakura House, Oakhouse, and Borderless House (which pairs Japanese and international housemates for language exchange) list rooms in English that you can often reserve before you arrive.
• Homestays: usually arranged through your school, or through study-abroad agencies such as Go! Go! Nihon.
• Apartments: GaijinPot Housing lists foreigner-friendly rentals in English, while SUUMO and LIFULL HOME’S are the largest Japanese-language sites. For furnished places with low move-in costs, look at Leopalace21, UR rental housing (no key money, deposit, guarantor, or agency fee), and Village House.
• No guarantor? Guarantor companies such as GTN help foreign residents who do not have one.

Two things are worth knowing before you start. Not every landlord rents to non-Japanese tenants, so favour services that advertise foreigner-friendly properties or lean on your school’s housing support. And book early: rooms fill up before the April and October intakes, though share houses can usually be secured from overseas right up to your arrival.

How Students Usually Do It

The most common pattern is simple: arrange a dormitory, share house, or homestay through your school before you arrive, then decide whether to move once you know the city. This avoids the cost and paperwork of renting from abroad and gives you a soft landing in your first months.

Accommodation support also varies by school, so it is worth checking what each one offers when you apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do most language school students live?

Most students arrange housing through their school for at least the first few months, usually a dormitory or a share house. Once they know the city and have a routine, many move on to a private apartment.

What is the cheapest accommodation option?

School dormitories and student residences are usually the cheapest, especially with a shared room and shared facilities. Share houses are the next most affordable and offer a private bedroom.

How much are move-in costs in Japan?

It depends on the type. Dormitories and share houses usually need only a small, often refundable deposit (around ¥30,000) and rarely ask for key money or a guarantor. A private apartment can cost two to four months of rent up front for deposit, key money, and the agency fee.

What is a homestay like?

You live with a Japanese host family, typically with breakfast and dinner and utilities included, for roughly ¥100,000–¥160,000 a month. It is the most immersive option and a gentle landing for newcomers, but it is usually arranged for a shorter period.

Do I need a guarantor to rent in Japan?

For a private apartment, usually yes, either a personal guarantor or a paid guarantor company. Dormitories, share houses, and homestays arranged through your school typically do not require one, which is a big reason students start with them.