Studio or one-bedroom in Tokyo: compare the extra cost

For two people, paying for a larger Tokyo apartment does not necessarily buy a second bed. A room may allow two guests but supply one bed, and an offer of extra bedding may mean bedding for the floor. Start with the sleeping arrangement you need, then compare what the extra space would cost.

Check that both of you are allowed to stay for your full dates. If you need separate beds, rule out apartments that cannot provide them before comparing rents.

Check the supplied beds before paying for more space

Union Monthly's FAQ, checked in September 2026, treats occupancy and bedding separately. It says to check the bed sizes and numbers even when a room permits two guests. It offers rental bedding but does not add bed frames; guests who need more beds must choose a room that already has them.

If you're happy sharing the supplied bed, either layout may work. If you need separate beds, a spare room alone won't solve that: find out whether it has a bed or would need bedding on the floor. Mark where that bedding would go on the plan and include any rental cost in the quote. Space used for sleeping may be the same space you were counting on for work or dining.

Include utilities in the comparison

Check whether each rent quote includes electricity, gas and water. If you’ll pay any of those bills separately, include an estimate before deciding how much extra a larger apartment would cost.

Here’s an example with made-up prices. Apartment A costs ¥220,000 a month, with utilities included and no extra usage charge. Apartment B costs ¥210,000 plus the utilities you use. If B’s utility bill is ¥15,000, its total is ¥225,000—¥5,000 more than A, despite the lower rent. A ¥10,000 utility bill makes the two totals equal. Below that, B costs less; above it, A costs less. When estimating your own bill, consider how often both of you will be home using the air conditioner.

Compare the rent and floor area

Divide each apartment’s rent by the floor area in the listing. Use rent for the same length of time. Then add any required fees to compare what you would actually pay for each stay.

For an illustrative example, a 22m² studio at ¥180,000 per month costs about ¥8,182 per square metre. A 40m² one-bedroom at ¥300,000 costs ¥7,500 per square metre. The larger place is cheaper per metre, but it still requires ¥120,000 more each month.

Over three months, that rent difference is ¥360,000. Ask what you gain for it: a room where one person can take calls, more storage, a larger kitchen or simply room to move around.

What else affects the price?

Two apartments with the same rent per square metre may differ in building condition, distance from the station, floor, daylight, furniture and services. You still need to look at the floor plan to judge the value of a separate bedroom.

If a one-bedroom costs more per square metre, the separate bedroom may be only one reason. Compare apartments near the same station with similar furniture and services, then ask what else differs.

Prices advertised for unfurnished apartments on long leases will not tell you what a furnished apartment costs for your stay. Ask for full quotes for the apartments and dates you’re considering.

Read the plan around a normal day

Trace where each person will sleep, work and move around. Can one person reach the bathroom or kitchen without passing through the other's sleeping space? Can you close the bedroom off from the living area, and how much can you hear through the closed door? Are there two usable work surfaces if you both work at home?

Ask how wide and deep the desks are. If the photos leave you unsure how the rooms connect, request a recent video of the apartment. A dining table may work well for one laptop but become awkward with two monitors and lunch. Check that each of you has a suitable chair and sockets within reach, and that there is somewhere to put your luggage after unpacking.

Storage and laundry deserve attention on a longer stay. A larger floor area isn't automatically more comfortable if the only spare space becomes a drying area or suitcase store.

Compare the location as precisely as the layout

Compare the journey from each apartment to work and the other places you expect to visit regularly. Suginami, Nakano and Bunkyō each contain different station areas; prices and bedroom noise vary within each area.

Map the walk to the train and a supermarket. Check whether the bedroom faces a road, railway or nearby business. If you can visit, go at a time when you’d normally be at home and listen with the windows closed.

A shorter commute may be worth more than additional floor space if both of you travel daily. If you mostly work at home, the room arrangement may matter more.

If children are travelling too

Before comparing prices, check how many people can stay, which beds are supplied and whether any rules depend on the children’s ages. Check whether there are stairs, whether children could reach the balcony or kitchen, and which rooms you can close off. Children may count toward the maximum number of guests.

A second small room may be more useful than a larger open-plan room, but check how it is furnished.

Add up the full price for both apartments

For each suitable apartment, add the rent for your dates, cleaning, utilities and required services. List the refundable deposit separately as cash needed upfront.

Before paying, have the company confirm exactly which beds and bedding will be ready when you arrive. If you plan to put extra bedding on the floor, check that you can still use the room for the work or meals you were counting on it for.