Does anybody live in Tokyo?

[tikibirds]

I am leaving China in September and going to stay in Tokyo again for about 2 months. Last time I rented a room in Kunitachi - a western suburb of Tokyo (1 stop east of Tachikawa). It was nice and peaceful there BUT it took  almost an hour to get to Shinjuku and then even longer if I was going to Asakusa, Ikebukuro or Akihabara. Shinjuku station is my worst nightmare. There is an apartment avalible in Kunitachi, the next building over from where I was before but I think I want a more central location..maybe. Kunitachi is cheaper but with transportation costs, I think it would work out to about the same as staying in a more central location. But my question is...where? suggestions? Is there any other place that rents to foreigners short term other than Sakura House? LAst time I choose a share house because it was much cheaper but this time I want my own apartment. I am over sharing bathrooms with people.

[Taffeta]

I was only in Tokyo a week when I was there, so was in hotels, but I do know there are companies in other cities which specialise in this kind of letting. I used one in Kyoto...had an apartment there near Oomiya station - and I am sure that there must be an equivalent in Tokyo as well. I did a quick search and a few likely sites came up but I don't know anything about any of them so don't really want to recommend a particular one.

I agree with you on Shinjuku station. I had the fun of taking a bus from there to Fuji -.-. It's a maze. A maze of PEOPLE and GATES.

[tikibirds]

I found another comapny called oak house, they have more options avalible not only for location but also in the type of housing. Some are normal share houses so are called social residences and some are considered "grand" which come with extra perks like a theater room or large communal baths. Honestly, I don't need the extra stuff so I would be paying more for items I probably won't ever use.

A new lifestyle with an emphasis on fun

Social Residence is a redefining of the share house as a “social place” with an emphasis on community. At Social Residences, people with skills or talents who would like to hold a workshop, seminar, or other event can become a Social Application® in order to provide an opportunity for everyone in the house not to just live but also to learn and grow together. Some houses have multi-purpose studios, 24-hour office spaces with wifi (Social Office), or soundproofed music studios. From people who work from home to people starting their own business, students looking for work, or freelancers, there are also residents who use these Social Applications® as supplementary income.

[hilamb]

Could you post pics of your journey in there?   Id love to go to Japan one day, so seeing pics from there is really awsome. I hope oak house is nice and everything works out.

[Thimble]

Check your options thoroughly. There's a reason share houses are a thing. Its because apartment shopping in japan is awful. They also exist in single unit style, so you could find one that doesnt make you share the bathroom.

Getting an apartment in japan is a nightmare, if you arent using a realtor. Even tiny leopalace apartments require key money, guarantor, and first month or two's rent in advance. (Around 2800 usd, in my case.)Many places wont rent to foreigners, others wont rent to single women, people your age (whatever that is), etc., etc...they can get really weird with the rules.
A realtor will save you a lot of headaches. Also, on your own it may be impossible to find a place thats renting for less than a year, unless you can find someone who wants a roommate. Leopalace is the only one i know of, but i live in one now, and its seriously overpriced for what you get. You pay for the convenience, lol. But on the upside, its furnished, and comes with internet, unlike basically anywhere else thats not a sharehouse.

 The travel expenses are definitely a big thing to consider, but you do get used to Shinjuku, lol. Dont let that put you off, if you find a good place that makes you go through there. A few weeks in and you hardly notice. There are also usually ways around it if you dont mind making a lot of train changes.

I wish I could be more help, but I ended up choosing my job based on which one came with apartment, lol. Trying to get one on my own was too infuriating.