Meguro apartments for rent occupy a specific niche in the Tokyo foreign renter market — the ward for renters who have been in Tokyo long enough to look past the obvious choices. Meguro-ku is not as internationally prominent as Shinjuku or Shibuya, and not as family-oriented as Setagaya. What it offers is a consistently high quality of residential life: walkable neighbourhoods, good restaurant culture, Meguro River, and transit access that covers most of Tokyo’s western arc without being in the middle of it.
This is a dedicated rental guide for Meguro-ku in 2026. For the adjacent wards, see the Shibuya guide and the Setagaya guide. For ward rent comparison, see the average rent in Tokyo guide. Browse Meguro apartments for rent on Arealty.
Why Foreigners Rent Meguro Apartments Long-Term in Tokyo
Meguro-ku has the highest proportion of long-term foreign residents — defined as those who have lived in the same ward for more than 3 years — of any mid-range Tokyo ward. The reasons are practical and consistent: the ward offers enough access to feel central without the density of inner wards, enough restaurant and café culture to feel international without the tourist overlay, and enough residential calm to feel genuinely liveable.
The Meguro River canal — lined with cherry trees for approximately 3.8km through Nakameguro and Meguro — is the ward’s most photographed feature and one of Tokyo’s most genuinely pleasant urban walks in spring and autumn. For renters who use outdoor space as a quality-of-life measure, Meguro offers this within walking distance of multiple stations.
Meguro Apartments for Rent Tokyo: Sub-Areas for Foreigners
Nakameguro — The International Sweet Spot
Nakameguro sits at the northern edge of Meguro-ku, served by the Tokyu Toyoko Line and Tokyo Metro Hibiya Line. The canal-side area is one of the most internationally known neighbourhoods in Tokyo — boutique coffee shops, design-conscious restaurants, and a permanent weekend market culture. Despite the foot traffic, the residential streets behind the canal are quiet.
1K rents in Nakameguro: ¥98,000–¥135,000/month. The higher end of this range reflects post-2015 buildings with auto-lock and IH cooktops. Foreigner acceptance is among the highest in the ward. The Hibiya Line provides direct access to Roppongi and Ginza — useful for foreign renters in financial services or media industries.
Jiyugaoka — Character and Calm
Jiyugaoka sits at the southern end of Meguro-ku on the Tokyu Toyoko and Oimachi lines. The neighbourhood has a European-village aesthetic that has been cultivated since its development in the 1950s — pastry shops, independent boutiques, and a residential quietness that feels intentional. Jiyugaoka is popular with families and couples who want character without Nakameguro’s weekend crowd density.
1K rents: ¥92,000–¥128,000/month. Slightly lower than Nakameguro for comparable units, reflecting the less transit-dense position. The Toyoko Line reaches Shibuya in 8 minutes from Jiyugaoka.
Meguro Station Area — Transit Hub
The area around Meguro Station — served by the JR Yamanote Line, Tokyu Meguro Line, Tokyo Metro Namboku, and Toei Mita lines — is the most transit-connected part of the ward. The station-adjacent streets are more commercial and less characterful than Nakameguro or Jiyugaoka, but the residential blocks behind them are genuinely quiet and well-serviced.
1K rents near Meguro Station: ¥100,000–¥145,000/month. The four-line access makes this the best position for renters with varying or complex commute destinations.
Kita Apartments for Rent Tokyo: 2026 Rent Data
| Unit type | Nakameguro | Jiyugaoka | Meguro Station |
| 1K (18–25 sqm) | ¥98,000–¥135,000 | ¥92,000–¥128,000 | ¥100,000–¥145,000 |
| 1DK (25–35 sqm) | ¥112,000–¥155,000 | ¥105,000–¥148,000 | ¥115,000–¥162,000 |
| 1LDK (35–50 sqm) | ¥140,000–¥190,000 | ¥130,000–¥180,000 | ¥142,000–¥195,000 |
| 2LDK (50–70 sqm) | ¥188,000–¥260,000 | ¥175,000–¥245,000 | ¥192,000–¥268,000 |
Meguro-ku 1K median: ¥97,000/month — below Shibuya (¥115,000) and Minato (¥119,000), above Setagaya (¥90,000) and Nakano (¥82,000). The full ward table, see the average rent guide. For Setagaya comparison, see the Setagaya guide. For current availability, browse Meguro apartments for rent on Arealty.
Foreigner Acceptance in Meguro-ku
Meguro-ku has high foreigner acceptance rates — above the Tokyo average, particularly in the Nakameguro and Meguro Station areas. The ward’s long history of international residents has created management companies experienced with foreign documentation.
- Work visa / Spouse visa: accepted widely, minimal friction
- Student visa: accepted with standard documentation in all sub-areas
- Working Holiday visa: good acceptance in Nakameguro and Meguro Station areas — above Kita-ku, below Toshima. See the WH guide
- Tourist visa: monthly mansion only
Commute from Meguro-ku
| Destination | From Nakameguro | From Jiyugaoka | From Meguro Station |
| Shibuya | 5 min (Toyoko) | 8 min (Toyoko) | 5 min (Yamanote) |
| Roppongi | 8 min (Hibiya Line) | — | 7 min (Namboku) |
| Shinagawa | 10 min (Yamanote via Meguro) | 15 min | 5 min (Yamanote) |
| Shinjuku | 15 min (Yamanote via Shibuya) | 20 min | 10 min (Yamanote) |
| Otemachi | 18 min (Namboku from Meguro) | — | 15 min (Namboku) |
| Ginza | 12 min (Hibiya from Nakameguro) | — | 18 min (transfer) |
The four-line confluence at Meguro Station is the ward’s single strongest commute asset. From one station, work visa holders commuting to any of Shibuya, Roppongi, Shinagawa, Otemachi, or Ginza can do so without transfer complexity.
The Rental Process
Standard Tokyo process. Documents: residence card (在留カード), income proof, 2–3 months bank statements, guarantor company.
Move-in costs for a ¥105,000/month Meguro apartment:
| Fee | Typical amount |
| Security deposit | ¥105,000–¥210,000 (1–2 months) |
| Agency fee | ¥115,500 incl. tax — Arealty charges zero |
| First month’s rent | ¥105,000 |
| Guarantor fee | ¥35,000–¥55,000 |
| Fire insurance | ¥15,000–¥18,000 |
| Total upfront | ¥375,000–¥503,000 |
Key money appears more frequently in Meguro-ku than in outer wards — particularly in newer Nakameguro buildings. Confirm before advancing any application. For the full process, see the foreigner rental guide. For listing photos, see why apartment photos in Japan can differ.
Browse Meguro apartments for rent on Arealty — all listings pre-confirmed for foreigner acceptance, zero agency fees.
Who Should Rent Meguro Apartments as a Foreigner in Tokyo
Strong fit:
- Foreign renters in their second Tokyo lease who want more residential quality than their first apartment provided
- Financial services, media, and creative industry renters whose commute goes through Shibuya, Roppongi, or Ginza
- Couples who want a high-quality neighbourhood with strong restaurant and café culture
- Longer-term foreign residents who value the Meguro River walking environment
Consider alternatives if:
- Budget is under ¥90,000/month — Setagaya provides similar residential quality at lower cost
- You need a large 2LDK+ family apartment — Setagaya and the Den-en-toshi Line offer more supply at lower rents per sqm
- Your commute is north — Bunkyo or Nakano are more efficient
Further Reading
- Setagaya apartments for rent — value alternative to Meguro
- Shibuya apartments for rent — premium ward to the north
- Den-en-toshi Line apartments — Meguro’s southern extension
- 1K apartments in Tokyo — ward-by-ward data
- Average apartment rent in Tokyo — full 23-ward comparison
- Renting in Japan as a foreigner — full process guide
Real estate advisor at Arealty Japan, specialising in helping foreign residents navigate the Tokyo and Osaka rental markets. Lucy has guided hundreds of international renters — from Working Holiday visa holders to corporate relocations — through Japan’s apartment application process. Her writing draws on firsthand experience with landlord screening, guarantor companies, and foreigner-friendly listings across all 23 Tokyo wards and major Kansai cities.
Leave a Reply