Kanagawa apartments for rent attract foreign renters who want Tokyo-level transit access at significantly lower rents. The prefecture offers some of the most practical options for foreigners in the greater Tokyo area. Kanagawa apartments for rent attract foreign residents who want Tokyo-level transit access at rents 20–40% lower than comparable inner-Tokyo wards — and the prefecture’s diversity of areas, from Yokohama’s international waterfront to Sagamihara’s suburban military community to the Odakyu Line corridor into Shinjuku, means there is a genuinely different answer depending on what you need.
This guide covers Kanagawa’s main rental areas for foreign residents, realistic 2026 rent ranges, and how the application process works across the prefecture. Browse current Kanagawa apartments for rent on Arealty — all foreigner-accepted listings, bilingual support, zero agency fees.
Why Foreigners Choose Kanagawa Apartments for Rent
Kanagawa sits directly south of Tokyo. Multiple rail lines connect the prefecture to the capital. The prefecture has over 250,000 registered foreign residents as of 2025. This reflects Yokohama’s history as Japan’s primary port, the US military community near Camp Zama and Yokosuka, and corporate relocation to the Kawasaki and Yokohama research corridors.
For foreigners searching Kanagawa apartments for rent, the practical advantages are clear: lower rents than central Tokyo, larger apartment sizes, and car-friendly infrastructure. The landlord pool in major cities has rented to foreign residents for decades. The trade-off is commute time — Kanagawa destinations add 15–45 minutes to central Tokyo compared to the closest Tokyo wards. For renters whose work, school, or daily life is in Kanagawa itself, this trade-off disappears entirely.
For context on how Kanagawa apartments for rent for foreigners compare to Tokyo ward rents, see the average rent by ward in Tokyo for 2026.
Yokohama — Japan’s Most International City Outside Tokyo
Yokohama is the largest city in Kanagawa and Japan’s second-largest city by population. Its international pedigree is genuine — the city opened to foreign trade in 1859 and has maintained a foreign resident community continuously since then. Naka-ku’s Chinatown, the Yamate bluff, and Minato Mirai’s waterfront reflect layers of international history. They give Yokohama a different character from any Tokyo ward.
For renters, Yokohama’s most practical areas are:
Nishi-ku and Kanagawa-ku: directly adjacent to Yokohama Station, highest foreigner acceptance rates in the city, strong transit access to both Tokyo and central Yokohama. 1K rents: ¥70,000–¥95,000/month.
Naka-ku (Kannai/Chinatown area): Yokohama’s most internationally oriented neighbourhood, walkable to business and cultural districts. 1K: ¥72,000–¥98,000/month.
Aoba-ku and Tsuzuki-ku: quieter, greener residential areas in northeastern Yokohama. Popular with families. 2LDK: ¥115,000–¥165,000/month.
Totsuka-ku and Izumi-ku: further from central Yokohama, significantly lower rents, car-dependent. 2LDK: ¥85,000–¥125,000/month.
For a full Yokohama breakdown, the Yokohama apartments for rent guide covers the city in detail. Kanagawa apartments for rent for foreigners in Kawasaki follow the same general rental process.
Kawasaki — Tokyo Access at Lower Rents
Kawasaki city sits between Tokyo and Yokohama on the JR Keihin-Tohoku Line. It has access to both cities without being fully in either. Kawasaki-ku, the ward adjacent to Kawasaki Station, is heavily industrial at the waterfront but has genuine residential options behind it. For foreign renters, Kawasaki’s main appeal is price: 1K rents in Kawasaki-ku run ¥68,000–¥88,000/month, with Shibuya reachable in 20 minutes by train.
Musashi-Kosugi (Nakahara-ku): one of Kawasaki’s most rapidly developed stations over the last decade, now a high-rise residential cluster with strong Shibuya and Shinjuku access. 1K: ¥80,000–¥110,000/month. Popular with young professionals who want Kanagawa rents with inner-Tokyo commute times.
Tama-ku: further west on the Odakyu Line, more suburban character, 1K from ¥62,000–¥85,000/month. Lower density and stronger car access.
Sagamihara and Camp Zama Area
Sagamihara, covered in detail in the Sagamihara apartments for rent guide, is Kanagawa’s third-largest city and home to the US Army Japan headquarters at Camp Zama. For non-military foreign residents, Sagamihara offers some of the most affordable large-unit options in Kanagawa: 2LDK apartments at ¥80,000–¥130,000/month with parking included.
The Odakyu Line connects Sagamihara to Shinjuku in approximately 50 minutes. The JR Yokohama Line connects to Yokohama and Machida for onward connections.
Odakyu and Tokyu Line Corridors
Several of Kanagawa’s best areas for foreign renters sit along major rail lines extending from Tokyo:
Odakyu Odawara Line (Sagamihara, Atsugi, Odawara direction): Rents drop progressively with distance from Shinjuku. Zama and Atsugi offer 2LDK from ¥80,000–¥115,000/month. Odawara is significantly cheaper but commute to Tokyo exceeds 80 minutes.
Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line (Kanagawa section — Miyazaki-dai to Chuo-rinkan): Covered in the Den-en-toshi Line apartment guide, this section offers some of the most comfortable suburban family living in the greater Tokyo area, with Shibuya in 27–40 minutes.
JR Yokohama Line (Machida to Yokohama): Connects Sagamihara-area cities to Yokohama. Hashimoto, Fuchinobe, and Sagamihara stations offer 2LDK from ¥80,000–¥120,000/month.
Rent Comparison Across Kanagawa Areas — 2026
| Area | 1K range | 1LDK range | 2LDK range |
| Yokohama Nishi/Kanagawa-ku | ¥70,000–¥95,000 | ¥90,000–¥130,000 | ¥120,000–¥175,000 |
| Yokohama Naka-ku | ¥72,000–¥98,000 | ¥92,000–¥135,000 | ¥125,000–¥180,000 |
| Kawasaki (Musashi-Kosugi) | ¥80,000–¥110,000 | ¥100,000–¥145,000 | ¥135,000–¥190,000 |
| Kawasaki-ku | ¥68,000–¥88,000 | ¥85,000–¥120,000 | ¥110,000–¥160,000 |
| Sagamihara Chuo-ku | ¥62,000–¥90,000 | ¥70,000–¥105,000 | ¥85,000–¥135,000 |
| Zama city | ¥60,000–¥88,000 | ¥68,000–¥100,000 | ¥80,000–¥125,000 |
| Tama-ku (Kawasaki) | ¥62,000–¥85,000 | ¥75,000–¥105,000 | ¥95,000–¥140,000 |
Kanagawa Apartment Rental Process for Foreign Renters
The rental process in Kanagawa follows the same fundamentals as Tokyo — residence card, income proof, guarantor company, viewing before applying. A few Kanagawa-specific notes:
Foreigner acceptance varies more by area than in Tokyo. Yokohama’s major wards have high foreigner acceptance rates built on decades of international resident history. Outer Sagamihara and smaller Kanagawa cities have more variable landlord experience with foreign applicants. Pre-confirming acceptance matters more here. Working with an agency that pre-confirms acceptance before submission is more important in Kanagawa’s outer areas than in Yokohama or Kawasaki.
Key money (礼金) is less common in Kanagawa than in central Tokyo. Most Kanagawa listings outside Yokohama Station-adjacent areas waive key money entirely. Confirm, but do not assume it is present.
Car ownership affects your options significantly. In Sagamihara, Zama, and Atsugi, parking is standard. Near Yokohama and Kawasaki stations, parking is separate and often expensive. Know before you shortlist which situation applies.
For the full application process, the step-by-step foreigner rental guide covers each stage. For listing photos — a persistent source of expectation gaps for overseas renters — see why apartment photos in Japan can differ from the real room.
Which Area Fits Your Situation
| Situation | Best Kanagawa area |
| Working in central Tokyo, want lower rent | Kawasaki (Musashi-Kosugi or Kawasaki-ku) |
| Working in Yokohama | Nishi-ku, Kanagawa-ku, Naka-ku |
| Military/DoD at Camp Zama | Sagamihara Chuo-ku, Zama city |
| Family, need 2LDK+, international schools | Yokohama Aoba-ku, Tama-plaza (Den-en-toshi) |
| Budget under ¥80,000/month, OK with car | Sagamihara Minami-ku, Tama-ku, Zama |
| Working Holiday or student, want share house option | Kawasaki, Yokohama Naka-ku |
Contact Arealty to find the right Kanagawa apartment for rent for foreigners that fits your commute, budget, and visa type — or browse current Kanagawa listings directly.
Further Reading
- Sagamihara apartments for rent — Camp Zama housing guide
- Yokohama apartments for rent — full area guide
- Den-en-toshi Line apartments — Kanagawa section included
- Renting in Japan as a foreigner — step-by-step process
- Average apartment rent in Tokyo — for Tokyo vs Kanagawa comparison
- Why apartment listing photos in Japan can differ from the real room
- Yokota Air Base apartments for rent
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.
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