For a 3-month stay, the Oakhouse contract flexibility is actually one of the better options since most apartments want 2-year leases and key money. The 10m^2 thing won't change but 80k is solid for the location if it's central. I'd ask which specific house you're looking at though, the Meguro and Koenji locations have way better common spaces than the one in Ikebukuro.

If you're set on a sharehouse, check out the ones in Shimokitazawa or Kichijoji. You'll pay closer to 90k but the neighborhood vibe makes up for the smaller room. The 40-person houses tend to have a rotation of short-term guests so it's harder to build anything consistent. Borderless House does weekly events like ramen outings or movie nights that actually get people out of their rooms.

For Airbnb, you're looking at 120k minimum for something that isn't a converted closet, and you'll have zero built-in social life. A solid middle ground is a guesthouse in Asakusa or Nippori where you get a private room but share bathrooms and a kitchen with maybe 8-10 people. Those tend to attract travelers and remote workers so you'll naturally run into folks at breakfast.

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I've been in a similar boat - did a 3-month stay in an Oakhouse in Nakano a couple years back. The 10m^2 thing is accurate, you're basically living in a capsule with a window. 80k is fair for that size but check if they're charging extra for utilities or cleaning fees, some Oakhouse locations tack on another 10-15k monthly.

For actually meeting people, the 40-person houses can be hit or miss. I visited a friend at the big one near Kitasenju and it felt more like a hostel where everyone keeps to themselves. The smaller Oakhouse properties (8-12 people) tend to work better for socializing since you end up sharing the kitchen with the same folks daily.

If you want my honest take for a 3-month trip, check out Sakura House instead. They do short-term contracts without the upfront key money nonsense, and their houses in Yotsuya or Iidabashi have a better layout than the jail cell look you're describing. You'll pay closer to 95k but the common areas are actually designed for people to hang out, not just a narrow hallway with doors.

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i lived in an oakhouse in setagaya for a bit, not a 40 person one tho. that size sounds kinda intense for actually making friends honestly, too many people and everyone just sticks to their own cliques. the 10m^2 thing is real, it's basically a bedroom with a mini fridge and thats it, but 80k is decent for tokyo if utilities are included.

for 3 months and wanting social, check out borderless house or gg house instead. smaller houses, more community feel, and they actually do events. oakhouse felt more like a dorm where people just sleep.

if you want more space but still social, look at sharehouses in kawasaki or east tokyo like kameido. you'll get more room for the same price and still be 20 mins from shinjuku. airbnb is gonna run you way more for anything decent and you wont meet anyone unless you really grind the meetup apps

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honestly the guide nailed it but i'd throw in nakameguro for anyone visiting in spring. the canal walk during cherry blossom season is insane, way less crowded than ueno or shinjuku gyoen. plus there's a killer onigiri spot called Onigiri Bongo that sells out by noon, and the area has a ton of tiny wine bars and vintage shops. rooms at the Claska hotel start around $120 and it's a quick hop to shibuya on the tokyu line

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solid write-up, covers the big ones well. for my money, if you're a food nerd, staying near a good tsukemen or ramen spot is a legit strategy. i booked a hotel in takadanobaba once just cause i wanted to be walking distance from Taishoken, the tsukemen birthplace. that area is also full of student bars and cheap eats since Waseda Uni is there, rooms at the b:CONTE hotel run like $90 a night and it's two stops from Shinjuku on the Yamanote. way less tourist crush than Shibuya for late-night bowls

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This is a solid breakdown, really covers the main bases well. One thing I'd add for anyone staying in Shinjuku is that the station itself can be overwhelming even for locals, so picking a hotel on the west side near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is a good hack. The views from the free observation deck there are just as good as the paid ones, and you avoid the chaos of the east exit. For cheap eats in that area, the basement floor of Takashimaya department store has incredible takeout bento boxes under 1,000 yen that beat most convenience store meals.

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