TOKYO - Rising land prices are making it increasingly difficult for people to live in their preferred locations, prompting a growing trend of choosing homes a few stations away from major hubs as a way to reduce rent.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism announced on March 17th that officially assessed land prices, which serve as a benchmark for property transactions, have risen for the fifth consecutive year in both residential and commercial areas, highlighting the continued upward pressure on housing costs.
With rents climbing, attention is turning to so-called “hidden gem” stations where prices are more affordable. According to LIFULL HOME'S, Omiya ranked third in its 2026 ranking of the most desirable places to rent in the Tokyo metropolitan area, following Kasai and Hachioji.
The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Omiya stands at 142,000 yen, but moving just one station away can lower rents by between 10,000 yen and nearly 50,000 yen. Nearby stations such as Saitama-Shintoshin average 132,000 yen, Kita-Yono 123,000 yen, Kita-Omiya 116,000 yen, Tetsudo-Hakubutsukan 100,000 yen, and Miyahara 93,000 yen.
At Nisshin Station, served by the Saikyo and Kawagoe lines, the average rent drops further to 85,000 yen, offering a significant discount compared to Omiya.
While Nisshin lacks the large commercial complexes found around Omiya Station, residents describe it as a quieter and more livable area. A woman in her 70s who has lived in the area for about 50 years noted that while passengers pour off trains, they quickly disperse, leaving the neighborhood relatively calm. A teenage resident said the station offers convenient direct access to central Tokyo without transfers. Another woman in her 30s highlighted the presence of large parks and supermarkets, adding that while Omiya is more convenient, Nisshin provides a quieter environment better suited to raising children. A woman in her 50s also noted that the number of supermarkets in the area has been increasing, improving convenience.
Longtime residents, however, say the area has changed over the decades. An 80-year-old woman who has lived near the station for about 50 years recalled that the neighborhood was once more vibrant, with many shops and cafes, most of which have since disappeared, although new coffee shops have begun to open in recent years.
A similar trend can be seen in central Tokyo. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment around Ikebukuro Station is 207,000 yen, but moving one station away to Itabashi lowers the average to 195,000 yen, although demand there has declined compared to the previous year. Two stations away, Jujo has seen a rise in inquiries, with rents averaging 152,000 yen, more than 50,000 yen cheaper than Ikebukuro.
Other nearby stations such as Higashi-Nagasaki, Senkawa, and Oyama also show lower rents, ranging from 144,000 yen to 152,000 yen, alongside rising interest from prospective tenants, indicating growing demand for areas slightly removed from major terminals.
However, experts caution that moving away from major stations may come with trade-offs. Nakayama Toshiro, deputy director of the LIFULL HOME'S Research Institute, said that convenience and overall comfort can decline compared to terminal stations, stressing the importance of walking around the neighborhood to assess the living environment before making a decision.
In addition to shifting locations, adjusting other conditions is also becoming a key strategy. According to Nakayama, the three main factors that can be “shifted” when choosing a property are distance from the station, building age, and floor space.
A comparison of properties in Kasai, Hachioji, and Omiya shows that units closer to stations but older in age tend to be cheaper than newer properties located farther away. In Kasai, newer units farther from the station average 214,000 yen, while older units closer to the station average 201,000 yen. In Hachioji, the figures are 145,000 yen for newer distant units and 140,000 yen for older central ones. In Omiya, newer distant units average 145,000 yen, compared with 137,000 yen for older units near the station.
The findings suggest that in a market of rising rents, flexibility in both location and property conditions is becoming essential for securing affordable housing.
Source: TBS
