Homes in Tokyo average 64.02 sqm of floor space, against 90.86 sqm nationally, according to Japan’s 2023 Housing and Land Survey. Seven in ten Tokyo homes are in apartment buildings. Listings describe each unit with a layout code such as 1LDK: the number counts the bedrooms, and the letters name the shared living, dining and kitchen space.
At a glance
| Key fact | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Average floor area per home, Tokyo (2023) | 64.02 sqm | Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 2023 Housing and Land Survey |
| Average floor area per home, Japan (2023) | 90.86 sqm | Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2023 Housing and Land Survey |
| Average floor area of homes in apartment buildings, Japan (2023) | 50.31 sqm | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
| Share of Tokyo homes in apartment buildings (2023) | 71.6% | Statistics Bureau of Japan |
| Minimum floor area for one person (previous national housing plan) | 25 sqm | MLIT, Basic Plan for Housing (March 2021) |
| Policy guideline for homes supplied from FY2026 to FY2035 | Above about 40 sqm | MLIT, Basic Plan for Housing (March 2026) |
| One tatami mat (jō) in property advertising | At least 1.62 sqm | Fair Competition Code for real estate advertising |
| Minimum size of the LDK room alone, one-bedroom / two-bedroom-plus home | 8 jō (12.96 sqm) / 10 jō (16.20 sqm) | Real Estate Fair Trade Council |
How big is the average apartment in Tokyo?
The average Tokyo home has 64.02 sqm of floor space and 3.16 habitable rooms, according to the 2023 Housing and Land Survey (jūtaku tochi tōkei chōsa, 住宅・土地統計調査), the national census of housing run every five years. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government’s analysis of the survey shows the figure was 1.16 sqm lower than in 2018.
Across Japan, the average home has 90.86 sqm. Detached houses lift the national figure, averaging 126.32 sqm, while homes in apartment buildings average 50.31 sqm nationally (Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2023). Tokyo has the highest share of apartment-building homes of any prefecture at 71.6%, which helps explain why its average sits about 27 sqm below the national one.
Resale condominiums sold in the 23 wards in September 2026 averaged 55.50 sqm, in buildings with an average age of 27.3 years, according to REINS Market Watch (東日本レインズ). Floor areas vary widely by ward and building, so our area guides give local detail for neighbourhoods in Minato-ku, Shibuya-ku and other central wards.
The size on a Japanese listing is the senyū menseki (専有面積), the exclusive floor area of the unit. Advertisements usually measure it to the centre of the walls (kabe-shin, 壁芯). The land registry measures condominium units to the inside face of the walls (uchinori, 内法) under the Real Property Registration Rules (不動産登記規則, Article 115), so the registered area is a little smaller than the advertised one. Balconies are not included in either figure.
How much space does a household need in Japan?
Under Japan’s previous national housing plan, the minimum floor area for a single-person household was 25 sqm. The new Basic Plan for Housing (jūseikatsu kihon keikaku, 住生活基本計画), approved by the Cabinet on 27 March 2026 for FY2026 to FY2035, sets a different kind of goal: it aims for homes supplied and resold from now on to exceed about 40 sqm. This is a policy guideline for the country’s housing stock, not a legal minimum size for any home. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) intends that size to work for single people, couples, three-person households and couples with two preschool children.
Owners in Tokyo are far more likely than renters to have the space the previous plan recommended. The 2023 survey measured every household against two standards from that plan: a minimum floor area level and a higher recommended level intended to support a range of lifestyles.
| Households (2023) | Meet the minimum level | Meet the recommended level |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo, owner-occupiers | 98.2% | 64.5% |
| Tokyo, renters | 78.2% | 25.6% |
| Tokyo, all households | 82.2% | 41.4% |
| Japan, all households | 89.6% | 58.0% |
Source: Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 2023 Housing and Land Survey, Tokyo results.
If you are weighing up more space in central Tokyo, search our current listings through the link below.
What do 1R, 1K, 1DK, 1LDK and 2LDK mean?
The number in a Japanese layout code counts the separate rooms, and the letters describe the shared space: L for living room, D for dining area and K for kitchen. A 2LDK therefore has two bedrooms plus one combined living, dining and kitchen room. An R (room) means the kitchen sits inside the single room, with no separate space.
The Real Estate Fair Trade Council sets minimum sizes for any room advertised as a DK or LDK, in its guideline on DK and LDK floor areas (DK・LDKの広さ（畳数）の目安となる指導基準). This means a room labelled LDK must be large enough to hold a living area as well as dining and cooking space. The minimums cover that one room only: bedrooms, the entrance, hallway, bathroom, toilet and storage come on top, so the whole unit is much larger. MLIT’s 40 sqm target, for example, refers to the full floor area of a home.
| Code | What it means | Minimum size of the DK or LDK room itself (advertising) |
|---|---|---|
| 1R | One room with the kitchen inside it | No separate kitchen space |
| 1K | One room plus a separate kitchen area | No minimum set |
| 1DK | One room plus a dining-kitchen | 4.5 jō (7.29 sqm) |
| 1LDK | One bedroom plus a living-dining-kitchen | 8 jō (12.96 sqm) |
| 2DK | Two rooms plus a dining-kitchen | 6 jō (9.72 sqm) |
| 2LDK | Two bedrooms plus a living-dining-kitchen | 10 jō (16.20 sqm) |
| 3LDK | Three bedrooms plus a living-dining-kitchen | 10 jō (16.20 sqm) |
| +S | Adds a storage or “service” room (nando, 納戸) | Not counted as a bedroom |
Square-metre figures are calculated at 1.62 sqm per jō, the advertising standard explained below.
A layout code describes how a home is divided, not how big it is. A 1LDK of 40 sqm and a 1LDK of 80 sqm carry the same code, so compare the senyū menseki on each listing before comparing layouts.
What is the difference between 1DK, 1LDK and 2LDK?
A 1DK and a 1LDK both have one bedroom, but the shared room alone in a 1LDK must be at least 8 jō (12.96 sqm), against 4.5 jō (7.29 sqm) for a 1DK. In practice, a DK fits a dining table, while an LDK also fits a sofa. A 2LDK adds a second bedroom and raises the LDK minimum to 10 jō (16.20 sqm).
For a couple, a 1LDK gives one shared room and one bedroom. A 2LDK adds a room for a home office, a child or guests, which suits a small family. MLIT’s 40 sqm target is a useful floor for either layout.
1LDK
1 bedroom + LDK
Enlarge
- One bedroom plus a combined living, dining and kitchen space
- Typically suits singles or couples
3LDK
3 bedrooms + LDK
Enlarge
- Three bedrooms plus a combined living, dining and kitchen space
- Typically suits families, or anyone needing a home office or guest room
Example layouts for illustration only; floor plans are not shown to the same scale.
How big is a tatami mat in square metres?
One tatami mat, or jō (畳 or 帖), counts as at least 1.62 sqm in Japanese property advertising, measured to the centre of the walls. The rule is set in the enforcement regulations of the Fair Competition Code for real estate advertising (不動産の表示に関する公正競争規約施行規則, Article 9(16)). Traditional mats vary in size by region, but a listing that gives a room size in jō must meet this minimum.
| Room size on a listing | Minimum floor area |
|---|---|
| 4.5 jō | 7.29 sqm |
| 6 jō | 9.72 sqm |
| 8 jō | 12.96 sqm |
| 10 jō | 16.20 sqm |
| 12 jō | 19.44 sqm |
A bedroom marked 洋室 6.0帖 on a floor plan is therefore a Western-style room of at least 9.72 sqm. Floor plans often show each room in jō and the whole unit in sqm, so it helps to convert both to the same unit.
What do the abbreviations on a Japanese floor plan mean?
| Term | Japanese | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Yōshitsu | 洋室 | Western-style room with wooden or carpeted flooring |
| Washitsu | 和室 | Japanese-style room with tatami flooring |
| Jō | 畳 / 帖 | Room size in tatami mats, at least 1.62 sqm each in advertising |
| S or nando | サービスルーム / 納戸 | Storage or “service” room that does not meet the Building Standards Act’s light or ventilation rules for a habitable room, so it cannot be advertised as a bedroom |
| UB | ユニットバス | Unit bath, a one-piece moulded bathroom |
| WIC | ウォークインクローゼット | Walk-in closet |
| Genkan | 玄関 | Entrance area where shoes are removed |
| Senyū menseki | 専有面積 | Exclusive floor area of the unit, excluding balconies |
| Kanri-hi | 管理費 | Monthly management fee paid by owners of a condominium unit |
The rule on storage rooms is in Article 9(17) of the same advertising regulations: a room whose windows are too small for light or ventilation under Article 28 of the Building Standards Act must be labelled nando or similar.
What is the difference between an apāto and a manshon?
A manshon (マンション) is an apartment building of reinforced concrete or another solid structure, whose homes may be owned individually or rented out by a single owner. An apāto (アパート) is a smaller rental building, usually low-rise and framed in timber or light steel. Despite the name, a manshon is not a large detached house: it is the Japanese word for a condominium or apartment block.
For condominium management, the Act on Advancement of Proper Condominium Management (マンションの管理の適正化の推進に関する法律, Article 2) defines a manshon as a building with two or more unit owners (kubun shoyūsha, 区分所有者) that contains homes, together with its land and shared facilities. This legal definition rests on ownership rather than height or materials, and it is narrower than everyday usage: a rental building with a single owner is still called a manshon, but it falls outside the Act.
Property advertising uses a construction test instead: the enforcement regulations of the Fair Competition Code (Article 3(8)) define a manshon as a reinforced concrete or other solid building divided into separate homes, and treat a rental building that is not a manshon as an apāto.
| Feature | Apāto (アパート) | Manshon (マンション) |
|---|---|---|
| Usual structure | Timber or light steel frame | Reinforced concrete (RC) or steel-reinforced concrete (SRC) |
| Advertising definition | Rental building other than a manshon | Reinforced concrete or other solid building divided into separate homes |
| Ownership | Usually one owner who rents out every unit | Units can be sold one by one (bunjō) or the whole building rented (chintai) |
| Typical features | Simpler entrance and shared areas | Concrete walls and floors, often with auto-lock entry, parcel lockers and on-site management |
| Running costs for owners | Building costs borne by the single owner | Monthly management fee and repair reserve paid by each unit owner |
Owned or rented: bunjō and chintai manshon
A bunjō manshon (分譲マンション) is built to be sold unit by unit. Its owners form a management association (kanri kumiai, 管理組合) and pay a monthly management fee (kanri-hi, 管理費) and repair reserve contribution (shūzen tsumitate-kin, 修繕積立金) to maintain the building. A chintai manshon (賃貸マンション) is built by one owner to be rented out.
Many owners of bunjō units also rent them out. This means tenants in central Tokyo can live in buildings designed and specified for owner-occupiers, and buyers can let their unit if they move away. Housing Japan’s property management team handles leasing for owners in this position.
Is a manshon safer in an earthquake?
Buildings that received building confirmation (kenchiku kakunin, 建築確認), the approval issued before construction, on or after 1 June 1981 were designed to the new seismic standard (shin-taishin kijun, 新耐震基準). Because construction takes time, a building completed after that date may still have been approved under the earlier rules, so check the confirmation date rather than the completion date. Our guide to Japan’s earthquake-resistant buildings explains how to check a building’s standard and its seismic structure.
What is a mansion in Japan, in the English sense?
A large detached house is called a gōtei (豪邸), and a detached house of any size is an ikkodate (一戸建て). Buyers looking for a house with its own land in central Tokyo can browse Housing Japan’s luxury homes for sale.
How much does an apartment in Tokyo cost?
Resale condominiums in Tokyo’s 23 wards sold for an average of ¥74.05 million, or ¥1,303,900 per sqm, in September 2026, according to REINS Market Watch. The 23-ward average has stayed above ¥1.3 million per sqm in every month from September 2025 to September 2026. Prices vary by ward, building age and floor area, so the 23-ward average is a starting point rather than a guide to any one home in Minato-ku, Chiyoda-ku or Shibuya-ku.
Our full guide to apartment prices in Tokyo breaks prices down by ward, size and building age.
On top of the purchase price, buyers pay a brokerage fee, normally capped at 3% of the price plus ¥60,000, plus consumption tax, along with registration and licence tax, stamp duty and real estate acquisition tax. Our guide to property taxes in Japan sets out each rate, and our guide to buying property in Japan as a foreigner walks through the process step by step.
How can you make the most of a compact Tokyo apartment?
Japanese homes have a long tradition of making small rooms work hard, from futons folded away each morning to sliding fusuma (襖) doors that open two rooms into one. People moving into a central Tokyo apartment from overseas can borrow the same ideas, even in a modern manshon with Western-style rooms.
Multifunctional furniture, such as sofa beds, storage ottomans and folding tables, frees floor space for everyday living. Shelving fixed to the walls keeps the floor clear. South-facing apartments (minami-muki, 南向き) are popular in Japan for the sunlight they receive, which helps keep rooms warm in winter and reduces damp in older buildings.
Japanese furniture makers design for Japanese room sizes, so their pieces suit these floor plans. Three makers worth a look are Karimoku Case, a brand built on Karimoku’s woodworking, with collections by architects and design studios inspired by Japanese and Danish traditions; a.flat, which makes Asian-style furniture with a resort feel and offers sofa fabrics in 100 colours; and Momo Natural, an Okayama maker of wooden furniture, much of it storage, built in its own factory.
Where can you store extra belongings in Tokyo?
Self-storage rooms, known in Japan as trunk rooms (トランクルーム), let you keep seasonal clothes, sports equipment and spare furniture outside the apartment and collect them when you need them. TrunkRoom Tokyo is one provider, and its customers often use its rooms while moving between apartments.
See the TrunkRoom Tokyo English website → Here
See the TrunkRoom Tokyo Japanese website → Here
What should renters check in a Tokyo apartment listing?
Rental listings in central Tokyo give the same core details as sale listings, so the same checks apply: the layout code, the senyū menseki in sqm, the structure (RC, SRC or timber) and the year built. A unit in a bunjō manshon let by its owner can also come with the building’s shared facilities, such as a concierge or parcel lockers.
Housing Japan lists long-term rentals and short-term furnished apartments across Minato-ku, Shibuya-ku, Chiyoda-ku and Meguro-ku and can help with your rental queries whatever your needs.
Frequently asked questions
What does 1LDK stand for?
1LDK means one bedroom plus a combined living, dining and kitchen room. The number counts the separate rooms, and L, D and K stand for living, dining and kitchen. Under the Real Estate Fair Trade Council’s guideline, the living-dining-kitchen room in a one-bedroom home must be at least 8 jō, or 12.96 sqm, to be advertised as an LDK.
That minimum covers the LDK room alone. The bedroom, bathroom, toilet, entrance and storage are on top, and a 2LDK or larger needs an LDK of at least 10 jō (16.20 sqm).
Is a 1LDK big enough for two people?
A 1LDK of more than about 40 sqm is above the size that MLIT’s Basic Plan for Housing, approved in March 2026, aims for in new and resold homes, a guideline the ministry intends to suit couples as well as single people. Because the layout code does not set a total size, compare the senyū menseki on each listing before deciding.
If one of you works from home, a 2LDK adds a separate room for an office.
How many square metres is a 6 tatami room?
A 6-jō room is at least 9.72 sqm in Japanese property advertising. The enforcement regulations of the Fair Competition Code count each tatami mat as at least 1.62 sqm, measured to the centre of the walls, so multiplying the jō figure by 1.62 gives the minimum floor area in square metres. An 8-jō room is at least 12.96 sqm, and a 10-jō room at least 16.20 sqm.
What is the difference between an apāto and a manshon?
A manshon is a reinforced concrete or other solid apartment building, whose homes may be owned individually or rented out by one owner. An apāto is a rental building that is not a manshon, usually low-rise with a timber or light-steel frame. The Condominium Management Act uses a narrower, ownership-based definition: two or more unit owners.
Why is the registered floor area smaller than the advertised one?
Listings usually measure a condominium unit to the centre of its walls, while the land registry measures to the inside face of the walls under Article 115 of the Real Property Registration Rules. The registered floor area is therefore a little smaller than the advertised figure, by half the thickness of the surrounding walls.
Can foreigners buy an apartment in Tokyo?
Foreign nationals can buy apartments in Tokyo on the same legal terms as Japanese buyers, and ownership does not require residency. Under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, non-residents must generally report an acquisition to the Minister of Finance through the Bank of Japan within 20 days, and since 1 April 2026 this includes homes bought to live in. Mortgage lenders generally expect Japanese residency. Our guide to buying property in Japan as a foreigner explains each step.
Looking for an apartment in central Tokyo?
Housing Japan has helped international clients buy, sell and rent homes in central Tokyo since 2000 (Tokyo Governor Licence (3) No. 98912). Our bilingual team can send floor plans, floor areas and building details for apartments that match your household, whether you are buying a home, relocating for work or letting a unit you own. Tell us what you need using the contact form below and inquire about off market listings available thanks to our over 26 years in the industry.
About the authors
Maximilian Jacob is Research and Content Lead at Housing Japan K.K., a licensed real estate brokerage in Tokyo (Tokyo Governor (3) No. 98912) that has advised international buyers, sellers and tenants in central Tokyo since 2000. He researches the Tokyo prime residential market using primary Japanese sources, including Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT) transaction and land price data, National Tax Agency (NTA) roadside land valuations, Bank of Japan policy statements and e-Stat national statistics. His work focuses on foreign buyer procedure, property taxation, non-resident financing, and the Minato, Shibuya and Chiyoda luxury markets.
Yudai Yamaguchi is Head of Sales and Head of Property Management at Housing Japan K.K. He has more than a decade of real estate experience across Japan and the United States, spanning development, sales operations, investment, acquisitions, leasing, construction and property management. He previously held management roles at the Open House Group in both countries, including General Manager of its Atlanta office, where he oversaw local real estate operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from Waseda University and studied International Relations at the University of Washington.
Sources
Statistics Bureau of Japan, 2023 Housing and Land Survey results
Tokyo Metropolitan Government, 2023 Housing and Land Survey: Tokyo results
MLIT, Basic Plan for Housing (national plan, FY2026 to FY2035)
Real Estate Fair Trade Council, Fair Competition Code for real estate advertising
REINS (East Japan Real Estate Information Network), Market Watch
