Search Icon
Menu Icon
Menu Close icon

5 share houses for foreigners in Sapporo, Hokkaido! Explanation of rent rates and characteristics of the area.

update date
This site introduces products through an affiliate program.
Illumination of Sapporo Clock Tower

Since there are fewer foreigners living in Sapporo than in Tokyo and other cities, foreigners who live alone in Sapporo may feel uneasy with little information about the city. However, Sapporo is one of the largest cities in Japan and an attractive city blessed with rich nature. It is a great place to enjoy outdoor activities and winter sports, and a great place to enjoy driving.

In this article, we will introduce five share houses in Sapporo, Hokkaido, that are recommended for foreigners. Compared to renting a room alone, share houses have the advantage of lower rent and are fully furnished with furniture and appliances, which helps to keep initial costs down. Another major attraction is the opportunity to interact with other residents.

Also, if you would like to learn more about share houses, please check out the following articles.
▶︎ List of websites to find a share house in Japan - How to find a property that welcomes foreigners

▼Goandup Picks Click here for recommended articles!

What kind of city is Sapporo in Hokkaido?

For foreigners living in Japan for the first time, Japan is often associated with Tokyo and Kyoto, and they may not know much about Sapporo. Here, we will briefly introduce what kind of city Hokkaido and Sapporo are.

It's a cold area in Japan with snowfall.

Hokkaido is located in the northernmost part of Japan and is the coldest and coolest region in Japan. For example, winter temperatures in Tokyo range from 0°C to 10°C, while Hokkaido's range is from -10°C to 0°C, or about 10°C lower. People from warmer regions such as Southeast Asia may be confused by the cold until they get used to it.

In addition, in Hokkaido, it snows in winter and snow piles up on the ground. Even within the city of Sapporo, it is normal to have snow accumulating more than 1 meter in winter. Snow shoveling and other snow preparation measures are necessary, so you may need to be prepared for this.

Sapporo is one of the largest cities in Japan and the center of Hokkaido

Hokkaido is a land of great natural beauty, but its center, Sapporo, is one of the largest cities in Japan, with the second largest population after Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, and Nagoya. The southwestern part of Sapporo is mountainous with mountains such as Mt. Teine, but it is easily accessible from the city center, making it an attractive place to feel close to nature even though it is a large city.

In addition, Sapporo has a well-developed public transportation system, including a subway system, making it easy to live without a car. However, compared to Tokyo and Osaka, the number of commercial facilities is small. Especially in the suburbs, the number of large shopping centers and other stores is limited, so having a car makes shopping easier.

Ideal environment for those who want to enjoy outdoor activities, winter sports, and driving.

Hokkaido is rich in nature, and there are many places to enjoy outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, camping, and fishing. It is also a popular summer resort, especially from summer to autumn.

Hokkaido is also a great place to enjoy winter sports such as skiing and snowboarding because of the abundant snowfall in winter. Many ski resorts can be reached from Sapporo City within an hour's drive.

Furthermore, Hokkaido is a vast land with many long straight roads. For this reason, it is popular among people who enjoy driving and touring. Driving while enjoying the magnificent natural scenery is one of the best parts of Hokkaido.

In particular, Niseko in Hokkaido is world famous as a mecca for skiing and snowboarding, attracting many foreign tourists. To learn more about Niseko's attractions and how to get there, check out the following articles.
▶︎ Enjoy Niseko in Hokkaido to the fullest! Sightseeing Information & Access

Fewer foreigners

The number of foreigners living in Sapporo is about 14,000, which is fewer than in other cities in Japan. However, this does not mean that Sapporo is a difficult place for foreigners to live, but rather that many foreigners live in Tokyo or Osaka and few come to Sapporo to work or study.

Reference:Statistics Sapporo (Monthly Report) May 2024

3 advantages of living in a share house for foreigners

While it is of course possible for foreigners to rent an apartment or condominium in Japan, share houses offer various advantages not found in apartments. Especially for foreigners who live alone, a shared house has many advantages.

1. to be able to interact with people

The biggest attraction of a share house is the opportunity to interact with other residents. When a foreigner lives alone in Japan, he or she may not have many friends and may not be able to speak Japanese well, which can be a problem. However, living in a share house allows you to make friends with a variety of people, and with an international exchange share house, English is also spoken, making it very convenient.

In the common space, you can enjoy cooking with other residents and teaching each other languages. If you become friends with Japanese residents as well, you can practice your Japanese language skills and learn about Japanese culture and customs naturally.

2. low rent

Shared housing offers limited private space compared to apartments and condominiums, but in return the rent is lower. Renting an apartment for single occupancy, in addition to rent, monthly expenses such as utilities are even larger. For those with limited income, such as international students, the low rent of a shared house is a great advantage.

Detailed rent rates will be explained later.

3. no need to buy furniture and appliances

Share houses are usually furnished with furniture and appliances, so you can save the cost of buying them yourself. Furthermore, the kitchens and laundry areas in share houses are often equipped with good facilities that are hard to find living alone.

For those who have a limited period of stay in Japan, such as international students, this is convenient because it eliminates the need to dispose of furniture and appliances. Also, in many cases, the management company of the share house will handle the communication with the landlord on your behalf, so you can live in peace without feeling a language barrier.

Rent prices for shared houses and rentals (living alone) in Sapporo

Here is a look at the rent rates for shared houses and rental properties for single people in Sapporo.

In the case of shared housing, rent is mainly between 25,000 yen and 50,000 yen per month, including common service fees, for properties in Sapporo. Some plans include utilities and Wi-Fi in the rent.

On the other hand, the rent for a one-room apartment in Sapporo ranges from 30,000 yen to 40,000 yen, and for a 1LDK type from 50,000 yen to 60,000 yen. Rent tends to be higher for properties close to train stations and properties that are newer.

In addition to rent, living alone also entails initial costs such as utilities, communication, and the purchase of furniture and appliances. Considering the total cost, a shared house is a great economic advantage.

Reference:Find information on rent and market rent in Hokkaido｜SUUMO

5 recommended share houses in Sapporo, Hokkaido

Here are five share houses in Sapporo that are recommended for foreign residents. All of these share houses have a large number of foreign residents, and many of the Japanese residents also speak English or wish to study English.

1. The World Apartment Co&Co Sapporo

The World Apartment Co&Co Sapporo is an international exchange share house located in Maruyama, a popular area of Sapporo. Many of the residents are non-Japanese, and you can interact with people of various nationalities. The house also hosts many social events for residents to interact with each other, making it perfect for those who want to enjoy living with friends.

For more information about The World Apartment Co&Co Sapporo, please contactclick here!

2.DK House Sapporo

DK House Sapporo is a very large share house with 89 rooms in total. There are many foreign residents, and Japanese who want to learn English and interact with foreigners. It is conveniently located within walking distance to Sapporo Station and Susukino, and there are many supermarkets and convenience stores nearby.

For more information about DK House Sapporo, please contactclick here!

3. TentoTen APARTMENT Maruyama

TentoTen APARTMENT Maruyama is a share house renovated from an 8-story office building, making it one of the largest properties in Sapporo. It is affiliated with a Japanese language school, so you can interact with people from all over the world. The location is also convenient in the popular Maruyama area.

For more information about TentoTen APARTMENT Maruyamaclick here!

4. TentoTen APARTMENT Gakuenmae

TentoTen APARTMENT Gakuenmae is a share house in the same family as TentoTen APARTMENT Maruyama introduced earlier. This property was renovated from a corporate dormitory, and is fully equipped with a kitchen and theater room.

For more information about TentoTen APARTMENT Gakuenmaeclick here!

5. shared house BUIE Aso

Share House BUIE Aso is a popular property of BUIE, which operates many popular share houses in Hokkaido. Many of the residents are repeat customers, and the residents are very friendly with each other. This property is a large 4-story share house, but BUIE also has other smaller share houses, so you can choose the one that suits you best.

For more details about Share House BUIE Asoclick here!

Serious employment support to help you realize your dream of working in Japan!

Do you want to work in Japan?
Let us "Goandup" make that dream a reality!

【 Program Features 】
✅ JLPT N3 level Japanese language acquisition
✅ Thorough preparation for the specific skills test
✅ Full support for job hunting in Japan

Business-focused one-on-one lessons will help you find a job in Japan in the shortest possible time.

【 Program Menu 】

  • Individual Japanese language lessons
    • Intensive curriculum to obtain N3, especially specialized lessons for business Japanese that can be used at work.

  • Preparation for the Specific Skills Test
    • Customized materials for specific skill tests will be used to focus on frequently asked questions and learning to pass the test.

  • Resume and CV support
    • To create resumes and CVs tailored to Japanese corporate culture, and to brush up on self-promotion and motivation for application.

  • Interview Preparation
    • Guidance on areas for improvement through mock interviews and feedback based on corporate interview scenarios. Learn interview etiquette and behavior unique to Japan.

  • career consulting
    • Provide introductions to companies that match the participant's career goals, select companies to apply to, and provide advice on the level of knowledge required by the companies to which the participant is applying.

  • Chat Support
    • In addition to one-on-one individual lessons, we also accept casual questions via DM (visa application, living support, assistance in finding a room, etc.).

If you are serious about your career in Japan, join us now!

▶︎ for more informationclick here.

We will do our best to support your success in Japan!

summary

In this issue, we introduced a share house for foreigners in Sapporo, Hokkaido. Although Sapporo is a large city, it is blessed with abundant nature and is an attractive place to enjoy outdoor activities and winter sports.

For foreign residents, Sapporo may not have as much information as Tokyo, but by living in a share house, you can not only live comfortably for a low rent, but also enjoy socializing with other residents.

We hope this will be helpful in your search for a share house in Sapporo. If you find a property you are interested in, please contact us to inquire.

  • Your support will help us!

  • Thank you for visiting Goandup Picks. Our mission is to provide you with more useful information to show the world what Japan has to offer.

    Your support will help us to further enhance our activities, so please support us!

  • ▶︎ Support is available atclick here!

    • Related Articles

    Goandup Picks for Expats > Lifestyle Support > Housing Search and Real Estate Information > 5 share houses for foreigners in Sapporo, Hokkaido! Explanation of rent rates and characteristics of the area.