Housing
Accommodation for International Students
Niigata University offers the following accommodation options for international students: International student accommodation (Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University, International House) and Residence Halls (Rikka Hall and Ikarashi Hall). Eligibility differs by student status.
| Accommodation Options | Degree-seeking Students | Non-degree-seeking Students (Exchange Students & Research Students) | Period of Residence |
Monthly Rent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University | 〇 | 〇 |
Enrollment period (* 1) |
Depends on a selected apartment room |
| International House | － (* 2) |
－ (* 2) |
Enrollment period | 22,000 yen |
|
Residence Hall |
〇 |
△ |
In principle, starting from April or October, either by the end of the minimum period of study required for completion of study, or for two years, whichever comes earlier. | 13,000 yen |
|
Residence Hall |
〇 (* 4) |
－ | 4,300 yen |
*1：Even after the period of enrollment at Niigata University, you may continue to live in the same apartment room due to employment, etc. if you wish.
*2：International House is offered to the following international students:
・Japanese Studies Students or Teacher Training Students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program
・JICA trainees based on the consignment contract between Niigata University and JICA
・Others deemed necessary by the Director of International House
*3：Applications from non-degree-seeking students (Research Students) are accepted, but priority is given to degree-seeking students for admission. Only if the number of applications from degree-seeking students is below the number of rooms available, non-degree-seeking students (Research Students) will be added to the selection.
*4：Undergraduate students only. When the number of applicants exceeds the fixed number of rooms, newly enrolling undergraduate students will be given priority, and residents will be selected by lot.
*5：Initial cost of moving in is also required.
Each student can apply for only one accommodation option. However, international students who are newly admitted to Niigata University (excluding those who are going to higher education on campus) may apply to Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University if they are not permitted to enter the Residence Halls.
Accommodation for International Students
Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University and International House
Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University
Niigata University has contracted with the Niigata University Co-op to provide housing “Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University” and living support for international students newly enrolling into the university so that they can start their lives in Japan safely and comfortably.
Advantages of Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University
|
For more information about the Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University, please read the following.
■Eligibility
Students who meet all of the following conditions:
- Newly enrolling international students whose status of residence is "Student" or "Temporary Visitor*," excluding those who are going on to higher education within the university
*Those who enter Japan with “Temporary Visitor” status for the purpose of participating in a short program (less than 3 months) and who do not intend to change their status of residence during their stay in Japan
- Those who will stay in an apartment for more than one month
■How to make a reservation
Once you have been admitted to Niigata University, you will be notified of the URL of an exclusive website from the Student Affairs Office of your faculty/graduate school. Register your information on this site, and you will be able to search for and reserve an apartment room. If you have any questions, you can also make inquiries to the Co-op through this site.
Please refer to the next section for the dates when reservations are accepted and when you can move in.If you cancel your reservation after it has been made, you may be charged a cancellation fee. Please read the cancellation policy on the website thoroughly and make a reservation after careful consideration.
■Reservation start date and move-in date (as of February 2023)
| Reservation start date | Move-in start date | |
|---|---|---|
|
April enrollment |
Mid-February | Late March |
|
October enrollment |
Late August | Late September |
・ Reservation start date and move-in date will be specified for April and October enrollment due to the large number of international students enrolling in these months.
・ If you have already been admitted to the university and your enrollment date is not April or October, please follow the instructions of the Student Affairs Office of your faculty/graduate school regarding the reservation start date and other details.
・ 14 days are required from the reservation to the move in date. Please complete the reservation at least 14 days prior to the scheduled move-in date.
■Costs
・ The costs vary depending on the apartment, but in general the following price ranges are offered.
| Ikarashi area | Asahimachi area | |
|---|---|---|
| Initial cost |
23,500 yen |
|
|
Monthly rent |
25,000 yen - 45,000 yen |
35,000 yen - 55,000 yen |
- The initial cost includes: 8,500 yen per year for personal liability insurance, 10,000 yen per year for rent guarantee commission fee, and 5,000 yen for Co-op membership fee (to be returned upon completion of the study in Niigata University). The university will pay the deposit and brokerage fee.
- In the case of moving in at the middle of the month, for example, if you move in at the end of March in preparation for starting university on April 1st, no rent will be charged for the month if you stay in the apartment for 7 days or less that month; if you stay for 8 days or more, the rent will be charged on a pro-rated basis. In the case of moving out in the middle of a month, the rent for that month will be charged on a pro-rated basis.
- In principle, you pay the rent for the following month by the last day of the month.
■Period of residence
You can live in an apartment throughout your enrollment period.
If you remain in Japan legally with a valid status of residence after your enrollment period due to employment, etc., you may be able to continue to live in the same apartment if you wish. If you wish to do so, please contact the Co-op as soon as possible. Please note, however, that there may be cases in which your request is not met and you will be required to move to a different apartment.
■Notice
- There are some rooms for couples and families, but in general, the Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University are for singles only. It is not allowed to live with friends.
- It is prohibited to have anyone other than the resident live in the same room.
- The rooms are furnished with furniture and appliances, but you will need to prepare your own daily necessities (e.g. toilet paper, dishes, etc.) and meals by yourself. However, to help you on the day you move in, only one roll of toilet paper is provided in every room.
- If you move out, you will not be able to move into the Co-op Leased Apartment again and will not be eligible for this program (however, you may consult with the Co-op about finding an apartment). Please consider carefully which accommodation option you will use when you enter the university, and whether or not you will move to a private apartment after moving into a Co-op Leased Apartment.
Click HERE for Questions and Answers to help you better understand Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University.
Niigata University International House
International House is an accommodation for international exchange students and researchers located on Ikarashi Campus, Niigata University. It is offered to the following international students:
・Japanese Studies Students or Teacher Training Students under the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship Program
・JICA trainees based on the consignment contract between Niigata University and JICA
・Others deemed necessary by the Director of International House
Application guidelines will be provided through the Student Affairs Office of Faculty/ Graduate School only to the eligible.
International House: Accommodation for International Students (Facility Outline)
Single (38)/Double (2)/Family (1)/Other Multi-purpose room, Japanese-style room, library/study room
*Monthly accommodation fee (utilities charged at actual cost):
Single: 22,000 yen /Double: 29,200 yen/ Family: 35,700 yen
(Note) Accommodation fee is subject to change.
 |
Niigata University Residence Halls
|
Name |
Capacity | Eligibility | Capacity for International Students | Monthly Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rikka Hall |
Male Residents, 100 |
Male students of undergraduate or postgraduate programs | 20 |
Accomodaton fee: 13,000yen |
Single room 12.46㎡ |
| Female Residents, 100 |
Female students of undergraduate or postgraduate programs | 20 | |||
| Ikarashi Hall | Building A 200 |
Male students of undergraduate programs | 5 | Accommodation fee: 4,300 yen Utility expenses: 7,000 yen (variable) Annual membership fee for dormitory council: 2,000 yen |
Single room 9.45㎡ Restrooms, washbasins, bathrooms, kitchen, laundry facilities are shared Meals are not supplied No air-conditioner but heater in each room Internet access is available on an individual contract with designated provider. |
| Building B 200 |
Female students of undergraduate programs | 5 |
|
|
 Ikarashi Hall |
*At Rikka Hall, 10 units are available each for male and female students. A unit accommodates 10 residents. In general, residents will include 8 Japanese and 2 international students.
Application for April 2025
Application Period: Monday, February 3 – Friday, February 21, 2025
<< The application period for April 2025 move-in has ended >>
Information regarding applications for October 2025 move-in will be released in early July.
Application Guidelines
The necessary documents for application can be downloaded by clicking here.
Guidelines
Residence Hall Application
Family Structure and Household Income
Financial Circumstances Report
Information Sheet
Inquiries:
International Office, Niigata University
E-mail: intl-house@ge.niigata-u.ac.jp
!! NOTE !!
Residence Hall application will not guarantee acceptance.
The move-in date for April 2025 is Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Please note that you may not move into the dormitory before this date.
As explained at the top of this page, each student may apply for only one accommodation option. International students who plan to live in the dormitory are not allowed to apply for the Co-op Leased Apartments supported by Niigata University as a place to stay until you move into the dormitory on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. Please make your own arrangements with hotels near Niigata Station.
If you are a new student (excluding those who are going on to higher education) and not admitted as a resident at Niigata University’s Residence Hall, you may apply for Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University.
Private Apartments（Not Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University）
You can also look for a private apartment room and sign a contract with the apartment owner directly. However, please note that in this case you will NOT be able to receive any of the support provided by Co-op Leased Apartments Supported by Niigata University. Niigata University will NOT pay the part of the initial cost.
There are many private apartments for students close to Niigata University campuses.
Rental rates vary depending on factors such as the size, facilities and convenience.
Apartment rents in Niigata are lower compared to large cities such as Tokyo and Osaka.
Average Rent:
- Boarding house (with breakfast/dinner): 40,000 to 55,000 yen
- Apartment (6 to 8 tatami mats (approx. 9.7-13.0m2), shared bath and toilet): 15,000 to 20,000 yen
- Apartment (6 to 8 tatami mats (approx. 9.7-13.0m2), private bath and toilet): 25,000 to 55,000 yen
For foreigners considering renting an apartment, National Federation of Real Estate Transaction Associations provides “Guidebook for Tenants” online. This guidebook gives you useful information such as what to do when visiting the real estate agency, signing/ terminating a lease, and preparing for emergencies and disasters. The book is available in Japanese, Chinese, Hangul, Vietnamese, Spanish, Portuguese, and Nepali as PDF data.
Copies are also available at the International Office (Japanese, English, Chinese, Hangul, and Vietnamese only).
National Federation of Real Estate Transaction Associations: Guidebook for Tenants
When renting a private apartment in Japan, it is usually required to have a joint guarantor.
The system in which Niigata University serves as the joint guarantor for students enrolled in the Comprehensive Renter’s Insurance for International Students will no longer accept new applications after the end of August 2025.
For International Students Currently Using “Comprehensive Renter’s Insurance for International Students” System
Niigata University will continue to serve as the joint guarantor for international students currently enrolled in the “Comprehensive Renter’s Insurance for International Students” System until their graduation.
Please make sure to review the details of your current rental contract and the coverage period of the Comprehensive Renter's Insurance.
However, please note that if you move to a different apartment, the guarantee cannot be renewed, even if you are still enrolled at Niigata University. Besides, please note that if your residence status (Student) expires, or if you graduate, withdraw, or are no longer enrolled at Niigata University for any reason, the guarantee will end 31 days after your affiliation with the university ends.
Please promptly complete the necessary procedures at the International Office in the following cases:
- When you move to a new apartment
- When the expiration date of your Comprehensive Renter’s Insurance is approaching
- When there are changes to your rental agreement (e.g., change of co-occupants)
- When you renew or cancel your rental contract
- If there is an accident such as a fire or water leak in your apartment
- When you graduate, withdraw, or otherwise leave the university
- When you take a leave of absence from the university
For International Students Signing a New Private Apartment Lease Starting On or After September 1, 2025
If you are unable to find a joint guarantor, please use a private guarantor company.
The following companies provide multilingual support from the beginning of your lease until move-out.
Please note that the final decison regarding which guarantor company may be used rests with the landlord or real estate agency
Private Guarantor Companies:
- Global Trust Networks Co., Ltd.
Website: http://www.gtn.co.jp/ - J-LEASE Co., Ltd. (Niigata Branch)
Website: https://www.j-lease.jp/
For inquiries about joint guarantors, please consult the real estate agency handling your apartment contract.
Brokerage of Private Apartments
As a public organization, the International Office does not accommodate specific businesses or lessors, and do not engage in direct brokerage.
Information on private apartments are provided by Niigata University Co-op.
Click here for private apartment search on Niigata University Co-op site.
Click here for Niigata Takken Association housing search page.
You should have someone familiar with the Japanese customs accompany you when looking for an apartment. Apartments are not furnished. Click here for information on apartment search (source: 2008 Apartment Data (Niigata University Co-op))
Prefectural Housing
You can apply for apartments provided by Niigata Housing Supply Public Corporation, but application requires prior registration and results are determined by lottery. It may be an option if you intend to remain in Niigata for a long period after entering Japan, but not realistic if you are new to Japan.
Contact: Niigata Housing Supply Public Corporation