Kanto's Hottest City Rankings and what that means for renters

If you've been browsing apartments in Greater Tokyo and wondering whether your instincts are changing, you're not imagining it. According to the Kanto Top 100 Hottest Cities Annual Ranking 2026 by Nifty Real Estate, search behavior among renters is shifting in noticeable ways.

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The survey used rental search and viewing data from its real estate website and app to analyze demand across the wider Kanto region, and rather than zeroing in on traditional city-center hotspots, renters are increasingly gravitating toward places that offer better value, comfort, and commute-friendly access.

For the second year in a row, Kawasaki topped the ranking. From an expat perspective I think the appeal is pretty obvious, since there are excellent transport links into central Tokyo, but lower average rents than nearby Tokyo wards. Basically, you've got much of the convenience of Tokyo without the same price tag.

The survey also highlighted rising interest in neighborhoods just outside the core, such as Koenji and Kasai, while some long-established faves like Ikebukuro and Kichijoji slipped down because of rising rents. Beyond Tokyo, areas like Urayasu, Omiya, and even Utsunomiya are gaining attention, so it seems like people are doing a broader rethink of what living well in the Kanto region actually looks like.