Gaijin Houses in Kobe: Cheap Share Houses for Foreigners Compared (2026)

Last checked: 3 November 2026

Looking for a cheap gaijin house in Kobe? There are a handful of furnished share houses in and around the city that take foreign residents, students and working-holiday visitors. Prices, fees and rules differ a lot between them.

"Gaijin house" is an older, informal term for a foreigner-friendly share house. Our share house guide for Osaka explains the idea in more detail.

This guide compares six operators and houses in Kobe and the area between Kobe and Osaka. All numbers come from the operators' own pages, checked on 3 November 2026. Prices change and rooms fill up, so confirm everything on the operator's page before you book.

Are There Gaijin Houses in Kobe? Quick Answer

Yes. Here are the six operators and houses covered in this guide:

• Borderless House Kobe-Motomachi (Chuo-ku, near Motomachi): from ¥51,000 plus utilities.
• C's share | The Maison (three Hyogo houses): The Maison Studio Kobe (Sumiyoshi), Stella (Nishinomiya) and The Maison Hankyu Tsukaguchi (Amagasaki), from ¥35,000 plus monthly fees.
• Kobe Stockers (Kitano and Uozaki): dorm beds from ¥28,000 including utilities.
• WARAI (Tarumi-ku): from ¥38,000 plus ¥10,000 utilities.
• J&F House Kansai 2 Osaka HUB (Amagasaki): ¥36,000 per person including fees, for dorm rooms shared by two.
• Oakhouse GRAN KOBE (Uozaki): from ¥52,000 plus ¥20,000 maintenance fee.

Prices below are as listed on each operator's site on 3 November 2026. Check the operator page for current figures.

Where to Find a Cheap Gaijin House in Kobe

The lowest listed prices, as shown on 3 November 2026, are:

• Kobe Stockers dorm beds: ¥28,000–¥32,000 a month, including utilities, common fees and Wi-Fi.
• J&F House Kansai 2 dorm: ¥36,000 per person including fees. Two people share a room and you can't move in alone, so you need a partner or friend. The house is technically in Amagasaki, not Kobe.
• C's share Stella (Nishinomiya): rent from ¥35,000, plus monthly fees. It is women only.
• WARAI: rent from ¥38,000, plus ¥10,000 for utilities and internet.

Compare total monthly cost rather than rent alone. That means the rent plus every fixed monthly fee. C's share lists a utility charge of ¥14,000, a payment fee of ¥800, fire insurance of ¥500 and a guarantee charge of ¥1,000. Those fees add up to ¥16,300 on top of the rent. So:

• Stella at ¥35,000 rent comes to ¥51,300 a month.
• The Maison Studio Kobe at ¥48,000 rent comes to ¥64,300 a month.
• WARAI at ¥38,000 rent plus ¥10,000 utilities comes to ¥48,000 a month. For stays of three months or more, fire insurance is about ¥9,000–¥11,000 a year on top, signed directly with the insurance agency.

Also add the one-time costs. C's share, for example, charges a ¥30,000 official commission, and its FAQ gives a first-payment guideline of about ¥100,000–¥130,000.

Kobe Share House Operators Compared

1. Borderless House Kobe-Motomachi

• Area and station: a 4-minute walk from JR/Hanshin Motomachi and a 3-minute walk from Kobe Subway Kenchomae. According to the listing, Sannomiya is about a 15-minute walk. It is the only house in Borderless's Kobe area list.
• Rent: "Room for 1" is ¥61,000–¥64,000 a month plus ¥13,000 for utilities and internet. "Room for 2" beds are listed one by one at ¥51,000–¥52,000 each, plus ¥10,000, so that price is per person in a shared room.
• Fees: key money ¥30,000, a non-refundable cleaning fee of ¥15,000, and the prorated first month's rent and utilities. If you move in on or after the 20th, the next month is also due. A bedding set is optional at ¥12,000, one time.
• Contract terms: minimum stay 1 month. The initial contract is typically about 11 months, and you give 30 days' notice to move out. Renewal needs 60 days' notice and a ¥10,000 recontract fee. Payment is due within 3 business days of the confirmation email.
• Language and residents: residents are described as aged 18 to 35. Borderless's FAQ says many residents don't speak the local language, and many of the Japanese housemates like using English.
• Who each bed is open to: the vacancy table has a gender column and an "Applicable Nationalities" column. On 3 November 2026, the only bed listed as opening (from 8 November) was for a man of Japanese nationality, so a vacancy may not be open to you. Check both columns before you apply.
• Apply: each room has an online reservation form, and there is a room-viewing form on the house page. You can also use Messenger. The office is open Monday to Saturday, 10:00–17:00.
• Official page: Borderless House Kobe-Motomachi. See also the reservation process and FAQ.

2. C's share | The Maison (3 Hyogo houses)

C's share is a Kansai operator with three Hyogo properties in this guide:

• The Maison Studio Kobe (Sumiyoshi, Higashinada-ku): rent ¥48,000–¥50,000. It has 30 rooms of 13.5㎡, each with its own bathroom and toilet. It is a 3-minute walk from JR Sumiyoshi. According to the operator, it is 7 minutes to Kobe-Sannomiya and 20 minutes to Umeda by train. Mixed gender, ages 18–39, foreigners OK.
• Stella C's share Nishinomiya-kitaguchi Music (Nishinomiya): rent ¥35,000–¥58,000. Women only, ages 18–39. It is a 2-minute walk from Hankyu Nishinomiya-kitaguchi and, according to the operator, 18 minutes to Umeda. The music room costs ¥3,000 a month.
• The Maison Hankyu Tsukaguchi (Amagasaki): rent ¥45,000–¥52,000, 46 rooms, mixed 18–39. It is a 9-minute walk from Hankyu Tsukaguchi. According to the operator, it is about 12 minutes to Umeda and about 23 minutes to Sannomiya. The page says it is "available for stays from one month".

Fees (all three houses): - A one-time official commission of ¥30,000, plus screening. - No deposit and no key money. - No guarantor is required for foreign residents; you pay the ¥1,000 monthly guarantee charge instead. You are still screened, both by C's share's own system and by a guarantee company's credit check, and the FAQ says an application may be rejected without a reason. - Monthly fees on top of rent: utility charge ¥14,000, payment fee ¥800, fire insurance ¥500 and guarantee charge ¥1,000.

Contract terms and language: - The FAQ says foreigners can rent if they will stay in Japan for 3 months or longer. - The contract is in principle 3 months or more, and 6 months or more for some houses. - Lease documents come in English, Korean and Chinese, but day-to-day communication is mostly in Japanese. - You can reserve up to one month ahead with a deposit of one month's rent. If you cancel after reserving, that deposit is kept as a cancellation penalty and is not refunded. - To end the lease, you submit a move-out application at least 30 days ahead, and rent is charged for 30 days from that date.

Official pages: Studio Kobe, Stella, Tsukaguchi, FAQ and Hyogo list.

3. Kobe Stockers

• Area: a small local operator with two houses. Kitano is in Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, which the operator describes as central Kobe near Sannomiya. Uozaki is in Uozaki-minamimachi, Higashinada-ku, which the operator describes as a suburb in east Kobe with fast train access to Sannomiya; its directions start from Hanshin Uozaki Station. Ask for walking times when you enquire.
• Rent: private rooms are ¥45,000–¥59,000 a month and dorm beds are ¥28,000–¥32,000. Utilities, common fees and Wi-Fi are included.
• Fees: no key money, no shikikin/reikin deposits and no agency fee. There is a ¥30,000 deposit (reservation money), refunded minus ¥5,000 cleaning when you move out. Fire insurance is extra: ¥600 a month for private rooms and ¥200 for dorm beds.
• Contract terms: minimum stay is 15 nights, and half-month rates exist. The Japanese page states that residents are aged 45 or under. Ask about the move-out notice period before you book.
• Language and apply: there is a short English page. It asks you to call or email to arrange a visit.
• Official pages: Kobe Stockers, English page, Kitano and Uozaki.

4. WARAI

• Area: five houses in Tarumi-ku, run by the owner. Organic (6-minute walk from JR/Sanyo Tarumi, mixed), Grand Blue (6-minute walk from JR Maiko or Sanyo Maiko-koen, mixed), Arch (same area, women only), Garden (4 minutes from Sanyo Kasumigaoka, women only) and Ocean (2 minutes from Sanyo Kasumigaoka, mixed).
• Rent: ¥38,000–¥65,000 a month. The listed ranges include occupied rooms, so not every price is available now. All rooms are private; there are no dorms.
• Fees: utilities and internet are ¥10,000 a month, charged separately. The initial cost is prorated rent and monthly fees, plus a ¥10,000 administration fee, a ¥20,000 deposit and fire insurance (about ¥9,000–¥11,000 a year, signed directly with the insurance agency). The operator's example for a ¥45,000 room is ¥95,000 if you move in on the 1st. The deposit is refunded in full when you move out, unless there is damage not covered by insurance.
• No guarantor? The page says that if you don't have a guarantor, a security deposit and key money are required, and to contact WARAI for details. Ask for the exact amounts before you book.
• Minimum stay (per house): Organic 2 weeks; Grand Blue and Arch 1 month; Garden and Ocean 3 months.
• Shorter stays cost more: for stays of 1–3 months, rent is 10% higher, fire insurance is ¥1,500 a month, and utilities are charged at fixed daily rates (¥300–¥500 a day depending on the season) plus internet at ¥70 a day. Stays of less than one month are charged as a trial stay at ¥3,500 a night (bedding included) plus ¥1,500 fire insurance.
• Language and apply: international residents are welcome. Online viewings are available by Zoom, Messenger or LINE. A limited rent discount exists for native-level English speakers staying 6 months or more at Organic and Grand Blue, for one resident in each house.
• Travel: the Japanese page says Kobe in 15 minutes and Osaka in 48 minutes.
• Official pages: vacant room info, English welcome page and Japanese top page.

5. J&F House Kansai 2 Osaka HUB

• Area and station: 4-3-10 Minami-Mukonoso, Amagasaki. It is about a 10-minute walk from Hankyu Mukonoso. According to the operator, it is 15 minutes to Umeda.
• Rent: the official listing shows rent of ¥26,000–¥40,000 plus a common fee of ¥10,000–¥18,000. The Japanese landing page gives prices including common fee and utilities: dorm ¥36,000 per person (two per room, and you cannot move in alone) and private rooms ¥53,000–¥63,000.
• Fees: the entrance fee is ¥30,000 (non-refundable). Deposit and key money are ¥0. The landing page says the initial cost is one month's rent plus the entrance fee.
• Contract terms: minimum stay 1 month. Monthly rent is paid through a rent guarantee company. Registration and screening happen online and take about 2–3 days. The guarantee company step may be unnecessary if you pay a fixed stay in full upfront.
• Language and gender: the landing page says enquiries are handled in Japanese or English, and each unit is single-gender.
• Official pages: J&F Plaza listing and landing page.

6. Oakhouse GRAN KOBE

• Area and station: Uozaki, Higashinada-ku. It is a 5-minute walk from Hanshin Uozaki and Rokko Liner Uozaki. According to the operator, Sannomiya is 15 minutes away and Osaka about 30 minutes. The page also lists 25 minutes to Osaka-Umeda on the Hanshin line.
• Rent: single rooms are ¥52,000–¥56,000 a month plus a ¥20,000 maintenance fee.
• Fees: a one-time contract fee of ¥50,000. There is no security deposit, no key money, no brokerage fee and no guarantor or guarantor company.
• Contract terms: foreign residents are allowed, and the house is listed as short-term/monthly available. The house page doesn't state a minimum stay, so ask Oakhouse before you book. Shared facilities such as a theater and gym are mentioned.
• Official page: Oakhouse GRAN KOBE. The page was last updated on 3 November 2026.

Which Kobe Area Suits You?

Sannomiya & Motomachi

This is the central option. Borderless House Kobe-Motomachi is a 4-minute walk from Motomachi, and the listing says Sannomiya is about a 15-minute walk. Kobe Stockers Kitano is also in Chuo-ku (Kitano-cho). Stockers is cheaper on paper, with dorm beds from ¥28,000 including utilities, but it states an age limit of 45 or under.

Higashinada (Sumiyoshi & Uozaki)

Three houses are here. According to the operator, The Maison Studio Kobe is 7 minutes to Sannomiya and 20 minutes to Umeda. Oakhouse GRAN KOBE is 15 minutes to Sannomiya and about 30 minutes to Osaka, according to the operator. Kobe Stockers Uozaki is also in the area; the operator says it has fast train access to Sannomiya.

Tarumi & Maiko

WARAI's five houses are on the seaside west of central Kobe. The operator's Japanese page says Kobe in 15 minutes and Osaka in 48 minutes. Walks to the stations are 2–6 minutes, depending on the house. Minimum stays differ by house (2 weeks to 3 months), so pick the house before you plan your dates.

Between Kobe and Osaka (Nishinomiya & Amagasaki)

Three houses sit on the Hankyu side, closer to Osaka: - Stella (Nishinomiya): according to the operator, 18 minutes to Umeda. - The Maison Hankyu Tsukaguchi: according to the operator, about 12 minutes to Umeda and about 23 minutes to Sannomiya. - J&F Kansai 2 Osaka HUB: according to the operator, 15 minutes to Umeda.

Contract Terms to Check Before You Book

• Minimum stay: 15 nights at Kobe Stockers; 1 month at Borderless and J&F; 2 weeks to 3 months at WARAI depending on the house; 3 months or more in principle at C's share (Tsukaguchi says from one month). The Oakhouse house page doesn't give a number, so ask.
• Notice period: Borderless and C's share both ask for 30 days' notice to move out. For the others, ask before you sign.
• Deposit refund: Kobe Stockers refunds its ¥30,000 minus ¥5,000 cleaning. WARAI refunds its ¥20,000 in full unless there is damage not covered by insurance. Borderless's ¥15,000 cleaning fee and J&F's ¥30,000 entrance fee are non-refundable.
• Age limits: C's share is 18–39, Borderless residents are described as 18–35, and Kobe Stockers states 45 or under on its Japanese page. For the other operators, ask when you enquire.
• Guarantor and guarantee company: Oakhouse says no guarantor or guarantor company. C's share needs no guarantor for foreign residents but runs a guarantee-company credit check and charges ¥1,000 a month. J&F collects rent through a guarantee company (screening takes about 2–3 days). WARAI asks for a security deposit and key money if you have no guarantor. For the others, ask.
• Utilities: included at Kobe Stockers and in J&F's landing-page prices. Separate at WARAI (¥10,000), Borderless (¥10,000–¥13,000), C's share (¥14,000) and Oakhouse (¥20,000 maintenance fee).
• Fire insurance: ¥500 a month at C's share, ¥600 or ¥200 a month at Kobe Stockers, and at WARAI about ¥9,000–¥11,000 a year (¥1,500 a month for stays under three months). For the others, ask whether it is included.

How to Apply from Overseas or in Japan

Step 1: Shortlist. Compare total monthly cost, initial costs and minimum stay using the table above. Check the age limit and whether the house is mixed or women only.

Step 2: Contact the operator. Borderless has a per-room reservation form and Messenger. Kobe Stockers uses email. WARAI offers Zoom, Messenger or LINE for viewings, and J&F's guarantee-company registration is done online. For C's share, viewings are by reservation, with online viewings and web interviews for people overseas. Oakhouse lists the house on its English site.

Step 3: Arrange a viewing. WARAI offers online viewings by Zoom, Messenger or LINE. Borderless has a room-viewing form. Kobe Stockers arranges viewings individually.

Step 4: Prepare your documents. C's share asks for a bank account, a copy of your residence card and your passport. Borderless asks for a copy of your ID with the initial payment, after a pre-move-in Zoom call. For the others, ask what they need when you contact them.

Step 5: Pay the initial cost and move in. Borderless asks for payment within 3 business days of the confirmation email. J&F says screening takes about 2–3 days. After you arrive, remember to register your address within 14 days. Our renting guide for foreigners covers that step.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a gaijin house the same as a share house? Mostly. "Gaijin house" is an older informal term for share houses that welcome foreigners. The operators above call their properties share houses.

What is the cheapest option? By listed price, Kobe Stockers dorm beds at ¥28,000–¥32,000 a month, including utilities, as of 3 November 2026. J&F's ¥36,000 dorm needs two people and is in Amagasaki. Check the operator page for current prices.

Can I stay just one month? Some places say yes. Borderless and J&F list a 1-month minimum, and Kobe Stockers lists 15 nights. At WARAI, Organic takes stays from 2 weeks and Grand Blue and Arch from 1 month, but stays of 1–3 months cost 10% more, and stays under 1 month are ¥3,500 per night. C's share says 3 months or more in principle, though its Tsukaguchi page says stays from one month.

Do I need a guarantor? Not always, but you may be screened. Oakhouse says no guarantor. C's share needs no guarantor for foreign residents but runs a guarantee-company credit check. J&F collects rent through a guarantee company. WARAI asks for a security deposit and key money if you have no guarantor. For the others, ask before you book.

Do I need Japanese? Not always, but check each operator. C's share offers lease documents in English, Korean and Chinese, though day-to-day communication is mostly Japanese. Borderless's FAQ says many residents don't speak the local language. J&F handles enquiries in Japanese or English. WARAI welcomes international residents and offers online viewings. Kobe Stockers has a short English page.

Are there women-only options in Kobe? Yes. Stella (Nishinomiya) is women only. WARAI's Arch and Garden are women only. Borderless Kobe-Motomachi labels some rooms as female.

Can I commute to Osaka? According to the operators, Oakhouse GRAN KOBE is about 30 minutes to Osaka, Studio Kobe is 20 minutes to Umeda, and the Amagasaki and Nishinomiya houses are 12–18 minutes to Umeda. WARAI's Japanese page says 48 minutes.

Final Thoughts

The cheapest Kobe share houses have trade-offs. Dorm beds need you to share a room, women-only houses limit who can apply, and some low rents come with monthly fees that change the total. Compare total monthly cost and initial costs, and confirm the details with the operator before you pay anything.

Next, see these guides: - Share house guide for Osaka - Where to stay in Osaka by area - Living in Japan articles