Looking for 3LDK for under Y130,000

[zardoz]

...that's my rough budget. I'm in western Tokyo now, living in Musashi Sakai, on the Chuo line. My wife and little baby require a pretty large apartment--a 3LDK--though a 3LDK might do the trick.

Thing is I'm having a hard time finding anything under 130,000, most are a lot more. I've learned that "close to the station" is a lot more important than "close to the city center (Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya, Shinagawa, etc.). So we're willing to live in further-flung areas, like eastern Tokyo, Kawasaki/Yokohama, Saitama, etc as long as we can find something close to the station.

Looking online, I have yet to find any agencies with apartment listings in more suburban areas...any ideas on where to look?

[SeGee]

130.000.. Then u better move to Hachioji then.
And go through a japanese agency. not sakura house or whatnot. They are over charged and ____.

[kuttielephant]

How about UR?

kanamachi or Matsudo

[ロールケーキ]

Definitely have a look at UR and JKK (government-run agencies which have quite decent buildings all over Tokyo- no key money, agency fee or renewal fee, just a deposit), but even with them there is no way you will find a 3LDK for 130,000 anywhere on the Chuo line before about Hachioji, unless it's 40 years old. Head north or east (Kita ward, Nerima, Edogawa, Arakawa, Adachi, Katsushika), and off the JR lines to find cheaper places. Your nearest UR office is near the south exit of Mitaka station.

[Herbert]

Have a friend who pays about 110,000 for a 4LDK near
Chofu / Mitaka. There are plenty out there.
You need to have Japanese skills and google
and you can find 一戸建て for under 130,000
I guaruntee you there are many, and some
with no shikikin or reikin

a 10 second google search gives you this,
140,000 and 2 months shiki / rei.

http://www.r-chintai.jp/detail.php?codes[]=974815&dsearch=1

[Majestic]

Yahoo 不動産　is your friend.

Plug in all your conditions, and you can get a number of listings. I put in:
1. Rent of 130,000 (or less)
2. 3LDK or 4LDK
3. Chofu, Musashino, Mitaka
4. Within 10 minutes of the station

and got 31 listings. Cast the net wider and you'll get hundreds, I'm sure. It's a renter's market out there, so you should be able to find something without too much hassle. There's even a 4-bedroom house for rent with garage available. Here are the search results (hope the link comes out right) >> Yahoo Search.

[issen]

Try to see http://www.tokyorent.com/mikan/apartments.shtml
no key money and agents fees