I have done the Gaijin house routine before. I lived in one for one year. Living conditions were quite good actually. Our house was full of Aikidoka doing a course with the Tokyo Riot Police so they wanted quiet at night. It was. What I paid to live there was appalling (65,000 a month with a utilities limit). That is 12,500 more than I pay now for the apartment my wife and I share which is almost 1000% bigger. The apartment is much nicer.

Live out west. Land is cheaper. That means rent is cheaper. Also, the further from the train station you are, the cheaper your rent is. Oh, one more thing, foreigners can get apartments. That is the great thing about this recession.

Our 50 sqm flat is 105 000 a month (52 500 each between my wife and I). It is the nicest place I've lived in during my time in Tokyo. You can do even better, though. A reasonable dump can be yours from around 35 000 a month. This probably won't get you a bath or shower but you will be saving 1 080 000 yen more than us per year and will be able to afford 2 baths in the house you will buy back home:)

As far as I know, the best place to find accomodation on the net is through the stinking bastards at www.tokyoclassified.com.

News of the Evil:
Biotech companies to farmers: "Buy our products or we'll sue your ass!"