In a quiet neighborhood stands an old apartment building. Its manager has recently quit, and left the tenants to their own devices. Yusaku Godai of Room 5 is desperately trying to study in order to pass his college entrance exam after having failed it the previous year. But Godai is having trouble studying tonight and the reason just happens to be that his neighbors are having a party in his room.

Godai has been cursed with the neighbors from hell. The loud and obnoxious housewife, Mrs. Ichinose and her equally bratty son Kentaro live in Room 1. The sexy, alcoholic red-head, Akemi Roppongi of Room 6, and the mysterious pervert of Room 4 known only as Yotsuya. They are the bane of his existence. Constantly breaking into his room, stealing his food, and throwing parties in honor of his upcoming failure of the entrance exam, they do whatever they can to make his life miserable.

Having finally reached his breaking point, Godai decides the next morning that he is moving out. With no manager to keep the tenants under control, Maison Ikkoku is the absolute worst place he could choose to live. But suddenly a beautiful young woman appears in the doorway.



Her name is Kyoko Otonashi, and she announces that as of today, she will be the new manager of Maison Ikkoku. Godai instantly falls in love with her and decides that no matter what his neighbors put him through, staying at Maison Ikkoku with the lovely new manager is worth the trouble.



But Kyoko has secrets of her own, and as she settles into her new home she will build relationships with not only Godai, but the other tenants as well. Will fate bring she and Godai together, or do their destinies lie with others?