Godai is a ronin (someone who has failed university entrance exams) living in a run down apartment house called Maison Ikkoku. Among the other residents are the nosy Ichinose, the sexy Akemi Roppongi, and the mysterious Yotsuya. The others are given to having wild parties which makes it difficult for Godai to study. Into this mayhem comes the recently widowed Kyoko as the new live-in manager. Godai falls for her, but doesn't have the nerve to tell her. As time passes, their relationship slowly develops amid life at Maison Ikkoku, despite all sorts of romantic hurdles.
Episodes
Pressured by Yagami, her dad finally gives in and hands Godai a solid job offer. To everyone's astonishment, however, Godai hands the offer back saying that as much as it pains him, he wants to be more relied upon and find a job that he likes by himself.
After drinking with Sakamoto who celebrated by getting Godai's job, they wake up in debt in a cabaret. Having to pay off the debt, Godai is forced to work there in secrecy while looking for a permanent job.
Kyoko, still believing that Godai is working in daycare and looking for a job, begins to encourage Godai by making home-made lunch everyday. Having been laid off at daycare and working off his debt at the cabaret, Godai is pulled on whether to tell Kyoko the truth. To add insult to injuries, the looney gang discovers Godai's secret and decides to free load off of him at the cabaret every night and keep him in debt forever!
When Yagami finds out Godai's new line of work, she offers her services to help him pay off his debt at the cabaret. Yagami, however, is rejected because of her age and vows to settle the score with Kyoko. After a date with Mitaka, Kyoko meets Yagami in front of Ikkoku-kan and finds out the truth to Godai's newly-found employment.
As Godai tries to sort out the mess he got himself into, Mitaka takes Kyoko out on a date (to Kyoko's surprise) and vows that he will win her before Godai becomes a socially-acceptable man. Mitaka also goes to visit Asuna and finds himself in an unexpected situation in front of his and Asuna's parents.
Godai is forced to take care of Kasumi's kids (one of the cabaret's hostesses who ran away). As Godai and Kyoko search for her, they are left to wonder what they would do with her kids if they can't find her and she never comes back.
Kyoko is ready to go out for lunch with her parents, but is confused when Mitaka arrives to escort her. She learns that not only will her parents be there, but so will Mitaka's parents! Arriving at the hotel, they also discover that another unexpected guest has come along, sneaking into Mitaka's car before they left Ikkoku-kan: Kasumi's son, Taro. Kyoko calls home to tell Godai about Taro, and her tone of voice hints at a more serious problem for Godai. He rushes off to the hotel, bringing Hanako along (since nobody else at Ikkoku-kan is conscious enough to look after her). There, Godai finds Taro but looks on helplessly as Mitaka drives away with Kyoko to Yokohama. That evening, during dinner, he tells her that he's arranged a room for them at this hotel...
Worrying about Kyoko, Godai sits at the entrance of Ikkoku-kan. When Kyoko's father arrives in his car, he is shocked when Godai tells him that she left with Mitaka. The two men leave to search for her, before anything irrevocable might happen... In the restaurant, Mitaka sees Kyoko's unease, and suggests a walk outside. At the waterfront, Kyoko finally speaks up, and tearfully apologizes to Mitaka for letting this relationship drag on for so long. Meanwhile, Godai and Mr.Chigusa give up their search as dawn approaches. They arrive home, and find Kyoko sitting on the front-steps. Later, Kyoko tries to explain to Godai that ""nothing happened"" with Mitaka that night. However, that problem is set aside when Kasumi finally comes back to take her children home.
Frustrated that he is fighting a losing battle, Mitaka decides to duke it out with Godai for Kyoko's love. On a calm night inside the park, the two rivals prepares to engage in their ""duel of fate.""
Mitaka arrives at his apartment, and finds Asuna and Salad (her dog), waiting at the door. Drunk and falling asleep, he ends up falling on top of her, inadvertantly kissing her as they fall to the floor. The next morning, Mitaka wakes up in bed, with his clothes changed and breakfast waiting in the kitchen. He wonders what happened. Then remembers that Asuna was here... but she's gone now. Godai decides to stay for the next few days and nights at the cabaret where he works, so that he can study for the exams. It would probably be less distracting there than at Ikkoku-kan.
Asuna announces about pregnancy without saying whose. Her driver not being able to bear the rumors which may flying around, decides to tell Asuna's parents what happened that night. So, the wedding arrangement of Asuna Kujou and Shun Mitaka ""warps"". Afterwards, everybody find out that it's Asuna's dog, Salad, who got pregnant, but the arrangement has gone to the point where it's irreversible.
Kozue is invited to a dinner from her old classmate, who proposes to her. Her feeling sways between the classmate, and Godai. Next day, Kyoko is just about to leave to see how Godai is doing, when Kozue visits Ikkoku-kan. The two women head down to the cabaret. Kozue makes Godai go for a walk. She wants to talk about the proposal, but decides to put it off till Godai's exams are over. She kisses Godai, and leaves. The major problem is that Kyoko saw this kiss.
Kyoko is in shock after seeing Kozue kiss Godai. Goida returns to Ikkoku-kan after his exams are over. Before he leaves, the manager of the cabaret warns him that he's not good enough to handle two women at the same time. Godai has no idea why Kyoko seems to be mad at him. Kozue calls to ask Godai out for lunch. There, he finds out that another man proposed to her, but she doesn't know what Godai's feelings are. He tells her that when he graduates, he wants to propose to a lady (Kyoko) but Kozue misinterprets this to be her and decides to turn the other guy down. He walks home stunned. He explains what happened to Kyoko after she brings up the kiss and realizes how stupid he was. Surprising Godai, she kisses him. Godai tries to figure out how to tell Kozue the truth, but before he could, she barges into a New year's Party and cries out that Godai proposed to him. Kyoko's furious, slaps him, and then tells Godai to move out. He refuses. Kyoko decides to move out.
Kyoko's gone after the previous night's fiasco. He explains what happened to the loon squad and they force Godai to go get Kyoko back. Kyoko is moping at her parent's place. She exclaims that she'll never get married. Her mom then realizes that it's not Mitaka she's moping over, but another guy. Godai shows up, but Kyoko tells her mom not to let him in. He yells out to her what really happened, but Kyoko throws a pillow at him and forces him out. Being back home of course, makes her dad extremely happy. Godai keeps coming back to try to get Kyoko but she remains stubborn. Meanwhile, the apartment is turning into a mess. Godai is put in charge of the apartment after her dad convinces Otonashi that Kyoko isn't coming back.
Kyoko's upset at her dad for telling Otonashi that she quit her job. Meanwhile Godai is trying to clean up quickly to go to Kyoko's but the loon squad keeps partying and making a mess. Godai kicks them out of the apartment and they end up partying at Chachamaru where Kyoko coincidentally ends up at. Akemi tells Kyoko that she's stubborn, and threatens to seduce Godai to prove her point. Later that night, Godai receives a call from Akemi who says she's in trouble. When Godai runs to get her, he realizes that she's in a love hotel. Akemi wakes up and says she drank too much, the guy left and she needed someone to pay. They walk out, and a shocked Kozue sees them leaving together. The next morning, Akemi tells Godai that he should be happy now after she helped split them up. All attempts to reach Kozue are futile, and Akemi and Ichinose berate him for trying to prolong the misunderstanding to end everything on a happy note. Ichinse visits Kyoko to tell her that everything has worked out a
A shocked Kyoko ends up at Chachamaru where she sees Akemi. Akemi tells Kyoko the truth, that she did walk out of the hotel with Godai. When Godai and company walk in, she tells him that she hates him. Akemi explains to Master that even if she said nothing happened, she is so jealous that wouldn't believe her. Kyoko becomes irrational, and accuses Godai of sleeping around. Godai pats her gently on the cheek, and she runs out. Godai chases after her to return her jacket. He explains to her that Kyoko keeps forgetting one thing - that he loves her, always and forever. Later, Kozue meets Yotsuya on the train and learns the truth about the hotel. She comes to the cabaret to apologize, and Godai decides to apologize first, saying that he already has a woman he loves in his life. Kozue is relieved, because she already accepted another man's proposal. They part on a happy note.
It's the day that Godai's graduation exam results are announced. The tenants of Ikkoku-kan get ready for a ""too-bad"" party for Godai. The banner reads: ""Too Bad, Don't Cry, Godai-kun!!! You still have next year!"" After leaving the college for the last time, Godai visits Shienomi day care's principal to get a reference to get a job at some day care. After Godai leaves the principal tries to pick up a box and breaks his back. At the cabaret, Godai's boss throws a cerebration party. Godai tries to call Ikkoku-kan twice in vain (nobody in Ikkoku-kan could hear the ring, because they are too busy partying). After he comes back, he proudly announces that he graduated, to the surprise of the tenants.
Kyoko goes to visit her sick father, and finds that he's very ill. At the Acorn Daycare Godai listen to his co-workers discussing marriage and decides he'd best begin to think about how he will propose to Kyoko. Kyoko has been wondering the same thing herself and keeps waiting and waiting for Godai to get around to asking. Her father is deadset against Kyoko getting married again and suddenly disappears from his sickbed in an attempt to do something about it. Kyoko calls Godai at the daycare to get him to look out for Mr. Chigusa should he show up, but later that night Godai is at the Bunny Cabaret and there is still no sign of him. That night just so happens to be Godai's last night at the cabaret and as he is giving the children presents that he's made for them, Mr. Chigusa arrives and promptly passes out. After waking up and having a few drinks with Godai's co-workers at his going-away party, Mr. Chigusa passes out drunk. As they walk back to Kyoko's parents house, Godai decides now is the time to propose to Kyoko. He asks her to marry him and she stops in her tracks and asks him to promise her just one thing; that he will outlive her. After losing Soichiro she knows she can't go through being alone again. Godai swears, and Mr. Chigusa wakes up and tells Kyoko that even if something happened she could always come back home, that she'll never be alone. Kyoko cries and hugs Godai and her father.
Godai decides that it's time for Kyoko to finally meet his parents. A bit nervously, he phones home (his parents don't know about Kyoko yet). His grandma helps things along by inviting them to come over (to Nigata Prefecture) right away - tomorrow. They take the train, and then taxi to the restaurant (and home) where Godai's Grandma and parents live. Later that evening, Grandma loans some money to Godai so that he can afford the wedding; then she gives an engagement ring to Kyoko. With the snow falling outside, all is well. Then there is a knock at the door downstairs. Godai goes to answer, and it's none other than Yotsuya, Akemi and Ichinose! So much for a quiet night...
With their wedding fast approaching Kyoko and Godai are both cleaning out their rooms in preparation for moving in together. Kyoko finds an old box of Soichiro's personal items and Akemi and Mrs. Ichinose share it with Godai. Kyoko is embarrassed but Godai smiles politely and admits he has never seen a picture of Kyoko's late husband before and that he looks like a very kind man. That night both Kyoko and he are thinking about Soichiro. Kyoko decides that she is going to return Soichiro's belongings to his father, and Godai begins to wonder if he can measure up to the memory of her beloved first husband. The next day, Kyoko visits Soichiro's grave to pay her final respects and finds Godai there, praying. Yusaku tells Soichiro that he hopes to have his blessing for their marriage. Kyoko is moved to tears, and the couple stand before Soichiro's graves holding hands, ready to move ahead with their new life together. No one can contain their excitement as Yusaku and Kyoko's wedding day has arrived. Everyone comes to pay their respects and to get a look at the happy couple. Kyoko is beautiful in her wedding dress, and both Mr. Chigusa and Mr. Otonashi are in tears just from looking at her. Ikuko and Kentaro meet again after not seeing each other for a long time, and Sakamoto even cuts out of work to attend. Later at the reception Mitaka and Asuna arrive after a visit to the hospital. Asuna is very pregnant, and she and Shun are extremely happy together. Godai gives a speech thanking everyone for taking care of him all these years and asks for their continued support. The story flashes forward as Yusaku reveals the fates of Kozue, Ibuki, Shun and Asuna, Master and Akemi. Finally everyone arrives back at Maison Ikkoku anxiously awaiting Yusaku and Kyoko's return from the hospital. As the taxi pulls up the happy couple steps out with their new baby, Haruka. Everyone welcomes her to her new home as the series ends.
