Help with Tokyo Geography!

[sjcarpediem]

Hey, all!

I may be moving to Tokyo next month (from Kansai) and know NOTHING about the geography.  What wards should I start looking in for affordabe/decent housing???

My definition of affordable/decent (knowing NOTHING about living in Kanto) :

•  6-8man/month maybe 9
• I'm sure everywhere is w/i 10-15 minutes of a train station, right (since I

Comments

[hinoai]

If you're moving here for work or school, I recommending looking along the same train lines as your school/work. Other than that, it's really a personal preference. It's just that travelling in Tokyo can take a long time if you have to switch trains a lot, and it's crowded, so it helps to be near the place that you're going to be traveling to the most.

I also recommend visitng before moving. That way, you can explore the area that you're most interested in. Many of the things that you wrote (park, nightlife), can be found in most areas. Where I live there are tons of tiny parks, a big on a ten minute walk away, and no nightlife. But if you walk to the other side of the station there's plenty of nightlife going on. So it's really a tossup.

[xoxokristin]

I always liked the Tokyu Toyoko Line which is Meguro-ku 世田谷区. I lived on the Yamanote myself but worked on the Toyoko and all of my co-workers enjoyed it. Suburban with lots of families, clean, with all the conveniences and easy access to Shibuya. It can get pricey but obviously, the further away you get from Tokyo the cheaper it becomes (with the exception of Den-En-Chofu). Although Setagaya-ku 世田谷区 would probably be cheaper and also matches your requirements. I've lived in Komazawa Daigaku and it's got a huge park, plenty of super markets, etc. This ward would be served by the Tokyu Den-En-Toshi line and also provides easy access to Shibuya. I just don't like it as much because I like Daikanyama, Nakameguro and Jiyugaoka on the Toyoko line, which are kind of hip and trendy areas without being too intense, while Setagaya-ku only really has Shimokitazawa for character.

[xoxokristin]

Sorry bad copy and paste skills, Meguro-ku is this 目黒区

I'm sure other people will weigh in on this. But it is really helpful to live on the line that you work on!

[februaryfour]

If you are going to be in the NW side of Tokyo, I agree, the Tobu-Tojo line can be pretty kick-ass. I used to live in Shiki (20 minutes on the express). Unfortunately, my commute was too long for me (I had to give myself 1 hour 15 minutes to Shinagawa during the morning rush hour) and I had to move before I had a mental breakdown. If you find yourself on the NW side of Tokyo for school/work, yes, take a look at the Tobu-Tojo. If you are anywhere further than 5 stops from Ikebukuro on the Yamanote, I would reconsider.

[angelachibayuy]

I live in Saginuma which is only 20 mins by train from Shibuya. Great area, on the express line and is both city/suburban feel. Average rent is 6.5 from what I have heard, though I have a 2k that allows pets for 5man but that was an awesome find and I don't mind living in an older building.

Most apartments (unless you use something like Lions or Leopalace *shudder*) will not come furnished but that is what recycle shops are for ^^

[ruwell_marianne]

I have a special interest in Sento (public bathhouses), so I searched in the nortern parts of Tokyo like Arakawa-ku 荒川区, Kita-ku 北区, Taito-ku 台東区 or 墨田区 . They are more traditional (i.e. older) and therefor have a higher Sento density as well as being real cozy and comparatively cheap. I lived in Machiya 町屋 and would move there again any time. I think the northern parts of Tokyo are much more quiet and homey than the loud and hectic stylish quarters like Shibuya or my personal horror Ikebukoro.