Tokyo: nice neighborhoods to live in?

[captain murph]

Ok, time to delurk. Hi all!

I'm moving to Tokyo and am looking for suggestions on nice neighborhoods to live in. I'm looking for something relatively central and lively. I can live anywhere, as I work from my laptop.

Thanks for any advice!

[PopCulturePooka]

Tama Plaza
Aobadai
Fujigaoka

I lived in those three suburbs.
20 minutes south of Shibuya via the Denentoshi line. First 2 are express stations with major shopping centres.

Not quite 'central' but far enough to be peaceful when need be. Not dingy ratty places like some suburbs can be. Actually Tama Plaza is quite upmarket. Impressed the housewives that I lived there.

Also try Center Minami. Another nice place.

[erbiumfiber]

Do you want to live within the "23 wards" - Tokyo "city?" I lived in Nakano-ku, one ku over from Shinjuku. Not too expensive, nice people, families, real people. Now I live in Shibuya, specifically Hiroo. Expensive but nice, near my daughter's old school which is the only reason I moved. Near the restaurant district of Ebisu, one stop on the Yamanote sen away from "downtown Shibuya."

You can live in the 23 wards cheaply if you live in a small enough place- or bigger and older place. If you're looking for cheaper then go further out. For me, I work in Shinjuku and don't like commuting so I live close in...

[hapacheese]

Wait... When you say "nice" neighborhoods, do you mean something quaint? Something fancy? Something safe?

[Uh_oh]

I live in Den-en-chofu, which is "nice" although not lively. Most of the people living here are families, it's fairly quiet and not a lot of apartments (most people accutally have houses), mid range in cost and easy to get most places (that's the main reason we live here) 15-20 mins to Shibuya on the Toyoko Line, 30mins to Yokohama. Lots of places nearby to bike or run, if you like that. And very safe.

Although if you want central and lively, I would recomend Roppongi (used to live there). Nightclubs within walking distance of home (convinient for after the trains stop running), bit more expesive, still realitivly safe (compared to America, but still), but CROWDED. You have to live in an apartment if you want to live there.

[erbiumfiber]

What's your budget for a place- that will make a lot of difference in our advice...

[Kustom]

If you are rich, than the area near Tsukishima is where it's at...

For a nice subburbian neighbourhood, I absolutely loved Oomori where I lived for a year. Close to Shinagawa and Yokohama, on the Keihin Tohoku line which is really convenient, close to the sea... Plenty of new appartment blocks, so I'm sure there are opportunities to find something there for a decent price.

I live near Nakano and I don't really like it. It's really too quiet and unexciting compared to other places in or near Tokyo, and the Oedo line is inconvenient and fucking expensive...

[captain murph]

Thanks for all the replies!


Do you want to live within the "23 wards" - Tokyo "city?"

Yes.


Wait... When you say "nice" neighborhoods, do you mean something quaint? Something fancy? Something safe?

Heh, I left it generic enough, huh? I mean some place that isn't a dive, that is interesting. Quaint - would consider. Fancy - don't need it. Safe - I'm a guy and it's Japan, what's to worry. I mean something lively with lots of food, drink, etc. I'm not looking for something surburban.


What's your budget for a place- that will make a lot of difference in our advice...

~$1.5k/mo for a studio. I'm know it's going to be small, and I'm willing to trade size for neighborhood...

[hapacheese]

There's a lot of really nice places on the Toyoko Line, which comes out of Meguro... Or heck, Meguro/Naka-Meguro is really cool, too.

Actually, better than Roppongi would be somewhere like Azabu Jyuban (walking distance). The problem is, though, when you're around that area, the air pollution can get pretty bad =\

[captain murph]

There's a lot of really nice places on the Toyoko Line, which comes out of Meguro... Or heck, Meguro/Naka-Meguro is really cool, too.


I keep hearing that's a good neighborhood. What's the general flavor? If I wanted to walk around, what's the best direction relative to Meguro station?


Actually, better than Roppongi would be somewhere like Azabu Jyuban (walking distance). The problem is, though, when you're around that area, the air pollution can get pretty bad =\

Is that right? I visited there a few times and thought the food/nightlife selection was pretty nice. Why is the air pollution bad there in particular?

[hapacheese]

Hm... From the Meguro station, just take a walk down Yamanote-doori in either direction. If you're coming out of the JR station (Chuo-guchi), there should be a bank across the street diagonally. Get on the bus at the #6 (I think) bus stop, and ride it around. Should take you through some suburban areas. There's a lot of famous people that live there... Fujii Fumiya, Tamori, Kuwata Keisuke, etc.

As for Roppongi/air pollution, it's just near the downtown area, so there's a lot of traffic/trucks. I remember going for a jog around Tamachi station and getting back to my room and blowing my nose... It came out blackish. o_O