Most connected neighbourhood to live in

33 comments

1. Couldn’t you just look at a transit map and see which stop had the largest amount of different train lines?

2. Ebisu, Shimokita, Kichijoji…pretty much anywhere on the west side of the Yamanote ticks most of those boxes. The worry becomes how crowded the trains will be, not really about fewer connections tbh.

3. [deleted]

4. I wouldn’t want to live IN either Shibuya or Shinjuku just because they are always so crowded. Sure you have practically every option under the sun in terms of entertainment, but day to day life kinda becomes bothersome. I can’t think of a livable supermarket, dry cleaner, post office, etc in a nearby area.

   I used to live in Takadanobaba, two stops away from Shinjuku on the Yamanote, close enough to “go out”, but far away enough from the hustle and bustle of it.

5. I can recommend Ebisu! Have enough nightlife/restaurants to enjoy on its own but if you want more, Shibuya is just one station away but you can even walk there (around 15-20 min). Even if you miss the last train, taxi is 1000-1500 yen or again, just walk.

   Garden place has supermarkets (although it’s Life so not the cheapest but it’s Ebisu eh) but Hiroo is close enough if you fancy imported stuff (National Azabu supermarket). Toranomon, Roppongi is few stations away but can take a bycicle to both on nicer days.

   So all in all really well connected but still not in THE middle that makes it suffocating due to tourists etc.

   edit: Nakameguro/Daikanyama is also walking distance for a nice date/cafe/restaurant etc.

6. You mentioned ebisu, which is near my area but depending on your transit needs you may want to check Osaki/Gotanda.

   It has JR line (to Tokyo obviously), Rinkai line (To Odaiba), Osaki hirokouji station (connecting to oimachi/den en toshi line to futako area), Saikyo line (to shinjuku up north and Ebina down south) and toukaido sen (Yokohama/Saitama).

7. >have a drink a few times a week

   Then Ebisu, where you can just walk back home any time from Shibuya (or, Ebisu itself), would be a highly recommended option. You also have direct train+roads to Shinjuku, Roppongi, etc. so train/taxi back home would be easy as well.

8. Depends what’s important for you.

   For me I wouldn’t consider any of the big stations cause I don’t like overcrowded stations to go out and back home.

   I also like stations with a lot of essentials shops (supermarkets, pharmacies etc..) at a decent price and not overpriced because it’s not a residential area.

   So instead of living in a station with many lines, I live in a residential area a bit west of Shinjuku. If I want to go out, I’m in Shinjuku in less than 10min by train. Then I have access to many lines.

9. Ikebukuro would be a solid option, not as connected as Shinjuku but still very convenient.

10. Worked in Akasaka for about 3 years. It’s convenient as far as trains go but it doesn’t really feel like a neighborhood. It feels like if you’ve ever stayed in a hotel near a convention center in the downtown of a major city.

    Some pretty good places to eat/drink between Akasaka and Akasaka-Mitsuke but not so many supermarkets as far as I remember. It’s a nice place to stay if you’re visiting and don’t want to be in Shinjuku or Shibuya though.

    Shinjuku and Shibuya are pretty well-rounded as far as entertainment options (music venues, theaters, events, restaurants, bars, shopping) go but there are so many other places with their own specific charms to be discovered.

11. There are a lot of great places. I lived in Nakano which is 1 stop to Shinjuku. I spent most of my out time in Shinjuku but also I wouldn’t want to live right in the middle of it. I have had other friends who live in Hatagaya, Hatsudai, Sasazuka which are also just minutes to Shinjuku.

    Worked in Akasaka. It is nice to work in and go out at night here and there, but I don’t think I would want to live there.

    That stretch from Iidabshi to Kagurazaka is nice. My wife lived there when we met. Lots of places to go out at night. Good restaurants. Not as big as Shinjuku. Neighborhoody so you could potentially live there too.

12. Quite important in the balance : where will you commute for work ?

    Because if you work in say, Toyocho, and you decide to live in Ebisu, it’s going to be easy to go everywhere BUT work and it’s going to get old, very fast.

13. Ebisu is the one. On Yamamote and Hibiya so great connectivity, and walkable to a bunch of other good places too. And has its own great atmosphere, loads of good spots to eat or get a beer. Attracts more than it’s fair share of good looking girls too if that’s your vibe 😂

14. I used to live in Hatsudai, one stop off of shinjuku with easy access to anywhere in Tokyo in under an hour. I could stay out past last train if I was hanging out in Shinjuku, Shimo-kita, or even Koenji if I was down for a nice quiet neighborhood walk home, and for work it was perfect since I had a few places aorund Tokyo I went weekly/monthly.

    Some areas of Hatsudai can be pricey but north of the station there are some nice apartments in the 12-17 man range for a 2dk, really quiet, close to shopping, and two stations for two different lines that hook into the biggest stations in Tokyo.

15. Recommended areas: Umegaoka; Daita/Matsubara; Eifukucho; Shoan; Asagaya (south); Koenji (south); Nakano; Ochiai; Minaminagasaki; Nishiikebukuro; Nishisugamo

    Reasons: All have quiet residential areas; all have convenient shopping for daily necessities; all have access to public facilities such as gyms and libraries; all are within walking distance of two, three, or four different train lines leading to different parts of central Tokyo and different kinds of areas (*e.g.,* both seaside and mountains) toward the west.

16. You’re thinking about this the wrong way.

    The most connected neighborhood is Azabu. Every taxi from anywhere in south side of Tokyo you drink will take you home non stop for 5000 yen or less.

17. TL;DR:
    1. start near your preference of big stations, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Ikebukuro, or others, and then find neighborhoods that are within 10 minutes by train to these stations by direct line.
    2. Alternatively, you can map your most frequented locations and find an even middle ground between them. Be sure to check train routes to your desired locations at multiple times of the day as well. Then, go spend some time in these neighborhoods since you have the luxury of already being in Tokyo!

    My take:
    Suggesting Iidabashi is like telling you to commute from Jersey because there are better deals there than in Manhattan (not quite this bad but you get my point).
    When choosing a neighborhood, it’s crucial to consider both connectivity and personal preferences. For those seeking a vibrant area, the west side of Tokyo, particularly near Shinjuku, is a great option. I personally recommend using a service like metro-residences to try out different neighborhoods temporarily. If you’re looking for value, find a neighborhood within a few stops of your favorite area.

    I chose Shinjuku Gyoenmae for its balance of urban energy and tranquility. I’m literally a 3-minute walk from Shinjuku Gyoen, my favorite park in the city, and also close to Shinjuku Sanchome station (Where some of my favorite bars and restaurants are near). This location allows me to easily access my favorite spots, like Cat Street in Meiji-Jingumae(I shop a lot), in under 20 minutes. Finding the right neighborhood is about matching your lifestyle with the convenience of transport. For me, Shinjuku provides the perfect blend of city buzz and peaceful retreats, making it my top choice in Tokyo.

    I would highly suggest checking out Ebisu, Azabu Juban, Hiroo, Shinjuku Gyoenmae, Gaienmae, Aoyama itchome (一丁目), yoyogi.

    **have fun,** *good luck!*

18. You might find that a big station with tons of lines is also a nightmare to navigate and live next to.

    I don’t live *near* any particular station, but I’m 10 minutes walk from 3 lines and 15 minutes from 2 more. Cheaper and quieter. Suits me!

19. Assuming the sky’s the limit for rent (you lived in Flatiron), Hiroo/Aoyama/Azabu-juuban/Daikanyama have the best vibes imo. The areas I listed are quite posh but have really nice nightlife, are minutes away from Shibuya/Shinjuku, don’t feel as ‘asian’ (i.e. small, cramped, grimy, ugly buildings), and have the best restaurants in town. You’ll also be able to hang out with people who can afford a similar lifestyle and have easy access to Western-style food.

20. Akasaka is indeed good for subway access – you have Chiyoda-sen, and then a short walk away from Akasaka-Mitsuke you have Marunouchi, Ginza and Namboku line access, plus walkable to Midtown, Roppongi, etc. But the trick is to not live in the drinking district, you want to be a step back from the busy parts. Towers like Sacas Residences, Park Building or Top Of The Hill are good places for that. Pricey though.

21. Omotesando is another possibility if you are into the upscale, trendy lifestyle. Didn’t know there were apartments until a colleague moved there.

22. I live in Nakano which is 1 stop away from Shinjuku (like a 2 minute ride). It’s 1 stop away from kichijoji in the other direction.

    As others have said it depends on all of your major priorities. I value a short commute to work, not living in a shoe box, being close to nightlife, not spending a million dollars, and I have pets. In Nakano I’m about 30 minutes from my work, my apartment is on the bigger side for a studio, it’s very close to Shinjuku, Shibuya, etc. Nakano also has several grocery stores, department stores (donki, daiso, oioi mall, Nakano broadway, etc), lots of bars, etc.

23. Shinagawa

24. Meguro or Naka-meguro. Direct lines to shibuya, shinjuku, roppongi. Voted #1 most desirable place to live in tokyo for commute options and not as expensive as ebisu for example.

25. All big hub stations have good access. Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Shinagawa, Shinbashi, Tokyo, Ueno are hubs. Too few inputs from OP, like what vibes you prefer, your budget, etc.
    If everyone lives in Shinjuku is too mainstream for you, try Shinbashi/Yurakucho/Hibiya area and live like royalty

26. Depends on budget but I vote for Ogikubo

    Chuo line, Sobu Line, Tozai line & Marunouchi line starts there

    I used to go through Tokyo station all the time as the Chuo line starts there on the way out

27. i’m a sucker for anything along the Hibya line

28. Ebisu-Roppongi-Minato

29. Everything is connected, get something on that green round train line or within 10 minutes of it on one of the spokes. Going in and out is easy just dont try going across cause that kind of sucks… better to get cheap place first then investigate the neighborhoods once you are here

30. a little further out but i lived in musashi kosugi for a few years and really liked it… super convenient with a ton of train lines — on the fastest toyoko train it’s 12 minutes to both shibuya and yokohama with stops at jiyugaoka and nakameguro before shibuya. straight shot to kamakura, narita express, bus to haneda… good shopping, enough bars/restaurants and a cheaper than ebisu/bakasaka

31. I’m around your age and am in Shibuya/Shinjuku 5 times a week.

32. Are you talking about actually living in these areas? Because obviously rent in the major areas is gonna be expensive. What’s your rent budget?

33. Shibuya and Shinjuku are more than just the areas around the train stations so it is possible to find some quieter neighborhoods within the wards. If you consider buses or bicycling or walking, there are more options.

    Currently living in the outskirts of Shibuya/Shinjuku and I pretty much bike to most places I need to go, taking mostly back/side streets. It’s always worth checking out the areas around stations 1-2 stops away from major transportation hubs.