Hi everybody, I’m a student who’s currently looking for an apartment/mansion to move into, and I’d like some opinions whether I should move to either the Toda/Toda-Koen or Kawaguchi area. I’m specifically looking for a place just north of the Arakawa River, so that I can easily commute to my trade school within Kita City, Tokyo.
From what I could Google, here’s some Pros and Cons that I’ve figured out.
**Toda/Toda-Koen**:
*Pros:*
* *Ease of commute*: Ukimafunado Station is literally one to two stops away from Toda Station or Toda-Koen Station, and the JR Saikyo Line would allow me to visit Shinjuku and Shibuya without the need of changing trains.
* *Comfy, Suburban Environment*: I enjoy living near nature, and the Arakawa River seems like a great area to go for a walk or run. Because of the number of families with kids living in Toda, there’s easy access to supermarkets, as well as medical care.
*Cons:*
* *Price*: Comparing current apartment prices with Kawaguchi, it seems like Toda is a bit more on the higher side because of the listed reasons. Maybe I’m looking at the wrong Real Estate websites, but it feels like the price for a 1K apartment is a bit more higher in Toda than in Kawaguchi.
**Kawaguchi**:
*Pros:*
* *Variety of International Cultures:* For whatever reason, Kawaguchi City seems to be a hub for many foreigners moving to Japan. Besides a large Chinese community, there appears to be a number of Vietnamese, Korean, and even Kurdish people. I’ve lived in California for a significant part of my life, so I am more comfortable living amongst people who come from different backgrounds.
Cons:
* *”Not as Safe as Toda”*: This was the main complaint that I’ve heard about Kawaguchi from my Japanese acquaintances. With recent news articles such as [a Taxi Driver getting shot](https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/society/crime-courts/20240531-189332/), [people stabbing one another right outside their apartments](https://japantoday.com/category/crime/suspect-detained-over-murder-of-vietnamese-man-in-saitama-prefecture), and [rising tensions against Kurdish refugees](https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15238743), I’ve seen many online Japanese comments stating that Kawaguchi is no longer safe to live in. I’m willing to bet that these opinions are overblown, but it’s hard to find a specific estimate comparing the crime rate/safety of either city.
But I’d love to hear your guys’ opinions. Has anyone here lived in either Toda or Kawaguchi? Please share any your experiences, good or bad!
Thanks guys, I appreciate it!
by Kenzushi