We are a family of 3 moving to Japan very soon. My job only requires 2 days a week at the office and the rest is home office. Even though I love Tokyo (I actually grew up there), I am more interested in living in Yokohama this time. My job would be in the center of Tokyo. Would you recommend looking for a place in Tokyo or is the commute to Yokohama doable (by train, I don’t drive yet)? Thanks!
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**Commute from Tokyo to Yokohama**
We are a family of 3 moving to Japan very soon. My job only requires 2 days a week at the office and the rest is home office. Even though I love Tokyo (I actually grew up there), I am more interested in living in Yokohama this time. My job would be in the center of Tokyo. Would you recommend looking for a place in Tokyo or is the commute to Yokohama doable (by train, I don’t drive yet)? Thanks!
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I think it depends on the specifics of the route you will have to take, which station(s) you will have to change trains, and what time is your commute.
You may consider finding a place somewhere along the Tokyu Toyoko line which includes Yohohama and Shibuya. Not the cheapest areas per se but more or less convenient.
Yes, it’s doable. “Center” of Tokyo is a little vague and Yokohama is the biggest city in Japan so it could be a single train ride on the Yokosuka or Shonan-Shinjuku line or it could be a mess of transfers. The trains will be crowded as that’s the direction most people are also commuting. I live in Tokyo and work in Yokohama and my commute is just under 50 minutes door-to-door. That includes a 15 minutes walk.
And I don’t know why this bothers me so, but the title should be “Commute from Yokohama to Tokyo”.
if you can get a place around kikuna (toyoko) you can take the F-Liner to Shibuya in like 25 mins.
What makes you want to live in Yokohama?
I occasionally commute from Tokyo to Yokohama. I find the commute quite mentally draining.
Which line you take, whether there are changes and the entire commute duration makes a big difference.
Yokohama is a lovely city, at least its centre, but if you work in Tokyo living in central Yokohama will soon turn out into inevitable long commute every day, which is not fun, not at all. It is a long, boring time around other people who are also tired like you, often without a chance to sit down.
Tokyo has many great areas to live, so just live in Tokyo. I do not think that price-wise the difference is that large unless you live in Yokohama suburbs, which defeats the cause.
Is it doable? Yes. Is it worth it? Probably not in my opinion. Your commute is likely to be more in the 50min range than the 30min range (depending on where you live) but the morning rush to Tokyo is always a nightmare. You could maybe live somewhere in the middle if possible? Meguro is out of the big, touristy part of Tokyo but close to both the center and Yokohama
I used to live in Shinjuku and work at Yokohama (at the landmark tower to be specific). Is definitely doable, it’s just a matter to change a train after two-three stops, about 1 hour and 10 minutes to go. The earliest train from Shinjuku Station departs at 5:15, so make sure that you have enough time to reach your workplace.
I would depart at 5:15 and take the train from Yokohama at 12:30, both trains are pretty much empty.
In the name of zero sugarcoating …
I really have to ask, WTF possesses you to actually want to live in Yokohama? I hope it’s family because I dunno what else there could be to attract someone. Family of course is 100% understandable. Like all other choices seem to offer something better. Housing prices aren’t better. Fishing sucks until you leave Yokohama unless you’re a hardcore pier guy.
I really have to wonder here …
An hour each way sounds like suicide.