Hi everyone,
I will start a job in November in the Shirokane campus of UTokyo. I have been searching for areas to live, but to be honest it’s a bit overwhelming given that I have very little knowledge of the city (been there twice for travelling), so I was wondering if I could get a few opinions here. I will inquire with the agencies associated to Todai, but I wanted to be prepared.
My budget would be \~100,000 yen, ideally up to 120,000 including the sneaky fees like management fees and even bills, if this is not too hopeful. I will live by myself.
Obviously, the main place I’ll travel to is my lab so I’d really like the place to be directly connected to the Shirokanedai station on the Mita line. I’d say this is a major factor.
I will also attend a Japanese language school but I haven’t decided which one yet, it seems like the major ones are in the more central locations like Shibuya/Shinjuku. This is probably less relevant because I will switch to the classes offered by Todai next semester. In general, I would like a place that is well connected and will allow me to explore Tokyo and have nights out in the city. Exploring and walking around Tokyo is a priority.
Regarding the place itself, I’m not very picky. I have lived many years between Singapore and HK so I am used to smaller places. Obviously there are dealbreakers like pest infestations, dirty/mouldy/smelly/disgusting places in general, exceedingly small places (let’s say <20m2) and zero sound proofing (which I’ve heard is a serious issue in Japan). I tend to spend a lot of time at home and something cozy and comfortable is all I need, if I work or study from home.
I was considering two main options:
1) Along the Mita line: it seems like Mita line goes through some of the most expensive parts of Tokyo, so I would need to head quite a bit north. I suppose things start getting more affordable from Bunkyo-ku? I admit I have not explored this option very much yet. Perhaps being near the main campus will have advantages too in terms of activities offered, making friends and possibly the language classes I was mentioning.
2) Along the Toyoko line: this is the possibility I am exploring the most at the moment. I’ve seen it recommended by a number of redditors on this sub and others as a particularly nice area. Being connected to Yokohama is also a nice bonus. Musashi-kosugi stands out for the number of lines it’s connected to, it seems like there are trains to everywhere in Tokyo. I’ve read people mentioning that it’s a concrete hell and expensive, and Shinmaruko and Hiyoshi are both better priced and nicer. It seems like from Shinmaruko I can still easily access areas like Shibuya and Shinjuku, plus it’s a direct and short ride to my campus.
So far I am leaning towards option 2, but option 1 has its allure, especially with being a bit more central and close to the main campus. So, I have a few questions, I guess:
1) Is the Mita line option worth it? If so, which areas would you recommend?
2) For the Toyoko line option, is it the case that Shinmaruko and Hiyoshi are nicer and more affordable than Musashi-kosugi? What would be the trade-off in terms of connectivity?
3) Any other line/areas worth considering? I have been searching for how to find all stations directly connected to Shirokanedai on maps or hyperdia, but no luck so far.
4) I will probably go there at the end of October to secure a place before my job starts. Should I contact the agencies now? What can I expect to be offered in those areas with my budget?
5) Anything else worth mentioning or considering on my end?
On a side note, do you think the figures here are accurate? [https://resources.realestate.co.jp/rent/what-is-the-average-rent-in-tokyo-2020-ranking-by-ward-and-layout/](https://resources.realestate.co.jp/rent/what-is-the-average-rent-in-tokyo-2020-ranking-by-ward-and-layout/)
Thank you to everyone who will take the time to answer!
2 comments
This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
—
**Affordable and nice area with direct connection to Shirokanedai**
Hi everyone,
I will start a job in November in the Shirokane campus of UTokyo. I have been searching for areas to live, but to be honest it’s a bit overwhelming given that I have very little knowledge of the city (been there twice for travelling), so I was wondering if I could get a few opinions here. I will inquire with the agencies associated to Todai, but I wanted to be prepared.
My budget would be ~100,000 yen, ideally up to 120,000 including the sneaky fees like management fees and even bills, if this is not too hopeful. I will live by myself.
Obviously, the main place I’ll travel to is my lab so I’d really like the place to be directly connected to the Shirokanedai station on the Mita line. I’d say this is a major factor.
I will also attend a Japanese language school but I haven’t decided which one yet, it seems like the major ones are in the more central locations like Shibuya/Shinjuku. This is probably less relevant because I will switch to the classes offered by Todai next semester. In general, I would like a place that is well connected and will allow me to explore Tokyo and have nights out in the city. Exploring and walking around Tokyo is a priority.
Regarding the place itself, I’m not very picky. I have lived many years between Singapore and HK so I am used to smaller places. Obviously there are dealbreakers like pest infestations, dirty/mouldy/smelly/disgusting places in general, exceedingly small places (let’s say <20m2) and zero sound proofing (which I’ve heard is a serious issue in Japan). I tend to spend a lot of time at home and something cozy and comfortable is all I need, if I work or study from home.
I was considering two main options:
1) Along the Mita line: it seems like Mita line goes through some of the most expensive parts of Tokyo, so I would need to head quite a bit north. I suppose things start getting more affordable from Bunkyo-ku? I admit I have not explored this option very much yet. Perhaps being near the main campus will have advantages too in terms of activities offered, making friends and possibly the language classes I was mentioning.
2) Along the Toyoko line: this is the possibility I am exploring the most at the moment. I’ve seen it recommended by a number of redditors on this sub and others as a particularly nice area. Being connected to Yokohama is also a nice bonus. Musashi-kosugi stands out for the number of lines it’s connected to, it seems like there are trains to everywhere in Tokyo. I’ve read people mentioning that it’s a concrete hell and expensive, and Shinmaruko and Hiyoshi are both better priced and nicer. It seems like from Shinmaruko I can still easily access areas like Shibuya and Shinjuku, plus it’s a direct and short ride to my campus.
So far I am leaning towards option 2, but option 1 has its allure, especially with being a bit more central and close to the main campus. So, I have a few questions, I guess:
1) Is the Mita line option worth it? If so, which areas would you recommend?
2) For the Toyoko line option, is it the case that Shinmaruko and Hiyoshi are nicer and more affordable than Musashi-kosugi? What would be the trade-off in terms of connectivity?
3) Any other line/areas worth considering? I have been searching for how to find all stations directly connected to Shirokanedai on maps or hyperdia, but no luck so far.
4) I will probably go there at the end of October to secure a place before my job starts. Should I contact the agencies now? What can I expect to be offered in those areas with my budget?
5) Anything else worth mentioning or considering on my end?
On a side note, do you think the figures here are accurate? [https://resources.realestate.co.jp/rent/what-is-the-average-rent-in-tokyo-2020-ranking-by-ward-and-layout/](https://resources.realestate.co.jp/rent/what-is-the-average-rent-in-tokyo-2020-ranking-by-ward-and-layout/)
Thank you to everyone who will take the time to answer!
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In addition to the Mita line, the Nanboku line also stops at Shirokanedai station, and continues out along the Meguro line same as the Mita line. Recently in fact the Meguro line has some trains that go to Shin Yokohama and become part of the Sotetsu line and go way out into Kanagawa, even almost down to the Shonan area. And the Meguro line runs some as express and some as local; and sometimes Musashi-Kosuge and not Hiyoshi is the last stop. So being the trains that go express from Meguro out to Hiyoshi (and vice versa) sometimes can be more crowded during rush hour.
Going the other way, at Shirokane-Takanawa is where the Mita and Nanboku diverge and go on their separate ways. And the Nanboku goes into Saitama. Also, it stops at Todaimae if your Japanese classes will me at the main campus.
Getting to Shibuya/Shinjuku is not always easy, although you can transfer at a bunch of Meguro line stations to the Toyoko line and get to Shibuya (or get the Yamanote line from Meguro).
Note that while these run seamlessly, they are operated by different train companies. So for example if you were to take a train from Shirokanedai to Meguro (either Mita or Nanboku), you pay the Toei/Tokyo Metro minimum fare and if you then stay on the same train and go one stop to Fudomae on the Meguro line, you page the Meguro line minimum fare.
Hiyoshi is in Yokohama and with the new expansion to Shin Yokohama easy to get Shinkansen; and the Yokohama subway and Toyoko lines are there. Musashi Kosuge is in Kawasaki and there’s a JR (although the connection is a long walk and set of escalators) and maybe the Toyoko and Oimachi lines, too?
Shirokanedai is a residential area and quiet; and Meguro might be the only JR station without a KFC (there is a McDonald’s though). There Starbucks and Tullys around but they usually are very crowded it seems to me.
Can’t comment on the budget but note that if not in a sharehouse you likely will need to buy a refrigerator and a washing machine (and with a drier, if you want). Also A/C might be on you, too, depending on the rental.