Hi everyone! I’m gonna move soon, and I want to find an appartement not too close to the center of Tokyo, so I can have bigger and cheaper! Still needs to have shinjuku easily accessible as my wife is working around there. I was wondering if you knew any nice neighborhood, maybe familly center, chill but still with a nice sense of community. I was living in Kasai before and I quite liked it (but tozai sen is the worst). I found some nice stuff close to tamagawa station but not sure if the neighborhood is nice.
Thanks a lot!
(budget is around 150 000 yen for a 45/60m2)
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Look around Tachikawa station. It’s closer to Nature and also within 30 minutes of Shinjuku if you get on Special Rapid.
I really like Setagaya, on the Odakyu line. Lived there for 6 years. Seijogakuenmae Station and Kyodo Station are in the cheaper areas, and have an express train. Surrounding stations are also nice, especially Komae, Kitami, and Soshigaya stations. Good vibe and lots of supermarkets and shops. Odakyu connects directly to Shinjuku station. Can get to Shinjuku in 20-30 minutes from there (with no transfers, direct ride), and get a relatively spacious place for under your stated budget (like 7-9万).
Tamagawa station is very nice area, train lines are convenient and if you got kids the public elementary school is really good so if you can find something reasonable priced there just do it.
Fuchu is very underrated. One of the prettiest shopping streets. Some good bars and restaurants. Lots of parks and the Tama river is fantastic to have nearby
I lived in Nerima until recently and really liked it. Several super markets, good bars and restaurants for once corona dies down again. Only about 20 minutes to Shinjuku San-Chome or Shinjuku Nishiguchi and less than 10 to Ikebukuro.
The Keio line also offers a lot.
But for 150,000 for that size you could easily get something 10~15 minutes from Shinjuku, if not much closer. At 1 hour out, you can think about something much much bigger.
I don’t understand these numbers I keep seeing. 150,000 for a 45m2 is RIDICULOUS in Japan outside Tokyo Osaka Nagoya central areas. 40-1hour from Shinjuku is maybe 90,000 max for an apartment 45m2 unless you want brand new construction. 40-1 hour can be out in Tama where I have found 3Dk 50m for just shy of 90k a month, first year deposit/key money taken into consideration. After first year it’s like 85k.
Edit: so don’t let anyone screw you over on the price.
Shin-Yurigaoka is super nice. Machida is alright, lots of stuff and the bonus is you’d also be a straight shot from Yokohama too.
Lived in Mitaka for my first 2 years.
Dorm was far from the station but rent was super cheap. Lots of parks in the area, with Inokashira Park being the main one. Close to Kichijoji and all its stores, restaurants, bars, etc.
Last stop for the Sobu local, which helps if you have to catch the last train back and is good for going into the city before the train gets too packed. Down side of that is how awful it was going back by the last train on weekends. Lots of nice places to stop off at if you get a commuter pass though.
Also lived in Higashi-Nakano for 8 years and am currently in Sasazuka but those are probably too close to Shinjuku for your liking. I prefer being closer to Shinjuku/Shibuya/Shimokitazawa now so I don’t have to deal with the trains like I did when I was in Mitaka.
Urawamisono
Tachikawa
Hanakoganei is nice and not far
Seiseki-Sakuragaoka in Tama is really nice and about 40ish minutes from Shinjuku via the Keio Line
Tama Center or Minami Osawa on Keio line. Very green areas with easy walk/cycle for many things. Lots of small parks and about 35-45 minutes to Shinjuku by express.
UR has apartments close to Minami Osawa that are 80-100m2 for 100K-130K.
Western Chuo line (Kichijoji, Mitaka, Tachikawa etc.) is a good option