Hi, I’ll be going to school in Tokyo for two years starting April next year and I’ve been thinking about where to live.
Right now at the top of my list is Mitaka. I’d like to live somewhere relatively quiet and close to nature/parks/hiking. While Mitaka from what I can tell still feels very urban rather than the rural kind of area I would prefer it does have a very big park nearby and you can get to the mountains in around 40 minutes by train. I feel like the biggest con about Mitaka though is the distance to my school.
The school I’ll be attending will be near Ochanomizu station and I’ve been thinking that standing on the chuo line during morning rush hour for half an hour everyday would be pretty horrible. From what I’ve looked though the chuo sobu line starts in Mitaka so even though it takes longer I could possibly just sit for the whole journey. Does anyone here live in Mitaka? Do you think it’s realistic for me to expect to be able to sit every morning if I take the Chuo sobu line? What is Mitaka like to live? Other than nature I also like drawing old buildings and architecture and I was thinking that it might be fun to participate in volunteering activities to meet and get to know people.
Other than Mitaka does anyone have any recommendations for neighbourhoods that are relatively quiet, close to parks/nature and not overly expensive and maybe even closer to my school? I’m hoping to rent an apartment for around 8万 a month although I could possibly pay up to around 12万 if necessary.
Honestly I’d love to live in Hachioji or somewhere even further away from Central Tokyo but I feel like I’d get tired of that life pretty soon when I have to commute 3 plus hours everyday.
Other than that do you guys have any tips for apartment hunting? I was thinking of staying in a share house for the first month while looking for an apartment to rent long term. I’ve heard that landlords might ask for proof of employment or bank certificates and such when renting. Since I’m going to be studying my family is going to help me out monetarily so I won’t have an employer. A Japanese friend of mine has said that he’d be willing to act as a guaranteer if needed. Will it be very difficult to find an apartment as a foreign student? I’m conversationally fluent in Japanese so language isn’t really a problem but I’ve heard that there can be some discrimination against foreigners.
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This is a copy of your post for archive/search purposes.
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**Looking for advice on where to live as a student in Tokyo**
Hi, I’ll be going to school in Tokyo for two years starting April next year and I’ve been thinking about where to live.
Right now at the top of my list is Mitaka. I’d like to live somewhere relatively quiet and close to nature/parks/hiking. While Mitaka from what I can tell still feels very urban rather than the rural kind of area I would prefer it does have a very big park nearby and you can get to the mountains in around 40 minutes by train. I feel like the biggest con about Mitaka though is the distance to my school.
The school I’ll be attending will be near Ochanomizu station and I’ve been thinking that standing on the chuo line during morning rush hour for half an hour everyday would be pretty horrible. From what I’ve looked though the chuo sobu line starts in Mitaka so even though it takes longer I could possibly just sit for the whole journey. Does anyone here live in Mitaka? Do you think it’s realistic for me to expect to be able to sit every morning if I take the Chuo sobu line? What is Mitaka like to live? Other than nature I also like drawing old buildings and architecture and I was thinking that it might be fun to participate in volunteering activities to meet and get to know people.
Other than Mitaka does anyone have any recommendations for neighbourhoods that are relatively quiet, close to parks/nature and not overly expensive and maybe even closer to my school? I’m hoping to rent an apartment for around 8万 a month although I could possibly pay up to around 12万 if necessary.
Honestly I’d love to live in Hachioji or somewhere even further away from Central Tokyo but I feel like I’d get tired of that life pretty soon when I have to commute 3 plus hours everyday.
Other than that do you guys have any tips for apartment hunting? I was thinking of staying in a share house for the first month while looking for an apartment to rent long term. I’ve heard that landlords might ask for proof of employment or bank certificates and such when renting. Since I’m going to be studying my family is going to help me out monetarily so I won’t have an employer. A Japanese friend of mine has said that he’d be willing to act as a guaranteer if needed. Will it be very difficult to find an apartment as a foreign student? I’m conversationally fluent in Japanese so language isn’t really a problem but I’ve heard that there can be some discrimination against foreigners.
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You’re idea of a sharehouse first is solid. Don’t get mired in thinking that discrimination to foreigners is the main reason that you’ll not get an apartment. Alot of Japanese people get denied too some even ending up homeless. Landlords, either civilian or commercial are more concerned that they can go after you or your guarantors because it’s a business. Trust me landlords don’t accept you as a tenant out of the goodness of their heart even you’re Japanese.
Look around Setagaya park.