I am moving from another prefecture to Tokyo early next year and I am choosing between these two areas. I don’t want to live in a very busy area but I also want to have direct access to Central Tokyo. As long there is some shops around the station, I will be fine. I have been around Kita-Akabane Station and Itabashi Station and both areas seem fine to me, although I am leaning towards Kita-Akabane more. I only plan on staying for about 2 years.
Have you lived in any of these areas? Do have any advice?
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I’ve lived in both Itabashi-ku (near Tokiwadai/Maenocho) and Kita-ku (near Kamiya/Akabane) and bicycled all around both wards. A lot is just kinda similar – a bunch of older stores, houses, and sento mixed in with newer stuff. Some places have a unique vibe – Akabane’s lively and cleaning up its act, Takashimadaira is a bit spread out and sometimes eerily empty…
If you’re hopping the southbound or eastbound trains during rush hour, most will be packed. If you like cycling, the Arakawa river paths are wonderful.
You’re in the gateway to Saitama!
Can I make a suggestion? Check out Nerima-ku.
We have family members in Saitama. When we went to buy a place, we looked at Itabashi. My wife was ok with it but I had one look and said no. Probably the location where the house was, but all of the shops looked…dead. Like someone 90 y/o was still technically running the shop and living there. Then we looked at a place on a highway. Pass.
So, we bought in Nerima and I used to work in front of Tokyo Tower and most people wouldn’t believe me when I told them it takes only 1 train and 34 mins to get there. Ikebukuro in 14 mins. Shinjuku in 18 mins. And at some stations you will be the first stop so you will get a seat everytime. Check out Nerima, Toshimaen, and Hikarigaoka. Still not too far from Saitama.
Itabashi station is in KitaKu. Itabashiku is the burbs heading out on the Tobu Tojo line from Ikebukuro. Both ku are full of old people and quite peaceful. Kita ku more fun cos of Akabane and access to places like Ueno. If you’re younger then I’d go for KitaKu, Itabashiku is nice but dull.
I guess Itabashi if you want a slightly more chilled out area. One of the good things about Akabane though is you have easy access to Saitama, which is a blessing when you don’t want to deal with the crowding in downtown Tokyo
Kita-Akabane is very close to Itabashi. Ukimafunado and Itabashi stations are right on the border of Itabashi and Kita, just on opposite ends.
The wards have a lot of variety though, Itabashi station area is very different from Shimura or Tokiwadai, while Akabane is very different from Kajiwara or Nishigahara. I used to live in Shimura and it was great, everything you’d need is mostly close by, and you can cycle to Akabane easily enough.
Where is your office? That would inform my decision on living area/nearest station(s) a lot more than any other factor
avoid having to use saikyosen which is overcrowded all time.