Within the area, most popular area for expat is west side of the Tokyo Tower, called Azabu and Roppongi. With large scale business developments like Roppongi Hills, Toranomon Hills, and Tokyo Midtown, many international companies and organizations, such as Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse place headquarter in this area, thus many expats would live nearby. Executive area is Azabu/Hiroo for spacious low-rise apartments and houses, but recently, the high-quality high-rise tower residences in Roppongi/Akasaka/Toranomon become popular for their high-quality services and modern facilities.
East and southeast area from the Tokyo Tower, along JR Yamanote Line between Shimbashi Station and Shinagawa station, had been the business and storage area for a long time. But new development by the government revitalized the area with high-rise apartments with view of Tokyo bay. It is now popular to Japanese wealthy for easy access to Tokyo Station, the Haneda Airport, and Shin-kansen ride.
Shirokane/Takanawa, the south side of the Minato ward, is small but quiet residential area, reflecting the history that imperial family and nobility had lived there till the end of WWII.
Azabu/Hiroo
Located in south and west from Roppongi Hills, Azabu & Hiroo is one of the most prestigious residential area in Japan. Separated by Gaien-nishi Street, the east side hill is Azabu, and west side hill is Hiroo. Azabu is little more international friendly area than Hiroo, with several international schools (such as Nishimachi International School), international grocery stores and embassies of European countries. Houses and apartments in both areas are built in larger scale than regular Japanese residence; reflecting needs of executive expats family in history. For example, rooms of Homat series apartments are basically over 180 sq.m. 3 bedrooms and more, equipped with European country made laundry and kitchen facilities. Azabujuban & Toriizaka, where is located by the north east edge of the Azabu area, are popular for younger expat because it is near to lively Azabujuban street and Roppongi, the hot night spot.
Choice of properties: Family, low-rise, house, large-size.
Hiroo sta.( Hibiya-line and Oedo-line) / Roppongi sta.( Hibiya-line and Oedo-line)
Roppongi/Akasaka/Toranomon
May be known more as a night town for locals and foreigners, Roppongi is one of the most international zone in Tokyo, gathering wealthy from all over the world. Actually, Akasaka, Roppongi, and Toranomon area is the busiest & exciting business zone in Minato ward, with many high-rise buildings with great features.
Since the beginning of the 21st century, many redevelopments by major real estate company like Mori building were undertaken, and it changed the scenery of the zone from where people spend time for fun to where people live. Most famous and popular redevelopment is Roppongi Hills, which is one of the Hills series by Mori Building, has been gathering people for its cutting edge design, comfortable atmospheres, and most of all, professional service. The characteristics of such redevelopment are an idea to place commercial/office space and residential space together so that it becomes a town where people can live and work. Tokyo Mid Town, Izumi Garden, Tokyo GardenTerrace and Toranomon Hills (Toranomon Hills Station Tower opened in October 2023) and Azabudai Hills will be opened in November 2023. They are all planed as so, with unique and superior service and facilities.
Roppongi sta.( Hibiya-line and Oedo-line) / Kamiya-cho sta.( Hibiya-line) / Toranomon sta.( Ginza line and Hibiya line) / Toranomon Hills sta.( Hibiya line) / Nogizaka sta., Akaska sta., and Kokkai-gijidomae sta.( Chiyoda line) / Roppongi 1-chome sta.( Nanboku line) / Aoyama 1-chome sta., Akasakamitsuke sta., and Tameikesanno sta.( Ginza line)
Shirokane/Takanawa
Located on south hillside area of Minato ward, Shirokane/Takanawa is settle town area in Minato-ward. Separated by Sakurada-dori and Meguro-dori, residential area behind the street contains large-scale houses and apartments. With good access to Tokyo Station and Roppongi area by subway lines, the area gathers people who seek a little reasonable choice compared Roppongi & Azabu area. While properties in the town zone are a bit older, new apartments are built on street side. Such apartment prepares useful facilities and equipments, like supermarket at the ground floor and large common space, to gain benefits of living there.
Shirokane-takanawa sta. and Shirokanedai sta.( Nanboku line) / Takanawadai sta. and Sengakuji sta.( Asakusa line)Takanawadai sta. and Sengakuji sta.( Asakusa line)
Shimbashi/Shinagawa/Bayshore
Vicinity of JR Yamanote line between Shimbashi and Shinagawa is most new residential area in Minato ward, with many high-rise apartments recently built. The bay shore of Minato ward was used as storage zone before 21st century, but redevelopment plan for Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 by the government made the zone where to live.
Successful example of redevelopment is Shibaura Island at Tamachi Station. On over 6 ha artificial island, 4 residential towers (Air, Bloom, Glove, and Cape) carried out 4000 units surrounded by canal. For residents’ benefits, its developer included park, canal run, and public benefit facilities such as kindergarten.
Shimbashi sta.( JR Yamanote line, Ginza line and Yurikamome line) / Hamamatsu-cho sta.( JR Yamanote line and Tokyo Monorail) / Tamachi sta.( JR Yamanote line) / Shinagawa sta.( JR lines and Keikyu line)
