Area Guide
Central Area - Minato
Minato ward & vicinity is most popular area for expats and foreign people to live in Tokyo, with more than 20,000 foreigners registered residency here.
It may be because many major countries locate embassy here, including the United States, France, Germany, Russia, and others. The Tokyo American Club, the international exchange organization for executives, is located west from the Tokyo Tower, too.
Areas Included:
Azabu / Hiroo, Roppongi/Akasaka/Toranomon, Shirogane/Takanawa, Shimbashi/Shinagawa/Bayshore
Central Area - Shibuya
Located on hilly terrains around south-west Yamanote Line, Shibuya ward & vicinity is the most pop and fashionable area in Tokyo for both business and living. With 9 railway routes that even accesses Yokohama in 35min. and enthusiastic atmosphere
cultivated by youth culture, the Shibuya district is very popular for both Japanese and foreigners. While neighborhood of Shibuya station is very busy business-commercial area as seen at Shibuya crossing, the district actually have several quiet
residential zone just behind main streets.
Areas Included:
Shibuya/Aoyama/Omotesando, Shoto/Yoyogi Uehara/Komaba, Daikanyama/Ebisu
Tokyo Station vicinity / Bay Area
Tokyo Station vicinity / Bay Area are where you can live with great access to the center of Tokyo and its growing history. The address surrounding the Tokyo station such as Otemachi, Nihombashi, Marunouchi is mostly finance business area similar to the
Wall Street of New York City, hence there rarely have built apartments building. About 500m west from the Station, there is the Imperial Palace, surrounded by wide moats with massive stone walls decorated by beautiful cherry trees. The northwest side of
the Palace is known as Bancho, where upper classes traditionally prefer to live for calm and educational environment.
Areas Included:
Bancho/Yasukuni Shrine, Ginza/Nihonbashi/Kanda, Bay Area (Tsukishima/Harumi/Toyosu)
South Suburb (Meguro/Setagaya)
Located in south and west of circular Yamanote Line, Meguro and Setagaya is major suburb area where private railways operated by Tokyu Corporation, also known as the one of the top developer of Japan, run all over. For examples, Denen-chofu and Jiyugaoka
of Toyoko-Line, preferred by German speaking residents because of school bus route, are counted as the most famous town in Japan.
Setagaya is the 2nd largest and the most populated within Tokyo 23 ward, and is commuter town for businessperson who works in central Tokyo. With tremendous Komazawa Olympic Park and three international schools (Seisen International, St.Mary’s, and British
School Tokyo Showa Campus), this area is popular for expats family who love to live by settled residential area.
Areas Included:
Meguro/Gotanda/Osaki, Toyoko Line/Jiyugaoka/Sangen-Jaya, St.Mary's & Seisen/Komazawa, Denen-chofu/ Tamagawa River side
Shinjuku and surroundings
Having the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Office and skyscraper office building sector, Shinjuku ward is known as the very busiest city of Japan.
The Shinjuku Station gathers over 3million people passengers daily that is close to population of Yokohama city. While the vicinity of Shinjuku Station is lively and congested, surrounding area is relatively calm. The area of Shinjuku ward is wide to the
east from the Station and hilly. Its east side reaches to outer moat of the Imperial Palace. Because French School once is located near to Iidabashi station, French expat families tend to live in this area. Nowadays, French school moved to Takinogawa where
is north from Bunkyo ward, still this area is preferred by them.
Areas Included:
Yotsuya/Ichigaya/Bunkyo ward, Shinjuku/Mejiro/Ikebukuro
West Tokyo
Located west from Shinjuku station, west Tokyo is popular are for local Japanese to live.
Most popular area is triangle area formed by Kichijoji, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. That is mostly within Suginami and Nakano districts.
The main campus of the American School in Japan is located west from there, in Chofu city connected by Keio Line and Odakyu Line.
Areas Included:
Kichijoji/Chuo-Line/Suginami, Keio-Line/Odakyu Line/Seijo, Chofu/ASIJ/others
Others
The areas not described in this area guides rarely have expat rental residences we handle. They are mostly local Japanese residents’ area, with smaller house and apartments.
Areas Included:
North area (Kita, Itabashi, others), East area (Ueno/Taito/others), South area(Ota, southern Shinagawa)
Tokyo living information
About International Schools
With growing population of foreign-origin families and interest in international education from local Japanese family, there are many international schools in Tokyo. They tend to live close to school; hence there are international communities in the
schools’ surrounding area.
Major international school offers school bus for students, but their bus routes are rarely open to public for security reason. For such information, please ask to each school or to our agents.
Popular area to commute international
Daily Life Services
Here listed are daily life service that may be useful for daily life.