Kokubunji Area GuideKokubunji Area Guide

Live closer to nature and pay lower rent, while still being within commuting distance of central Tokyo. An excellent neighborhood for international students studying at Tokyo Gakugei University, Chuo University Tama Campus, and Meiji University.

Harajuku Area Guide - Living Guide for Foreginers

Harajuku Area GuideHarajuku Area Guide

Harajuku in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo is made up of bustling world famous fashion centers wrapped inside quiet, cozy residential areas. The neighborhood’s vibe differs drastically depending on whether you live there or whether you see it as a destination. Main... More

Sakai Osaka Guide - Living Guide for Foreigners

Sakai Area Guide – Osaka Living GuideSakai Area Guide – Osaka Living Guide

Sakai's proximity to Osaka but relatively inexpensive real estate makes it ideal for families looking for more space or for those looking for somewhere peaceful that’s not too far from the beaten track.

Shibuya Area Guide - Living Guide for Foreigners

Shibuya Area GuideShibuya Area Guide

Shibuya is everything to everyone. Every little neighborhood around the station has its own vibe. It runs the gamut from low cost single-room micro-apartments to massive, luxurious seven-bedroom manors. Street food to Michelin-starred gourmet dining. Back alley smoking areas to young, fashionable vape cafes. Mass market department stores to one-of-a-kind designer boutiques. It’s every aspect of Tokyo life distilled into one location.

Guides to Tokyo Residential Neighborhoods

Tokyo Area GuidesTokyo Area Guides

Tokyo area guides to residential neighborhoods popular with foreigners.

Azabu Juban Area Guide

Azabu Juban Area GuideAzabu Juban Area Guide

Home to numerous embassies, excellent public and international schools, quiet narrow streets, expat-dense, international influences vie with Edo-period appeal. Popular with expats and cosmopolitan Japanese alike, this family-friendly suburb boasts top-class amenities.

Jiyugaoka Area Guide

Jiyugaoka Mini-Area GuideJiyugaoka Mini-Area Guide

Jiyugaoka is a neighborhood and train station on the southern edge of Meguro Ward. With its leafy tree-lined streets, fashionable boutiques, and many small restaurants and cafes, it is known as Tokyo’s Little Europe and is synonymous with “calm and sophisticated.”... More

Hongō Area Guide

Hongo Area Guide – TokyoHongo Area Guide – Tokyo

Hongō is a neighborhood located in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, west of Ueno Park and north of the Imperial Palace, that is synonymous with Japan’s top institution of higher learning, Tokyo University. It is also home to Juntendo and Toyo Gakuen... More

Chitose Area Guide

Chitose Area Guide – HokkaidoChitose Area Guide – Hokkaido

Chitose City, with a population of about 96,500, is located about 45-km southeast of Sapporo. Its main claim to fame is its proximity to New Chitose Airport, the main airport serving Hokkaido, but it is also known for being surrounded... More

Ōokayama Station Area: Tokyo Neighborhood Guide

Ookayama Area Guide – TokyoOokayama Area Guide – Tokyo

Ōokayama (大岡山) Station in Ota Ward, Tokyo is a relaxed and student-friendly neighborhood. Near the station is the area's most famous landmark, The Tokyo Institute of Technology. Not to be confused with Okayama Station in Okayama Prefecture.

Kyobashi Area Guide

Kyobashi Area Guide – OsakaKyobashi Area Guide – Osaka

Kyobashi is as central as you can get in Osaka. It has the distinction of being one of the city's largest business districts while being close to many tourist attractions, most notably Osaka Castle Park. It is known for its shopping and nightlife, especially its numerous izakayas and tachinomi, or standing bars.

Kyobashi Area Guide

Osaka Area Guide – Housing Guide for ForeignersOsaka Area Guide – Housing Guide for Foreigners

Osaka is the second largest metropolitan area in Japan after Tokyo and one of the largest in the world with a population of more than 19 million. It is located in the southern portion of Honshu, Japan’s main island, on... More

Living in Roppongi

Roppongi Area Guide – Housing Guide for ForeignersRoppongi Area Guide – Housing Guide for Foreigners

Famous for its iconic nightlife scene and more recently the upmarket Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown mega-complexes. Home to many foreigners living in a microcosm of Tokyo's many urban delights.

Living in Nagoya

Nagoya Area Guide – Housing Guide for ForeignersNagoya Area Guide – Housing Guide for Foreigners

Nagoya is situated about midway between Tokyo and Osaka. Many foreigners who have lived in both Tokyo and Nagoya will tell you that Nagoya offers everything Tokyo does, only on a much more liveable, convenient, and affordable scale.

Living in Kichijoji

Kichijoji Area GuideKichijoji Area Guide

A youthful and creative neighborhood situated in Musashino City, just west of Tokyo. Close enough to the central wards to be convenient but far enough away to have a relaxed and bohemian atmosphere. Its diverse and vibrant shopping center is surrounded by peaceful residential areas and home to the famed Inokashira Park.

Living in Meguro

Meguro Area GuideMeguro Area Guide

A residential area that’s as well connected and convenient as anywhere in the world’s largest city can be. But distinctly calmer, quieter and far more liveable than many other parts of Tokyo.