Akabane Area Guide

Akabane is a neighborhood in Kita Ward, towards the northern edge of the 23 wards of Tokyo. Bordered by Saitama Prefecture to the north, the station is traversed by many commuters coming in from Saitama Prefecture. Until recently, Akabane was infamous for its narrow alleys, late-night izakayas, and general seediness. Redevelopment and modernization in the area has transformed most of it to a livable, convenient neighborhood.

Contents

Location

Akabane is a neighborhood located in the northern section of Kita Ward. To the north of Akabane, the Shingashi River and Arakawa River create a natural border between Kita Ward and Saitama. Akabane Station is a large transportation hub, ferrying people between Saitama and Tokyo.

While not too long ago Akabane had a reputation for being an old, run-down, and slightly seedy city, recent redevelopment projects in the area have gone a long way to breathing new life into the area. The station was renovated in 2011 when the ecute shopping mall was built in the station.

Key Stats

Average Rent in Akabane

Apartment Type Average Rent ($1 = ¥110)
1R 1K ¥92,300/month ($840)
1LDK 2K 2DK ¥123,400/month ($1,120)
2LDK 3K 3DK ¥208,900/month ($1,900)

Apartments For Rent in Akabane

Train Lines

JR/Subway/Other Line
JR East  Keihin-Tohoku
JR East  Saikyo
JR East  Shonan-Shinjuku
JR East  Utsunomiya
JR East  Takasaki

Accessibility

Transportation to…  Line Time
Shinjuku Saikyo, direct 14 min
Shibuya Saikyo, direct 21 min
Tokyo Utsunomiya, direct 18 min
Omiya, Saitama Takasaki, direct 15
Shinagawa Utsunomiya (Tokyo), train continues on Tokaido Line 27 min
Roppongi Shonan-Shinjuku (Ebisu), transfer to Hibiya 37 min
Yokohama, Kanagawa Utsunomiya (Tokyo), train continues on Tokaido Line 45 min

Livability

Currently, Akabane is enjoying an increase in interest thanks to the efforts of the redevelopment projects that have added modern conveniences and cleaned up some of the grungy corners of the neighborhood. In the past, Akabane was infamous for a large number of late night izakayas and the boisterous clientele that patronized the establishments. However, west of the station is where you’ll find a few shopping malls like Bivio, Ito Yokado, and Apire which give the area a more modern, urban city feel. The combination of shopping and izakayas make the area quite suitable for the single apartment hunter, but families might find the area a little too lively and hectic for young children.

Akabane does have a good variety of transportation options for heading into Tokyo, but one of these options is the infamous Saikyo Line. The trains on this line are constantly packed, and especially so during rush hour. Normal lines are difficult enough to bear during rush hour, but the Saikyo Line constantly takes the crown for the most crowded line. It’s something to consider if you’re planning on commuting via Saikyo Line every day.


Akabane Apartments

Apartments for rent near Akabane Station:

Akabane has its fair share of conveniences, and presents apartment seekers with many apartments that are a good value for commuting into Tokyo. For example, you can find 1K apartments in Akabane starting at around ¥78,000 per month! This puts you in a neighborhood with plenty of shopping and dining, and one that is also directly connected to major hubs like Ikebukuro, Shinjuku, and Shibuya!

Apartments For Rent in Akabane

Where should you live in Tokyo? Check out our Japan Area Guides to find the perfect place!


Dive Deeper

  • Kita Ward is literally “North Ward,” located on Tokyo’s northern border with Saitama Prefecture. Major residential neighborhoods in Kita, like Jujo, Akabane, and Oji are very convenient residential and transport hubs. Its many green spaces and lower than average cost-of-living make it quite family friendly. Overall, Kita is known for being working class and traditional, but the opening of the Lycée Français International de Tokyo (French International School) in Takinogawa has raised the international profile of Kita. Read the in-depth guide to Kita Ward here!
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