Aoyama Area Guide

Aoyama is a popular entertainment and nightlife district in downtown Tokyo. It's home to a wide variety of shopping, dining, and high-end fashion. This trendy neighborhood is a popular place for fashion-forward individuals to explore, especially the many cafes packed into this area. Being so close to other stylish areas like Omotesando and Harajuku makes this a very popular area to live, while also being quite livable.

Details

Highlights
-- Upscale and trendy neighborhood in Minato Ward.
-- Well known for luxury shopping and trendy fashion.
-- Popular farmer's market (nearly) every weekend at United Nations University.
-- Aoyama Cemetery is a peaceful path for walking, and a beautiful sight to behold when the cherry trees blossom in the spring.
-- Variety of subway lines (Ginza, Hanzomon, Oedo) make it fairly simple to navigate through Tokyo.

Contents

Location

Aoyama is a fashionable slice of Tokyo nestled in the central-northern part of Minato Ward, just south of Akasaka Palace (and Yotsuya by extension). As one of the centrally located neighborhoods surrounded by international embassies and company headquarters, it tends to have a slightly upper-class atmosphere. Walking through the area, you’ll find a wide variety of fashionable, stylish cafes and restaurants lining the streets. There’s also a surprising amount of green space here thanks to the well maintained parks close to the station.

The parks and trendy vibe of the neighborhood add to its livability, making it a rather popular part of Tokyo for families. Its central location close to many company headquarters is also very appealing to single professionals.

Key Stats

Average Rent in Aoyama-Itchome

Apartment Type Average Rent ($1 = ¥110)
1R 1K ¥133,900/month ($1,220)
1LDK 2K 2DK ¥418,800/month ($3,810)
2LDK 3K 3DK ¥542,200/month ($4,930)

Apartments For Rent in Aoyama

Train Lines

JR/Subway/Other Line
Metro  Ginza
Metro  Hanzomon
Toei Subway  Oedo

Accessibility

Transportation to…  Line Time
Shinjuku Oedo, direct 7 min
Shibuya Hanzomon, direct 4 min
Tokyo Ginza (Asaksaka-mitsuke), transfer to Marunouchi 14 min
Shinagawa Ginza (Shimbashi), transfer to Tokaido 19 min
Roppongi Oedo, direct 2 min
Yokohama, Kanagawa Hanzomon (Shibuya), transfer to Tokyu Toyoko 38 min

Orientation Around the Station

Navigating Aoyama-Itchome Station is fairly straightforward.

  • Exit 0 will take you straight into Aoyama Building.
  • Exit 1 and Exit 2 will put you around the Aoyama-dori Ave and Gaien Higashi-dori Street intersection.
  • Exit 5 is located just in front of the Honda Headquarters.
  • Exit 3 is across the street from Exit 5, and is just in front of the NHK Culture Center building.
  • Exit 4 (North and South) will put you near the Aoyama Twin building.

Trendy and Fashionable Blend of Commercial and Residential

Stepping out of any exit of Aoyama-Itchome Station you’ll be surrounded by sleek, modern office buildings (or in the case of Exit 0 you’ll be inside one). Once you walk around the area a bit, you’ll also see a wide variety of cafes and restaurants close to the station. Aoyama can be considered a kind of gradient between the cutting-edge fashion of Omoetsando and Harajuku and the business-centered Akasaka. Both worlds blend together elegantly, making the area a popular area to take a stroll through on a day off.

Nogi Shrine

This beautiful shrine, established in 1923, is a splash of history amidst the modern, developed backdrop of Aoyama. One unique aspect of this shrine is that the community holds an Antique Flea Market here on the fourth Saturday of the month, weather permitting. You can check the status of the upcoming flea markets on their webpage.

Japan Traditional Crafts Square

In line with the ties to antiques and Japanese history that Aoyama is known for, the Japan Traditional Crafts Square can be found just 5 minutes from the station. In this store you’ll find beautiful handmade goods from all across Japan. The items are made with traditional crafting methods in mind, imparting a sense of timelessness.

Aoyama Cemetery

This large cemetery is well-kept and is actually a popular spot to walk through when cherry blossoms are blooming (hanami season). The history of this cemetery spans back to 1874, and was one of the first areas where foreigners were buried. In addition to many of the first foreigners to live in Japan, this cemetery is the resting place of Hachiko and his owners.

Aoyama “Killer Street”

This stretch of the Gaienmae Higashi-dori Street in Aoyama was developed in preparation for the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. The origins of its peculiar name are shrouded in mystery. The commonly held theory is that the name was determined due to the proximity to Aoyama Cemetery. Naming conventions aside, this street is home to a mix of trendy and nostalgic attractions. It’s often described as a mix of the trendiness of Omotesando with a dash of the peacefulness of countryside neighborhoods.

Jingu Gaien Ginko Avenue

This stretch of road is lined with Ginko trees that turn a lovely shade of golden yellow during the fall. This picturesque path makes for a great walk with family or a significant other.

Livability

You’ll have to really scrutinize the area to find any major faults. It’s stylish and fashionable enough for those who enjoy the trendy, hip side of Tokyo. And it’s also located close to many business headquarters or just a quick train ride to Akasaka or other business districts.

The parks near the station help give kids space to run around, boosting the livability for families. In general, the area seems to have a slight lean towards accommodating families, but you’ll still find the area very convenient if you’re single. It’s just that those who are single might tend to prefer areas like Nakameguro or Roppongi for the nightlife.

Short History of Aoyama

Back in the Edo period, the Aoyama area was a part of Tokyo where many shrines and samurai residences were located. The name comes from one of these samurai, Aoyama Tadanari.

Useful Info at a Glance

Supermarkets

*This is just a selection of supermarkets in the area.

Gyms

Nearby Gyms Hours Address
ReXeR Minami Aoyama 24 hrs 2 Chome-14-14 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062

*These are just examples of gyms available in the area.

Language Schools

Nearby Language Schools Information Address
Edo Culture Center School Edo Culture Center School Home Page 7 Chome-10-9 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052

Ward Office, Police

Nearby Community Center/City Hall/Police Station Hours Address
Minato City Hall Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri.: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM

Wed.: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM

Sat. – Sun.: Closed

1 Chome-5-25 Shibakoen, Minato City, Tokyo 105-8511
Akasaka Police Station Mon. – Fri.: 8:30 AM – 5:15 PM

Sat. – Sun.: Closed

4 Chome-18-19 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052
Akasaka Library 9:00 AM – 8:00 PM 1 Chome-3-3 Minamiaoyama, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0062

Clinics

Nearby Clinics Address
Sanno Medical Center 8 Chome-5-35 Akasaka, Minato City, Tokyo 107-0052

*These are examples of clinics in the area.

Parks


Recommended Agents in Aoyama

Resident First Co., Ltd.

Our professional team will make the most of the Mitsui Fudosan Group’s network to help you find luxury apartments in popular areas of Tokyo.

Location: Aoyama Tower Place 4th Floor, 8-4-14 Akasaka Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-0052

Website: Resident First Co., Ltd. Official English Site

See current property listings: For Sale Properties Listed by Resident First Co., Ltd.


Aoyama Apartments

Apartments for rent near Aoyama-Itchome Station:

The stylish appeal of the Aoyama neighborhood is hard to top. The area has an upscale vibe that attracts both Japanese and non-Japanese residents, creating a fairly global neighborhood with a trendy atmosphere. Since the area is centrally located and close to well-maintained parks it ranks quite highly for families as well. Check out listings for apartments in the area on our site to find something that matches your needs!

Apartments For Rent in Aoyama

 

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

Lead photo: Rs1412 via Wikimedia Commons

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