Hongo Area Guide – Tokyo

Hongō Area Guide

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 Universities and in the past, was home to some of Japan’s greatest literary figures, including Natsume Soseki and Ichiyō Higuchi. Hongo’s history and central location near Ueno Park, Tokyo Dome, and the Imperial Palace means that it is a desirable place for working professionals and families, as well as being a college town.

Tokyo University (Tōdai)

At the center of the Hongō neigborhood is Tokyo University, often referred to as Tōdai.

If you live in Hongō or nearby Kasuga, be sure to visit Tokyo University in the fall to enjoy the gorgeous foliage! The campus grounds are open to the public.  Image: iStock, taken in December 2016

 Average Rent in Hōngo

The three main stations in Hōngo are Tōdaimae (the closest station to Tokyo University), Hongō San Chome, and Kasuga.

According to HOME’S, a Japanese real estate listing site, here are the average rent levels for these stations (as of October 2017):

Tōdaimae Station on the Tokyo Metro Namboku Line

  • Studio (1K): ¥85,300 ($756 @ 110 JPY = 1 USD)
  • 1BR (1LDK): ($): ¥143,600 ($1273)
  • 2BR (2LDK): ($): ¥162,100) ($1437)

Hongō San Chome on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line

  • Studio (1K): ¥96,200 ($853 @ 110 JPY = 1 USD)
  • 1BR (1LDK): ¥159,900 ($1,418)
  • 2BR (2LDK): ¥237,100) ($2,102)

Kasuga on the Mita and Toei Oedo Lines

  • Studio (1K): ¥89,200 ($791 @ 110 JPY = 1 USD)
  • 1BR (1LDK): ($): ¥159,300 ($1,413)
  • 2BR (2LDK): ($): ¥200,400) ($1,777)

Apartments for Rent in Hongo

If you are looking for private accommodation in the neighborhood, you have plenty of options from budget to high-end.

An important thing to keep in mind is to budget for move-in costs, which may include a deposit, agency fee, key money (a non-refundable gratuity to the landlord), pro-rated first month’s rate, and other miscellaneous expenses that can add up to three to six month’s rent. For more information on this, please see: How to avoid hidden costs when renting an apartment in Japan.

If you are a student looking for accommodation in Japan, you may be interested in the REJ Room Finder service. This is a no obligation service where we will recommend properties to you based on your search criteria.

Studio Apartment For Rent Near Tokyo University

This is an example of a typical studio (1R) apartment for rent near Tokyo University. It is a 2nd-floor 16-sqm studio apartment located about a 5-min walk from Todai Mae Station. Not pictured is the bathroom, kitchenette, and space to hook up a washing machine. Total monthly cost is ¥72,000. There is a deposit and agency fee, but no key money. Please click on the photo for the full listing and to inquire.

Studio Apartment for Rent Hongo Sanchome Station

Top (14th) floor studio apartment for rent, 3-min walk from Hongo San Chome Station. Please click on the photo for the full listing, more photos, and to inquire to the agent.

Supermarkets and Shopping

Maruetsu Petite Hongō Sanchome Store

There is a branch of the supermarket chain Maruetsu Petite about a 3-min walk from Hongō Sanchome Station. Just walk south along Hongō Dōri (Avenue).

Don Quixote (Kōrakuen)

Not quite in Hongō itself but nearby on Hakusan Dōri, across the street from Tokyo Dome, is a large branch of the discount retailer Don Quixote. It’s about a ten-minute walk from Hongō Sanchome station. We highly recommend this place for getting great bargains on household goods, fresh produce, imported foods and pantry items, and of course, beer and wine, including foreign labels. If you are planning to have a party, this is the place to go to stock up!

Eating in Hongō

There are many great restaurants and fast-food joints in Hongō. Here are a few we would recommend.

Fire House (Burgers & Sandwiches)

This burger and sandwich joint, located a few minutes walk from Hongō Sanchome station, is consistently ranked as one of the best places in Tokyo for a burger.

Yakiniku Jumbo Hongō Branch

Yakiniku Jumbo is the place to go get your fix of  yakiniku (grill-it-youself meat) in Hongō. The restaurant is about a 3-minute walk from Hōngo Sanchome Station.

Delicious and Budget-Friendly Udon Place: Kokuwagata (こくわがた)

For a perfect bowl of udon noodles, we recommend this tachigui (立ち食い) restaurant near Hōngo Sanchome Station. “Tachigui” means “eat while you’re standing.” There are no chairs here, just a long counter from which to slurp and enjoy your delicious meal.

Yushima Tenmangu

Yushima Tenmanu, about a ten-minute walk from Hongō Sanchome station, is an ancient shrine dedicated to scholarship and learning. It is also known for its many plum trees. It is a little bit outside of of Hongō proper, but worth a visit, especially if you are aiming to pass an exam. Write your prayer or wish on a small wooden plaque (ema, 絵馬), then hang it on the stand near the shrine for the spirits to receive!
Yushima Tenmangu in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. Photo: Daderot via Wikimedia
Please enable Javascript to send comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

You may also be interested in

Shinjuku Area Guide

Shinjuku is the name of a ward, neighborhood, and not just one but numerous train stations in Tokyo. In this guide, we focus on Shinjuku’s main residential neighborhoods from Okubo’s Korea Town to street-wise Kabukicho north of the station to gentrified Shinjuku San-Chome east, then south to the high-end but relaxed areas near Shinjuku National Garden and Yoyogi, and west to Nishi Shinjuku, Tokyo’s Skyscraper District.

Saitama Prefecture Guide

The prefecture just north of Tokyo. Saitama itself is large, covering a massive area of Eastern Tokyo. The areas closest to Tokyo are popular as bedroom communities for those commuting into Tokyo for work. These areas tend to have rent… More

Akihabara Area Guide

This famous neighborhood is jam-packed with stores displaying anime and video game goods, but you don’t have to be an anime fan to live in Akihabara. Located on the northeastern edge of Chiyoda Ward, Akihabara Station is a transportation hub that offers great access to the rest of Tokyo through a variety of train and subway lines. Those who enjoy a lively Tokyo city life experience will likely feel at home in this neighborhood.

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.

Okubo Area Guide

Okubo is a neighborhood just north of Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. It provides residents with very quick direct access to Shinjuku, while also being just far enough away from the excitement of downtown. This balance between convenience and residential livability is a great feature of the neighborhood. In addition, for those who enjoy authentic ethnic cuisine, the international population in Okubo own and operate different restaurants and shops in the area. It’s a unique, charming neighborhood for those seeking something close to Shinjuku!

KochiKame-Character-Statues-in-Front-of-Kameari-Station-in-Katsushika-Ward-Tokyo-Kae-Lu-Picture-of-the-Day-Real-Estate-Japan.jpg

Kameari Area Guide

Kameari is a residential neighborhood in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo. What it lacks in name recognition it makes up for in charm and convenience. This traditionally working-class area of Tokyo retains much of the old-school look and feel of bygone Tokyo, and new modern shopping malls have injected style and fashion back into the area.

Tokyo Station Area Guide

Contents Location Key Stats Orientation Around the Station Livability Useful Info at a Glance Tokyo Station Apartments Location Tokyo Station is found just east of the Imperial Palace in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. There’s almost no comparison to this centrally located,… More

Shin-Okubo Area Guide

Shin-Okubo is renowned as Tokyo’s Koreatown. This popular and trendy area offers an international vibe close to Shinjuku. An added benefit of this diverse environment is the selection of import supermarkets! While the streets around the station tend to be quite lively, even well into the night, it is possible to find calmer parts of the neighborhood.

Toranomon Hills Area Guide

Contents Location Key Stats Orientation Around the Station Livability Useful Info at a Glance Toranomon Hills Apartments Location Toranomon Hills Station can be found in the northern section of central Minato Ward. The Toranomon district is a primarily business district,… More

Jujo Area Guide

Jujo is a neighborhood in Kita Ward, Tokyo. It’s located just north of the major transportation hub of Ikebukuro, making it a convenient area for commuters seeking options for quick and easy transportation into downtown Tokyo. Ease of transportation isn’t the only convenience provided by this neighborhood, nearby Jujo Ginza is a local shopping street with a variety of shops, making picking up daily necessities easy.