Higashi-Koganei Area Guide

Higashi-Koganei Station is located roughly 16 km west of Shinjuku Station. What this station lacks in terms of shopping and dining options it makes up for in being less crowded than larger stations on the Chuo Line. This residential neighborhood provides a calm and quiet area that's still within 30 minutes from Shinjuku - making it a good option for those who are looking for manageable commute. This station is also quite close to Tokyo Gakugei Daigaku so it could be worth a look if you're a student who is looking for a quiet (and affordable) apartment close to school.

Details

Highlights
-- Very residential area for being somewhat close to Shinjuku.
-- Quiet, calm neighborhood.
Trainline(s)
Higashi-Koganei Station is located on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid) and JR Chuo-Sobu Line (Local).
Access
From Higashi-Koganei Station on the JR Chuo Line (Rapid) and JR Chuo-Sobu Line (Local):
-- 25-min direct to Shinjuku Station
-- 39-min direct to Tokyo Station
-- 33-min to Shibuya Station (1 transfer)
Higashi-Koganei has a really residential vibe. You’ll find a few small shops like these (an onigiri shop and a flower shop) along the main road to the station, but you won’t find any department stores or shopping malls here. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Contents

Looking at Higashi-Koganei Station’s North Exit. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Higashi-Koganei at a glance

Flanked by universities, Higashi-Koganei can be a great location for students who are looking to save a little bit of cash on rent. In addition, there are a few large parks located in Koganei City, so if you live in the area you’re never too far away from a quiet retreat in a more natural setting.

Overall, as there aren’t many attractions to draw crowds, the area has a calm atmosphere. So if you are looking for a place in Tokyo that has less traffic than the crowded, bustling streets downtown, this just might be a place worth checking out. Of course, you’ll be sacrificing a tiny bit of convenience regarding things like department stores, but if you’re ok with taking a quick train ride to indulge in spending your hard earned cash I think you’ll find that Higashi-Koganei is quite livable.

A wide sidewalk lines Todai Street, making walking around a comfortable affair. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Transportation

Only the JR Chuo Line (rapid and local) runs through Higashi-Koganei Station. With only one line available, transportation options are limited. However, it is only a few stations away from Kokubunji (Narita Express) or Tachikawa (Nambu Line). You can get a little help getting around West Tokyo using public transportation by transferring at these nearby stations.

Higashi-Koganei Station is only serviced by the JR Chuo Line, so there are only two platforms. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Rent

Rent in this area is quite affordable compared to areas closer to downtown Tokyo. If you are ok with a longer commute (or if your work/school is located in west Tokyo) you might be able to find a nice location at a good price out here. Relatively speaking, though, the rent for studio and 1LDK apartments is a little pricier compared to the surrounding neighborhoods on the Chuo Line.

  • Studio/1K ¥63,300/month (About $600 assuming an exchange rate of ¥106/US dollar)
  • 1LDK/2DK/2K ¥92,600 (About $870)
  • 2LDK/3DK/3K ¥127,600 (About $1200)

Check out Real Estate Japan for the latest listings in the area.

For example, rent for some 2DK apartments near Higashi-Koganei Station starts at around ¥75,000 per month.

Tucked into the neighborhood you can find some small family-owned shops like this tofu vendor. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Apartments for rent in the Higashi-Koganei area

To see current listings, please click on the links below.

Ease of living

There’s only a handful of restaurants around the station (especially compared to other, larger stations on the Chuo Line). So if you enjoy heading out to grab a bite to eat, you might end up taking more time on transportation than you would like.

One option for picking up groceries is this Maruetsu supermarket that’s across the street from the North Exit of Higashi-Koganei Station. Photo: Scott Kouchi

There’s a Maruetsu supermarket across the street from the North Exit of the station. That along with the nonowa supermarket attached to the station should be enough for most daily grocery needs. But it’s true that there is a slight lack of supermarket choice when compared to larger stations on the Chuo Line.

This Peacock supermarket is just a 3-minute walk from the South Exit of Higashi-Koganei Station. You’ll also find a Geo store (books, media, games) and a McDonald’s in the same complex. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Speaking of transportation, rush hour on the Chuo Line can be an exercise in patience. Most trains are quite busy all over Tokyo during rush hour (both in the morning and in the evening), but you wouldn’t be wrong if you felt a little more cramped than usual on the Chuo Line.

As this is a more residential area (compared to downtown Tokyo, or some of the larger stations on the Chuo Line) there are quite a few streets without streetlights. Since it can be hard to notice during the day, pay particular attention to the route to the station for any potential housing you find in the area.

A row of small shops portrays the small-business friendly attitude of the area under the Chuo Line tracks. Photo: Scott Kouchi

There is a section of small, independent shops underneath the Chuo Line tracks where you can find restaurants, homemade crafts, and pet supplies! The city is trying to encourage small-business owners to use the space so there’s always something new popping up here – like the crafts store where you can find the pizza-slinging-samurai in the lead image.

One thing to be aware of if you decide to move to Koganei City is that this city uses special garbage bags that cost slightly more than normal clear plastic trash bags. This is because there is no trash incinerator located within city limits, so all the trash has to be hauled off to be disposed of. At last check, the price for these city trash bags was as follows:

 

Size Price No. of bags
Extra small (5 L) 100 10
Small (10 L) 200 10
Medium (20 L) 400 10
Large (40 L) 800 10
Looking down a quiet residential street in Higashi-Koganei. Photo: Scott Kouchi

Who is this area ideal for?

Although the area does seem more suitable for families, it can be a nice area for singles who prefer peace and quiet. Everybody’s needs and values are different, so if you’d rather live somewhere a little more residential (at the cost of some convenience) this might be an area worth taking a closer look at. 

Lead photo: Scott Kouchi

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