Details
- Highlights
- -- Centrally located neighborhood just northeast of the Imperial Palace.
-- Throngs of business people in the daytime. Salaryman drinking crowd at night.
-- Quick access to major stations, including Tokyo Station.
-- Proximity to one of Tokyo's best jogging paths (the 5-km circuit around the Imperial Palace).
-- College town vibe. Home to Meiji University, among others. - Trainline(s)
- Kanda Station is located on the Ginza subway line and three JR lines:
-- Yamanote
-- Keihin Tohoku
-- Chuo Line (Rapid) - Access
- From Kanda Station on the JR Keihin-Tohoku, Yamanote, and Chuo Line (Rapid):
-- 1-min direct to Tokyo Station
-- 2-min direct to Akihabara
-- 12-min direct to Shinjuku Station
From Kanda Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza line:
-- 5-min direct to Ueno
-- 24-min direct to Shibuya
Kanda is both a district located in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo and a stop on several JR lines and the Ginza subway line. Kanda doesn’t have the glitz or glamor that’s normally associated with downtown Tokyo. Instead, it shows off some of the old, traditional charms of the capital. It’s located very close to Tokyo Station, so if you love city living and being in the center of the action, this is an area to check out!
Contents
Kanda At a Glance
Transportation
Kanda Station is in a relatively central/downtown location that’s only one stop away from Tokyo Station. This means you’ll have easy access to Shinkansen lines and the Narita Express, perfect for both business trips and vacations!
From Kanda Station itself, you can take a variety of trains/subways (Yamanote Line, Keihin-Teihoku Line, Chuo Line, Ginza Line). One of the bonuses of being located in a downtown area is that you’ll also be within walking distance from a myriad of other subways that weave through Tokyo.
- Shinjuku Line (Ogawamachi Station, 8-minute walk)
- Marunouchi Line (Awajicho Station, 8-minute walk)
- Chiyoda Line (Shin-Ochanomizu Station, 10-minute walk)
- Sobu Rapid Line (Shin-Nihombashi Station, 6-minute walk)
Rent
There is a literal price to pay for having so much convenience though. The average monthly rent for housing near Kanda Station is relatively high compared to the rest of Tokyo.
- Studio/1K/1DK ¥120,700/month (About $1140 assuming an exchange rate of ¥106/US dollar)
- 1LDK/2K/2DK ¥178,400 (About $1680)
- 2LDK/3K/3DK ¥240,600 (About $2270)
This begs the age-old question: would you rather spend a little more on housing to be located in a convenient area, or would you be ok with a longer commute if it meant more affordable rent? The answer to this will differ from person to person, but it is important to consider when relocating and looking for a new apartment.
On Real Estate Japan, you can find much less expensive options than the average numbers mentioned above.
For example, rent for shared rooms in guest houses near Jimbocho Station start at around ¥32,000 per month.
Listings for studio (1K and 1R) apartments near Jimbocho, Kanda, and Ochanomizu stations start at around ¥90,000 per month. Monthly rent for studio apartments near Akihabara Station is between ¥70,000 and ¥80,000.
Apartments for Rent in the Kanda neighborhood
To see current listings, please click on the links below.
- Kanda Station apartments
- Jimbocho Station apartments
- Ochanomizu Station apartments
- Akihabara Station apartments
- Shin Ochanomizu Station apartments
- Ogawamachi Station apartments
- Awajicho Station apartments
Ease of living
As it’s located in close proximity to Tokyo, Otemachi, and other business districts, this area is also a pretty business-heavy area. But it’s not all briefcases and neckties in downtown Tokyo. For the fitness-minded, its location close to the Imperial Palace is a plus; the path around the Imperial Palace is a popular running course and is approximately 5-km long.
Regarding other fitness options near Kanda, Michihiro Arima (winner of the 2012 Best Body Japan award) operates a gym in the area. If getting (or staying) in shape is a priority, you have access to a reputable gym here!
There is also a lot of history to take in around the area. Places like Kanda Shrine are great for when you have some time to really appreciate the blending of traditional and modern that Tokyo provides.
When you take a quick glance around Kanda Station, you’re greeted with a sight of storefronts and offices. You might wonder where everybody actually lives, but once you venture a few blocks away from the station you’ll see a vast array of condominiums and apartment buildings.
As Kanda is centrally located in Tokyo, there are plenty of supermarkets and drugstores in the area so it’s easy to pick up life essentials without having to go out of the way. There isn’t a supermarket adjacent to the station itself, but all it takes is a quick stroll to pick up ingredients for when you feel culinarily inclined. In addition, the area is relatively flat, so riding a bicycle is a great way to get around. One thing to take note of, though, is that there are few “large” supermarkets.
College Town
The Kanda area is also home to a number of universities, mainly centered near Jimbocho Station: Meiji University, Senshu University, and Kyoritsu Women’s University. This gives the area around Jimbocho Station the feeling of a college town, with many inexpensive eateries and bookstores surrounding the station, including a big branch of Books Sanseido. Jimbocho Station is a busy station located on three subway lines: the Toei Mita, Toei Shinjuku, and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon lines.
The Nihon University School of Law is also located in Kanda, near Suidobashi Station. For more info on what it’s like to study at Meiji University, please see: What is it like to study at Meiji University? Interview with a current student
Night Life
When the sun sets and the workday is over, Kanda has a reputation for being somewhat unpleasant (particularly for women). Since alcohol starts to flow freely after salarymen clock out, there is a tendency for some to overindulge and act a bit vulgar and loud. Of course, this depends on the specific areas within Kanda; so it’s entirely possible to avoid this by staying away from the izakayas and alleys at night.
Jimbocho and Akihabara
Within the Kanda area, you’ll find Jimbocho, an area of Tokyo that is renowned for the sheer number of used bookstores lining its streets. It can be a fun activity to take a leisurely stroll through the never-ending aisles of books (and records in some stores!) throughout Jimbocho.
Akihabara, Tokyo’s world-famous electronics and anime shopping district, is also considered part of the Kanda area. Akihabara Station is just one stop from Kanda on the JR Yamanote line.
Who is this area ideal for?
All in all, if you’re working near Tokyo and want to drastically reduce your commute, Kanda is definitely a location you should check out, especially if you are a fan of city living. If you need some space, though, you’re probably going to need to find a place a bit farther out.
If you are a student studying at one of the many universities near Jimbocho Station and want to be able to walk to school, you can find budget-friendly accommodation near Jimbocho Station itself, or any of the nearby stations, including Suidobashi and Ochanomizu.
Lead photo: Kanda Shrine by Scott Kouchi
