Nippori Area Guide

Contents

• Location
• Key Stats
• Orientation Around the Station
• Livability
• Useful Info at a Glance
• Nippori Apartments

Location

Nippori is a neighborhood in Arakawa Ward, Tokyo. Much like its neighbors in Arakawa Ward, this area is a prime example of the nostalgic shitamachi (lit. “low city,” word used to describe traditionally working-class neighborhoods in Tokyo) image that you just can’t find in more modern areas of Tokyo. This down-to-earth, slightly gritty charm gives the area a lot of flavor, but can be off-putting to some. Nippori does a good job balancing its residential convenience and local nightlife, providing plenty for both families and single apartment hunters.

One major benefit to those living in the area is that Nippori Station services a variety of lines for easy transportation around Tokyo. In addition to having the convenience of the Yamanote Line, Nippori Station has a direct connection to Narita Airport via the Keisei Line.

Key Stats

Average Rent in Nippori

Apartments For Rent in Nippori

Train Lines

JR/Subway/Other	Line
JR East	Yamanote
JR East	Keihin-Tohoku
JR East	Joban
Keisei	Keisei Main Line
Keisei	Keisei Narita Skyliner
Toei	Nippori-Toneri Liner

Accessibility

Orientation Around the Station

JR Nippori Station has two ticket gates: a north side and a south side. We’ll divvy up the exits according to these two ticket gates.

North Ticket Gate

• The East Exit here is the primary exit for disembarking at Nippori Station. Descending to the street level will bring you to a bus/taxi concourse. There is also a statue of Ota Dokan (Ota Sukenaga) a samurai, military tactician, and Buddhist monk who is best known as the architect and builder of Edo Castle. It is possible to exit on the second level, which will utilize a walkway for access to the Nippori-Toneri Liner Station.
• The West Exit exits on the second level right at the bottom of Godenzaka Slope. This exit is closer to the popular Yanaka area and Yanaka cemetery.

South Ticket Gate (no elevator/escalator)

• It’s important to note that there is no elevator or escalator at the South Ticket Gate. Coming out of the ticket gate you’ll be on a pedestrian overpass overlooking the train tracks.
• Heading to the East Exit, you’ll have to descend a flight of stairs to get to street level. From here it’s not too far from the North Ticket Gate East Exit so you’ll also see the bus and taxi concourse.
• The West Exit will bring you to Momiji Hill, a narrow slope heading towards Yanaka Cemetery.

Yanaka

Taking the West Exits out of Nippori will point you towards Yanaka, a quiet neighborhood where you’ll find the Yanaka Cemetery (which is a popular destination on its own, for historical reasons and for its beautiful design) and the Yanaka Ginza traditional shopping street. Yanaka Ginza can get busy and a little crowded with visitors, since the retro vibe of the shopping street is quite popular and easy to access in Tokyo.

It may sound strange to visit a cemetery just to sightsee, but it’s not too uncommon with large, historic Tokyo cemeteries like Yanaka Cemetery. The cemetery is known for its beautiful display of cherry blossoms during spring, which attracts a fair number of visitors. This also happens during the fall when the trees begin to change colors, creating a picturesque scene of traditional Tokyo. A private, walled-off section of the cemetery is dedicated to the Tokugawa Clan, powerful shoguns and high-ranking members of Japan’s elite ruling class during the Edo period.

Eating

The local treats you can find in Yanaka Ginza are worthy of their own article, so we won’t go into detail about them here. Just to note a few: Yakuzen Curry Jinenjo Yanaka and Beer Pub Ishii. On the other side of Nippori Station, there is a wide variety of fast food and chain restaurants great for a quick bite on the go. In addition, right out of the station is Bazoku, a hand-pulled noodle joint that is quite popular.

Livability

If convenience is a high priority in your apartment hunt it’s hard to go wrong with Nippori. The main component that the neighborhood lacks is a large department store or shopping mall, but the area would be more crowded if it had one. Thankfully, it’s a quick train ride to Ueno or Kita-Senju if you feel the itch to do some luxury shopping.

A quick walk from the station will bring you to Fabric Street, Nippori Textile Town, a shopping street with majority of the shops focusing on fabrics. The history of the street dates back to the Taisho period (1912 – 1926), when textile farmers in Asakusa moved into the Nippori area and started opening stores. Even if you aren’t keen on working with fabric, the shopping street has attracted other business owners to set up shops in the area, increasing the livability for the neighborhood.

The area right around the East Exit of Nippori Station has that unmistakeable city feel, but once you walk past the taxi/bus concourse, you’ll find that the neighborhood calms down quite a bit and provides a residential atmosphere.

Useful Info at a Glance

Supermarkets

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

Gyms

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

Language Schools

Ward Office, Police, Library

Parks

Family-Friendly Features

Nippori Apartments

Apartments for rent near Nippori Station:

• Nishi-Nippori Station apartments
• Uguisudani Station apartments
• Mikawashima Station apartments
• Shim-mikawashima Station apartments
• Sendagi Station apartments
• Nezu Station apartments

Apartments in the Nippori area can be rather affordable, considering the transportation options available from the station. 1LDK apartments in Nippori start at around ¥100,000 per month on our website.

Apartments For Rent in Nippori

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Lead photo: iStock stock photography