Living
Districts In Shinjuku-ku
Ichigaya & Iidabashi – This area is close to the Lycée Franco-Japonais. Walk a bit south from Iidabashi and you come to Yasukuni Jinja, a very green spot. This area is mostly three and four bedroom apartments and semi-detached houses going for about ¥400,000. Closer to Akebonobashi, things can get more expensive with some newer luxury homes for over ¥1 million per month.
Kagurazaka – Well-known for its small French bistros, this area is a favourite for families with the Lycée Franco-Japonais. There are small, leafy streets, little shrines and tiny shops. There isn’t much in the way of shopping (it’s mostly down the road near Iidabashi), but it’s a lovely place if you don’t mind walking a bit to stock up on groceries and other bits and bobs.
Expect to see more single room apartments here, mostly in older buildings. These are balanced with newly constructed luxury towers with a good view of Shinjuku since they are the tallest things in the area. 2DK spaces start at a reasonable ¥120,000 per month, and luxury units can go for as much as ¥900,000 for a two bedroom penthouse in one of the new towers.
Takadanobaba – The closest thing that Tokyo has to a college town, Takadanobaba (or Baba) is a jumping community with lots of good food and low-key, late night entertainment. Sandwiched between Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, it has slowly gained itself a reputation as a desirable place to live.
Housing in Baba can be very cheap if you are willing to share some amenities. Due to the number of students in the area, there are numerous guesthouses and shared apartments. Most of these are geared towards young Japanese, so you may want to keep that in mind. Apartments can be found near the main station, but living a brisk 20 minute walk away will greatly reduce the rent.
Yotsuya – A comparatively urban area, this has more in the way of affordable and smaller options. Despite the packed-in and built-up feel, the streets can still be pretty quiet. You can find a lot of one and two bedroom apartments for ¥120,000 to ¥300,000 per month.
Kagurazaka – Well-known for its small French bistros, this area is a favourite for families with the Lycée Franco-Japonais. There are small, leafy streets, little shrines and tiny shops. There isn’t much in the way of shopping (it’s mostly down the road near Iidabashi), but it’s a lovely place if you don’t mind walking a bit to stock up on groceries and other bits and bobs.
Expect to see more single room apartments here, mostly in older buildings. These are balanced with newly constructed luxury towers with a good view of Shinjuku since they are the tallest things in the area. 2DK spaces start at a reasonable ¥120,000 per month, and luxury units can go for as much as ¥900,000 for a two bedroom penthouse in one of the new towers.
Takadanobaba – The closest thing that Tokyo has to a college town, Takadanobaba (or Baba) is a jumping community with lots of good food and low-key, late night entertainment. Sandwiched between Shinjuku and Ikebukuro, it has slowly gained itself a reputation as a desirable place to live.
Housing in Baba can be very cheap if you are willing to share some amenities. Due to the number of students in the area, there are numerous guesthouses and shared apartments. Most of these are geared towards young Japanese, so you may want to keep that in mind. Apartments can be found near the main station, but living a brisk 20 minute walk away will greatly reduce the rent.
Yotsuya – A comparatively urban area, this has more in the way of affordable and smaller options. Despite the packed-in and built-up feel, the streets can still be pretty quiet. You can find a lot of one and two bedroom apartments for ¥120,000 to ¥300,000 per month.
