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Jiyugaoka is Tokyo’s most desirable neighborhood

November 21, 2008
By Ken Worsley


According to the average result of surveys carried out over the past five years by Major 7, a website run by a consortium of real estate firms, Jiyugaoka has been voted the most desirable neighborhood within Tokyo’s 23 wards to live in, followed by Futakotamagawa and Ebisu. The rest of the ranking went like this:

  1. Jiyugaoka
  2. Futako Tamagawa
  3. Ebisu
  4. Hiroo
  5. Shinagawa
  6. Daikanyama
  7. Aoyama
  8. Meguro
  9. Denenchofu
  10. Nakameguro
  11. Kagurazaka
  12. Omotesando
  13. Shimokitazawa
  14. Ginza
  15. Shirokane
  16. Yoyogi Uehara
  17. Toyosu
  18. Mejiro
  19. Azabu
  20. Sangenjaya

First, it’s worth noting that once the survey is opened up to include areas outside the 23 wards (referred to as the “Metropolitan Area”), Kichijoji ranks very high, and actually beat out Jiyugaoka for the top spot in 2008. Yokohama ranked #3 in 2008, but that’s ranking a whole city against neighborhoods of Tokyo (although neighborhoods of Yokohama also appear on the list). Kamakura came in at #7 in 2008, while Tama Plaza ranked #17 - I believe Tama Plaza is in Kawasaki, which would give that city its only entry on the list. Minato Mirai, a neighborhood in Yokohama, ranks #18, and Shin Urayasu comes in at #19, giving Chiba its only entry.

Back to the Tokyo 23 wards list. Jiyugaoka and Futako Tamagawa have both been built up extensively over the past decade. I lived by Futako Tamagawa for some time, a little bit closer to Shibuya, but found the train line connecting it to Shibuya (the Denen Toshi Line) becoming more and more unbearable. The opening of the renovated Takashimaya department store gave the area a huge (PR) boost, as luxury brand outlets were now within walking distance of residential areas. That said, most of the high end shops were usually empty.

Shinagawa surprises me at #5, but I know that it is much nicer now than the image I have in my mind. Word on the street is that Denen Chofu is the most desirable place to live in Tokyo, but that seems to be slipping. I like Kagurazaka quite a bit for its smaller-town feeling. I actually went to look at a place there once, but there was an old lady on the third floor yelling at kids on the street to be quiet from her window. No need for neighbors like that.

Shimokitazawa is a great neighborhood, but frightfully inconvenient to downtown. Shirogane has great access to parks, and is a laid back oasis right downtown, but are there any supermarkets? Yoyogi Uehara is affectionately known as the “gaijin ghetto,” and it seems like a pretty nice place to me. Azabu has all you could need in terms of access, nightlife and dining out, but the price per square meter might have driven it a bit lower on the list. Finally, Sangenjaya is a great little town. Yes, it’s on the evil Denen Toshi line, but it’s only one express stop to Shibuya.

The absence of areas from the western part of Tokyo’s 23 wards is telling. Nowhere from Nerima, Nakano or Suginami appears on the list. Shinjuku’s absence is very understandable, but the other three wards seem to have fallen behind in terms of desirability. Neighborhoods such as Asagaya, Koenji and Ekoda might be immensely popular with university students, but that probably says something about why they’re not so popular overall. Adding to that lack of desirability, the stretch on the Chuo Line from Nakano, Koenji and Asagaya might be the most densely populated area in Japan. In other words, Nakano and Suginami are filled with millions of people wishing they could live elsewhere. Still, it’s better than Saitama.

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Comments

20 Responses to “Jiyugaoka is Tokyo’s most desirable neighborhood”

  1. Garrett on November 21st, 2008 10:27 pm

    Are we talking value anywhere in there? I’ll grant the compilers of that list the crowding (Nakano is Japan’s most densely populated area), but I’d put Koenji at No. 1 and I have no desire to be crowded amongst university kids - they’re there, but they don’t runt he ‘hood. Asagaya has some really nice places, and both are far more convenient than Futako-tamagawa or Jiyugaoka.

    With all due respect, Sangenjaya is possibly the most overrated neighborhood in the city. There’s a highway running right through it and it’s a jumble of concrete boxes (even by Tokyo standards.) If I weren’t quite satisfied with my dentist, I’d never go there.

    The places on this list are desirable in the same way that Louis Vuitton products are desirable - if your goal is to pay a lot to get a little and then obsess about the name, you’re in. If you want to live in a place with a bit of interest and character that’s also convenient, the Nakano-Ogikubo corridor is best, and I’d give the old town a mention as well. Edogawa deserves a little more respect.

  2. bill bracken on November 22nd, 2008 12:56 am

    just a response to this statement ,”Shimokitazawa is a great neighborhood, but frightfully inconvenient to downtown”.

    Just how is it more `frightfully inconvenient to downtown` than Jiyugaoka again ?

  3. Ken Worsley on November 22nd, 2008 1:01 am

    Bill, Good point. Perhaps just a bit. Both are too far out for me to put up with. I guess Jiyugaoka being linked directly in on the subway/Toyoko means something.

    Garrett, I’m down with Koenji as much as you are, but is it really family friendly? I’m not sure…It’s a great place if you want to get into a sento with tattoos, though ;)

    You’re going to say that Sangenjaya is run down and Koenji isn’t? Come on man, that’s pot and kettle. Either way, your eyes are going to get stabbed by the flash of neon light.

    Where in Edogawa would you want to live? No thanks, west side for me.

    Also, as we’ve discussed, the South part of Tokyo should really be called SoKyo, and the North part (Kita, Itabashi, Adachi, etc) should be NoKyo.

  4. billywest on November 23rd, 2008 3:52 pm

    Jiyugaoka is very nice; I live a few stops away right now, but moving to Kitazawa.

    The good thing about Jiyugaoka, in terms of convenience, is that you can be in either downtown Yokohama or downtown Tokyo in 20 mins by express train.

  5. Philip on November 23rd, 2008 6:12 pm

    Just gotta say - I live in Takadanobaba (just next to Nakano and Shinjuku), and I can’t think of anywhere in Tokyo I’d rather live!

  6. Joyner on November 24th, 2008 1:00 am

    I live near Ikejiriohashi and I think it’s a pretty good place. Walking distance to Shibuya, very quick to all subway lines, and lots of good places to buy international food!

  7. David on November 24th, 2008 9:37 am

    That noisy Jiyugaoka is #1?

    Denenchofu at #9? Must be because of the cost and lack of shopping, dining, and convenience.

    Futako-Tamagawa number 2? I wouldn’t live there if I was paid to, if I had to use the Denentoshi line. We had a chance to move there 2 years ago, but came to Denenchofu instead because of that nightmare of a morning/evening commute on the Denentoshi. Just wait until the new apartment/shopping complex now under construction opens. The train cars will burst.

  8. Ken Worsley on November 24th, 2008 10:20 pm

    Philip,

    Baba definitely has its own flavor, and it’s a great place for young people with some good eats and laid back places to go out, but there are just too many uni students around. I guess it all depends on where you work. I haven’t been on the Yamanote in ages, so I don’t really care about it. The Tozai goes north of downtown and is only really convenient if you live in Chiba or Nakano. I’ve heard that the Tozai from Chiba in the AM is the most crowded train in Japan - not to mention that the Tozai smells like - how can I put it…stale urine. It’s hard to believe that anything’s worse than the Denentoshi or Saikyo, but I guess it’s possible.

  9. Ken Worsley on November 24th, 2008 10:31 pm

    David, I agree. I absolutely hated that line when I lived on it.

  10. Paul on November 25th, 2008 1:27 am

    I’m guessing that they were surveying potential buyers, which means they would think about things such as education, price and convenience. They might also choose a neighborhood based on how close it is to visit relatives. Or they might choose based on social status. A lot of factors go into such a decision.

    It seems that Japanese people who can afford it are willing to live somewhere like Jiyugaoka and tolerate a crowded train and higher rent because they get some kind of benefit. There’s more shopping and better restaurants, and good schools nearby. Did the survey go after men or women? I’d be interested to see a breakdown, and I can’t really read the Japanese on the site.

  11. marc on November 29th, 2008 6:10 pm

    I think Jiyugaoka ia the best place, so relaxed, cafes and bars where you can actually sit outside ( a rarity in Tokyo) pretty back streets with great shops, and a quiet residential area with decent sized houses. All only 8 mins from Shibuya. I can understand why some people like the Chuo line, but Koenji??? Please! It’s a smelly, grimey hole.

  12. Jack Perkins on December 5th, 2008 6:48 pm

    Personally, I love Shinjuku! Convenient to anywhere, a million restaurants and shopping as far as the eye can see. You can just walk all day. There’s an energy there that is hard to duplicate. Yes, you have your `strange` bits but that adds a bit of color, for me. I live in Higashi-Shinjuku and I can walk to Shinjuku within 15 minutes. Kagurazaka is close and Shinjuku-Gyoen park is a 15 minute walk. Two-hundred yen gets you into one of the most beautiful parks in Tokyo where you can spend the day.

    Ok, let me hear your utter astonishment at my choice.

  13. Ken Worsley on December 5th, 2008 6:54 pm

    Haha! Jack, actually I agree with you. Once you clear the Kuyakusho/Golden Gai area it would be a pretty good area to live.　Do you see much new development in that area?

  14. Jack Perkins on December 5th, 2008 7:22 pm

    Ken:
    There is quite a bit of new development going on here. The Tokyo International Medical Center is located here and it seems to be quite a draw. Also, the Fukutoshin subway line has recently opened between Ikebukuro and Shibuya and there’s a new station located in Higashi-Shinjuku. And there’s this huge open space which has been vacant for two or three years just opposite Higashi-Shinjuku Station and fronting Shinjuku Bunka Center which now will be developed. Not sure what it will be but things seem to be happening. Whether those are good things or bad things…

    Anyway, I’d prefer to live in Jiyugaoka but my wallet just would not understand. Maybe a better survey would be an affordability survey. It’s not as flashy but more to the point.

  15. L.K. on December 19th, 2008 12:13 pm

    Akasaka-Roppongi all the way… three big malls, six subway lines, some of the best places to eat and drink anywhere in the world within a ten minute walk of almost anywhere. Very diverse and pumping with an incredible energy unlike anywhere else in Japan…

  16. Posh on December 21st, 2008 4:13 pm

    Not sure about Jiyugaoka. It’s nice but overpriced. But lots of areas in Tokyo seem overpriced to me. I think it depends on where you work, and making the commute more tolerable. Having one train to work makes sense. I think I would take somewhere with a JR and subway line, so access to anywhere is easy. Maybe Yoyogi?

  17. Ken Worsley on December 22nd, 2008 12:15 am

    Garrett:

    Sangenjaya is possibly the most overrated neighborhood in the city…If I weren’t quite satisfied with my dentist, I’d never go there.

    I’d also like to point out that the best ramen shop in Tokyo is in Sangenjaya.

  18. Jiyugaoka! | Japanisches Allerlei / on December 23rd, 2008 3:25 am

    […] Eines des schönsten Viertel in Tokyo, vor lauter Begeisterung habe ich statt Jiyugaoka Joyugako geschrieben. Hübsche kleine Läden, sehr entspannt und modern - das finden auch die Tokyoter, die diese Gegend 2008 zur beliebstesten wählten: “Jiyugaoka is Tokyo´s most desirable Neighborhood”. […]

  19. Brian on December 26th, 2008 11:09 am

    Great topic! Personally I love all of Tokyo and have lived pretty much everywhere over the past 20 years, but am partial to Shibyua currently living in Tomigaya.

  20. Elfin Slade on August 11th, 2010 5:56 pm

    I was in Yokohama the other day and they sure cleaned up the smut shop area around Hinodecho. Now it’s nice to walk along the river. Going back to Tokyo I saw a couple of express trains going to Yokohama and all u’d see through the windows is just white shirts, packed! Salarymen going home from work in Tokyo. That might be stretching a commute too far.

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