Tokyo Area Guide for Expats

Tokyo, at a glance

23 wards, and the neighborhoods worth knowing

Click a ward to jump to its overview below, or a smaller dot for a specific neighborhood guide.

Ward guide available — click to jump Neighborhood guide — click to jump

The neighborhoods

Area Guide

Chiyoda — 千代田区

Bancho · Kojimachi · Kudanshita · Nagatacho · Kioicho

Listed from ¥1,390,000 Understated Luxury

The quietest of Tokyo's premium wards. Near the Imperial Palace, favored by senior diplomats and embassy families. Properties tend to be spacious and low-density — a genuine rarity in central Tokyo.

Yasuhiro's take

If you value peace and space over nightlife, Bancho is unmatched. The best properties here rarely appear on public portals — they require direct relationships with owners.

View Chiyoda-ku listings Short-term stays in Chiyoda

Chuo — 中央区

Harumi · Kachidoki · Nihonbashi

No units currently listed Waterfront

Tokyo Bay's premium tower district. Harumi and Kachidoki offer some of the city's most modern high-rise inventory with panoramic bay and skyline views, while Nihonbashi anchors old-money prestige and proximity to the financial district.

Yasuhiro's take

Chuo is underrated by expats who default to Minato. The bay-front towers in Harumi and Kachidoki offer genuinely larger floor plans at a meaningful discount, with a 10-minute commute to Ginza and Otemachi.

Ask about Chuo-ku availability

Minato — 港区

Hiroo · Azabu Juban · Roppongi · Azabudai Hills

Listed from ¥1,080,000 Top Pick

Tokyo's diplomatic and expat heartland. Home to most embassies, international schools, and the densest foreign professional community. Hiroo and Azabu Juban offer village-like atmospheres with world-class English infrastructure.

Yasuhiro's take

Minato is the default for C-suite expats. Inventory is tight and some landlords are selective about foreign tenants — knowing which buildings genuinely welcome internationals is where local expertise matters most.

View Minato-ku listings Short-term stays in Minato

Shibuya — 渋谷区

Daikanyama · Ebisu · Yoyogi Uehara

Listed from ¥1,080,000 Trending

Premium residential with exceptional dining, retail, and access. Daikanyama and Ebisu attract international professionals who want urban sophistication without Minato's formality. Nakameguro is popular with younger executives.

Yasuhiro's take

My personal favorite for clients without school-age children. Lifestyle quality rivals anywhere in the world, and you typically get more space per yen than comparable Minato properties.

View Shibuya-ku listings Short-term stays in Shibuya

Shinjuku — 新宿区

Yotsuya · Ichigaya

Listed from ¥990,000 Best Value

Often mischaracterized as purely commercial. Yotsuya and Ichigaya are quiet residential pockets with exceptional transport links — popular with finance professionals commuting to Marunouchi or Otemachi.

Yasuhiro's take

Underrated. Clients who choose Yotsuya over Hiroo often get a larger, newer apartment for 20–30% less — with a shorter commute to many central Tokyo offices.

View Shinjuku-ku listings Short-term stays in Shinjuku

Meguro — 目黒区

Nakameguro · Komaba · Aobadai

Listed from ¥1,150,000 Quiet Luxury

A quietly prestigious residential ward favored by old Tokyo families and a growing number of internationals seeking calm over convenience. Nakameguro's canal-side cafes sit alongside Komaba's leafy, university-adjacent streets — some of the most understated luxury housing in the city.

Yasuhiro's take

Komaba in particular deserves more attention from relocating executives. It offers genuine space, low-rise privacy, and a slower pace of life, while remaining a reasonable commute to both Shibuya and Otemachi.

Read the Jiyugaoka (Meguro) guide → View Meguro-ku listings

Bunkyo — 文京区

Iidabashi · Korakuen · Hongo

Listed from ¥1,450,000 Old Tokyo Charm

Tokyo's academic and literary ward, anchored by the University of Tokyo and the historic Koishikawa Korakuen garden. Hongo's quiet, tree-lined streets, Korakuen and Nezu offer distinctive residential options in this ward. Kagurazaka is principally in neighboring Shinjuku Ward.

Yasuhiro's take

Bunkyo rarely makes an expat's shortlist, which is exactly why it's interesting. Korakuen and Iidabashi deliver Chiyoda-level calm and genuine green space at a meaningful discount, with a direct line into Otemachi and Marunouchi via the Namboku and Yurakucho lines.

Read the Nezu & Sendagi guide → View Bunkyo-ku listings

Shinagawa — 品川区

Gotanda · Osaki · Shinagawa Station

Listed from ¥1,050,000 Connected

A business-friendly ward built around Tokyo's Shinkansen and Haneda Airport gateway. Osaki's office towers draw a strong corporate tenant base, while the quieter Gotenyama hillside offers some of the most established low-rise luxury housing in the city.

Yasuhiro's take

If your role involves frequent travel — Kansai, regional Japan, or international via Haneda — Shinagawa's logistics are unmatched. Gotenyama in particular offers a level of privacy rarely found this close to a major transit hub.

View Shinagawa-ku listings

Nakano — 中野区

Nakano Station · Nakano Broadway

Listed from ¥1,290,000 New Build

Just west of Shinjuku, Nakano trades a little ward prestige for direct station access and newer stock. It sits outside the traditional expat core, which is exactly why a handful of brand-new towers here are worth a look.

Yasuhiro's take

Not a ward most clients ask for by name, but Nakano Station Residence — built 2024, direct station access, staffed front desk — is genuinely competitive on spec against buildings twice the price in Shinjuku or Shibuya. Worth showing to anyone prioritizing commute time over postcode.

View Nakano-ku listings

Setagaya — 世田谷区

Seijo · Futako-Tamagawa · Todoroki

No units currently listed Families

Tokyo's most liveable ward. From the established homes of Seijo to the river and green space of Futako-Tamagawa and Todoroki, Setagaya offers a quality of life that central wards simply can't match.

Yasuhiro's take

An established residential choice outside central Tokyo. Seijo, Futako-Tamagawa and Todoroki suit families seeking more space, green space and access to city offices.

Read the Seijo, Futako-Tamagawa & Todoroki guide → Ask about Setagaya-ku availability

Koto — 江東区

Toyosu · Shinonome · Tatsumi

Listed from ¥575,000 Modern High-Rise

Tokyo's newest residential corridor. Luxury high-rises with modern amenities, bay views, and excellent access to central business districts. Popular with professionals who want contemporary living at competitive pricing.

Yasuhiro's take

Modern apartment options around Toyosu and Ariake can offer more floor space and newer facilities at rents that vary considerably by building and lease terms. Compare current listings on a like-for-like basis.

Read the Kiyosumi-Shirakawa guide → View Koto-ku listings

Discuss your ideal area

Neighborhood guides

A closer look

The wards above are the wide view — where to start narrowing down. Once you've picked one, these guides go a level deeper: specific neighborhoods within those wards, street by street.

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