Kotaro Kikkawa 
Overview
International travelers returning to Tokyo are being welcomed by a city that has been quietly transforming itself over the past few years. Whether you are visiting Japan for regular holidays, relocating for business activity, or retiring for the long term, you’ll benefit from recent developments that are making daily life easier while experiencing this unique culture.
Infrastructure
Besides major infrastructure upgrades, from new train stations to modern taxis, more importantly, there are subtle improvements to station signs, map guides, and accessibility that eliminate the stress of navigating your way around the city. Moreover, you’re sure to notice that it’s become much easier to engage with people throughout the Tokyo 23 wards for information and services without Japanese skills. English-speaking foreigners can now easily live in any of the distinct neighborhoods woven into this sprawling city, each with its own characteristics to suit your desired lifestyle in Japan.
Finding your dreams of living in the Tokyo 23 wards
Traditionally though, foreigners have been attracted to well-known central areas such as Hiroo, Shinagawa, and Yoyogi. These popular neighborhoods offered a strong support network for families who often arrived unfamiliar with the culture and language of their new surroundings. Unlike lesser-known areas of the city, here foreigners could arrange schooling for children, shop for daily goods and manage health concerns comfortably in their native language. And social activity with friends and family was often focused within the local neighborhood where English information was available, familiar products were found at international stores, and staff at the café answered questions about the food menu.
Fast forward to Tokyo today, where information has become more widely available through government websites and services are offered in English and often Chinese, Korean, and other languages. Building that important support network can be done online through social media with friends who live around the city, not only in the immediate neighborhood. And shopping for familiar international products today is only a quick mouse-click away using the many popular shopping websites. All this means you can now easily explore other areas in the Tokyo 23 wards that may better match your dreams of living in Japan.
Interested in a traditional Shitamachi lifestyle? Then Asakusa may resonate with its artisan past and community values. Interested in a family lifestyle in a natural setting? Then Tamagawa may attract you with to its relaxed pace and activity trails along its beautiful green river banks. Interested in a balanced urban lifestyle? Then consider Musashi Koyama with a combination of new apartments, a revitalized shopping street, and a popular park. These are just a few of the neighborhoods becoming more popular with foreigners now venturing to Tokyo. And if the traditionally popular areas are more comfortable for you, well that’s okay too.
Conclusion
Tokyo continues to undergo this remarkable transformation, making even the far corners of the Tokyo 23 wards more livable than ever before. Past considerations, which were often centered around English services, may have guided you to areas traditionally popular with foreigners. Fortunately, many of those earlier considerations have disappeared today in our post-pandemic world. So you can now confidently explore the many unique areas around the city and discover the best neighborhood for your Tokyo lifestyle.
Writer: B.E.