Kotaro Kikkawa 
Overview
Tokyo is known as the biggest city and the capital city of Japan. It is a very famous destination for traveling, but on the other hand, a lot of students come to Tokyo to study from all over the world. This is because there are lots of high standard universities in Tokyo, so that Tokyo attracts students.
In this article, I would like to share about which areas in Tokyo students most likely live, with my thoughts and my previous experience of living in a part of Tokyo.
You’re going to be surprised that there are many different interesting areas to live in. I picked the 5 most famous areas students most likely live. I would be happy to help you know where to live before coming to Tokyo, especially for students from overseas.
1. Kichijoji
Kichijoji is a popular city that consistently ranks high in the rankings of the best places to live in Tokyo.
You can take three lines at Kichijoji station : JR Chuo Line, Sobu Line, and Keio Inokashira Line that give you easy access to the central Tokyo area. Many universities along the Chuo Line, so that it is very convenient for commuting to school. And there are a lot of housing options for students in the Kichijoji area.
There is a shopping district around the station, which is perfect for shopping and dining. In addition to the common stores in the shopping street, there are also many amazing restaurants, apparel stores and fashionable stores. By having those stores in town, Kichijoji became a very popular town among young people.
The area is also attractive in that there is a lot of greenery a short distance away from the station. You can get rid of tiredness or stress with beautiful spots.
2. Takadanobaba
Takadanobaba is known as a student town and it is the nearest station to Waseda University which is one of the most famous universities in Tokyo.
Takadanobaba Station is located between Shinjuku and Ikebukuro stations, and is served by three lines: JR Yamanote Line, Seibu Shinjuku Line, and Tokyo Metro Tozai Line. It’s also directly accessible to three major train lines, making it an attractive place to live regardless of which school you attend in Tokyo.
The area has been a home to many students for a long time. Since a lot of students live here, the stores around the station are geared toward young people, and prices are relatively reasonable. There are also many restaurants targeting students in the area, so you can have no trouble eating out.
The area might be lively until night, so I would like to recommend this area if you like going out or night life. You’re not going to feel lonely even if it is your first time living alone here.
3. Shibuya
Shibuya is a nationally known town that attracts many tourists. It has many commercial facilities and attracts young people not only from domestic tourists but also from all over the world. You can literally get access to everything you need here.
You may not have the same image of a town where they live. However, a short distance away from the Shibuya station is actually a residential area, where you can find apartments for single people or student accommodations.
Another attraction of this area is the concentration of commercial facilities that are popular among young people, such as Shibuya Center Gai, 109 building, and Hikarie building. It is also the place where the latest fashions from all over the world are being disseminated, making it an ideal location for young people who have interests in fashion or trends . You will not get bored if you like going out shopping, eating and drinking.
Shibuya Station is one of the most accessible stations in Tokyo, with nine train lines serving the area. There is also a large bus terminal in front of the station. You can find late-night buses there that go to several places far from Tokyo, such as Osaka or Kyoto.
4. Hachioji
Hachioji is a town with many universities, there are 21 universities in Hachioji City.
Because of the volume of students and universities, there are a lot of housing opportunities for students.
Hachioji is a little bit far from the center of Tokyo, even though it’s within Tokyo city.
Hachioji Station is served by five lines: JR Chuo Line, Yokohama Line, Chuo Main Line, Hachiko Line, and Sagami Line, an easy commute to school.
If you want to go to the city center, such as Shibuya or Shinjuku. It takes about 40 minutes, so Hachioji is better suited for students attending universities in or near this area than for those attending universities in the city center. In front of the station, there are department stores and large commercial facilities, but a little further away, the area is in nature and has many old-fashioned stores.
Since it’s not the busiest city in Tokyo, it has more peace vibes than the city center. It’s suitable for students who want to live in a place that is both moderately convenient and moderately quiet.
5. Ikebukuro
Ikebukuro is one of the major subcenters of Tokyo. Ikebukuro Station is served by a total of eight JR and private railway lines, making it convenient to go anywhere in Tokyo. People from all over Tokyo gather here, so that the station and its surrounding area are crowded all day long.
There are many commercial facilities around the station, and a variety of restaurants and stores. For those who have lived in cities other than Tokyo, this may be the city that most closely resembles the image of the metropolis of Tokyo.
If you go toward the east exit for a while, you will find Ikebukuro Central Park with its abundance of greenery, and the area is so quiet that it is hard to believe that you are in the middle of one of the busiest cities.
The balance between the downtown area and residential areas can be an ideal place to live and is said to be the charm of Ikebukuro.
Conclusion
I introduced the 5 areas where students or young people mostly like to live.
It is important to consider things like the price for living in those areas, access to your school and what kind of lifestyle you want, but you feel safe to live no matter where you live in any areas in Tokyo.
I hope the introductions above help you decide where to live and hope you enjoy life in Tokyo.
Writer: K.H.