Looking for a nice neighborhood.

[Samurai_Jerk]

what goes around... Seems like her life is pretty miserable already. You might have gotten out of that mess pretty lucky. If all it cost you were jeans and a good jacket it maybe a cheap riddance. Drinking excessively, orphanage, abusive parents, broken home, lives in a shithole, etc. All that and more in less than two paragraphs... Starting to worry for you Choco.

It's way too late to start worrying about him. He's already pretty much does every fucked up move there is when it comes to pussy.

[Coligny]

what goes around... Seems like her life is pretty miserable already. You might have gotten out of that mess pretty lucky. If all it cost you were jeans and a good jacket it maybe a cheap riddance. Drinking excessively, orphanage, abusive parents, broken home, lives in a shithole, etc. All that and more in less than two paragraphs... Starting to worry for you Choco.

It's way too late to start worrying about him. He's already pretty much does every fucked up move there is when it comes to pussy.

Hasn't met my sister yet... So it's safe to say there are quite a few untried things out there that he have yet to survive...

[Samurai_Jerk]

what goes around... Seems like her life is pretty miserable already. You might have gotten out of that mess pretty lucky. If all it cost you were jeans and a good jacket it maybe a cheap riddance. Drinking excessively, orphanage, abusive parents, broken home, lives in a shithole, etc. All that and more in less than two paragraphs... Starting to worry for you Choco.

It's way too late to start worrying about him. He's already pretty much does every fucked up move there is when it comes to pussy.

Hasn't met my sister yet... So it's safe to say there are quite a few untried things out there that he have yet to survive...

Are you actually claiming your sister has a vagina?

[Coligny]

worse than that... she even got bewbs and a brain despite being blonde...

[matsuki]

what goes around... Seems like her life is pretty miserable already. You might have gotten out of that mess pretty lucky. If all it cost you were jeans and a good jacket it maybe a cheap riddance. Drinking excessively, orphanage, abusive parents, broken home, lives in a shithole, etc. All that and more in less than two paragraphs... Starting to worry for you Choco.

It's way too late to start worrying about him. He's already pretty much does every fucked up move there is when it comes to pussy.

While what SJ says is probably spot on, I kept telling IPU I was done with this lemur BEFORE that last night. It was more a case of convenience that I agreed to bring her along. That being said, I definitely considered that it might be the last time I saw whatever I loaned her, I just wasn't heartless enough to kick her back home with the thrashed stuff she had with her. While she's still a bitch, I look at is as a donation to better her shitty life. With all the shit she went through, she could have ended up a lot worse.

[IparryU]

what goes around... Seems like her life is pretty miserable already. You might have gotten out of that mess pretty lucky. If all it cost you were jeans and a good jacket it maybe a cheap riddance. Drinking excessively, orphanage, abusive parents, broken home, lives in a shithole, etc. All that and more in less than two paragraphs... Starting to worry for you Choco.

It's way too late to start worrying about him. He's already pretty much does every fucked up move there is when it comes to pussy.

While what SJ says is probably spot on, I kept telling IPU I was done with this lemur BEFORE that last night. It was more a case of convenience that I agreed to bring her along. That being said, I definitely considered that it might be the last time I saw whatever I loaned her, I just wasn't heartless enough to kick her back home with the thrashed stuff she had with her. While she's still a bitch, I look at is as a donation to better her shitty life. With all the shit she went through, she could have ended up a lot worse.

And I told you not to bring that bitch on Halloween... That was play night in Roppongi. Man... You were assed out on the couch after that bottle of bubbly.

She was just drama

[GomiGirl]

How about Shimokitazawa? Lots of live music and interesting eclectic mix of residents and 300K will go far. You could even get a smallish house - 2 bedroom on two levels.

[phlizmo]

How about Shimokitazawa? Lots of live music and interesting eclectic mix of residents and 300K will go far. You could even get a smallish house - 2 bedroom on two levels.

I was wondering about this and asked a friend though I was informed that the place is for "young" people, (dont you just love all of the things in japan that are apparently 'off limits' once you pass your early 20's? words, fashion, neighborhoods, etc.. ), besides its also a bit far a commute to shinagawa I hear, not that I actually looked at a map.
As per the advice of others I am thinking within walking distance if needed. After many texts, facebook messages, skype calls, and one on one chats with my japanese friends I settled on Nakameguro in first place, Daikanyama in second, and Ebisu in third. So now I need to figure out what sort of square footage I should be looking for.

which brings me to this >
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=30392

[Takechanpoo]

I personally recommend you to nishi-kawaguchi, warabi or toda in Saitama prefecture.
its getting to be a new nest of Chinese. i heard in one elementary school there half of students is chinese.
they are really reallly nice guys. hell yeah

[Samurai_Jerk]

I personally recommend you to nishi-kawaguchi, warabi or toda in Saitama prefecture.
its getting to be a new nest of Chinese. i heard in one elementary school there half of students is chinese.
they are really reallly nice guys. hell yeah

Nishi-Kawaguchi also has a high concentration of cheap massage parlors which is why Takechan is such an expert on that area.

[GomiGirl]

How about Shimokitazawa? Lots of live music and interesting eclectic mix of residents and 300K will go far. You could even get a smallish house - 2 bedroom on two levels.

I was wondering about this and asked a friend though I was informed that the place is for "young" people, (dont you just love all of the things in japan that are apparently 'off limits' once you pass your early 20's? words, fashion, neighborhoods, etc.. ), besides its also a bit far a commute to shinagawa I hear, not that I actually looked at a map.
As per the advice of others I am thinking within walking distance if needed. After many texts, facebook messages, skype calls, and one on one chats with my japanese friends I settled on Nakameguro in first place, Daikanyama in second, and Ebisu in third. So now I need to figure out what sort of square footage I should be looking for.

which brings me to this >
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=30392

Bullshit - Shimokitazawa is cool and super easy commute. They are not carding people over 30 at the station and not letting people in. It has great live houses and lots of vintage clothes places which is why many Japanese folks think it is for young hippies - oh second hand clothes - pee-eewwww.

Just take the Inokashira line one stop on the express to Shibuya, change to the Yamanote line and you are like 5 stops from Shinagawa. Won't take you more than 30 minutes. Nakameguro is nice upscale family living and Daikanyama is hipster central. Ebisu is a commuters paradise.

Again, be warned about your music - this is why I suggested a house in Shimokitazawa. There are plenty of houses around if you know where to look.

If you want a fancy pants designer apartment then you are paying upwards of ¥400K. For a Japanese older place from ¥250K ~ ¥350K.

[Samurai_Jerk]

Riding the Inokashira line is not an easy commute. Even if it's just for 10 mins.

[wagyl]

That reminds me: I think I remember a foreigner used to live near Shimokitazawa in a roomy, older style house with a bath you could luxuriate in on afternoons. He was in his forties, had a couple of ancient dogs, considered himself a bit of a musician, and used to have long, overnight drinking sessions well into Monday morning with his musician friends (some of them were almost famous even, by the way).

Sorry for the in-jokes, OP, but those who know who I am talking about will know, and I don't want to mention any particular names in this case.

The choice of a freestanding house in Shimokitazawa will be unconventional, but would also be an interesting experience of Tokyo, one few people get. If it was on someone else's dime, I would definitely do it. I also wouldn't worry too much about taxi fares home to somewhere so central: the three figure US dollar style fares don't start until a lot further out.

As a practical matter, I doubt that a relocation agency would take the responsibility for recommending an older style place to someone. The quirky places you will have to find yourself.


I am sort of loath to say it, but I will anyway, OP: With all these threads, imagine how you would answer a random person who was asking where they should live in your own home town. It is not always easy to give this advice, especially as so much depends on the person's tastes. I sympathise because you feel that you are trying to solve your problem with close to zero information about what it is like on the ground here, but I think if you thought about how you would struggle to answer someone questioning you, that you will understand the difficulties we are having giving you advice.

[phlizmo]

How about Shimokitazawa? Lots of live music and interesting eclectic mix of residents and 300K will go far. You could even get a smallish house - 2 bedroom on two levels.

I was wondering about this and asked a friend though I was informed that the place is for "young" people, (dont you just love all of the things in japan that are apparently 'off limits' once you pass your early 20's? words, fashion, neighborhoods, etc.. ), besides its also a bit far a commute to shinagawa I hear, not that I actually looked at a map.
As per the advice of others I am thinking within walking distance if needed. After many texts, facebook messages, skype calls, and one on one chats with my japanese friends I settled on Nakameguro in first place, Daikanyama in second, and Ebisu in third. So now I need to figure out what sort of square footage I should be looking for.

which brings me to this >
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=30392

Bullshit - Shimokitazawa is cool and super easy commute. They are not carding people over 30 at the station and not letting people in. It has great live houses and lots of vintage clothes places which is why many Japanese folks think it is for young hippies - oh second hand clothes - pee-eewwww.

Just take the Inokashira line one stop on the express to Shibuya, change to the Yamanote line and you are like 5 stops from Shinagawa. Won't take you more than 30 minutes. Nakameguro is nice upscale family living and Daikanyama is hipster central. Ebisu is a commuters paradise.

Again, be warned about your music - this is why I suggested a house in Shimokitazawa. There are plenty of houses around if you know where to look.

If you want a fancy pants designer apartment then you are paying upwards of ¥400K. For a Japanese older place from ¥250K ~ ¥350K.

Sounds cool! I will consider it. Im taking advice from all types and of course I am getting all types of advice. Much appreciated btw

[phlizmo]

That reminds me: I think I remember a foreigner used to live near Shimokitazawa in a roomy, older style house with a bath you could luxuriate in on afternoons. He was in his forties, had a couple of ancient dogs, considered himself a bit of a musician, and used to have long, overnight drinking sessions well into Monday morning with his musician friends (some of them were almost famous even, by the way).

Sorry for the in-jokes, OP, but those who know who I am talking about will know, and I don't want to mention any particular names in this case.

The choice of a freestanding house in

will be unconventional, but would also be an interesting experience of Tokyo, one few people get. If it was on someone else's dime, I would definitely do it. I also wouldn't worry too much about taxi fares home to somewhere so central: the three figure US dollar style fares don't start until a lot further out.

As a practical matter, I doubt that a relocation agency would take the responsibility for recommending an older style place to someone. The quirky places you will have to find yourself.


I am sort of loath to say it, but I will anyway, OP: With all these threads, imagine how you would answer a random person who was asking where they should live in your own home town. It is not always easy to give this advice, especially as so much depends on the person's tastes. I sympathise because you feel that you are trying to solve your problem with close to zero information about what it is like on the ground here, but I think if you thought about how you would struggle to answer someone questioning you, that you will understand the difficulties we are having giving you advice.

Shimokitazawa was a place I was interested in when I heard about it.. Then upon asking a coworker it was all "..no.. its young there.." fk... I like the way you put it as unconventional yet interesting.. might be better as you say for the music.. When researching I found there was plenty of live music in those parts.. Im liking this idea more and more.. thanks for at least taking a stab at my questions. I knew I would be hanging my ass in the breeze just starting such conversations.. again, when I arrive, I'm buying..

[wagyl]

I wonder how the OP got on.

Channelling Mulboyne:

Just noticed Vogue named Shimokitazawa one of the world's top 15 hippest neighbourhoods: http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/1080625/ ... hborhoods/ …

[IparryU]

I wonder how the OP got on.

Channelling Mulboyne:

Just noticed Vogue named Shimokitazawa one of the world's top 15 hippest neighbourhoods: http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/1080625/ ... hborhoods/ …

Pack your bags choko... we gots to get a box out there...

[Greji]

what goes around... Seems like her life is pretty miserable already. You might have gotten out of that mess pretty lucky. If all it cost you were jeans and a good jacket it maybe a cheap riddance. Drinking excessively, orphanage, abusive parents, broken home, lives in a shithole, etc. All that and more in less than two paragraphs... Starting to worry for you Choco.

Sounds like my kinda girl. Did she have a goat or two around the joint?

[phlizmo]

I wonder how the OP got on.

Channelling Mulboyne:

Just noticed Vogue named Shimokitazawa one of the world's top 15 hippest neighbourhoods: http://www.vogue.com/slideshow/1080625/ ... hborhoods/ …

I thought I would pop by and write a quick update.

I arrived in Tokyo on September 1 and spent the first month in a business hotel. It was a place I stayed in before and was about a 5 minute walk from my studio. Plus the concierge was staffed with very sweet, friendly, and cute girls who I have since become good friends with So no complaints there.

In truth the move was traumatising, stressful, and came with a desolation and depression that I had not anticipated. Moving everything from Los Angeles to Tokyo.. Been here many times but nothing prepared me for being here and having no way back. "no shit" screams the gaijin greek chorus..

So I figured the sooner I got to someplace semi permeant like a home the happier I might be. I gave my agents (provided by my company) my list of wants and needs. I wanted a cat but I needed a place that allowed me to make a racket. I looked mostly in Meguro, Ebisu, Shinagawa, Harajuku.. Finally there came up a place in Hiroo. I went to check it out and it seemed really nice and really huge. No cats. The plus side? The bedroom is of the quiet variety, (rubber gaskets around the doorjamb and 2 doors) I had to take it.

On Oct3 I moved in. Its a kinda big empty place near Ebisu station. There are some boxes scattered about as well as synthesisers and guitars.. No furniture yet. I didn't bring any. No bed, just a futon from Donki..

Bought an iPhone from Softbank at Bic Camera Shibuya. That was fun with my super limited nihongo. Opened a bank account and my credit card promptly stopped working. Until I can find a time to coordinate a phone call in japanese to sort out the matter its all cash. Japanese is slowly building. Drinking way too much and getting way too many Line friends who never respond .. A couple do but the ratio is poor. But hey its only been about two months. Not bad.

Found a girlfriend of sorts.. Thats nice. She is very helpful. I need to buy a bed.. I need to buy everything. Oh and now I know when getting a place, no matter how big and fancy the place is, an area of more than 61cm square is necessary for a washer/dryer that won't wrinkle the living hell out of your clothing. They can build robots and bionic suits, but I can't get a wrinkle free wash (First world problems and so on.. )

Really enjoying the night life. Being a stop away from Shibuya has its merits. Close to tons of bars and live houses.. Of course I have already spent too much time in Roppongi.. Telling the touts to back off because now that I live here I'm just gonna keep saying "No" to the constant "Titties? Club?" ..

So now that I am here lets have a drink. I promised .. More of you saltier dogs can probably give me pointers on where to go and where not to go. Would love to hear your recommendations.

There are moments where I wonder what the F I am doing all the way over here.. Why I left my girlfriend behind.. Why I don't just take a flying leap off of the ebisu station platform (non rush hour time of course).. But all in all I can't complain. Its a dream to be here. . Not sure what kind of dream it will be but its fun/interesting/exciting.. There always seems to be something of interest happening. Again, its only been 2 months. Will keep you posted..

Thanks for the helps ...

D

[Russell]

Thanks for the update.

Great post!

[Cyka UchuuJin]

[Cyka UchuuJin]

Actually I have to start this search as well. I'm coming back to Japan (there's words I never thought I'd say) for 6 months initially, then it could be more permanent. 1st March is the date, and I have to spend that and April in Tokyo. After that, hopefully I will be able to go back to Osaka and set up camp there.

Anyone have an off the cuff answer for a 2 month thing that is not Oakwood or another fancy serviced thing? Work is in Gotanda.

(and yes, i'm sure there is a thread somewhere already, but I had a hard day)

[GomiGirl]

YAY - this is the best news ever.

Airbnb baby girl!!

[Cyka UchuuJin]

really? AirBnb for a 2 month stay???

[wagyl]

really? AirBnb for a 2 month stay???

It is certainly worth looking into that as an option.
Otherwise sites like http://www.weekly-mansion.com/
I seem to remember that there were changes in the way that weekly mansions were run: the hotel industry got upset about it and put restrictions on them, like requiring concierge service or something like that. The industry is also trying to restrict AirBnb.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

really? AirBnb for a 2 month stay???

It is certainly worth looking into that as an option.
Otherwise sites like http://www.weekly-mansion.com/
I seem to remember that there were changes in the way that weekly mansions were run: the hotel industry got upset about it and put restrictions on them, like requiring concierge service or something like that. The industry is also trying to restrict AirBnb.

Very interesting stuff. I will be looking a lot more into it when I visit in a couple weeks. Thing is, an unfurnished thing is also fine because I am shutting down our showroom and will have a lot of furniture that I can use aside from a bed. The biggest thing is deciding if I want to be in Tokyo for the whole 6 months or if I will go back to Osaka after 1st May (my preference).

Thanks GG and to you for the advise though, looking so much forward to coming back!