commutation timecosts

[Manarak]

Im in the process of finding housing here.
Besides it's being a real headache to find a large main bedroom, most constructions are very lightly isolated - strange, considering power and gas costs are high.

Anyway my question is: can some of you estimate the commutation time to ark mori (where I work) from the following areas:

- denenchofu
- sanno (ota-ku)
- seta (satagaya-ku)

Thank you

[gomichild]

That's a bit of a tough ask, you might like to start searching from this point - http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2017.html

[Taro Toporific]

Im in the process of finding housing here.
Besides it's being a real headache to find a large main bedroom, most constructions are very lightly isolated - strange

Welcome to the slums of Japan where 300,000yen/m still gets you substandard construction.

Anyway my question is: can some of you estimate the commutation time to ark mori (where I work) from the following areas:
- denenchofu
- sanno (ota-ku)
- seta (satagaya-ku)

Ark-mori to Denenchofu was 40+min in "real" commutation time for me with walking and waiting time added in the past.

Japan train route planner and fare calculator
Good for ALL of Japan and updated regularly.
In English, thanks to NTT
http://www.zone81.com/arch_sections/trains/japan_travel_calculator

[Manarak]

http://www.zone81.com/arch_sections/trains/japan_travel_calculator
how do you say "the page cannot be displayed" in japanese? is it the same as "you are fucked, gaijin"?
or if I refer to altavista translation:
"gaijin, the condition of fucked it is - don't you think?"


I've been to national azabu yesterday.
27 USD for a piece of cheese or 15 USD for 10 slices of breakfast bacon ??

[Taro Toporific]

http://www.zone81.com/arch_sections/trains/japan_travel_calculator
how do you say "the page cannot be displayed" in japanese? is it the same as "you are fucked, gaijin"?
or if I refer to altavista translation:
"gaijin, the condition of fucked it is - don't you think?"

Go to
http://www.zone81.com/ and then click on the train calculator section. It works and so do these:
http://www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/
http://ekimae.itp.ne.jp/tra-bin/jrtrageng.cgi

I've been to national azabu yesterday.
27 USD for a piece of cheese or 15 USD for 10 slices of breakfast bacon ??

Your getting into the FG Way...WOTS more, it's gonna be crap cheese and J-bacon cost 600-800yen. Shopping at National Azabu is like shopping at Tiffany's for auto parts.

[kamome]

I've been to national azabu yesterday. 27 USD for a piece of cheese or 15 USD for 10 slices of breakfast bacon ??

Your getting into the FG Way...WOTS more, it's gonna be crap cheese and J-bacon cost 600-800yen. Shopping at National Azabu is like shopping at Tiffany's for auto parts.

Shopping at Tiffany's for autoparts. Very funny analogy.

Actually, National Azabu is the only place you can get some of those things from home you miss (like certain cereals, snacks, kitchen and bathroom cleaning supplies, etc.). For daily staples, like eggs and bacon, you don't need to shop at NA. They sell all of those things at Japanese markets for less.

[GuyJean]

Shopping at National Azabu is like shopping at Tiffany's for auto parts.

My friend raves about http://www.theflyingpig.com for home delivery of international food.. Of course, you'll have to have a home to deliver to..

GJ

[ramchop]

Im in the process of finding housing here.
Besides it's being a real headache to find a large main bedroom, most constructions are very lightly isolated - strange, considering power and gas costs are high.

Size isn't everything. What sort of hours are you working? If you've got a non-working wife and kid at home and chuck a big commuting time on top of your day away how much of them are you going to see?

Other important points are:
1. Your non-working wife is gonna hate Japan after the first few months of excitement. Expect to become divorced.

10 min walk from work in Shinjukuku, nice area. Only 40 hour working week. Even so, if I'd have gone for the 2 year stay rather than 18 months things could have got ugly (a few holidays home were needed to keep her sane).

[Taro Toporific]

10 min walk from work in Shinjukuku, nice area. Only 40 hour working week. Even so, if I'd have gone for the 2 year stay rather than 18 months things could have got ugly (a few holidays home were needed to keep her sane).

Thanks ramchop for explaining what it's like for a young ex-pat family like. And yes, that "10 min walk" is always the best to look for Manarak high-by-Japanese-salaryman rent budget.

If I was Manarak I'd choose the less-than-20 minutes, only-one-train-or-bus option rental location even if the housing was smallish. In fact I did just that for my first 3 years, I lived in Komagome and commuted to Harajuku. Likewise Manarak could commute to Ark Mori from an inside the Yamote Line/loop in one of "affordable" downdown neighborhoods in Yoyogi, Hon-komage or Osaki if he was more hip to the bus lines (I used to catch a bus between my office the student ghetto in northest Tamachi to the TV studio Ark Hills that was less than 20 minutes and my boss would take his mountain bike in even less time.

Ya gonna think out of the box when it comes to TRUE costs of commutation.

[Manarak]

Thank you for all the good info folks

I think I managed to find something acceptable in denenchofu area for 350k - its 300m from the station and the meguro line takes me to meguro station, then subway to roppongi itchome. Commutation time is listed at 20min. Take 4 mins walking to denenchofu, 3 minutes waiting there, 3 minutes waiting at the change, and 4 minutes walk into the office, the total time would be 34 mins, which is OK.

There is even a small terrace and 3 square meters of garden, as well as sympathical (dutch?) neighbors who warned about the heating system not working... I forgat that it is also old inside, and the kitchen appliances look like they are 30 years old or something. But nevertheless, it is the best I found so far.
Another good thing are high ceilings in the living room - I will be able to bring some classic furniture in.

In the kitchen, I wonder about the relation between inner and outer size of the oven. I mean, it looks normal from the outside, but when I open the door, theres just enough space to put a plate inside! There are about 8cm on each side of this small space. What are those 8cm used for?
Hmmm...

[ramchop]

I will be able to bring some classic furniture in.

Furniture? What's that?

[GomiGirl]

I will be able to bring some classic furniture in.

Furniture? What's that?

Oven - what's that?

Terrace - what's that?

[Caustic Saint]

Oven - what's that?

It's where one bakes cakes.

[mr. sparkle]

Me 'n Rob do that a lot when I talk to him on the phone.

Rob Pongi: "Hey Dude, what's up?"

Sparkle: "Not much. Hanging out in the backyard, doing some BBQ. I just drove over to the grocery store to get some steaks and tortillas.

Rob Pongi: "Oh, man! Are you going to eat some Mexican Food?

Sparkle: "Oh yeah! and we'll have a keg of microbrew. Later, we're going to drive to the movies and watch a double feature.

I gotta mow the lawn first though!

[kamome]

I think I managed to find something acceptable in denenchofu area for 350k

Wow, Denenchofu. That's like the Beverly Hills of Tokyo, dude. And you're paying 350,000k? Not too bad. Obviously, you are on the golden expat package. But still, you chose a commute that involves switching trains. You will find that it's a real pain in the ass to switch trains with thousands of other frantic commuters who are trying to muscle their way past you on the escalators just so they can get onto the train first and grab an open seat. If you still have time to look for an apt., try to find one that is on the Nanboku-sen (which goes right to Roppongi 1-chome).

[Taro Toporific]

I think I managed to find something acceptable in denenchofu area for 350k

Wow, Denenchofu. That's like the Beverly Hills of Tokyo, dude... you chose a commute that involves switching trains. You will find that it's a real pain in the ass".

OK! The next FG Party is Denenchofu!

Oh no, do I see Rob Pongi's cardboard box on your terrace already?


*For me switching trains is the great Satan...I've try to avoid that at all costs. But yes, we're all very jealous of your new digs: CONGRADS! :P

[Manarak]

There is something strange about denenchofu being the beverly hills of tokyo, since many not-so-nice apartments in the city are advertised at much more than 350k...
A 140 sqm house in Beverly Hills at the same price as a 60 sqm meter apartment in Longbeach? That is something I would like to see in the states.

Or there is a major catch about this house. Maybe it is built on the top of a secret japanese SNSM missile silo?

LOL - Ok, will do some party... I will make sure to secure the fridge with a titane lock though.

There are also some nice BBQ grounds near the river.

And don't smoke the moss in the 3 square-meter garden ok?

[mr. sparkle]

When? Can I get one o' them KAL $300 specials still?


help mr. sparkle find his way to denenchofu!


home is where the pongi is


...and the keg goes where?


memorize this!


cool denenchofu emblem


denenchofu station

Looks like a very quaint hamlet. Since you are near Tamagawa, you're in for some serious hanami action along the river there.


hanami --to the EXTREME! - tamagawa

Congrats and enjoy your new crib!

[Manarak]

whatisthepongi

[Caustic Saint]

whatisthepongi

This is the Pongi!

[GomiGirl]

PARTY, PARTY, PARTY!!!!

What a great way to introduce yourself to the neighbours.. all of us!!

[Manarak]

Not before middle/end of may i'm afraid...
Container-wise

[Taro Toporific]

Not before middle/end of may i'm afraid...
Container-wise

Nah, that's ok. We'll bring our own Containers of Refreshment. Having a party in an empty house without the scaring the wife-n-kid sounds safer to me, Pongi-wise.

For more reference, the FG Forum's own "Court Fool", the Jester of Kanto, Rob Pongi can rampage in Mirth, but he and the rest of us are kid-safe.

[mr. sparkle]

Having a party in an empty house without the scaring the wife-n-kid sounds safer to me, Pongi-wise.

...depends on which pongi you are talking about!


Evil Pongi is the pongi you gotta be concerned about. When he drinks - he DRINKS!

[Manarak]

aahahaaa no fridge means... no fridge.

wheres jean-jacques pongi?

[Taro Toporific]

aahahaaa no fridge means... no fridge.

wheres jean-jacques pongi?

Jean-jacques Pongi the trash dumpster diver to the SODAI GOMI Resue!Never fear. In your rich neighborhood, the Gods of SODAI GOMI shall always provide.

[Captain Japan]

There is something strange about denenchofu being the beverly hills of tokyo, since many not-so-nice apartments in the city are advertised at much more than 350k...
A 140 sqm house in Beverly Hills at the same price as a 60 sqm meter apartment in Longbeach? That is something I would like to see in the states.

Gotta remember to apply the Japan discount. You think the Japan Alps are the same as the real Alps? Same goes for Japan's Beverly Hills.

[Captain Japan]

You will find that it's a real pain in the ass to switch trains with thousands of other frantic commuters who are trying to muscle their way past you on the escalators just so they can get onto the train first and grab an open seat. If you still have time to look for an apt., try to find one that is on the Nanboku-sen (which goes right to Roppongi 1-chome).

Nah, Denenchofu is on the Meguro Line. This merges with the Namboku Line at Meguro Station. Just be sure to always get on a train that doesn't merge with the Mita Line at Meguro Station. It is usually every other one.

[gkanai]

If I was Manarak I'd choose the less-than-20 minutes, only-one-train-or-bus option rental location even if the housing was smallish.

Yep. That's me. Living in Meguro. 12 minutes on the Yamate to Shinagawa. Small studio, but adequate.

[Taro Toporific]

If I was Manarak I'd choose the less-than-20 minutes, only-one-train-or-bus option rental location even if the housing was smallish.

Yep. That's me. Living in Meguro. 12 minutes on the Yamate to Shinagawa. Small studio, but adequate.

Well damn, you live in Meguro too just like the other FGs? Sheee-it now I AM gonna have to move just to torment all you youngings.

PS: I trying calling you from the LOMO party that "x" had last Sunday since we had the full FG posse there. Quite by accident everybody came: kamome, GuyJean, Captain, Rob Pongi, Dr. Pongi, NecoNecro, mercutio. Filip and oh Buddha who am I forgetting....