How to move to Tokyo Part 1. Finding your new home.

Are you moving to Tokyo? Or, perhaps you know someone who is. Relocating is exciting and offers many learning opportunities and experiences. However, the initial excitement is soon overshadowed by anxiety. Preparing for a new job, lifestyle and home can be overwhelming. The anxiety is always present whether you are moving to a new suburb, city or country. Here are some pointers in making the transition as smooth as possible from my own experience. Being prepared early will save you a lot of stress later on...

If you are relocating because of work, research the area around your office. A lot of your time will be spent near work. Find the nearest train stations. It is more than likely that you will be using public transport to get around. Cars do not move very quickly during peak hour in Tokyo! The easiest way to scout your new office is to search on Google Maps. For example, try typing in “iidabashi tokyo” and you will be directed to a map of the heart of Tokyo with various places in Iidabashi flagged. Once you have found the stations (Iidabashi Station is a hub with many intersecting train lines) you can see where each train line will lead you. The Tokyo Metro Subway Map and Japan Rail Map links are very handy. Then look for the big city centres. The big city centres will have the largest concentration of shops, eateries and nightlife. Shinjuku and Ikebukuro are directly connected to IIdabashi by subway. It is likely that you will like to live near work and a big city centre.
Use Search Engines to research the surrounding areas and make a shortlist of preferred places. Also write down your office area and activities that are important to your lifestyle. Google Maps Street View is really handy to visualize the areas. Show this list to your real estate agent or relocation company. After taking all of your notes into consideration, they will be able to recommend the most suitable place for your new home. It is quite possible that they may recommend a totally different area to the ones you selected. Remember that they are the local experts and you will be able to understand their reasons because you have already familarised yourself with the Tokyo area. Carefully consider the choices being offered and select the one that best fits your needs. Congratulations! You have found your new home in Tokyo.

Don’t have a real estate agent or relocation company?

Please contact our partners Ken Corporation, Better Homes, Housing Japan and MKC Partners.

They are experts in helping people find quality housing in Tokyo.