Living in the English Friendly Area in Tokyo
Tokyo is one of the most cosmopolitan Asian cities, and the bustle of city life is back and thriving after a brief interruption in March with the deadly earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan. It is very common to find visitors traveling to Japan to work or set up a business. This is why an apartment Tokyo has to offer is usually expensive and small. Real estate in the highly populated area is as pricey as in London or New York. Being able to find an apartment Tokyo has for foreigners usually means staying in an area that plays hosts to the foreign community.
Just like major cities, there are communities with cliques in Tokyo based on where you come from. If you want to be around other English –speaking foreigners, try visiting the Azabu Juban. Azazu is found in Minato and is a community of foreigners and English-speaking Japanese at the foothills of central Tokyo. Expect to have to pay high rates to live in this upscale neighborhood. In exchange, you can expect to have celebrity neighbors and artists, along with top executives and diplomats.
Azanzu is also home to the embassies of Germany, Norway, the Philippines, South Korea, China, Russia, Switzerland, Finland, Taiwan, France, Greece, Iran, and Austria.
Another area in Tokyo where you can find an English-speaking community would be in old Tokyo or Euno. This is found in the Taito district where apartments are not very expensive. However, it cannot be compared to Azanzu’s safety. Here in Euno there are sex clubs and high rise condominiums. It’s a strange mix of malls and markets; nightclubs and restaurants. Not every foreigner will be comfortable staying in this part of Tokyo.
Fortunately though, in Japan many already speak conversation English. It does have a Japanese accent but it isn’t that difficult to understand. With this in mind, you shouldn’t have to fear about where to find an apartment in Tokyo. The Japanese are generally welcoming and polite culture; they respect others and demand the same. Also, they have certain requirements about renting to foreigners and usually expect a minimum of 6 months stay.
Azanzu is also home to the embassies of Germany, Norway, the Philippines, South Korea, China, Russia, Switzerland, Finland, Taiwan, France, Greece, Iran, and Austria.
Another area in Tokyo where you can find an English-speaking community would be in old Tokyo or Euno. This is found in the Taito district where apartments are not very expensive. However, it cannot be compared to Azanzu’s safety. Here in Euno there are sex clubs and high rise condominiums. It’s a strange mix of malls and markets; nightclubs and restaurants. Not every foreigner will be comfortable staying in this part of Tokyo.
Fortunately though, in Japan many already speak conversation English. It does have a Japanese accent but it isn’t that difficult to understand. With this in mind, you shouldn’t have to fear about where to find an apartment in Tokyo. The Japanese are generally welcoming and polite culture; they respect others and demand the same. Also, they have certain requirements about renting to foreigners and usually expect a minimum of 6 months stay.
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Categorised as: Accommodation