Where to live in Tokyo: the commute starts at your front door

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A real example: four neighbourhoods, one school

For a family considering The American School in Japan’s Chōfu campus, start with the school day: the current Admissions FAQ gives classes as 08:00–15:00. We compared four starting stations in Google Maps for arrival by 07:45 on Tuesday 6 October 2026, leaving time before classes. ^{[14] [1]}

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In this snapshot, Kichijōji takes 27 minutes with one change; Roppongi and Hiroo take over an hour with two and three changes respectively. Den-en-chōfu takes 78 minutes. A central address is not automatically the easiest school run.

Source: Google Maps, checked on 1 October 2026 for 6 October; station-to-school routes, walking included, indicative adult fares. Add the home-to-station leg.

ASIJ runs buses from central Tokyo; confirm the current stop, pickup time and capacity with the school before choosing a home. ^[15]

What we do for you

We compare the home-to-stop or home-to-station leg against the school’s current timetable, then test the practical route with your family’s arrival margin. A planner ranking is the start of the shortlist, not the decision.

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Start from your real week

Before choosing a neighbourhood, list the trips that shape your week: office, school, sport, regular appointments, perhaps a second workplace. Then compare each home against the same destination and the same arrival time. It is the only fair way to compare addresses in very different parts of Tokyo.

Think about every member of the household. Saving one adult fifteen minutes while adding half an hour to a child's day is rarely a good trade. For school, the bus timetable and the nearest stop can decide the neighbourhood on their own.

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What "5 minutes on foot" really means

Property listings calculate walking time at 80 metres per minute, rounding any part-minute up. It is a useful convention for comparing listings, not a promise: it ignores traffic lights, slopes and the lift in your tower. ^{[2] [13]}

Nor does it say which station entrance is meant. At large stations, the nearest entrance can be a substantial underground walk from your platform. Tokyo Metro publishes, station by station, the routes linking street, ticket gates and platforms. ^[3]

Its Tokyo Station page, for example, describes a lift route through the Oazo building to Exit 1: a station name alone does not describe the route. ^[4]

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One journey, seven steps

To compare fairly, we split every journey into seven steps, each counted once. Operators' planners help you find a route; check the other companies on the way too. ^[5]

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Route planners often include part of these steps. Keep their total and add only what they leave out, usually the start and the end. Record the outward and return trips separately: you do not always come home the same way, or at the same time.

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Rush hour changes everything

A route tested at noon on a Saturday tells you almost nothing about Tuesday at 08:15. Some lines are comfortable during the day and packed in the morning; a longer journey may feel more comfortable. A planner cannot replace observing crowding, or guarantee punctuality.

So test the route at the real hour, in both directions. Two trips are enough to spot an awkward transfer, not to measure a line's reliability. If you miss a train or wait a long time for a lift, write it down rather than hiding it in an average.

Searching from abroad? Ask for a continuous video of the route from the building to the station entrance, and keep a list of what still needs checking in person.

What we do for you

For every shortlisted home, we test the route at the hour you will use it, in both directions, and send you the record: exit, platform, transfers and the conditions we observed.

Download the text worksheet

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What about driving?

A car can be practical for crossing Tokyo, but the result depends on the route and departure time. MLIT’s 2021 road census recorded average urban-expressway speeds in the 23 wards of 25.0 km/h at peak times and 46.8 km/h off-peak. ^[6]

If you plan to drive every day, test the route twice: at the hour you will really leave, and outside rush hour. The gap between the two tells you whether the car is a solution or a gamble.

The deciding factor is often parking. Get the current price, availability and permitted vehicle dimensions, especially for a mechanical space: your SUV’s height, width, length and weight matter. For a car subject to parking certification, the space must be no more than 2 km from its base of use, usually your home. ^[9]

At the office, the question comes up again. A reserved space is not always provided, and hourly car parks in central Tokyo quickly become very expensive day after day.

What we do for our clients

Rather than leaving you to drive from one hourly car park to the next, we find you a monthly space near your home or office that fits your vehicle. This service is part of the support we provide to our clients when they settle in.

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And by bicycle?

In our experience, for trips of up to about thirty minutes, a bicycle often matches a car in central Tokyo, especially at rush hour.

Test the route with its lights, hills, parking and, where needed, a suitable child seat. Electric assistance can make hills easier; comfort and journey time still depend on your route.

A few things to check before making it your main way to travel:

Parking at both ends. Does the building have bicycle parking, with a free space, and at what cost? At the other end, does the office or station offer bicycle parking? Monthly spaces near stations can have waiting lists. The route. Main avenues are not always pleasant by bike; back streets can be longer in distance but quicker and safer. Check permitted access and safety on the ground rather than relying only on an app’s suggested route. The rules. Normally ride on the left of the carriageway; sidewalk use is allowed only in specified exceptions. Wearing a helmet is a legal duty to make an effort, not merely a lifestyle recommendation. ^[10] Anti-theft registration is required; Tokyo also requires liability cover for injuries caused to others while cycling. ^{[11] [12]} The blue-ticket fixed-penalty system applies to riders aged 16 and over from 1 April 2026.

The season. Plan a fallback for hot or wet days.

What we do for you

When shortlisting, we check the bicycle parking in the building and test the cycling route to your office when cycling is how you plan to travel.

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Weigh the rent against the time saved

A better-located home often costs more. To judge whether the difference is worth it, bring it back to your real routine.

A calculation example, not actual listings: home B saves 13 minutes each way compared with home A, for ¥30,000 more a month. With three office days a week and 46 commuting weeks a year, B gives you back about 60 hours a year, or ¥6,020 of extra rent for each hour saved.

Annual travel hours = (outward minutes + return minutes) × office days per week × commuting weeks ÷ 60

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Only you can say what an hour of your week is worth. This calculation leaves out fares, which you should check with your employer, and the rest of the household's trips.

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Compare your own rent and travel times

Enter the complete outward and return trips, monthly rent including common charges, and your office schedule. The tool calculates from your inputs; it does not look up routes.

Calculations stay in this page. Nothing is sent or saved automatically.

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What a good commute cannot fix

A short commute does not make up for a home that does not work. A lease that fits your stay, enough space, practical access and a budget you can sustain come first. MLIT's rental guide also suggests checking nearby transport, shops, medical facilities and parks. ^[8]

If you often work from home, layout, quiet and connectivity matter as much as the station. Our viewing guide helps you check them.

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Common questions

How much more rent is a shorter commute worth?

Start from the budget you can sustain, then compare the extra annual cost with the time you actually save under your own schedule.

Can I start from a station-to-station time?

Yes, as long as you add the walking, station access and waiting it leaves out. To decide, always compare door-to-door journeys.

Is driving faster than the train?

Sometimes, especially across town outside rush hour. At commuting times it becomes unpredictable, and parking often weighs more than the journey itself.

I work from home half the time. What changes?

Fewer office days reduce the case for paying more for a short commute. The school run, however, is still daily, and your home workspace matters more.

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Plan your search with us

Tell us your main destinations (office, school), your office days, the longest journey you would accept, your parking needs and your budget, both monthly and for moving in. A few stations or areas are enough to start. We send you a focused shortlist and test the routes before the viewing.

Discuss your rental search

Share your priorities, budget and timing through the GAISAPP consultation form.

Request a consultation