Looking to live around Tokyo!

I'm interested in living in or around Tokyo, and I was referred to this site by a friend who's just posted a similar thread. Sorry if this is a little redundant!

I've been working at one of the bigger English conversation schools for over four months, and I'm hoping to put my transfer in ASAP so I have a chance of jumping on a train as soon as my six months are up. I really like the city where I am now--couldn't imagine a better, more gentle introduction to Japan--but I visited Tokyo over holiday, and now I'm hooked.

I'd love to be around the city, though I'd hate to live right in the middle of it (way too crowded)! Do you have any recommendations for quieter areas in or around Tokyo? Ideally, I'd love to be a one-two hour's train ride away from the city's center.

Like xerxes99 said before me, Thanks for humoring me!

Quiter? 1-2 Hour train ride? Theres quite alot of place to choose from.
I'd say around saitama, chiba or kanagawa, or even hachioji.
Those place are pretty quiet plus cheap as hell.

Me myself will be moving to the edge of saitama-tokyo, in tokorozawa-shi. I have to say that place isnt as inaka-style quiet, more like a mini ikebukuro. No Skyhigh apartment complex, most of the house is only 2 floor mini apartment.
But compared to the place I'm living right now, Its more quiet
(Since most of the place consist of residential area anyway)
I cant really say for sure since I'm havent start living there yet, just info from seniors and such.

From the center of chiba, the train would take around 1hour+, Hachioji(I know that, that place is a famous student residential area) around 50mins, Kanagawa area not sure, from the center of saitama around 1hour 30mins I guess.

Seriously, If your criteria is 1-2 hours, theres quite alot of so-called quiet place you can choose from. But the rush hour going to kill you, everyone wants to go with the express train, no want wants to wait for the local kakuekiteisha, push push push argh >.< (Experienced it a few times)

Thank you so much! You've been incredibly helpful.

I agree--rush hour is inhumane!

I never lived in Tokyo but my friend did and he lived in Hachioji. I visited Tokyo several times and that was my "base station". If I were to move there, thats the area I would start with. I think it would also depend on where I worked. For some reason I like to live only a few stops away from my job. That way I can get the travel money and ride my bicycle to work.