Where to live in Tokyo

[Smythe]

Apologies if a similar thread already exists, i've had a quick search and couldn't find anything.
I've been offered a teaching job in Tokyo starting around September time and have some influence as to the area I will live in. Just wondered if anyone has any advice on nice areas?
I'm not looking to be in the thick of the party districts/neon lights but similarly don't really want to be out of reach of nightspots.
Any info would be appreciated.
Smythe.

 

[shiroma]

Just wondered if anyone has any advice on nice areas?

Tokyo violent crime map
Tokyo robbery map

 

[Smythe]

Thanks for the map, i'll try and compare them to the info I have. If it helps I think these are the different areas I can choose to live in. Apologies for any spelling mistakes or inaccuracies in advance but as far as I can tell these are the different areas and main stations I can choose to be near. Again any info reccommendations would be great
Chiba District
Inage
Motoyawata
ShinKemigawa
MakuhariHongo
Makuhari
Soga
Nishi-Chiba
Joban District
Kashiwa
Kita Kogane
Minami Kashiwa
Minoridai
Higashi District
Gyotoku
Myoden
Minami Gyotoku
Koshigaya District
Akabane
Kita Koshigaya
Koshigaya
Minami Koshigaya
Omiya District
Omiya
Nishi Tokyo Central
Akabane
Nogata
Musashi-Sakai
Hibarigaoka
Nishi Tokyo West
Musashi Sakai
Toritsu Kasai & Arai Yakashi Mae
Tamagawa District
Machida
Sagami Ono
Yokohama District
Ofuna
Sagami District
Fujisawa
Kamonomiya
Tsujido
Chigasaki

 

[Mike Cash]

Would it bother you to learn that some of the places you listed, while near Tokyo, aren't actually in Tokyo?

 

[Harvey]

Yeah, for example Chiba isn't Tokyo ~

Man... Tokyo's frigging huge. I just throw darts on a map when deciding where to live.

Seriously though, think about which train line you'll be using most to go to work, and try to live near that.

 

[undrentide]

Seriously though, think about which train line you'll be using most to go to work, and try to live near that.

I'll second Harvey's comments.

General tendency is eatern part is less expensive than western part of Tokyo (or suburb) - though it depends how far it is from central Tokyo and how far the place is from the nearest station - but if your working place is on western part of central Tokyo (Minato-ku, Shibuya-ku, Shinjuku-ku, for example), commuting from estern part let alone from Chiba or Saitama is a nightmare, as you have to go through the busiest are.ﾂ
I'm telling from my own experience; I used to live in northerneast part of Tokyo to commute to Minato-ku, but found it just too much and moved out after several years to western part and life became much easer - as far as commuting is concerned.
(Economy-wise it is another story... )

If you can be a little more specific where (at least which ward/ku) you'll be working and where you're planning to live, people can give you more detailed information/comments.

 

[Talitha_Cumi]

checking the railway-subway map is good too.

here you are
http://www.tokyometro.jp/rosen/rosenzu/pdf/rosen_eng.pdf

 

[Smythe]

Thanks for the info so far.
I'm aware that many of the areas I've listed aren't contained within Tokyo but thought it was easier to group them together rather than try to differentiate between them in the post. Apologies if it caused any confusion.
The company i'm with has schools within the different areas so I shouldn't need to travel outside the district I'm placed within very often for work. As such whilst i'll look into the busiest train lines and try to avaoid them using the info you've provided so far, i'm looking more towards which areas are nice to live in in terms of facilities, things to do etc.
After a brief read into the different areas Sagami, Yokohama, Tamagawa, and perhaps Chiba appeal as they have some access to beaches and mountains which I imagine would provide a nice break.
Please keep the suggestions and considerations coming!

 

[Ewok85]

I'll second Harvey's comments.
General tendency is eatern part is less expensive than western part of Tokyo (or suburb) - though it depends how far it is from central Tokyo and how far the place is from the nearest station - but if your working place is on western part of central Tokyo (Minato-ku, Shibuya-ku, Shinjuku-ku, for example), commuting from estern part let alone from Chiba or Saitama is a nightmare, as you have to go through the busiest are.

I live near Akabane and commute to Hamamatsucho every day, one train, straight line, 40minutes. Might be crowded but its a simple and easy commute otherwise.