TL;DR: I moved to a sharehouse for my new job, and after some months I decided I want to live by myself, but I am not sure whether to prioritize being close to my workplace or living in a place I can enjoy more during my working from home days.
I used to live in west Tokyo, which I really liked, but my new job had me moved to Yokohama. I came to a sharehouse thinking I would make friends to enjoy the area, but most of them barely leave their rooms to socialize, so it feels a bit awkward. So, I decided I want to move out and find an apartment for just myself, but initial costs have me overthink where might be the best area for me. Plus, when I work remote, there is nothing around to keep me entertained unless I take a train ride of at least 30 minutes. Parks are all uphill, and my house is not very close to the station.
I live in Yokohama city, I work 8 out of 20 times a month in a small town in Kanagawa that has bad access by public transportation. There are two buses a day, and although it is a long commute, it is rather convenient given it is by bus and I always get a sit. It takes my about 1h20m from home to get to the office.
The area where I live is not close to any of the places I tend to go during my free time. I thought I would find new places around Yokohama, but I can't help but think the city is just a giant shoppoing mall, not very walk-friendly, and wtihout much character. It is true that I do not have many friends living here, and people at work are quite older than me, so I thought the sharehouse would be what got me to enjoy the city more. However, it did not work out that way.
In fact, it's become harder to make new friends, and where I used to live there was a certain sense of community and I felt I could talk to and meet more people on regular basis. I am not sure if what I miss is the life I had some years ago, and perhaps moving back to the same area won't change things, but even in the days I spend by myself, I often find myself going to Tokyo. That is to say, I spend a lot of time and money commuting during my free time.
So, what areas should I consider? Moving in fees are quite high, so I am not sure if I should go back to Tokyo, to find a flat in Yokohama, or to find a place near my workplace. I want a good balance between green areas, livelihood, and commute times.
The areas I am considering are the following:
– Toritsudaigaku / Gakugeidaigaku – It would add up about 10 minutes of commute, despite being quite closer to central Tokyo. However, prices are high.
– Kawasaki Station – It seems fun, but I am not sure it has much green areas and I would struggle to make friends too.
– Nakano area – I love the area but it would be a 2h commute.
– Kamakura – It's really cool, has lots of nature, but I am not sure it has much to offer given how touristy it is.
– Yokohama city, Kannai area – It seems that it has green, the harbour is near, and there are some lively arcades nearby.
Opinions? Thoughts? I am not sure I summarise the situation well, so I am happy to add info.
by Xaletcaro