Hi y'all. So I'm coming this April to Tokyo for 4 months, taking some small courses as part of an mba student exchange. That will be a small part of my time; most of the time I'm working remotely (swe).
During these 4 months, besides the courses, I'm looking mainly to explore Tokyo, to eat good food, sit in cool bars, work out, meet people, and work mainly from cafes/coworking spaces. Also, every second weekend, travel 2-3 days outside of Tokyo.
Sadly, dorms are not an option for me. I looked for a lot of apartments, which is hard from abroad, but I stumbled into one that looks nice. Basically 27m, furnished, 190K/month included all + internet, in Roppongi. From what I see online, the price is fair for a foreigner who comes here for a semi-short-term contract.
To be honest, I didn't even know what Roppongi is. I see on Reddit a lot of complaints about it behind a shady place for 10 years. But how is it today? I see the apartment is like 5 minutes walk from some clubs, but the apartment is in some inside street, near a cemetery, so I think it will be quiet at night.
Any opinions about this area from people who've been there recently?
by Mammoth-Tough9549
10 comments
It’s basically a tourist / foreigner district. Lots of clubs, but also a place where a lot of expats end up. There are neighborhoods nearby that are super exclusive and high end. Yes there are loud parts, but there are also loads of options for shopping and food. Based on what you are describing it sounds like you would be within a stone’s throw of the Don Quijote, and a few minutes away from the Hibiya line station. So not quiet but also not bedlam. The shadiness aspect is overblown if you’ve spent any length of time in most western cities.
Brother, an apartment that is listed for rent doesn’t necessarily mean you %100 can rent it.
I know it sounds crazy. it’s VERY common here to get declined an apartment as a foreigner.
From an experience, the nicer and the more expensive the apartment is, the higher your chances getting denied.
Always make your 1st question to the agent “Do you all accept foreigners?”. Everything else can come after.
Take my serious advice. Rent based on where you work as a first goal. Yesterday the morning rush was so bad the doors had to close 4 times. Even one day a week will kill your vibe. Also that price is insane lol. Do more research. 27m is a shoebox.
19man for 27m? That’s terrible value
I wouldn’t live in Roppongi even if it were for free. 27 square meter flat for 19 man is too expensive. If you have that much money to spend, I would look into a better zone, not one full of shady night life, tourist traps and everything overpriced.
Roppongi is not what it used to be at all… Way quieter.
It’s super convenient too if you can live here do it.
I think that price is a bit high, but not crazy for Roppongi, if you like the space, given the short-term lease and the fact that you’re a foreigner.
I think the bigger question is whether you want to spend your 4 months in Roppongi as opposed to a place that’s a bit quieter-but-also-foreigner-tolerant.
Like, say, [Jimbocho](https://www.yokogaomag.com/tokyo-guide/jimbocho?rq=jimbocho). It’s more of a bookstore district than a clubbing district, but has a lot of short-term rental opportunities for foreigners, and is a bit quieter/cultured relative to the nightlife of Roppongi (which you can always get to by train anyway). I don’t want to single out Jimbocho, there are other districts as well.
I also like [Kichijoji](https://www.yokogaomag.com/tokyo-guide/kichijoji?rq=kichijoji) but that neighborhood may not have as much foreigner-friendly rental inventory.
I always found Roppongi a bit trashy, but if you want to spend many nights clubbing / drinking and within walking distance to do so, sure, Roppongi is a vibe. But there are quieter neighborhoods available, depending on what you’re seeking.
Roppongi is definitely fun if you’re into nightlife, bars, and meeting people, especially for a shorter stay. That said, if you’re going to be in Tokyo for several months and working remotely most days, you might also want to consider a slightly calmer area.
Ebisu is a popular option for longer stays – it’s very livable, has great food and cafes, and is well connected to Shibuya, Roppongi, and Hiroo. It feels more residential while still being central. Anyplace.com, for example, has furnished apartments around Ebisu Garden Place, which is a well-known and convenient area.
Another solid option for furnished rentals is Oakwood. They have properties in popular neighborhoods like Azabu-Juban. They do tend to be more expensive, but if it fits your budget, the quality and comfort can be worth it.
Roppongi isn’t “bad” per se – it just really depends on whether you want nightlife right outside your door or a quieter base to live and work from.
If you can find a suitable apartment, I would honestly recommend Jimbocho/Kanda for a first-time stay in Tokyo. It’s super central (you’re within ~30 minutes by train from most of city’s main hotspots if you wanted to explore Tokyo), and Tokyo Station is relatively close by if you want to hop on a Shinkansen for trips outside the city. Plus the neighborhood itself is awesome. It’s more chill than Roppongi, but still full of restaurants, cafés, and bars. Since you’re working remotely, there’s a couple of weworks around that area too (Kanda Square and Jimbocho).
Some people really like Roppongi – it’s one of the more upscale and international neighbourhoods in Tokyo. That said, if your main goal is using it as a base for exploring Tokyo, it probably wouldn’t be top of my list. Transit-wise you’re mostly relying on just a couple of lines, so depending on where you’re headed you’ll often end up doing an extra transfer.
Based on description I lived very near where you are looking, yes quiet at night no problem. Was convenient to my job and there is a good variety of restaurants and clubs but yes a foreigner enclave so you will find a lot of English speakers which may be good or bad depending on your Japanese conversation level and intent to learn. Hard to lean if your regular spot is all English.
Main problem I had was when I went shopping I would have to walk past the s’exclut touts all the time and they would literally follow me offering girls and coke even when I had two shopping bags with a baguette and celery and leeks sticking out like you see in movies.
Also, going out to bars meant lots of drunk tourists.
This was like 8 years ago, and there has been some anti-tout changes so not as quite bad as then, now.
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