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The best place to live in Tokyo is ... Nakano?

The best place to live in Tokyo is ... Nakano?

But Kichijoji is the place Tokyoites most want to move to
By Robert Michael Poole 22 February, 2011
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  • nakano, kichijoji, living in tokyo
  • nakano, kichijoji, living in tokyo
  • nakano, kichijoji, living in tokyo
  • nakano, kichijoji, living in tokyo
  • nakano, kichijoji, living in tokyo
  • nakano, kichijoji, living in tokyo
  • nakano, kichijoji, living in tokyo
  • nakano, kichijoji, living in tokyo

Tokyo's west-side rules according to two surveys by Tokyo Walker. But the area voted the best place to live might surprise many ... Nakano.

With its otaku shopping center Nakano Broadway and concert arena Sun Plaza, the often overlooked transport hub topped a survey of 3,183 readers, moving up one place on the previous year and pipping its student hangout neighbor Koenji to the top spot.

Kichijoji with its enormous Inokashira Park, thriving bars and small-town feel finished third, but topped a separate poll of where most Tokyoites would like to move to.

Most of the locations are amongst Tokyo's cheapest -- no Ginza's or Akasaka's here -- but with many of the places people wish they lived not ranking highly by those who already live there, perhaps the Tokyo Camden of Shimokitazawa and the class of Ebisu with its Garden Place aren't so appealing after all.

The previous year's rankings are shown in ( ), with the much-maligned distant suburb of Nerima the highest new entry at five.

Click "View Gallery" above for images of Nakano

Best place to live

  1. Nakano (2)
  2. Koenji (9)
  3. Kichijoji (1)
  4. Ikebukuro (3)
  5. Nerima
  6. Shinjuku
  7. Sangenjaya (7)
  8. Kasai
  9. Meguro
  10. Tachikawa

 

Where Tokyoites wish they lived

  1. Kichijoji (1)*
  2. Shimokitazawa (3)
  3. Ebisu (4)
  4. Jiyugaoka (2)
  5. Shinjuku (10)
  6. Ikebukuro
  7. Asakusa
  8. Nakameguro (5)
  9. Daikanyama (8)
  10. Nakano (9)

More on CNNGo: Nakano Broadway: Into the dark recesses of Tokyo nerd culture

Robert Michael Poole is a specialist on the Japanese music and entertainment scene.

Read more about Robert Michael Poole
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Nakano broadway
Kichijoji
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