RESIDENTIAL GUIDES
AZABU, HIROO & SHIROKANE Prime expat properties Azabu, Hiroo and Shirokane are prominent cosmopolitan areas right in the heart of Tokyo’s Minato ward. The pedestrian-friendly small streets are lined with boutiques, restaurants and upscale apartments, which are some of Tokyo’s prime expat properties. The Hiroo and Azabu areas have historically been home to many diplomats, senior executives and expats who want a convenient, Western lifestyle in the center of Tokyo’s foreign community. Also in this area are some of Tokyo’s most popular international schools, preschools, parks and recreational facilities and international supermarkets.
A BRIEF HISTORY
B
etween the 17th and 19th centuries, feudal nobles built huge estates in this area, and some of these remain today as the premises of some of the many embassies here. Naturally, diplomats and foreigners associated with these embassies made their homes in the Azabu and Shirokane areas, establishing some of Tokyo’s first upscale suburbs.
THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS
T
he village-like feel of these tightknit communities, coupled with the close proximity to Shibuya, Roppongi and Akasaka have made these neighborhoods popular with expats for decades. Access to just about anywhere in central Tokyo could not be better via the Hibiya, Namboku, Mita and Oedo subway lines. Azabu-Juban has been a desirable residential address for nearly 300 years, and to this day many of the establishments on its narrow shopping streets are local, family-run businesses, rather than chain stores and restaurants. These historic Japanese shops, combined with the international community, provide a uniquely cosmopolitan feel. The Moto-Azabu area, home to the
14 | Housing Japan
mushroom-shaped Motoazabu Hills residential high-rise building and the Nishimachi International School, has become one of the most desired residential neighborhoods in Tokyo. Just across the border of Shibuya ward, Hiroo is popular because of its charming neighborhoods with tree-lined streets and many Western-style apartments. The area directly around Hiroo Station has a nice selection of boutiques, cafés, restaurants and bars, yet it is very quiet after the last train around midnight. Arisugawa Park provides a great spot to enjoy a little nature on weekends. The Hiroo and Red Cross Hospitals are both well equipped to treat foreign residents, and the International School of the Sacred Heart is within a few minutes’ walk of Hiroo Station. Shirokane is an “old money” neighborhood just one block south of Minami-Azabu, offering a quieter residential experience with smaller neighborhoods and plenty of greenery. There are several shopping streets and supermarkets, and the Institute for Nature Study is one of the city’s most tranquil getaways. The Shirokane area is a popular alternative to Azabu and Hiroo because it is still very central and convenient, but also a place where you can sometimes find houses with gardens.
TSUTAYA, AZABU-JUBAN
ARISUGAWA PARK