Living in Akabane

A transport hub at the gateway to Saitama where many lines stop and extend without transfers to Tokyo Station, Ueno, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Omiya and Yokohama. Rents are clearly cheaper than in the city center, and the 'senbero' daytime drinking and izakaya alleys are among Tokyo's strongest, so it is the best if you want drinking culture and good value. In return, the bar street east of the station has drunk crowds and noise, so it is far from quiet living.

It is a major transfer station in Kita Ward where the JR Keihin-Tohoku, Ueno-Tokyo, Utsunomiya and Saikyo lines and others meet. Cheap rents and lively shopping streets give it excellent value, and it is also drawing attention as an emerging area for Korean residents. A bar street has developed around the station, so the busy atmosphere is a matter of taste. With several JR lines giving good access in both directions, to the city center and to Saitama, it is highly popular with office workers and single residents who want both transport and low costs.