Living in Kumagaya

A hub city in northern Saitama where the Shinkansen stops. Tokyo is in the 40-minute range by Shinkansen, and also reachable by conventional lines. Rents are about half those of Tokyo's suburbs, so it is easy to get a large home, but you have to take commuting costs and the summer heat into account.

Kumagaya is a hub city in northern Saitama served by four lines, including the Shinkansen, the JR Takasaki Line and the Chichibu Line. As a Shinkansen stop, it has fast access to Tokyo, and commercial facilities and government offices gather here. Keep in mind that central Tokyo is far away and the city is famous for its extreme summer heat. In exchange, it is a regional center with reasonable rents, well suited to family living.