2018-01-05

Living in Sangenjaya: What is it Like For Foreigners?

Advice

Also known as Sancha, Sangenjaya is an old Tokyo neighborhood close to Shibuya (approximately 7 minutes). Despite its location, this area is known as quiet and peaceful, where various old shops are present.

Sangenjaya is located in Setagaya, one of the most expensive and sought-after districts of Tokyo, where more than 800,000 people currently reside. Sangenjaya is Setagaya’s most flowering part, with an abundant nature surrounding streets.

Sangenjaya - The District of the Three Tea Houses

Sangenjaya is in the South-West of Tokyo, and its main advantage is to lost people in nature, while you are still in Tokyo. With its nature everywhere, it gives a peaceful atmosphere.

Numerous traditional buildings are also present in this locality, which gives people the feeling of coming back to the time, long, long ago, during the Edo Period. Indeed, two old pilgrimage roads are going through Sangenjaya, and its name is coming from the three Tea Houses: the Shigaraki, the Kadoya, and the Tanakaya, that were here before.

While during the day people would enjoy some shopping, during the night, Sancha is all about food, with numerous meals available.

Living in this area means living in almost a parallel universe. Surrounded by nature and plants, it would seem almost impossible to find an area this calm near Tokyo. And yet, it does. And this is Sancha itself. Bringing you back several centuries earlier with the temples and the dominant greenery, all you need to do in this district to feel well is to walk a bit. The ideal would be near Kyogakuin, a Buddhist temple that will definitely drown you in History.

Do you know what would be perfect? Hanging out in Sangenjaya during cherry blossom. Take a day, and just wander under numerous cherry blossom, tasting some tea from an elegant tea house and discovering the old way of life that existed centuries ago.

Access

From Tokyo Station, take the Marunouchi Line to Akasaka-mitsuke, walk to Nagatacho Station (via passage inside the stations), and take the Hanzomon Rapid Line to Sangenchaya Station
From Shibuya Station, take the buses 21/23/24/ or 26 to Sangenjaya, or take the Denentoshi Line or Hanzomon Rapid Line to Sangenjaya Station.
From Shinjuku Station, take the Yamanote Line to Shibuya Station, and transfer to the Denentoshi Line to Sangenchaya Station

Famous Locations

Saishoji Temple

Also known as Kyogakuin and Meao Fudo, Saishoji Temple is located near Sangenjaya station. A peaceful place for a walk, the route will lead you to Shoin-Taishido Walk then to the Shoin Temple. This locality is calm and relaxing, perfect for the weekend when you want to be away from central Tokyo’s noises.

Access

Address: 4-15-1 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Directions: 5 minutes from Sangenjaya Station (Denentoshi Line)

Carrot Tower

By coming into this colorful tower, you will be able to admire Setagaya from very high with a cup of coffee or even while eating. But just looking at the view for free should motivate you to go to the 26th floor.

Access

Address: 4-1-1 Taishido, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo
Directions: Direct from Sangenjaya Station (Setagaya Line)

Why foreigners live in Sangenjaya

Living in Sangenjaya means living in another dimension. With the nature, the multiple tea houses and restaurant, you will be transported to the Edo Period while admiring the cherry blossoms. This is something unique, quiet, which is by the way pretty rare in Tokyo.

This locality is perfect for families, students, couples, everybody. Not far from Shibuya, you then have access to all Tokyo’s districts. But you must be fast, as Sangenjaya, even if it is quite expensive, is pretty popular among the Japanese population. So if you want to live here, then hurry up!