Nakano ward, Tokyo東京都中野区

Living in Nakano Ward, Tokyo

We have Summarized the livability of Nakano Ward, Tokyo.

What kind of place is Nakano Ward, Tokyo?

Nakano Ward: A city where subcultures popular among young people come together

Nakano Ward is located in the western part of Tokyo’s 23 wards and has an area of ​​approximately 15.59 square kilometers.
It borders Nerima Ward to the north, Shinjuku Ward and Toshima Ward to the east, Shibuya Ward to the south, and Suginami Ward to the west.
It has a population of approximately 333,000 and approximately 209,000 households. (As of February 2023)

Nakano ward has a high ratio of young people in their 20s and 30s, making up about 34% of the population. This is because, while it is relatively close to the central areas of Shinjuku, Chiyoda, and Minato, the low average rent makes it a convenient area for commuting to work or school.
Nakano ward is located in the center of the Musashino Plateau, and the majority of the area is occupied by the plateau.
Nakano ward has a long history since the Edo period, when there were few rice paddies and the area was dominated by field crops. At the end of the Edo period, the food processing industry, including the brewing of miso and soy sauce, flourished.
It is also famous as an area where enclosures were built to house stray dogs in Edo when the 5th shogun Tokugawa Tsunayoshi issued the “Edict to Show Compassion for Living Things.” Doghouses called enclosures were built in the area around present-day Nakano Station and gradually expanded, until it was said that countless dogs were eventually kept on an area of about 100,000 square meters.

After the Meiji period, the population increased with the development of railways and other facilities, and housing development progressed after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.
Nakano Ward was established in 1932. The origin of the ward’s name is unclear, but the most likely explanation is that it comes from the fact that the ward is located in the middle of the Musashino Plateau.
In recent years, it has become one of Tokyo’s leading commuter towns, conveniently located adjacent to the city center.
The center of Nakano Ward is the area around Nakano Station, a bustling downtown area with commercial facilities and shopping streets such as Marui’s headquarters, Marui Nakano Store, and the 200m-long Nakano Sun Mall Shopping Street.
Nakano is also famous for its subculture center, Nakano Broadway, a commercial facility packed with specialty shops selling Japanese pop culture items such as anime and manga, and is a hot spot that attracts a lot of attention from overseas tourists.

Nakano Ward PR video

[Nakano City Promotion Video] What are the people of Nakano like?

Nakano Ward Promotional Video for Foreign Tourists

How is the traffic situation in Nakano Ward?

Nakano Ward is close to the city center and has convenient transportation by subway and bus.

Nakano ward has 7 train lines and 12 stations.

Local bus routes in Nakano ward are operated by Kanto Bus, Keio Bus, Toei Bus, Kokusai Kogyo Bus, and Seibu Bus.
The expressway that can be accessed from Nakano ward is the Metropolitan Expressway Central Circular Route, and the entrance and exit is Nakano-Chojabashi IC.
Nakano ward is the only ward in the 23 wards that does not have a national highway.
Nakano ward is served by multiple train lines, making it easy to access various places in Tokyo.
There are also many bus routes and a bus terminal where multiple express buses depart and arrive, making it convenient for long-distance travel.
There is also an express bus terminal where many express buses depart and arrive around Nakano Station, making it convenient for long-distance travel.
As for travelling by car, as it is located in the center of Tokyo, traffic jams often occur and it may be inconvenient depending on the time of day.

How are the rent and land prices in Nakano Ward?

Nakano Ward: an attractive and livable city with relatively reasonable rent

According to information from a real estate information website, the average rent in the ward for a newly built apartment within a 10-minute walk from the station is about 98,000 yen for a 1K and 148,000 yen for a 2DK.
The average land price per tsubo is about 3.15 million yen per tsubo.
The average price of a newly built apartment is 65.46 million yen, the average area is 56.02 m2, and the average price per tsubo is 3.863 million yen per tsubo. (As of 2018-2022)

Nakano’s average rent is higher than other areas in Japan because it is located in the city center, but it has good access to downtown areas such as Shinjuku and the average rent is low, making it a popular area for single people. There are many properties aimed at single people in their 20s and 30s, and there are few family properties.
Nakano is known as an area where it is difficult to secure parking because it is located in the city center. Some rental properties come with parking spaces, but there are often few spaces available, so it is important to check in advance.

How is childcare and education in Nakano Ward?

Nakano Ward: A city with generous child-rearing support that is easy for the younger generation to live in

Nakano ward has 49 nurseries, 24 kindergartens, 24 elementary schools, 16 junior high schools, 12 high schools, 7 junior colleges and universities, and 20 vocational schools.
The “Children’s Medical Expense Subsidy System” covers children up to 18 years old (as of March 31st after they turn 18) and fully subsidizes both outpatient and inpatient care.
Child allowances are provided in the following amounts: 15,000 yen for children under 3 years old, 10,000 yen for the first and second child aged 3 or older but not yet entering elementary school, 15,000 yen for the third child and onwards, and 10,000 yen for junior high school students.

Nakano ward also has a wide range of unique support.
Nakano ward offers various support services to support you from pregnancy to childbirth and child-rearing so that you can raise your child with peace of mind.
As support during pregnancy, there is the “Kangaru Interview and Kangaru Plan“. This is a system for those in the middle to late stages of pregnancy where public health nurses will give you advice on child-rearing and create a support plan to relieve your anxiety. In addition, pregnancy and child-rearing support gift certificates are also given away.
In the “Maternity Care Class”, a midwife will give a detailed lecture on health management during pregnancy and breastfeeding consultations for those 28 to 36 weeks pregnant.
As support after the baby is born, there is the “Hello Baby Visit”. This support is aimed at families with infants up to 4 months old, with public health nurses and visiting instructors visiting to check on the baby’s development and health, and to provide advice to mothers on their health and child-rearing.
We also provide “postpartum housework and child-rearing support” for families with infants under 1 year old.
This is a system where children who turn 1 year old receive a child-rearing package gift as part of the “First Birthday Support Project,” and can also receive child-rearing advice. Gifts include a catalog gift worth 10,000 yen, which can be used to purchase child-rearing products.

Nakano ward has a wide range of childcare facilities, childcare support facilities and childcare consultation rooms, and is a ward with a wide range of information and services necessary for childcare.
Childcare support events are held regularly, with a wide range of events from those that parents and children can participate in together to those that children can participate in alone.
There are also many courses and events for parents, and many places where you can consult about your worries and concerns about childcare and where you can receive information about childcare.
Many elementary and junior high schools are of high quality, and there are environments in which children can feel safe, such as after-school care and after-school day care services.
In Nakano ward, children can attend public elementary and junior high schools, but there is a school selection system. It is also possible to transfer to the school of your choice, so you can choose an educational environment that suits your children.

How about shopping in Nakano Ward?

Nakano Ward: A city where you can enjoy shopping with many supermarkets and specialty shops

Nakano Ward is located in Tokyo, close to the city center and has many residential areas and shopping streets.
Nakano Ward has many shopping streets, and is equipped with grocery stores, general stores, clothing stores, and other daily shopping needs. A representative shopping street is Nakano Sun Mall, located around Nakano Station.
Nakano Broadway is also a large commercial facility that is popular with many young people, and is home to a collection of specialty stores selling anime, manga, second-hand clothes, antiques, and more.
Nakano Ward has about 50 supermarkets, mainly My Basket and Maruetsu.

How about jobs and recruitment in Nakano Ward?

Nakano Ward: A city where you can find special jobs such as anime and manga

The average annual salary in Nakano Ward is 4.32 million yen.
Nakano Ward has many shopping streets and restaurants, especially around stations, so it is known as a commercial area centered on the food and beverage industry.
There are also many shopping streets and large commercial facilities, and there are relatively many retail job openings.
There are also a relatively large number of cultural facilities for concerts and events, and there are also service industries that operate them. There are also many service providers such as hotels, massage parlors, and beauty salons.
In recent years, the area has also become famous as a place where many manga and animation production companies have set up shop.

Nakano Ward’s unique subsidy/subsidy system

Nakano Ward, Tokyo’s unique housing assistance and subsidy system

Nakano Ward, Tokyo’s unique childcare support system

Nakano Ward, Tokyo’s unique system for further education and tuition assistance and subsidies