Azabu

Azabu area consists of districts including Azabu-Juban, Moto-Azabu, Higashi-Azabu, Minami-Azabu, and Nishi-Azabu. For westerners residing in Tokyo, Azabu area probably has the smell of back home more than any other areas in Tokyo. You'll find a variety of authentic and quirky Western-style restaurants and cafes in which international locals and visitors are blended all the time, and you hear multiple languages spoken as though you were abroad. But this area also retains old wealth of Japanese tradition that makes Azabu even more special. Another point to note is that it also has easy access to “Roppongi Hills”, “Tokyo Tower”.

Azabu-Juban

Azabu-Juban is the most well known out of all the districts that include the name "Azabu". It is a small but lively neighbourhood with many different kinds of good food establishments and cafes offering both Japanese and international cuisines. There is also a famous street called "Azabu-Juban Shopping Street" where over 300 local stores are lined up including traditional Japanese sweets shops, bakeries, fashion boutiques and pet salons, being an ideal place for families to go out on weekends. One big summer event held in late August every year in this neighbourhood is "Azabu-Juban Noryo Matsuri". People visit this more than 300 years old festival to sink themselves into Edo period and enjoy loads of stalls selling snacks and drinks to grab. A must-visit event for anyone in Tokyo.

ACCESS

-Azabu-juban station on “Namboku” line & “Oedo” line

- Roppongi station on “Hibiya” & “Oed” line

Moto-Azabu

Moto-Azabu (also known as Central-Azabu) is a sophisticated and luxurious residential neighbourhood a little west of Azabu-Juban with seven embassies enhancing the security and safety. Nishimachi International School, Tokyo International School, and Early Learning Center of ASIJ are easily accessible. In addition to that, many international school bus routes are covered within this neighbourhood. Most of the residential properties you will find in this neighbourhood are high-grade low-rise apartments and houses, but a symbol landmark that catches everyone's eye is the high-rise apartment "Moto-Azabu Hills Forest Tower" known for its distinctive shape of the building. The iconic commercial complex "Roppongi HIlls" and a large and beautiful park "Arisugawa no-miya Memorial Park" is just a stone throw away, and thus it is a very popular and suitable neighbourhood for expat families to live.

ACCESS

-Azabu-juban station on “Namboku” line & “Oedo” line

- Roppongi station on “Hibiya” & “Oed” line

- Hiroo station on “Hibiya” line

Higashi-Azabu

Higashi-Azabu (also known as East-Azabu) is a quiet residential neighbourhood with more of a local atmosphere and a down-to-earth feel compared to the other Azabu neighbourhoods. Having the very popular international supermarket amongst expats "Nissin World Delicatessen", and neighbouring "Shiba Park" which is great for strolls, this area ticks the boxes to be the most suitable Azabu neighbourhood for families with babies who prefer tranquility. You are bound to see other parents with babies at various parks in the neighbourhood. But you will also have easy access to venturing out to the glitzy side of Tokyo. Tokyo American Club (TAC), Tokyo Tower, Toranomon Hills, and Tokyo Bay area are all within walking distance.

ACCESS

- Azabu-juban station on “Namboku” line & “Oedo” line

- Akabanebashi station on ”Oedo” line

- Kamiyacho station on “Hibiya” line

Minami-Azabu

Minami-Azabu (also known as South-Azabu) is a neighbourhood a street away from Hiroo station. This area boasts luxury and sophistication just like Nishi-Azabu and Hiroo area. But the 2 main features that distinguish Minami-Azabu from the others are "National Azabu Supermarket" and "Arisugawa no-miya Memorial Park". You would be surprised how wide the range of imported goods National Azabu Supermarket stocks is.  It is natural that you miss foods from your home country. Whether it is American bacon, European cheeses, Lays chips, timtam if you're Australian, or a can of Heinz Beans, National Azabu Supermarket is the go-to place in Tokyo for you to find the international foods you're craving for.

Arisugawa-no-miya Memorial Park plays a role of oasis for Azabu neighbours to hide out from the hustle of the central Tokyo. There is a wooded area in the park with placid streams, waterfalls, bridges, a pond, and many wild birds. And also there is a large playground for kids to play football, badminton, and for your dogs to play frisbee, or just to run around. It also has slides, swings, large sandbox and jungle jim as well. 

On the east side of the park, there is a massive library called "The Tokyo Metropolitan Library" with an impressive collection of books and media such as foreign newspapers, and a cafeteria on the top floor with a great view.

ACCESS

- Azabu-juban station on “Namboku” line & “Oedo” line

- Hiroo station on “Hibiya” line

- Shirokane-Takanawa station on “Namboku” line & “Mita” line

Nishi-Azabu

Nishi-Azabu (also known as West-Azabu) is not all about the world famous Kill Bill restaurant "Gonpachi", whose traditional Japanese decor has inspired Quentin Tarantino. There is so many small but high-quality restaurants and bars dispersed around its main crossing. It is a very mature and quiet neighbourhood despite being within walking distance to Roppongi, which is the ideal area for the vibrant nightlife. Aoyama area is also a short walk away so you also have the option to enjoy your shopping at trendy boutiques in Aoyama as well. 

ACCESS

- Roppongi station on “Hibiya” line & “Oedo” line

- Hiroo station on “Hibiya” line

- Nogizaka station on “Chiyoda” line

Hiroo

Hiroo is a neighbourhood that embodies an upscale international lifestyle, being home to Embassy of Croatia, Czech Republic, Tajikistan, Congo, Oman, and Peru. Due to the international population, many facilities in this neighbourhood provide bilingual services. National Azabu Supermarket is one of them, which we already mentioned in the "Minami-Azabu" section above. There are also major hospitals that provide medical care in English including those of  "The Japanese Red Cross Medical Centre" and "Aiiku Hospital". In terms of housing options in Hiroo, you will find luxurious low-rise apartments and single-family residences designed for expat families. And also condominium apartments like "The Hiroo Garden Hills" and "The Hiroo Garden Forest" are very popular amongst expats and Japanese celebrities due to the buildings being highly private. But Hiroo is not all about the upscale international appeal and well heeled lifestyle. The area also boasts a livable and down-to-earth vibe as well. Locals often go out to "Hiroo Walking Street" to visit small cafes to grab a flat white, or the pizza stand for New York style slices, and even old fish markets to hunt for fresh seafoods. 

ACCESS

- Hiroo station on “Hibiya” line