Takaido-Higashi is where I live in Tokyo
For those of you living overseas, have you seen “real” Tokyo? I mean places where people actually live. Yes? No? Well, I’m going to show you some photos of where I live. And that is in Suginami Ward. I live near Takaido station, Takaido-Higashi to be precise.
I live in Takaido-Higashi’s san-chome. What does all that mean in English?
- Higashi means “east”;
- San means “three,” and;
- Chome means block or group of them.
And that means I live on the east side of Takaido’s block three. Other places in Tokyo have many chome. Mine only has four. I’m very average!
3-Chome is a big place. Two important roads, Inokashira and Kanpachi-Dori, border its north and west. The Keio-Inokashira Line marks its southern edge. Hamadayama is on its east side. It is typical west-side residential Tokyo, an endless sea of houses.
The west side of Tokyo is a popular place. People want to move there. The area is very trendy. But not everything is new. Don’t be surprised if you see something from the 1960s (or even older) next to one recently built.
To be honest, I complain about Takaido-Higashi 3-Chome a lot. It’s a residential area; not much is there for entertainment. Yes, there is a golf school with a practice range, but I don’t play golf.
A resident’s center with a swimming pool is near the station. An incinerator with an enormous smokestack keeps it heated. Local garbage is the fuel. Unfortunately, swimming isn’t my thing. If you want more sophisticated fun Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Kichijoji are better.
Sunday afternoon walks in the area are great. Yes, that is lovely. The streets are narrow and have lots of twists and turns. Most of the houses are small, but eclectic. Their architecture can be interesting. I feel like I’m exploring each time I go out.
You can discover how Tokyoites use their land. It is expensive here, so most properties are small. And that means they lack gardens and yards, but the owners make up for it in other ways. Many use planters to fill the spaces of their properties. Others place vines and bushes on their walls. They use what they have.
The area is attractive for other reasons too. There are supermarkets, schools, hospitals, and everything else needed for modern living. Plus, three train stations are within walking distance, Takaido, Hamadayama, and Ogikubo (not in 3-Chome). The lines I can use are:
- JR Chuo and Sobu (Ogikubo)
- Metro Marunouchi and Tozai (Ogikubo)
- Keio-Inokashira (Takaido and Hamadayama)
And it is quiet. Well, in summer, you might have the occasional bosozoku gang make a racquet on Kanpachi Road. But that is not common.
I hope you like these photos. Not all were from Takaido-Higashi 3-chome. A couple of Hamadayama and 2-chome are also here. I just wanted to give you an idea of what suburban Tokyo can be like. Other parts of the city are very different. One day, I’ll show you another area.
Do you live the area? I’d love to hear your thoughts about Takaido-Higashi san-chome! Leave questions and comments below.
Takaido-Higashi photo gear:
Camera Body: Fujifilm X-T3
Lenses:
- Fujinon XF 10-24mm f/4 R OIS
- Fujinon XF 16-55mm F2.8 R LM WR
Rohan Gillett
Rohan has lived in Tokyo for 30+ years. He loves photography and plans to capture the entire city.
Here are more Suginami Ward articles:
