honmachi

Living in Honmachi, Shibuya, a quiet residential neighborhood 2 minutes from Shinjuku

Honmachi sits in the north of Shibuya City, right next to the Nishi-Shinjuku skyscrapers. It's a real neighborhood where people have lived for generations. There are family-run shops, small ramen counters, and streets that go quiet in the evening, yet Shinjuku Station is just one stop away.

Getting around is easy because four stations are within walking distance. From Hatsudai, Shinjuku is 2 minutes on the Keio New Line. Nishi-Shinjuku-Gochome on the Toei Oedo Line takes you to Roppongi in about 15 minutes. Nakano-Sakaue has the Marunouchi Line, which runs straight to Otemachi in about 20 minutes. Shibuya is around 20 minutes away and Haneda Airport about 50.

Daily life is easy here. Tabelog lists more than 180 restaurants in Honmachi alone, from ramen and set-meal diners to cafés and izakaya. Summit supermarket in Honmachi is open until 11pm, and Maruetsu Petit in Nishi-Shinjuku 6-chome is open 24 hours. The Fudo-dori shopping street has the kind of butchers, bakeries and small shops that are getting harder to find in central Tokyo.

The area also has culture close by. Tokyo Opera City and the New National Theatre are right at Hatsudai Station, so concerts and ballet are a short walk away. Hatagaya Fudoson temple has watched over the neighborhood for centuries, and Shinjuku Central Park is close by for morning runs and cherry blossoms in spring.

Honmachi suits professionals working in Shinjuku, Otemachi or Roppongi, couples, and anyone who wants a real neighborhood feel right next to one of the busiest stations in the world.