Looking at SHARE PARADE’s inquiry rankings by area, Shibuya Ward, Setagaya Ward, and Yokohama City often rank high, but over the past two months inquiries have been concentrated in Suginami Ward. Viewed across 2025 as a whole, it is an area that ranks within the top three. In this article, we will examine why Suginami Ward is currently gaining popularity and the characteristics of its properties.

＞＞ Inquiry Ranking by Area ＜＜

Ranking	Area
1st	Suginami Ward
2nd	Shibuya Ward
3rd	Setagaya Ward
4th	Taito Ward
5th	Yokohama City

*Prepared based on inquiry results from August–September 2025

The Appeal of Suginami Ward and Reasons for Its Popularity

Suginami Ward is located in the western part of Tokyo’s 23 wards. While offering excellent access to central areas such as Shinjuku and Shibuya, it also provides a calm residential environment. In particular, public safety is among the best within the 23 wards: according to 2023 statistics, the crime incidence rate was 0.44%, significantly lower than the 23-ward average (0.68%) and on par with Setagaya Ward, the lowest level. Violent crimes are few, and a step away from the station-front shopping streets brings you to quiet residential neighborhoods, making it an area where even single women can feel secure living alone.

Transportation convenience is another reason Suginami Ward is popular. Six lines run through the ward—JR Chuo Line and Sobu Line, Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line, Keio Line, Inokashira Line, and Seibu Shinjuku Line—making travel to major terminal stations such as Shinjuku and Tokyo smooth. For example, from Koenji Station to Shinjuku Station takes about 6–7 minutes, which is convenient for commuting to work or school in the city center. In addition, bus routes are well developed, including the community bus “Sugimaru” that runs within the ward, so getting around for short trips is also easy.

Additionally, Suginami Ward is known as a leafy residential area dotted with many parks and green spaces. Large parks such as Zenpukuji River Green Space and Igusa Forest Park are well developed, and there are many cherry blossom spots and places to stroll. Despite being close to the city center, it offers a valuable environment where nature can be felt up close, and many residents enjoy walks and picnics on their days off. There are also cultural facilities such as theaters, art museums, and concert halls throughout the ward, making it attractive for a lifestyle that touches both nature and culture.

Economically, Suginami Ward also has appealing points for single residents. Average rents for studio and 1K apartments are relatively affordable and kept lower than neighboring Setagaya and Nakano wards. In fact, the average 1K rent in Suginami Ward is about ¥78,000, which is lower than Setagaya (about ¥83,000) and Nakano (about ¥85,000). Being able to get to the city center easily while enjoying a good living environment at relatively low rent is a major attraction for those looking to live alone.

As described above, Suginami Ward combines “a safe and quiet lifestyle,” “convenient transportation,” “a rich natural environment,” and “affordable living costs,” making it popular not only with families but also with single residents. Let’s now look at the stations particularly popular with single residents within Suginami Ward and the characteristics of their surrounding areas.

Koenji Station – A Town Brimming with Youth Culture and Vibrancy

Along the Chuo Line, Koenji is an area that enjoys overwhelming popularity among young people even within Suginami Ward. There are more than ten shopping streets of various sizes around the station, with the “Koenji Junjo Shopping Street,” which retains a Showa-era atmosphere, serving as a symbol of the town. The shopping streets are lively the moment you leave the station, bustling with restaurants and variety shops. Although there is no large station building, daily shopping can be fully covered by these shopping streets, so you will not find it inconvenient.

Koenji is called a “mecca for vintage clothing,” with over 100 vintage shops clustered mainly around the south exit of the station. Many people come from afar in search of retro dresses and distinctive fashion items, and attractive vintage shops for both men and women are concentrated here. There are also many live music venues and small theaters, and the town functions as a hub for subculture such as music and theater. Every summer, the major event “Koenji Awa Odori” is held, drawing about one million spectators and serving as a summer tradition in Tokyo. Even apart from the festival days, weekends bring flea markets and street performances, and the free and homey atmosphere unique to Koenji is part of its charm.

In terms of safety, Koenji is relatively calm and reassuring despite having lively shopping streets. The station area is well-lit with heavy foot traffic, making nighttime streets less intimidating, and quiet environments spread out once you step into the residential areas. With the low crime rate across Suginami Ward, Koenji is likewise comparatively safe, allowing even single women to live with peace of mind. Average rent for studios is in the mid-¥60,000s to ¥70,000s, more affordable than the city center, making it manageable for younger generations. With a good balance between culture and everyday convenience, Koenji is perfect for single residents who say, “I want to live in a slightly lively yet distinctive town!”

・Recommended Share House near Koenji Station

Asagaya Station – A Town Where Calm and Convenience Coexist

Asagaya is the next station from Koenji and is a tranquil residential area served by Chuo Line local trains (rapid trains also stop on weekday mornings). The “Beans Asagaya” commercial facility connected directly to the south exit of the station and the approximately 700-meter-long Asagaya Pearl Center Shopping Street stretching out from the station front are iconic spots of the town. The arcade-style shopping street hosts about 200 shops, from supermarkets and drugstores to greengrocers and restaurants, creating a convenient environment for daily shopping and dining out. In summer, large papier-mâché decorations for the Tanabata Festival are hung in the shopping street, making it a seasonal tradition bustling with local residents (the Asagaya Tanabata Festival is held in early August every year). In addition, during “Asagaya Jazz Street” held every October, jazz performances take place throughout the town, making it a beloved event for music-loving residents. Such community events are well-rooted, giving the town a sense of cultural warmth within its calm atmosphere.

Compared to Koenji, Asagaya is quieter at night and lacks the flashiness of a downtown entertainment district. However, this contributes to a sense of security, and with a police box in front of the station and abundant street lighting, it is said to be an area where single women feel less anxious walking alone at night. In fact, in addition to the low crime incidence across Suginami Ward, there are few major incidents around Asagaya, and safety is good. The residential areas also have many family households, and the level of foot traffic strikes a balance—neither too much nor too little—so it never feels “too quiet and lonely.”

Regarding everyday convenience, beyond the aforementioned shopping street there are privately run coffee shops, bakeries, and old-fashioned set-meal diners scattered around, so even those living alone will not struggle with dining out or grocery shopping for home cooking. For example, the classic café beloved by kissaten (traditional café) aficionados, **“Meikyoku Kissa Violon”**, is a long-established café founded in 1979, known for the distinctive style of playing classical music records on a gramophone. It is a place with a mature atmosphere where you can enjoy music quietly, and it symbolizes Asagaya’s calm, cultural side. In addition to such unique cafés, charming variety shops and reasonably priced izakaya pubs are dotted around, letting you enjoy strolling the town at your own pace on your days off. Average rents are about the same as in Koenji, mainly studios in the ¥60,000s–¥70,000s and 1K units around ¥70,000–¥80,000. Access to Shinjuku is also convenient at about 8–10 minutes by train, and with good safety and well-equipped everyday facilities, Asagaya is an area we can confidently recommend even for those new to living alone.

・Recommended Share House near Asagaya Station

Ogikubo Station – A Town of Reassuring Convenience and Ramen

Ogikubo lies toward the western side of Suginami Ward and serves as a transportation hub where JR Chuo Line Rapid, Sobu Line Local, and Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line intersect. Notably, the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line originates at Ogikubo, which makes it easier to find a seat during the morning commute. It is the busiest terminal station in Suginami Ward in terms of ridership, with excellent access—about 10 minutes to Shinjuku and about 25 minutes to Tokyo Station without transfers.

Commercial amenities around the station are also abundant. The station building **“Lumine Ogikubo” contains a wide variety of shops including fashion, accessories, and restaurants, allowing you to handle daily shopping and dining without leaving the station. Furthermore, on the north side, the long-established shopping mall “Ogikubo Town Seven”** is adjacent, hosting a wide range of stores such as an underground supermarket, bookstores, 100-yen shops, and restaurants. There are also several shopping streets; among them, “Ogikubo Ginza Shopping Street” (Church Street) is famous as a fierce battleground for ramen shops. From long-standing classics dating back to the Showa era to distinctive new shops, many ramen restaurants line the street, and Ogikubo is known nationwide as a “ramen town.” If you love ramen, you will enjoy searching for your go-to bowl.

While the station-front area is bustling with commercial facilities, the atmosphere becomes calm and quiet once you step away, with tranquil residential streets spreading out. Compared to other large terminals (like nearby Kichijoji and Nakano), the crowds are smaller, contributing to a gentler living environment—another attraction of the Ogikubo area. Safety is also good; at night, the station area still has foot traffic, which adds a sense of security. Reflecting the overall safety of Suginami Ward, the number of criminal incidents around Ogikubo Station is low, and many say single women can live here with peace of mind.

Ogikubo offers a balance between everyday convenience and quiet, making it suitable for single residents who “don’t want to compromise on convenience, but want to avoid noisy downtown districts.” Prices and rent levels are slightly higher than in Koenji or Asagaya (1K units in the ¥80,000s), but there are many relatively spacious properties and well-equipped apartments, allowing working adults to live with a bit more room. A short walk from the station brings you to **“Otaguro Park,”** a Japanese garden park representative of Suginami Ward, where you can enjoy nature through the seasons. Famous for its autumn foliage illumination, the park is on the former estate of a music critic and is known as a healing spot where you can savor tranquility in the city. Ogikubo, where urban convenience and a calm lifestyle can coexist, is a town that inspires a desire to stay long term.

・Recommended Share House near Ogikubo Station

Nishi-Ogikubo Station – A Town of Distinctive Cafés and Antiques

Nishi-Ogikubo (nicknamed “Nishiogi”), one stop past Ogikubo on the Chuo Line local, is a hidden gem that enjoys steady popularity among young single residents. While its neighbor Kichijoji consistently ranks high in “most desirable places to live,” Nishi-Ogikubo is within walking distance of Kichijoji yet has slightly lower rent levels and somewhat calmer crowds, making it something of a well-kept secret. Access is also good—about 13 minutes to Shinjuku and 22 minutes to Shibuya by train—so commuting to the city center is no problem.

Nishi-Ogikubo’s biggest feature is its retro, distinctive atmosphere. Around the station, there are more small, independently run shops than chain stores, and it is known especially for having many antique shops, used bookstores, and galleries. Sometimes called a “town of vintage furniture” or a “town of used books,” it bustles on weekends with people hunting for treasures. It is also dubbed a **mecca for café lovers**, dotted with unique cafés and kissaten. For example, there are many uniquely Nishiogi cafés such as the Showa-retro kissaten “Monozuki” (物豆奇) and the Japanese-style café “Satén Japanese Tea,” renowned for its matcha menu. It is an irresistible area for those who enjoy café hopping.

Compared with other major stations along the Chuo Line, the station-front of Nishi-Ogikubo feels compact. There are no high-rise buildings, and supermarkets and drugstores are on a modest scale, which lends the town a quiet, leisurely air overall. While restaurants are open at night, there is no large-scale entertainment district, so foot traffic decreases rapidly after the last train and the town falls silent. On the other hand, one could say that “fewer late-night noisy establishments = a quieter living environment,” making it attractive for single residents seeking tranquility. Safety is also good; past crime statistics indicate that the Nishi-Ogikubo area is among the very safe categories. There is a police box in front of the station, and security patrols also make the rounds across Suginami Ward, which provides reassurance. Even single women can feel secure living in Nishi-Ogikubo.

Average rent is around ¥70,000 for studios and ¥70,000–¥80,000 for 1K units, on par with or slightly lower than Koenji and Asagaya. Because it draws less attention than Kichijoji, you may even find bargain properties. It is also an area with a good balance between the city center and a natural environment; within walking distance is Zenpukuji Park, a lush green park with a large pond. On weekends you can enjoy shopping in Kichijoji or Ogikubo, while in everyday life you can relax in Nishiogi’s local atmosphere—this ability to live with contrast is another charm of Nishi-Ogikubo.

・Recommended Share House near Nishi-Ogikubo Station

Nishi-Eifukucho Station ― A Town with the Quiet and Greenery Brought by the Local Inokashira Line, and a Downtown-Style Shopping Street

Nishi-Eifuku Station is served only by local trains on the Keio Inokashira Line. Travel to Shibuya takes roughly 15–19 minutes without transfers (times vary by time of day), and to Shinjuku about 17–23 minutes via a transfer at Meidaimae. Because only local trains stop here, the platforms are compact, crowds are smaller, and daily life is calmer. The station itself has elevators, accessible restrooms, coin lockers, and a waiting room, making it convenient for single residents when going out or receiving visitors.

Extending from the station toward Honan-dori is the Nishi-Eifuku Shopping Street, a downtown arcade filled with everyday shops such as greengrocers, delicatessens, and barbers. Its unpretentious local feel is appealing, and it’s handy for daily shopping and takeout dinners. It has also been featured in a TV Tokyo neighborhood-walk program as a shopping street with about 80 stores. Safety is considered good even within the ward, and estimates based on past data show an extremely low crime incidence rate. Quiet residential streets spread out, providing a reassuring environment even for women living alone.

About a 2-minute walk from the station’s north exit, Summit Store Nishi-Eifuku (9:00–24:00) is open late into the night. Even if you get home late, you can still buy groceries—great for single residents who cook or do meal prep. Drugstores and bakeries are scattered around the area as well. On the neighboring Eifukucho Station side, there is Keio’s “Kitchen Court” supermarket, giving you ample choices for groceries.

Nishi-Eifuku has many “small-but-good” establishments. There are compact roasteries and bakeries dotted around, such as Jalk coffee—known for its hand-drip coffee—and PANYA komorebi—popular for baked sweets and bread. If you venture one stop to Eifukucho, you will find renowned eateries such as La Piccola Tavola, certified by the True Neapolitan Pizza Association and a regular in the Michelin Bib Gourmand. One appeal is that on your days off you can “walk to delicious places.”

・Recommended Share House near Nishi-Eifukucho Station

Find the Lifestyle That Fits You in Suginami Ward

As shown above, Suginami Ward contains many attractive areas that are highly popular with single residents. Koenji, where you can enjoy lively culture; Asagaya, calm with well-equipped shopping streets; Ogikubo, which combines convenience and quiet; and Nishi-Ogikubo, with its distinctive atmosphere. Each town has a different character, and you are sure to find the one that suits your lifestyle and preferences. One thing they all have in common is that Suginami Ward is known for its safety and livability. In Suginami Ward, where excellent access to the city center coexists with a calm residential environment, make your ideal life living alone a reality.