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Is Koto-ku flood prone or are there any downsides? Looking to reside there.
I am thinking of moving from my current place and found Koto city to be relatively affordable.
Just wondering if it is flood prone or are there any downsides, I need to be aware of? For exam… Hi All,
I am thinking of moving from my current place and found Koto city to be relatively affordable.
Just wondering if it is flood prone or are there any downsides, I need to be aware of? For example, planes flying across everyday etc.
As this is potentially a purchase, I might want to consider if foreigners or locals would rent places there as well in the event I would like to rent out.
Thanks a bunch!
honestly the flood thing gets blown out of proportion if youre buying a modern condo. most towers built after 2000 in koto have flood barriers and backup generators, plus the ward spent billions on those giant underground water tanks near the sumida. the real downside people dont talk about is the ground itself - some areas near the old canal network have that soft reclaimed land feel, so older buildings might have settling issues or cracks in the foundation over time. check if the building did soil surveys before construction, thats a bigger deal than the flood maps imo.
for renting out, the toyosu and kachidoki areas are popular with young professionals but youll compete with thousands of identical units in those big towers. monzen-nakacho has way more character and better resale value because theres actual local shops and cafes, not just aeon malls. the shin-tomi cho area near the river is quieter but the bus situation sucks if you miss the last one at 11pm.
The flood maps are worth checking but the bigger practical issue in Koto-ku is the summer humidity - being low and near the water means it stays sticky longer than places inland. A lot of the older rental stock in the backstreets of Kiba or Shiomi doesn't have good ventilation, so you'll want to see the unit in person during August to check for mold or that damp smell.
For rental demand, the Toyocho and Minami-sunamachi areas are slept on compared to Toyosu. You get the Tozai line direct to Nihonbashi and Otemachi, plus Toyocho has that neighborhood shopping street with good produce prices. A well-placed 2DK there rents quickly to Japanese families who want space without leaving the ward.
Koto-ku is definitely lower-lying than places like Setagaya or Bunkyo, so flood risk is a real consideration. The ward has flood hazard maps online showing specific zones around the Sumida River and smaller canals that are more at risk, and some newer buildings have elevated first floors or built-in pump systems. You'd want to check the building's construction date and whether it's in a designated inundation area before buying.
Plane noise is more of an issue in the eastern parts near the water, where you get the approach path for Haneda. Head west toward Monzen-Nakacho or Kiyosumi-Shirakawa and it's quieter, plus you've got the park and the garden there. Those areas also tend to rent better to locals and expats because of the easy access to the Tozai and Oedo lines.
For resale and rental demand, a 1LDK or 2DK near a station on those lines will move fast. Just avoid the older wooden apartments in the deep residential blocks off the main roads, as they can be harder to fill unless you price them well below market.
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Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.