I've actually looked into this myself for a similar setup in the Setagaya area. The zoning laws around "nitto" (multi-generational housing) are more flexible than people think, especially if you keep each unit under 30 tsubo. You can get a decent plot in Sangenjaya or Shimokitazawa for around 80-100 million yen if you're willing to go a few minutes off the main streets, which is steep but doable if three families split it.

One thing that catches people off guard is the building code for shared kitchens and common areas. If the kitchen is technically "common use," it can trigger commercial kitchen regulations depending on how many unrelated adults are using it. I'd ask your architect about classifying the big kitchen as a "family room with cooking facilities" rather than a shared amenity. That saved a friend's project in Koenji a lot of headaches.

Also, think about the childcare angle carefully. Having three families means three different parenting styles, and Tokyo's local ward offices can be pretty rigid about who's allowed to watch whose kids. You'll want to clarify that with your potential co-owners before you sign anything.

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honestly the hardest part of this isn't finding the land or the money, it's finding two other families who still want to live together after year three. i've seen three sharehouse projects in tokyo fall apart because one couple had a baby and suddenly the noise tolerance changed, or someone got a remote job and wanted quiet during the day while another family was doing home daycare. the social dynamics are way harder than the construction ones

for neighborhoods, you might want to look at the areas along the toyoko line between nakameguro and jiyugaoka. there's a bunch of older 2-story houses on wider streets that are already zoned for multi-unit but priced way under shimokitazawa because they need full renovation. a friend bought a 50-year-old building near gakugei-daigaku for 60 million, gutted it, and turned it into three units with a shared garden. took two years but the total cost was around 35 million per family which is insane for that location

one practical thing nobody mentions is the trash situation. three families generate a lot of burnable waste and tokyo ward collection schedules are strict. you'll need a designated outdoor bin area that doesn't smell and doesn't attract crows, and someone has to be the person who reminds everyone about non-burnable day. it sounds small but it's the kind of thing that creates resentment in shared housing faster than money disputes

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ngl the zoning thing is real but the bigger headache i've seen is the loan situation. most japanese banks won't touch a multi-family purchase unless it's structured as a proper apartment building or a single-family with a registered "grandma unit" exception. you might have better luck with a shinkin bank or a regional credit union, they're more willing to look at unconventional layouts if you show them a solid plan and a clear ownership structure

also consider the 24-hour noise factor with kids. even in detached housing in yoyogi-koen, sound travels way more than people expect. i'd budget for decent soundproofing between units from the start, not just insulation. the difference between a 3-layer drywall setup and standard is maybe 2-3 million yen total but it will save friendships

location-wise have you looked at the areas just west of kichijoji like koganei or even musashisakai? the keio line gets you to shinjuku in 20 mins and land is easily half the price. the trade-off is less nightlife but if you're planning kids anyway that might not matter much

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honestly the guide nailed it but i'd throw in nakameguro for anyone visiting in spring. the canal walk during cherry blossom season is insane, way less crowded than ueno or shinjuku gyoen. plus there's a killer onigiri spot called Onigiri Bongo that sells out by noon, and the area has a ton of tiny wine bars and vintage shops. rooms at the Claska hotel start around $120 and it's a quick hop to shibuya on the tokyu line

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solid write-up, covers the big ones well. for my money, if you're a food nerd, staying near a good tsukemen or ramen spot is a legit strategy. i booked a hotel in takadanobaba once just cause i wanted to be walking distance from Taishoken, the tsukemen birthplace. that area is also full of student bars and cheap eats since Waseda Uni is there, rooms at the b:CONTE hotel run like $90 a night and it's two stops from Shinjuku on the Yamanote. way less tourist crush than Shibuya for late-night bowls

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This is a solid breakdown, really covers the main bases well. One thing I'd add for anyone staying in Shinjuku is that the station itself can be overwhelming even for locals, so picking a hotel on the west side near the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building is a good hack. The views from the free observation deck there are just as good as the paid ones, and you avoid the chaos of the east exit. For cheap eats in that area, the basement floor of Takashimaya department store has incredible takeout bento boxes under 1,000 yen that beat most convenience store meals.

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