How to Use Japan Neighborhoods for Crime Data and Real Estate Agent Matching

Updated

Japan Neighborhoods is a data-driven guide to Tokyo neighborhoods that combines official crime statistics with property and cost-of-living information. You can use it in two main ways: open the interactive crime map to compare safety grades across 3,110+ neighborhoods, or use the agent-matching service to connect with English-speaking, foreigner-friendly real estate agents who provide neighborhood-specific data and listings. The site states the agent service is free with no obligation. Both tools draw on the same underlying data, so you can screen an area for safety first and then request listings for it.

What Data the Site Provides

The site reports that its figures come from three official sources: the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (警視庁), the Statistics Bureau of Japan (国勢調査), and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). Its stated coverage includes:

  • 3,110+ Tokyo neighborhoods with safety ratings, cost of living, and real estate data
  • 7 years of data (2018–2024), with 70,081 recorded incidents in 2024
  • Ward-level safety grades (A through F) with incidents per 1,000 residents
  • Property prices ranked by ward, plus a Value Index combining affordability and safety, based on MLIT transaction data

The homepage lists the safest wards as Suginami (A, 4.4 per 1,000), Setagaya (A, 4.8), and Nerima (A, 4.9), down to Chiyoda (F) and Shinjuku (F). Grades and rates like these are the numbers to compare when you shortlist wards.

Using the Interactive Crime Map

What you need first

No account or login is mentioned on the page, so treat access as open unless the site prompts you otherwise. You only need a ward or neighborhood name to start.

Steps

  1. Open the crime map. The homepage links to it under "Interactive Crime Map," described as covering 3,110+ Tokyo neighborhoods and color-coded by safety grade from official police data.
  2. Pick a ward or neighborhood. You can start from the "Browse All 23 Tokyo Wards" list, which shows each ward's letter grade, or go straight to the map.
  3. Read the color coding. Each neighborhood is shaded by its safety grade. Use the grade to filter candidates before looking at prices.
  4. Cross-check the numbers. For a shortlisted area, compare the ward's incidents per 1,000 residents (for example, Suginami at 4.4 versus Shinjuku at F grade) rather than relying on the letter alone.

Expected result

You end up with a shortlist of neighborhoods ranked by safety grade, which you can then check against property prices and the Value Index.

Common sticking points

  • Grades are ward-level summaries. A ward's overall grade can hide variation between its neighborhoods, so check the neighborhood-level view before deciding.
  • Data years matter. The incident count is for 2024 and the series runs 2018–2024; confirm you are reading the year you intend to compare.
  • Map navigation is not described in detail. The page does not document specific map controls, so expect to explore by clicking wards and neighborhoods rather than following a fixed menu path.

Using the Real Estate Agent Service

What the service claims

The site describes the matching service with these stated features:

  • English-speaking, foreigner-friendly agents only
  • Free service, no obligation
  • Neighborhood-specific data plus listings
  • Yield analysis for properties in the area

Steps

  1. Identify your target area using the crime map or ward list, so your request names a specific ward or neighborhood.
  2. Request a match. The homepage's "Invest in Tokyo Real Estate" section links to agent matching ("Get matched with an agent").
  3. Share your criteria. Because the service advertises neighborhood-specific data and yield analysis, state the neighborhood, budget range, and whether you are buying to live in or to invest.
  4. Compare what comes back. Ask for the listings alongside the neighborhood data so you can check each property against the safety grade you already selected.

Expected result

You receive agent contact and property listings tied to your chosen neighborhood, with yield analysis where relevant.

Common sticking points

  • "Free" refers to the matching service, not the property. The page says the service is free with no obligation; it does not state that properties, fees, or transactions are free.
  • Yield analysis is investment-oriented. If you are renting rather than buying, say so up front so the agent adjusts the material.
  • Verify credentials. The site says agents are English-speaking and foreigner-friendly; confirm licensing and terms directly with the agent before committing.

A Practical Workflow

Step Action Where Output
1 Compare ward safety grades "Safest Wards in Tokyo" list Shortlist of A/B wards
2 Drill into neighborhoods Interactive crime map Neighborhood-level shortlist
3 Check affordability Cheapest places / Value Index Areas matching budget and safety
4 Request listings Agent matching form Neighborhood-specific listings and yield data

A concrete example: a buyer who wants low crime and moderate prices might start with Suginami (grade A, 4.4 per 1,000), confirm the specific neighborhood on the map, check the ward's property prices and Value Index, then request an agent match for that neighborhood with a stated budget.

What the Site Does Not Cover

The page does not publish pricing for any paid tier, does not describe login requirements, and does not detail how safety scores are calculated beyond citing police data. For methodology questions, the site's own explanation page is the place to look; for costs, confirm directly with the agent. Hotel links on the page go to Booking.com, and the site notes it may earn a commission from those bookings, with prices and availability shown on Booking.com.