Moving out from Tokyo to Kobe (and glad I did !)

Has moving out of Tokyo ever crossed your mind ?

One and a half years ago, I moved to Kobe after five years spent in Tokyo. 

Primarily motivated by an employment opportunity, the change also came to me as a true breath of fresh air. Here are some of the reasons why, according to my personal experience : 

• Nature & travel 

As an outdoor sports enthusiast, having access to the mountain and sea within 30min from where I live is an everyday gift. I regularly jog to Kobe port, and to Suma beach.

Going to work via the Kobe Hankyu line, I am also grateful each time I commute to be able to see mountains and rivers on my route.

Kyoto, Himeji, Osaka can be reached from Kobe within 1 hour (via normal train), there are two Shinkansen stations (Shin-Kobe, Shin-Osaka) and 3 airports (Kobe, Itami, Osaka International Airport).

• Money saving 

I found this website quite helpful to realize the cost difference :

Cost of living comparison Kobe-Tokyo (Numbeo)

According to the above, which my experience also confirms, with a rent being 36.15% lower in average than Tokyo, the average price of a 1 bedroom apartment in the city center amounts to 92,500 JPY/month. 

Living in Kobe city center, most of what I need can be found 30min away by walking, which made me save a lot in transportation costs. 

I also found restaurant prices much cheaper than Tokyo (about 9.5% lower according to Numbeo).

Plane tickets departing from Kansai airports are often cheaper than those leaving from Tokyo. You’d also be surprised that flying from Kobe to Tokyo is often more affordable than Shinkansen (but taking Shinkansen is still best for the environment :) !) 

• Time saving 

With rent prices lower compared to Tokyo, it was possible for me to afford a place less than an hour away from my workplace (~30min commute). 

Also, I spend much less time queuing at cafes and restaurants :).

• Less stress & better mood

One thing very appreciable is the noise reduction. 

Have you ever noticed how loud the overlapping train announcements are in stations like Shinagawa, Shinjuku or Tokyo ? I haven't experience audition discomfort in Kobe yet.

Second, which can be minor but counts for me : no Black & White business suits overdose. Instead we can appreciate the view of people wearing business casual attire and being themselves. You'd be surprised how much a variety of color palette can be ravishing to the eye after a long work day. 

Last but not least - Ultimate happiness - being able to sit everyday on the train. No more squeezing at rush hour ! Generally speaking, not being constantly in the middle of crowds has been a real relief for me. 

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I often exchange with candidates who have many reasons to stay in the capital city, which I understand :  For instance, Tokyo gave me great networking opportunities, at the time when networking events were still possible and face to face meetings were the norm. 

This being said, at the start of an era in which work from home is getting normalized, and the development of technology dedicated to remote work and meetings, I’m curious to know how the working population distribution will evolve in Japan. 

For those who’d want to consider a move to Kobe / Hyogo / Kansai, feel free to reach out ! Happy also to read comments about why / why not you would consider moving out of the capital.