Unlike some of my neighbors, I didn’t grow up in Yanesen. I first moved here as a graduate student, renting a small room near Nezu Shrine. Since then—more than twenty years now—I’ve lived in different corners around the area: Yushima, Kita-Ueno, Ikenohata, and finally back to Nezu. Looking back, if I had to explain why I’ve stayed here so long, the answer is simple: I just like it here.

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Yanesen sits between two of Japan’s most prestigious universities—The University of Tokyo and Tokyo University of the Arts—so the neighborhood naturally carries a quiet cultural and academic atmosphere. Yet it’s also wonderfully livable. You can do almost everything on foot or by bicycle, and the area changes beautifully with the seasons: cherry blossoms in Yanaka Cemetery, azaleas at Nezu Shrine, lotus flowers in Shinobazu Pond, autumn leaves in Ueno Park.

Life here is also practical. Schools, hospitals, and public facilities are all nearby; the streets are safe; and central Tokyo is just minutes away. But to be honest, those conveniences aren’t really the reason I stay. Many parts of Tokyo can offer that.

What makes Yanesen different is its human warmth—something that still survives here despite being in the heart of one of the world’s largest cities. Some people move here seeking that sense of community. In my case, I don’t necessarily crave deep neighborhood ties, but I appreciate knowing that they exist—that quiet sense of connection you can feel even without saying much.​

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So why do I live in Yanesen? I can’t give a perfect answer. It’s not about logic or convenience. It’s simply that this place feels right. For me, Yanesen is a neighborhood where ordinary life in Tokyo still feels personal, grounded, and somehow comforting—a place where I can just be myself.