Wards · Outer ward
Katsushika
The most nostalgic ward in Tokyo, the postcard of old shitamachi, where Tora-san's hometown and a quiet eel-and-temple riverside life have barely changed in decades.
If you want to feel Tokyo of fifty years ago, come to Katsushika. Tucked into the northeast between the Arakawa and Edogawa rivers, it's the spiritual home of shitamachi nostalgia, immortalized in the beloved Tora-san films (Shibamata) and the manga Kochikame (Kameari). It's flat, friendly, working-class, and gloriously unhurried.
This is a ward of riverbanks, festivals, retro shopping streets, and family-run shops, where neighborly warmth still genuinely defines daily life. It's also among the cheapest places to live in the 23 wards, drawing families and renters who want affordable space and a real community over prestige.
For renters and buyers, Katsushika is honest value with character: low rents, family-sized homes, and a strong sense of place, traded against longer commutes and fewer flashy amenities. Investors should expect stable, modest, local demand rather than rapid appreciation.
Katsushika by the numbers (2026)
| Indicator | Katsushika | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Official land price, residential average | ¥387,500 / ㎡ (+5.6% YoY) | 2026 chika koji (Jan 1, 2026) |
| Official land price, commercial average | ¥720,100 / ㎡ (+11.1% YoY) | 2026 chika koji (Jan 1, 2026) |
| Population | 472,558 (+0.56% YoY) | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Households | 256,910 | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Foreign residents | 32,541 (6.9% of population) | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Population density | 13,579 / km² | Jan 1, 2026 |
| Minpaku notified dwellings (active) | 394 (800 filed, 406 closed) | As of Jul 15, 2026 |
Sources: 東京都財務局 令和8年地価公示 東京都分; 東京都総務局統計部 住民基本台帳による東京都の世帯と人口 令和8年1月 (foreign residents = sum of the three age groups printed); 観光庁 住宅宿泊事業 届出状況 令和8年7月15日時点. All 23 wards side by side, with condo prices and rents: Tokyo 23 Wards Property Data 2026.
Key neighbourhoods
- Kameari
- The cheerful, everyday home of the Kochikame manga, complete with statues of its characters around the station. A lively, friendly shopping district with deep local pride.
- Shibamata
- The crown of nostalgic Tokyo: Tora-san's hometown, with a historic temple, an old-fashioned approach lined with dango and senbei shops, and a ferry across the Edogawa. A living museum of shitamachi.
- Tateishi
- Famous for its gloriously retro standing-bar alleys and one of Tokyo's last great postwar drinking quarters, now redeveloping. Beloved by connoisseurs of old-school izakaya culture.
- Kanamachi
- A northeastern transit point with JR and Keisei access plus the leafy Mizumoto Park nearby. Convenient, calm, and cheap, with growing family appeal.