吉祥寺
Consistently ranked the most desirable residential neighborhood in Tokyo — and once you're there you see why: Inokashira Park with its lake and swan boats, a shotengai of actual useful shops, Harmonica Yokocho (a dense 4-foot-wide bar alley that's somehow survived), good ramen and standing-bar density. Also the gateway to the Ghibli Museum next door in Mitaka.