Livability Report
IchikawaLivability Score
Chiba·Pop. 494,354
Ichikawa sits in western Chiba Prefecture, facing Tokyo across the Edogawa River. The land slopes gently from north to south: the northern plateau is roughly 20 meters above sea level, while most of the rest is flat ground around 2 meters, and the south faces Tokyo Bay as part of the Keiyo industrial zone. The JR Sobu and Keiyo lines, the Keiyo Road, and National Route 14 run east to west. The city was established in 1934 when the towns of Ichikawa, Yawata, and Nakayama merged with Kokubun village, and it reached its present area by adding Okashiwa in 1949, Gyotoku in 1955, and Minami-Gyotoku in 1956. Pears, grown since the Edo period, are the main farm product, and a stretch of National Route 464 in the north is known as the Omachi Pear Road, lined with direct-sales stands.
Published 2026-04-21 · Article updated 2026-10-27 · Data updated 2026-10-20
Where in Japan
Overall Score
47.7
30.6
52.1
52.9
69.0* These scores are based on statistical analysis of public data and do not represent a definitive assessment of any area. Actual livability varies depending on individual values and lifestyle.
5-axis scores
Safety47.7Cost30.6Convenience52.1Welfare52.9Economy69.0Basic Information
Population
494,354
Prefecture
Chiba
Q&A with Kai
Alex, Yuki, and Kai discuss what it's really like to live here.
How a plateau along the Edogawa and the Gyotoku lowland became one city
Yuki
How did Ichikawa come to be the city it is today?
Alex
How does the terrain change across the city?
Yuki
I don't picture farming here. Is anything grown in the city?
Kai
It started with a merger of four towns and villages. According to the city, Ichikawa, Yawata, Nakayama, and Kokubun merged in 1934 to form the city. Okashiwa joined in 1949, Gyotoku in 1955, and Minami-Gyotoku in 1956, giving the present area. One city thus holds two different terrains: the northern plateau and the flat lowland on the Gyotoku side.
Safety
Alex
How many crimes are reported, and how should I read the number?
Yuki
How does it look next to the prefecture as a whole?
Alex
What does the city itself do about crime prevention?
Kai
Chiba Prefectural Police's final 2025 figures show 2,900 reported penal code offenses in Ichikawa, or 5.87 per 1,000 residents. This crime rate is an average level among Japan's major municipalities; lower is better. Offenses are counted where they occur and the denominator is residents, so commuters and visitors are excluded. It says nothing about safety address by address.
Cost of living
Alex
How much do homes and land cost?
Yuki
Does the city have any programs for vacant homes or moving house?
Kai
On the high side. In the 2026 official land price survey, the simple average of residential sites is 306,668 yen per square meter, higher than the median of Japan's major municipalities. The 2023 Housing and Land Survey puts average monthly rent for rented housing at 72,879 yen, also higher than the median. Lower is better for both, so budget generously.
Convenience
Alex
Do many people take the train or bus to work or study?
Yuki
How do people get around in areas away from the stations?
Alex
Are there many shops and places to eat?
Kai
Quite a few. In the 2020 census, 53.13% used rail or bus to get to work or study, higher than the median of Japan's major municipalities. The JR Sobu and Keiyo lines run east to west: Motoyawata opened in 1935, Ichikawa-Shiohama and Futamata-Shinmachi in 1988, Toei Shinjuku Line's Motoyawata in 1989, and Hokuso Line's Kita-Kokubun and Omachi in 1991.
Welfare
Alex
How many hospitals and clinics are there?
Yuki
What should I do if I suddenly fall ill at night or on a holiday?
Alex
What about the number of schools and where to ask about child-rearing?
Kai
The 2023 Survey of Medical Institutions counts 12 hospitals and 321 general clinics, or 6.74 facilities per 10,000 residents, lower than the median of Japan's major municipalities. The figure divides facilities by population and says nothing about specialties or ease of access. Kohnodai Hospital was approved as a regional medical support hospital by the Chiba governor on February 9, 2017.
Economy
Yuki
What are residents' incomes like?
Alex
Is the population growing or shrinking?
Yuki
Where can I get help looking for work?
Kai
On the high side. In the 2025 municipal tax survey, taxable income per taxpayer is 4,406,194 yen, higher than the median of Japan's major municipalities. As for industry, the south faces Tokyo Bay as part of the Keiyo industrial zone, while the north grows greenhouse tomatoes, open-field green onions, daikon, cabbage, and spinach, plus flowers such as lilies and cyclamen.
Share of people actually living here
Yuki
What does the residency rate indicator show?
Alex
Does this number matter when choosing where to live?
Kai
It is a supplementary figure: census population divided by resident register population. The 2025 census counted 494,354 people, the resident register 498,550, giving a residency rate of 99.16%. That tells us the two populations are about the same size, but nothing more can be read from it. It is not used in the five axis scores.
Who this city suits
Families with children
Elementary, junior high, and high schools number 1.33 per square kilometer of habitable land, on the high side, while hospitals and clinics are 6.74 per 10,000 residents, on the low side. Children's medical costs are subsidized, and the Child and Family Center takes questions on parenting and family relations. One thing to watch is rent: the average for rented housing is 72,879 yen a month, on the high side. Weigh housing costs together with school locations.
Young singles
Among people commuting to work or school, 53.13% use rail or bus, on the high side, and there are stations on the JR Sobu, Keiyo, Toei Shinjuku, and Hokuso lines. One thing to watch is that restaurants number 2.27 per 1,000 residents, on the low side, and rent is also high. Look at shopping associations such as Motoyawata Ekimae-kai in person before choosing a district.
Seniors
Senior Support Centers are assigned by district, with public health nurses, social workers, and chief care managers supporting health and care consultations, including home visits. They also help apply for care certification and introduce the adult guardianship system. One thing to watch is that medical facilities number 6.74 per 10,000 residents, on the low side. Use the city's medical institution search to find a candidate for a regular doctor.
Remote workers
Taxable income per taxpayer is 4,406,194 yen and the net migration rate is 0.61%, both on the high side. There are the Omachi Park Nature Observation Garden, the Okashiwa River first retarding basin green space, and the Gyotoku Bird Observatory. One thing to watch is land: 306,668 yen per square meter, on the high side. The city publishes a flood hazard map, so check it.
Disaster risk and hazard maps
The city publishes the Ichikawa Flood Hazard Map page. The river flood map shows inundation zones for the Edogawa and smaller rivers under the maximum assumed scale, and the page also carries inland flooding zones. The storm surge map is likewise based on the maximum assumed scale. The map sheets include figures for small and medium rivers, inland flooding, and landslides, and river-by-river inundation maps are published for the Mama, Ebi, and Koya rivers among others. Check down to your exact street address with the city's official maps and the GSI overlay hazard map.
📊 Cities with Similar Scores
Detailed Data
| Indicator | Value | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | 5.87 | 2025 |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | 306,668 | 2026 |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 72,879 | 2023 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 53.1 | 2020 |
| Retail Establishments | 1,859 | 2021 |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 3.76 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments | 1,120 | 2021 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 2.27 | 2021 |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | 99.2 | 2025 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | 6.74 | 2023 |
| Hospitals | 12 | 2023 |
| Hospitals (per 10,000) | 0.24 | 2023 |
| Clinics | 321 | 2023 |
| Clinics (per 10,000) | 6.49 | 2023 |
| Schools (elementary + junior high + high) | 75 | 2024 |
| Schools (per 1,000) | 0.152 | 2024 |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | 1.334 | 2024 |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | 4,406,194 | 2025 |
| Net Migration | 3,013 | 2025 |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | 0.61 | 2025 |
| Total Population | 494,354 | 2025 |
| crime_count | 2,900 | 2025 |
| crime_count_pref | 39,976 | 2025 |
| crime_rate_pref_per_1000 | 6 | 2025 |
| habitable_area_km2 | 56 | 2024 |
| resident_registry_population | 498,550 | 2026 |
Data sources
| Indicator | Source | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Population | 2025 Population CensusStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Crime Rate (per 1,000) | Reported penal code offenses by municipalityChiba Prefectural Police | 2025 | Counted where offenses occur; per 1,000 uses the 2025 census population |
| Avg. Land Price (¥/m²) | Official land prices (National Land Numerical Information L01)Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism | 2026 | Residential sites only; simple average of sites |
| Avg. Rent (¥) | 2023 Housing and Land SurveyStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2023 | Monthly rent of rented housing; next survey in 2028 |
| Public Transit Usage (%) | 2020 Population Census (means of commuting)Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2020 | To be updated when the 2025 census commuting tables are published |
| Retail Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Restaurant Establishments (per 1,000) | 2021 Economic Census for Business ActivityMIC and METI | 2021 | Next survey in 2026 |
| Medical Facilities (per 10,000, hospitals + clinics) | Survey of Medical Institutions (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare | 2023 | Hospitals and clinics combined |
| Schools (per habitable km²) | School Basic Survey and habitable area (System of Social and Demographic Statistics)MEXT and Statistics Bureau of Japan | 2024 | Elementary, junior high and high schools per habitable km² |
| Taxable Income per Capita (¥) | Survey on municipal tax assessmentMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Taxable income per taxpayer |
| Net Migration Rate (%) | Report on Internal MigrationStatistics Bureau of Japan | 2025 | |
| Residency Rate (%, census ÷ resident register) | Census population ÷ resident register populationMinistry of Internal Affairs and Communications | 2025 | Resident register population as of January 1, 2026 |
Sources (30)
- Ichikawa City: About Ichikawa
- Ichikawa City: Agriculture in Ichikawa
- Ichikawa City: Community Bus Guide
- Ichikawa City: Join a Shopping Association
- Ichikawa City: Children's Medical Expense Subsidy
- Ichikawa City: Child and Family Center
- Ichikawa City: Vacant Home Measures
- Ichikawa City: Flood Hazard Map
- Chiba Prefectural Police: Reported Penal Code Offenses, 2025 Final
- National Kohnodai Medical Center: Regional Medical Support Hospital
- Ichikawa City: Koho Ichikawa, January 1, 2023 Feature
- Ichikawa City: Emergency Clinic Guide
- Ichikawa City: Emergency Medical System
- Ichikawa City: Medical Institution Search
- Ichikawa City: Senior Support Centers
- Ichikawa City: Employment and Labor Consultation Services
- Ichikawa City: Using Disability Welfare Services
- Ichikawa City: Satomi Park
- Ichikawa City: Nature Facilities
- Ichikawa City: Crime Prevention Measures
- Ichikawa City: Security Cameras
- e-Stat: 2025 Population Census, Basic Tabulation (0004065881)
- e-Stat: 2023 Housing and Land Survey (0004021452)
- e-Stat: 2020 Population Census, Means of Transportation (0003454513)
- e-Stat: 2021 Economic Census for Business Activity (0004005684)
- e-Stat: Survey of Medical Institutions, System of Social and Demographic Statistics (0000020209)
- e-Stat: School Basic Survey and Habitable Area, System of Social and Demographic Statistics (0000020205)
- e-Stat: Report on Internal Migration from the Basic Resident Registers (0003419945)
- MLIT National Land Numerical Information: Official Land Prices (L01)
- MIC: Survey of Municipal Taxation
Data years: mainly 2025 (2020–2026 by indicator)
Published 2026-04-21 · Article updated 2026-10-27 · Data updated 2026-10-20