- According to SUUMO, the municipalities that Chiba residents want to live in are: 1st place: Funabashi City, 2nd place: Ichikawa City, and 3rd place: Chuo Ward, Chiba City.
- According to Iiheya Net's survey of desirable municipalities to live in, Funabashi City was ranked number one (though it will be third in 2025).
- Urayasu City has ranked first for resident satisfaction (livability) for the sixth consecutive year.
- From 2025 onwards, cities such as Nagareyama (SUUMO 6th → 4th) saw an increase in ranking, while Kashiwa City (4th → 7th) saw a decrease.
What are the rankings for the most desirable places to live in Chiba Prefecture? Differences between surveys.
There isn't one single, fixed ranking for "Chiba Prefecture's Most Desirable Places to Live." Several companies conduct and publish their rankings using different methods each year, and the same city can rank differently depending on the survey.
Therefore, this article presents each survey published in 2026 individually, and does not create its own ranking by combining multiple surveys.
Three major surveys published in 2026
| Survey name (publisher) | announcement | How to find out | Chiba Prefecture Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUUMO's Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026: Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition (Recruit) | February 25, 2026 | A survey was conducted among 9,000 people aged 20-49 living in the Tokyo metropolitan area (1 prefecture and 4 surrounding prefectures). Participants were asked to select up to three stations/municipalities they would like to live in, and their choices were scored. | There is a "Chiba Prefecture Resident Ranking" which compiles only the responses of people living in Chiba Prefecture (1,349 people). |
| Iiheya Net's 2026 Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku) | May 13, 2026 | A survey was conducted among 8,999 people aged 20 and over living in Chiba Prefecture. Respondents were asked to freely enter their preferred city to live in, and the cities were ranked based on the number of votes. | Two rankings: one for train stations and one for local governments. |
| Iiheya Net City Livability Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku) | May 13, 2026 | This is an evaluation of how satisfied residents of Chiba Prefecture are with the town they currently live in. It is based on cumulative responses from 41,578 people between 2022 and 2026. | Two rankings: one for train stations and one for local governments. |
| LIFULL HOME'S Everyone's Favorite Places to Live! 2026 Tokyo Metropolitan Area Ranking (LIFULL) | February 19, 2026 | This is not a survey, but rather a compilation of the number of inquiries received for LIFULL HOME'S rental properties between January and December 2025, broken down by station. | A station in Chiba Prefecture is included in the overall ranking for the Greater Tokyo Area (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama). |
Sources: SUUMO Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition (Recruit Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026) / Iiheya Net City Livability & Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd.) (as of May 2026) / LIFULL HOME'S Everyone's Search! Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking (Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition) (LIFULL Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026)
"A city you want to live in" and "a city that is easy to live in (comfortable to live in)" are two different things.
The "Most Desirable Cities to Live In" ranking is based on the choices of people who would like to live in a city, including those who don't currently reside there. Factors such as name recognition, aspiration, and the size of the train station tend to be reflected in the rankings.
On the other hand, Iiheya Net's "livability" rating is based on how people currently living in a town rate it. If you want to know which towns are the most livable in Chiba Prefecture, this rating is a more accurate indicator of actual living conditions.
Factors used in the evaluation (convenience, safety, public services, cost of living/rent, etc.)
In our livability ranking, we determine the ranking of each city based on the following eight perspectives (factors) derived from 47 questions asked of residents.
- Convenience of daily life (how readily available supermarkets, convenience stores, and other everyday shops are)
- Transportation convenience (ease of access to central Tokyo, etc.)
- Administrative services
- Quietness and safety
- Approachability
- Bustling
- Prices and rents
- Disaster Prevention
Even cities with similar overall rankings may differ in which aspects they excel in. Searching for cities that are strong in the aspects you value most will make it easier to use the rankings when choosing a place to live.
Source: Iiheya Net City Livability & Desirable City Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd.) (as of May 2026)
Chiba Prefecture's Most Desirable Places to Live, 2026 Edition
From here, we will introduce Chiba Prefecture's ranking for each survey. The "2025" in the table refers to the ranking from the previous year of the same survey.
SUUMO | Top 10 Municipalities in Chiba Prefecture Chosen by Residents
| local government | 2026 | 2025 | score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funabashi City | 1st place | 1st place | 806 |
| Ichikawa City | 2nd place | 2nd place | 561 |
| Chuo Ward, Chiba City | 3rd place | 3rd place | 401 |
| Nagareyama City | 4th place | 6th place | 399 |
| Urayasu City | 5th place | 7th place | 384 |
| Mihama Ward, Chiba City | 6th place | 8th place | 379 |
| Kashiwa City | 7th place | 4th place | 372 |
| Matsudo City | 8th place | 5th place | 359 |
| Narashino City | 9th place | 11th place | 239 |
| Hanamigawa Ward, Chiba City | 10th place | 14th place | 200 |
The top three cities (Funabashi, Ichikawa, and Chiba City's Chuo Ward) maintained the same rankings for the fourth consecutive year. Nagareyama City, in fourth place, rose two places from the previous year, achieving its highest ranking ever.
Source: SUUMO Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition "Most Desirable Municipalities to Live In Ranking <By Prefecture of Residence> Chiba Prefecture Resident Ranking" (Recruit Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026)
SUUMO | Top 10 Most Desirable Places to Live (Train Stations) as Chosen by Chiba Prefecture Residents
| station | 2026 | 2025 | score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funabashi | 1st place | 1st place | 396 |
| Nagareyama Otakanomori | 2nd place | 4th place | 259 |
| Chiba | 3rd place | 3rd place | 221 |
| Tsudanuma | 4th place | 5th place | 220 |
| oak | 5th place | 2nd place | 213 |
| Ichikawa | 6th place | 6th place | 199 |
| Shin-Urayasu | 7th place | 7th place | 170 |
| Maihama | 8th place | 11th place | 160 |
| Urayasu | 9th place | 10th place | 158 |
| Kaihin Makuhari | 10th place | 12th place | 157 |
For the seventh consecutive year, Funabashi has been ranked number one as the most desirable station to live near in Chiba Prefecture. Maihama and Kaihin-Makuhari have returned to the top 10. Looking at the overall rankings for the entire Tokyo metropolitan area (not limited to Chiba residents), Funabashi came in 12th and Maihama 15th, both their highest rankings since 2018.
Source: SUUMO Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition (Recruit Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026) *The scores for "Funabashi" and "Chiba" are the sum of the scores of multiple nearby stations.
Iiheya Net | Top 5 Municipalities in Chiba Prefecture Where Residents Want to Live
| local government | 2026 | 2025 | Number of votes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Funabashi City | 1st place | 3rd place | 67 votes |
| Urayasu City | 2nd place | 2nd place | 62 votes |
| Chuo Ward, Chiba City | 3rd place | 1st place | 59 votes |
| Nagareyama City | 4th place | 4th place | 45 votes |
| Kashiwa City (tied for 5th place) | 5th place | 5th place | 43 votes |
| Minato Ward, Tokyo (tied for 5th place) | 5th place | 6th place | 43 votes |
Because this survey allows residents of municipalities across the country to respond freely, the responses from Chiba Prefecture residents also include those from Minato Ward in Tokyo. In terms of the most desirable place to live (station), Funabashi (combining Keisei Funabashi and Funabashi) came in first place, Yokohama in second, and Nagareyama-Ōtakanomori in third.
Source: Iiheya Net's Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd.) (as of May 2026)
Iiheya Net | Top 10 Livable Municipalities = Livable Cities
| local government | 2026 | 2025 | Standard score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Urayasu City | 1st place | 1st place | 71.3 |
| Inzai City | 2nd place | 2nd place | 68.0 |
| Mihama Ward, Chiba City | 3rd place | 3rd place | 65.3 |
| Nagareyama City | 4th place | 4th place | 64.5 |
| Midori Ward, Chiba City | 5th place | 5th place | 63.2 |
| Inage Ward, Chiba City | 6th place | 7th place | 61.3 |
| Narashino City | 7th place | 6th place | 60.8 |
| Ichikawa City | 8th place | 9th place | 60.5 |
| Kashiwa City | 9th place | 8th place | 60.4 |
| Shiroi City | 10th place | 12th place | 59.8 |
Urayasu City ranked first for the sixth consecutive year, and was the only city in the top 10 to have a standard score exceeding 70. Inzai City was second for the sixth consecutive year, and Mihama Ward in Chiba City was third for the seventh consecutive year. Funabashi City, which ranked first as the most desirable place to live, was 12th in terms of livability (13th in 2025).
Source: Iiheya Net City Livability Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd.) (as of May 2026)
Iiheya Net | Top 10 Most Comfortable Places to Live (by Station)
| Station (line) | 2026 | 2025 | Standard score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kaihin-Makuhari (JR Keiyo Line) | 1st place | 1st place | 72.7 |
| Shin-Urayasu (JR Keiyo Line) | 2nd place | 2nd place | 72.7 |
| Kashiwanoha Campus (Tsukuba Express) | 3rd place | 4th place | 72.5 |
| Nagareyama-Ōtakanomori (Tsukuba Express) | 4th place | 3rd place | 71.4 |
| Maihama (JR Keiyo Line) | 5th place | 5th place | 68.6 |
| Kamatori (JR Sotobo Line) | 6th place | 13th place | 68.6 |
| Gakuenmae (Keisei Chihara Line) | 7th place | 9th place | 67.5 |
| Chiba New Town Central (Hokusō Line) | 8th place | 8th place | 67.3 |
| Inzai-Makinohara (Hokusō Line) | 9th place | 7th place | 66.8 |
| Shin-Funabashi (Tobu Noda Line) | 10th place | 10th place | 66.7 |
Kaihin-Makuhari has taken first place for the fourth year in a row. Many of the top-ranking stations are located in areas that have been systematically developed as new towns.
Source: Iiheya Net City Livability Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd.) (as of May 2026)
LIFULL HOME'S | Stations in Chiba Prefecture with the most rental inquiries
LIFULL HOME'S "Most Desirable Neighborhoods to Rent and Live In" rankings are for the entire Greater Tokyo Area (Tokyo, Kanagawa, Chiba, and Saitama). The rankings for stations in Chiba Prefecture were as follows:
| Station (line) | 2026 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Kashiwa (JR Joban Line, etc.) | 12th place | 7th place |
| Urayasu (Tokyo Metro Tozai Line) | 13th place | 18th place |
| Chiba (JR Sobu Line, etc.) | 17th place | 12th place |
| Funabashi (JR Sobu Line, etc.) | 38th place | 30th place |
| Ichikawa (JR Sobu Line, etc.) | 47th place | 75th place |
| Matsudo (JR Joban Line, etc.) | 62nd place | 65th place |
Since the ranking is based on the number of inquiries, it can be interpreted as "stations where many people actually searched for an apartment." A notable feature is that Kashiwa, Urayasu, and Chiba rank higher than Funabashi, which was ranked higher in a survey-based research.
Source: LIFULL HOME'S 2026 "Everyone's Favorite Places to Rent and Live" Ranking (Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition) TOP 100 (LIFULL Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026)
Cross House Editorial Team's Perspective | Comparing "Want to Live In" and "Comfort of Living"
Here, we haven't created any new rankings, but instead, we've listed the rankings for each municipality based on SUUMO's "Most Desirable Municipalities to Live In" (Chiba Prefecture residents) and Iiheya Net's "Comfortable Living" (Municipalities).
| local government | SUUMO: Municipalities where people want to live (Chiba Prefecture residents) | Good Room Net - Living Comfort (Local Government) |
|---|---|---|
| Funabashi City | 1st place | 12th place |
| Ichikawa City | 2nd place | 8th place |
| Chuo Ward, Chiba City | 3rd place | 11th place |
| Nagareyama City | 4th place | 4th place |
| Urayasu City | 5th place | 1st place |
| Mihama Ward, Chiba City | 6th place | 3rd place |
| Kashiwa City | 7th place | 9th place |
| Matsudo City | 8th place | 17th place |
| Narashino City | 9th place | 7th place |
| Inzai City | 21st place | 2nd place |
Sources: SUUMO Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition (Recruit Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026) / Iiheya Net City Livability Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd.) (as of May 2026)
When you line them up, three types emerge. Urayasu City, Nagareyama City, and Mihama Ward in Chiba City are highly rated by both those who want to live there and those who already live there. Funabashi City, Chuo Ward in Chiba City, and Matsudo City are high-ranking cities in terms of desirable places to live due to their large train stations and commercial facilities, but their livability ranking was in the teens. Inzai City is ranked 21st in terms of desirable places to live, but 2nd in terms of livability, suggesting it's a city where people tend to rate it higher after moving in.
When searching for an apartment, deciding beforehand whether you want to live near a train station for convenient commuting or in a quiet residential area for long-term living will help you determine which priority to give more weight.
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Characteristics of top-ranked cities
Here, we introduce the characteristics of the cities that ranked highly in the survey above. The ranking in each heading indicates which survey it comes from.
Funabashi City | Ranked #1 in both SUUMO and Iiheya Net's "Most Desirable Municipalities to Live In" surveys.
Funabashi Station is served by the JR Sobu Line, Keisei Main Line, and Tobu Urban Park Line, while Nishi-Funabashi Station offers access to the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, JR Musashino Line, and JR Keiyo Line. From Funabashi Station to Tokyo Station, it takes approximately 25 minutes on the JR Sobu Line Rapid Service without transfers.
The Minami-Funabashi area is home to "LaLaport TOKYO-BAY," whose North Building reopened after renovations in 2025. In 2024, the multi-purpose arena "LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY," which can accommodate approximately 10,000 people, opened and is the home arena of the professional basketball team "Chiba Jets."
Source: SUUMO Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026, Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition, Featured Area "Funabashi" (Recruit Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026)
Urayasu City | Ranked #1 for Livability (Municipality) for 6 Consecutive Years
Urayasu City is home to Tokyo Disney Resort. It has Urayasu Station on the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line and Shin-Urayasu Station and Maihama Station on the JR Keiyo Line, allowing for direct access to central Tokyo.
According to Iiheya Net's livability rankings, it ranked first in the prefecture in four categories: "convenient transportation," "administrative services," "friendliness," and "liveliness." It also ranked second in Iiheya Net's "Most Desirable Municipalities to Live In" ranking and fifth in SUUMO's ranking.
Nagareyama City | Ranked 4th in SUUMO's list of most desirable municipalities to live in, its highest ranking ever.
Nagareyama City has been promoting itself to families with children with the slogan, "If you're going to be a mother, choose Nagareyama City." Centered around Nagareyama-Ōtakanomori Station, where the Tsukuba Express and Tobu Urban Park Line intersect, the city has developed commercial facilities and residential areas around the station.
Nagareyama-Ōtakanomori Station is ranked 2nd (4th in 2025) in SUUMO's ranking of stations where Chiba residents want to live, and 3rd (5th in 2025) in Iiheya Net's ranking of desirable towns (stations) to live in. In terms of livability, it ranked 1st among all stations in terms of "friendliness" and "liveliness."
Ichikawa City | Ranked 2nd in SUUMO's list of desirable municipalities to live in
Ichikawa City is located next to Edogawa Ward in Tokyo, separated only by the Edogawa River. Many train lines that go into central Tokyo run through the city, including the JR Sobu Line (Ichikawa, Motoyawata, etc.), the Toei Shinjuku Line (Motoyawata), the Keisei Main Line, and the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line (Gyotoku, Myoden, Minami-Gyotoku).
According to Iiheya Net's "Comfort of Living" survey, the area ranked first in the prefecture in terms of "convenience of living" by local government. The availability of supermarkets and other daily shopping options was highly rated.
Chiba City, Chuo Ward | Ranked 3rd in SUUMO and Iiheya Net's list of desirable municipalities to live in.
This ward is located in the heart of Chiba City, the capital of Chiba Prefecture. Centered around JR Chiba Station, it also offers access to the Keisei Chiba Line and the Chiba Urban Monorail, and is home to numerous government offices and commercial facilities.
In Iiheya Net's ranking of desirable municipalities to live in, Chiba Prefecture fell from 1st to 3rd place in 2025. It also maintains its 3rd place ranking in SUUMO's Chiba Prefecture resident ranking.
Kashiwa City | Ranked 12th in Chiba Prefecture in LIFULL HOME'S' "Most Desirable Places to Rent and Live" survey.
Kashiwa Station is a terminal station for the JR Joban Line and the Tobu Urban Park Line, and commercial facilities are concentrated around the station. According to Iiheya Net's "Living Comfort" survey, Kashiwa Station ranked 3rd in the prefecture in terms of "convenience of living" at the station.
Kashiwanoha Campus Station, located along the Tsukuba Express line within the city, ranks 3rd in terms of livability (station) (4th in 2025). On the other hand, in SUUMO's ranking of municipalities that Chiba residents want to live in, it has dropped from 4th to 7th place.
Mihama Ward, Chiba City and Inzai City | Consistently ranked among the top municipalities in terms of livability.
Mihama Ward in Chiba City is home to Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line, and Kaihin-Makuhari Station has been ranked number one for livability (station) for four consecutive years. The ward has also ranked third for seven consecutive years as a municipality, and has risen to sixth place (8th in 2025) in SUUMO's ranking of municipalities that Chiba residents want to live in.
Inzai City is home to the well-planned Chiba New Town, and its stations, Chiba New Town Chuo Station and Inzai Makinohara Station on the Hokuso Line, are among the top 10 in terms of livability (stations). It has ranked second in livability (municipalities) for six consecutive years, and first in the prefecture from the perspective of "disaster prevention."
Matsudo City and Narashino City | SUUMO's Top 10 Most Desirable Municipalities to Live In
Matsudo City is served by the JR Joban Line, Musashino Line, Keisei Matsudo Line (renamed from Shin-Keisei Line in April 2025), and Hokuso Line, among others. It ranked 8th (5th in 2025) in SUUMO's survey of municipalities that Chiba Prefecture residents want to live in.
Narashino City is a city centered around Tsudanuma Station on the JR Sobu Line and Keisei Tsudanuma Station. It ranked 9th (11th in the previous ranking) in SUUMO's ranking of municipalities that Chiba residents want to live in, and 7th in Iiheya Net's ranking of livability (municipality).
Sources: SUUMO Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition (Recruit Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026) / Iiheya Net City Livability & Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd.) (as of May 2026) / LIFULL HOME'S Most Desirable Places to Rent Ranking 2026 Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition (LIFULL Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026)
How to choose a city to live in and trends by age group and household type
When choosing a city to live in, the points you prioritize will vary greatly depending on your age and lifestyle. It's recommended to look for a city that suits your needs, rather than just relying on overall rankings.
What are some popular neighborhoods for single people in their 20s and 30s?
Single people in their 20s and 30s tend to prioritize easy access to the city center, convenience of the area around the station, and the abundance of rental properties. In a survey by LIFULL HOME'S that ranked properties based on the number of rental inquiries, Kashiwa, Urayasu, and Chiba were the top three in Chiba Prefecture. All of these stations offer direct access to central Tokyo.
Areas such as Funabashi and Ichikawa along the JR Sobu Line, and Urayasu and Gyotoku along the Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, are also good places to balance commuting and daily shopping.
What are the characteristics of a town that is popular with families raising children?
Families with young children tend to prioritize factors such as daycare centers, schools, parks, and safety. The top-ranked municipalities in terms of livability include Urayasu City, Inzai City, Mihama Ward in Chiba City, and Nagareyama City, all of which have well-planned residential areas and new streetscapes.
If you prioritize administrative services, you might also want to compare Urayasu, Narita, and Inzai cities, which ranked highly in terms of "administrative services" for livability.
Trends in neighborhoods where seniors want to live
Senior citizens tend to prioritize proximity to medical facilities, ease of shopping, and a peaceful living environment. In terms of "quietness and safety," Onjuku Town, Inzai City, and Sakae Town ranked highly within the prefecture. For "convenience of daily life," Ichikawa City, Inage Ward of Chiba City, and Kashiwa City ranked highly.
The type of town you're looking for depends on whether you prioritize tranquility or daily convenience, so it's recommended to compare both perspectives.
Source: Iiheya Net City Livability Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd.) (as of May 2026) / LIFULL HOME'S Everyone's Search! Most Desirable City Ranking (Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition) (LIFULL Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026)
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Changes in the most desirable places to live | Comparison with the 2025 rankings
Comparing the rankings from the same survey for 2025 and 2026 reveals which cities have seen shifts in popularity. Here, we summarize the main changes for each survey.
SUUMO | Nagareyama City achieves record high ranking, while Kashiwa City and Matsudo City drop in the rankings.
In the ranking of municipalities that Chiba residents want to live in, the top three (Funabashi City, Ichikawa City, and Chiba City Chuo Ward) remained unchanged. Nagareyama City rose from 6th to 4th place, Urayasu City from 7th to 5th place, and Chiba City Mihama Ward from 8th to 6th place. On the other hand, Kashiwa City fell from 4th to 7th place, and Matsudo City fell from 5th to 8th place.
In the overall ranking of desirable train stations to live near in the Tokyo metropolitan area, Funabashi rose from 14th to 12th place, and Maihama rose from 21st to 15th place, both achieving their highest rankings since 2018.
Iiheya Net | The #1 most desirable municipality to live in shifts from Chiba City's Chuo Ward to Funabashi City.
In the category of "Most Desirable Municipalities to Live In," Chiba City's Chuo Ward, which was ranked 1st in 2025, fell to 3rd place, while Funabashi City, which was 3rd, rose to 1st place. In the category of "Most Livable Municipalities," the top 5 remained the same as the previous year, with Shiroi City rising from 12th to enter the top 10.
In terms of livability (stations), Kashiwanoha Campus rose from 4th to 3rd place, and Kamatori rose from 13th to 6th place.
LIFULL HOME'S | Urayasu and Ichikawa rise, Kashiwa and Chiba fall.
In terms of rental inquiries, Urayasu rose from 18th to 13th place, and Ichikawa rose from 75th to 47th place. Kashiwa fell from 7th to 12th place, Chiba from 12th to 17th place, and Funabashi from 30th to 38th place. In 2026, Kashiwa remained the highest-ranked station in Chiba Prefecture.
Sources: SUUMO Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition (Recruit Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026) / Iiheya Net City Livability & Most Desirable Places to Live Ranking 2026 <Chiba Prefecture Edition> (Daito Kentaku Co., Ltd.) (as of May 2026) / LIFULL HOME'S Most Desirable Places to Rent Ranking 2026 Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition (LIFULL Co., Ltd.) (as of February 2026)
The impact of redevelopment and new facilities
SUUMO cites the improved transportation access, as well as the further development of large-scale facilities in recent years, such as the renovation of the North Building of Lalaport TOKYO-BAY (2025) and the opening of LaLa arena TOKYO-BAY (2024), as reasons for Funabashi's rise in ranking.
A notable trend in recent years is that stations along the Tsukuba Express line, such as Nagareyama-Ōtakanomori and Kashiwanoha Campus, where urban development around the station has progressed, consistently rank highly in both desirable places to live and areas of livability.
Points to check before moving to your desired neighborhood in Chiba Prefecture
Even in cities that rank highly, thorough checks are essential before actually living there. Within Chiba Prefecture, there are significant differences in rent, commuting time, and shopping facilities depending on the city or town.
Rent market rates and initial costs
Generally, the closer you are to central Tokyo and the more convenient the area around the train station, the higher the rent tends to be. Once you've decided on a neighborhood you're interested in, comparing several stations with the same size and distance from the station will help you understand the differences in rent.
In typical rental properties, a security deposit and key money are usually required upon moving in, each equivalent to about one month's rent. It's important to consider both the initial move-in costs and the ongoing expenses, including renewal fees and fire insurance premiums.
Crosshouse Editorial Team's Perspective: Choosing a furnished room or a shared house allows you to start living in with reduced furniture costs. Crosshouse does not require a security deposit or brokerage fees, and a guarantor is not needed.
For individual contracts, joining a guarantee company is generally required, and an initial guarantee fee and monthly guarantee fees will be charged separately. However, if you pay the full amount, from initial costs to move-out costs, in a lump sum at the time of move-in, joining a guarantee company is not required.
Commuting and school transportation access
If you're commuting from Chiba Prefecture to Tokyo, the commute time and number of transfers will vary greatly depending on which line you live along: the JR Sobu Line, Keiyo Line, Joban Line, Tokyo Metro Tozai Line, Tsukuba Express, or Keisei Line.
Stations where multiple lines converge, such as Funabashi, Kashiwa, and Chiba, offer a wider range of destination options. While suburban stations tend to have lower rents, commute times are often longer, so it's a good idea to check the morning timetable and congestion levels beforehand.
Living environment and shopping convenience
Whether or not supermarkets and drugstores are within walking distance greatly affects the ease of daily life. Ichikawa City, Inage Ward of Chiba City, Kashiwa City, Matsudo City, and Narashino City, which ranked highly in the "convenience of daily life" category of livability, are valued as cities where daily shopping options are readily available.
Checking things like noise levels and the brightness of streetlights by walking around the area both during the day and at night during your viewing can prevent you from thinking, "This isn't what I expected," after you move in.
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FAQ
Which city in Chiba Prefecture is ranked number one in the 2026 "Most Desirable Places to Live" ranking?
It varies depending on the survey. In SUUMO's "Municipalities that Chiba Prefecture Residents Want to Live In" and Iiheya Net's "Most Desirable Towns (Municipalities) to Live In," Funabashi City was ranked first in both. In Iiheya Net's "Livability (Municipality)," which is determined by the satisfaction of the residents, Urayasu City was ranked first.
Which cities in Chiba Prefecture are the most livable?
In the 2026 Chiba Prefecture Livability Ranking by Iiheya Net, which compiles evaluations from actual residents, Urayasu City ranked first among municipalities (for the sixth consecutive year), Inzai City came in second, and Mihama Ward of Chiba City came in third. Kaihin-Makuhari Station ranked first among train stations for the fourth consecutive year.
Why are the rankings for "most desirable places to live" and "most livable places" different?
The "Most Desirable City to Live In" ranking is a popularity poll that includes people who don't yet live there but would like to live in it. The "Most Livable City" ranking is based on the satisfaction level of people who currently live in that city. For example, Funabashi City ranked first in the "Most Desirable City to Live In" category, but only 12th in the "Most Livable City" category.
Which cities will see a significant change in their rankings starting in 2025?
In SUUMO's ranking of desirable municipalities to live in Chiba Prefecture, Nagareyama City rose from 6th to 4th place (a new record), Chiba City's Hanamigawa Ward rose from 14th to 10th place, and Kashiwa City dropped from 4th to 7th place. In Iiheya Net's ranking of desirable municipalities to live in, Funabashi City rose from 3rd to 1st place.
Which train station in Chiba Prefecture is popular for people looking for apartments to live alone?
According to LIFULL HOME'S 2026 Ranking of Desirable Places to Rent and Live (Tokyo Metropolitan Area Edition), which compiles the number of inquiries for rental properties, the top stations in Chiba Prefecture were Kashiwa (12th), Urayasu (13th), and Chiba (17th). While this is not a compilation limited to single people, it can serve as an indicator of stations with a high volume of apartment searches.
When will the ranking of the most desirable places to live in Chiba Prefecture be announced?
In 2026, the Tokyo metropolitan area edition of LIFULL HOME'S was announced on February 19th, the Tokyo metropolitan area edition of SUUMO on February 25th, and the Chiba prefecture edition of Iiheya Net on May 13th. Typically, the new rankings are finalized around springtime each year.
Can I rent an apartment in Chiba Prefecture without a guarantor?
Cross House properties can be rented without a co-signer. For individual contracts, joining a guarantee company is generally required, and an initial guarantee fee and monthly guarantee fees will be charged separately. If you pay the full amount, from initial costs to move-out costs, in a lump sum upon moving in, joining a guarantee company is not required. Please see our FAQ for more details.
Summary | Tips for choosing the perfect city to live in
In the 2026 rankings of desirable places to live in Chiba Prefecture, Funabashi City ranked first in both SUUMO and Iiheya Net's rankings for most desirable municipalities to live in, while Urayasu City ranked first for the sixth consecutive year in terms of resident satisfaction.
Rankings vary depending on the survey, and the methods used to determine them differ. By comparing "cities people want to live in" with "cities that are easy to live in," narrowing down your choices based on factors you prioritize such as commuting, rent, shopping, and childcare, and finally, actually walking around and checking them out, you can make a satisfying choice of city.
