Aikawa Town, Kanagawa神奈川県愛川町

Living in Aikawa Town, Kanagawa

Nakatsugawa

We have Summarized the livability of Aikawa Town, Kanagawa.

CENTRAL PREFECTURE AREA県央地域

What kind of place is Aikawa Town?
Aikawa TownPR video
How is the traffic situation in Aikawa Town?
How are the rent and land prices in Aikawa Town?
How is childcare and education in Aikawa Town?
How about shopping in Aikawa Town?
How about jobs and recruitment in Aikawa Town?
Aikawa Town’s unique subsidy/subsidy system

What kind of place is Aikawa Town, Kanagawa?

Miyagase Dam

Aikawa Town, a town with an abundance of public facilities that is garnering attention through revitalization efforts

Aikawa Town is located in the northern part of Kanagawa Prefecture, within 50 km of Tokyo and 30 km of Yokohama.
It is bordered by Sagamihara City to the north and east, Atsugi City to the south, and Kiyokawa Village to the west.
The population is 39,000, and there are 18,000 households (as of December 2022).
Although it has a relatively small population in Kanagawa Prefecture, the western part of the town features beautiful mountain ranges, while the southeastern part is a nature-rich area bordered by rivers.
The Takamine and Nakatsu areas were traditionally rural, but the Nakatsu area experienced a population boom starting around 1966 due to active development of housing complexes.
The Hanbara and Tashiro areas are known nationwide as “Ita no Machi” (Thread Town). Although it has declined in recent years due to a decrease in yarn factories, it remains a historically significant area with a strong sense of its past.
The Miyagase Dam, completed in 2000, is one of the largest dams in the metropolitan area, spanning Aikawa Town, Kiyokawa Village, and Sagamihara City. Nearby, the Kenritsu Aikawa Park offers attractions such as cable cars and pleasure boats, making the town an attractive destination with potential for future development.

PR video of Aikawa Town, Kanagawa

Aikawa Centennial Journey Special “Resurrection Plateau”

Ai-chan and Words of Love 2022 Remake

How is the traffic situation in Aikawa Town?

National Route 412 (Aikawa Bridge)

The main means of transportation for the townspeople is the convenient bus route in Aikawa Town.

There are no train lines in Aikawa Town.
If you want to take the train, you will need to travel to Hon-Atsugi Station on the Odakyu Odawara Line in Atsugi City.
However, no matter where you live in the town, you can easily get to Hon-Atsugi Station.
The main means of transportation for the town’s residents is the bus.
Kanagawa Chuo Kotsu East operates a bus line, which allows you to travel quickly between the Sumigaya and Miyagase districts.
This bus also stops at Hon-Atsugi Station, making it a convenient means of transportation no matter where you’re going.

Because there is no railway, the prefectural roads are well-equipped.
Kanagawa Prefectural Highway Route 60 Atsugi Tsukui Line, Route 64 Isehara Tsukui Line, and Route 70 Hadano Kiyokawa Line are all ideal roads for traveling within the town.
Due to the small population, traffic jams are rare and you can drive comfortably.
There are also forest roads that are a little rare in Kanagawa Prefecture.
Among them, Karasawa Forest Road and Shiomizu Forest Road are familiar forest roads to locals.
It is common to use these roads to get out of town or to commute to work.
The town-run Yume Bus used to operate within the town, but it has been discontinued and it is now common to use buses operated by private companies.

There is no train, but there are relatively many buses going to Hon-Atsugi Station.

There is no train service in the town, so it is not very convenient. If you take the bus, you may get stuck in traffic depending on the time of day, which can take a long time.

How are the rent and land prices in Aikawa Town?

Aikawa Town: the town with the cheapest average rent in the prefecture

The average rent in Aikawa Town is about 30,000 yen for a one-room apartment, which is about half the price of neighboring Atsugi City.
It is true that there is a slight difference in convenience, but this average rent is still a great deal.
Even 1LDK and 2LDK apartments are often less than 60,000 yen.
If you plan to live there for a long time, it makes a considerable difference.
Land in Aikawa Town costs around 100,000 yen per tsubo. This is also very cheap, and there are many areas in Kanagawa Prefecture where the average land price is about 10 times this.
The average rent and land prices in Aikawa Town are very reasonable, but as the town revitalization progresses, there is a possibility that they will rise, so it is attracting attention.

How is childcare and education in Aikawa Town?

Kanagawa Prefectural Aikawa Park

Aikawa Town: A town with its own unique curriculum and a strong focus on education

In Aikawa Town, there are 6 nursery schools, 4 kindergartens, 6 elementary schools, 3 junior high schools, and 1 high school. There are no junior colleges or universities.
Aikawa Town’s child medical expense subsidy covers 100% of medical expenses for children up to 18 years old (until March 31 of the year they turn 18) for both outpatient and inpatient care. (Some exclusions and income restrictions apply.)
Additionally, child allowances are provided as follows: ¥15,000 for children under 3 years old; ¥10,000 for the first and second child aged 3 years old to before elementary school; ¥15,000 for the third child and beyond; and ¥10,000 for junior high school students. (Some income restrictions apply.)
The town also offers various child-rearing support funds.
During pregnancy, a “maternity preparation grant” of ¥50,000 is provided per pregnancy.
At childbirth, a “child-rearing support gift” of ¥50,000 in gift vouchers is given per child.
Furthermore, for children under 2 years old, a “baby care products purchase subsidy voucher” is provided, which can be used to purchase items such as diapers and formula at participating stores in the town. Each child receives ¥30,000 (¥1,500 vouchers x 20).

Aikawa Town is a town that places great emphasis on education, and provides various educational support under the motto of “nurturing rich human resources.”
The “Asunaro Classroom” is an after-school study program for third and fourth graders at all elementary schools.
In addition, the “Hinoki Classroom” is an after-school study program for interested junior high school students at all junior high schools.
All elementary schools in the town provide “in-school” school lunches, cooked in the school cafeteria.

Aikawa Town: A town where you can commute to school outside the town

Aikawa Town has a well-designed curriculum, which often leads students to continue on to public junior high schools within the town. However, since there are no private schools within the town, many students take entrance exams for schools outside the town. This includes neighboring Atsugi City and even Odawara City, which are within commuting distance.
While high-level education is available within the town, the ability to attend schools outside is a major appeal of Aikawa Town.
There is also a system to partially subsidize the cost of commuting to high school. This covers approximately 25% of bus commuting fees and 50% of bicycle purchase costs (up to ¥20,000, or up to ¥60,000 for electric assist bicycles).
Since there are few tutoring centers in Aikawa Town, it is not uncommon for families to hire private tutors. Many students also stay after school to study.

There is a lot of support for child-rearing, and I feel that there are more grants and subsidies available than in neighboring cities and towns.

There is only one high school in the area and transportation is not very convenient, so your options for further education are limited.

How about shopping in Aikawa Town?

Kopio Aikawa

Aikawa Town is a town with a few convenient shops scattered around.

Aikawa Town has a smaller population, resulting in fewer stores. However, the available stores are highly convenient.
The Coppio Aikawa complex includes a supermarket, home center, and drugstore, where most daily necessities can be found.
The Flower Land Aikawa Store is a unique discount store that offers flowers and a range of discounted daily goods, making it a favorite among locals.
Aikawa Town is conveniently located for travel to Atsugi City, where many residents enjoy shopping. As part of the commercial zone of Aikō District, Aikawa Town offers access to a variety of products within a 10 km radius.
While not everything is available within the town, there are many convenient stores nearby.

It’s convenient because you can get almost everything you need at once at Kopio Aikawa.

There are no fancy restaurants or places to buy clothes.

How about jobs and recruitment in Aikawa Town?

Aikawa Town: A town with favorable job openings due to a labor shortage

Aikawa Town has a smaller population than other municipalities in Kanagawa Prefecture, so many businesses are experiencing labor shortages.
As a result, it is not uncommon to see businesses recruiting with favorable conditions.
Popular job opportunities include town halls, restaurants, and retail stores.
Many people also migrate to Atsugi City to work.
It can be said that it is a great deal to live in Aikawa Town, where the average rent is low, and work in Atsugi City or Odawara City, where the wages are high.