Name: April
Neighborhood: Higashi-Kurume
City: Tokyo, Japan
My Home: One-bedroom apartment

Higashi-Kurume is a great place to raise a family if you are foreigners in Japan. There's an international school (Christian Academy in Japan) within walking distance of the train station (Seibu Ikebukuro line), several beautiful rivers and parks, and many little fields where you can buy fresh produce directly from the farmers. More

Name: Ariana
Location: Amberg
City: Bavaria, Germany
My Home: Three Bedroom Apartment, Third Floor, 400 years old!

I just moved to Amberg, Germany, and live downtown on the main street. The city is 975 years old, and surrounded by a double wall, complete with watch towers, etc. It's super cool! I do my shopping at a local open market in the city center, and of course it is both beautiful and sustainable. More

We recently launched a new series of Reader Neighborhood Guides, and people have sent in amazing tips from all over the place, from a lesser-known flea market in Philadelphia to the best BBQ places in Kansas City. Click through for some of our favorite local guides, or share your neck of the woods with our online community by filling out this form.
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Name: Jeff
Neighborhood: Central West End
City: St. Louis City, MO
My Home: 2-bedroom condo in a historic building

The Central West End is a premier urban neighborhood in the central corridor of St. Louis City. Flanked by Washington University and Forest Park to the west and Saint Louis University to the east, the CWE offers a distinctive turn-of-the-century ambiance, replete with sidewalk cafes, stunning architecture and excellent MetroLink rail transit access. It is truly one of the most impressive neighborhoods in the Midwest! More

Name: Erin
Neighborhood: Greenway Plaza
City: Houston, Texas
My Home: Two-bedroom loft (converted to lofts from an old office building)

Greenway Plaza is sandwiched in between two of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Houston: River Oaks and West University (as in west of Rice University). I've lived here for about 5 years. It's just down the street from the artsy neighborhood of Montrose, where I've also lived. It's an eclectic part of town that's not too far from anything. More

Name: Jake
Neighborhood: Soulard
City: St. Louis, Missouri
My Home: 3-bedroom townhome/rowhouse

This quaint neighborhood is just South of downtown Saint Louis. It's a common location for many city-wide activities, from Mardi Gras to running and street bike races. The old red brick historic district boasts gorgeously restored row houses and town homes. More

Name: Teresa
Location: Chapalita
City: Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
My Home: 3 bedroom apartment

Chapalita is a traditional neighborhood, were you can find everything to have a good time. I've lived here with my husband since we got married in 2007; he had to find this place by himself because I was living in Mexico City. My requirements were that I could go anywhere without a car. More

Name: Blake
Neighborhood: Downtown
City: Detroit, Michigan
My Home: One-bedroom three story loft

I live in one of the most misunderstood neighborhoods in the world. I walk to work, restaurants, shops, markets everyday. I moved here in March of this year to be able to walk to work. I was sick of hearing how people keep leaving Detroit. I wanted to be part of something bigger then myself and make a mark. More

Name: Nick
Neighborhood: Over the Rhine
City: Cincinnati, Ohio
My Home: Two-bedroom apartment in a historic district

Over the Rhine was once the densest area in the United States and has remained largely in tact since the 19th Century. It is now the center of art and culture in Cincinnati and it full of beautiful homes, galleries, restaurants, shops, and theaters. Exploring this area is a must for any visitors to Cincinnati — it has an urban fabric that can be seen in very few places any more. More

Name: Kate
Location: I live next door to Sonoma in Petaluma, but Sonoma is my backyard, and favorite place to spend an afternoon.
City: Sonoma, California

Sonoma is the place for living the Wine Country lifestyle. There's a weekly farmer's market in the historic Sonoma Plaza, a square surrounded by art galleries, wine tasting rooms, and local specialty shops. Adventure beyond the downtown and visit the abundant vineyards and wineries that make this region so desirable, always filled with good wine, fresh food, and happy people, whether local or visiting. More