[winebuffs]

We have lived in Hiroo for several years. It is lovely. Every school that offers bus service (some do not) has stops in the area. I do not recall your mentioning how large your family is. Prices are dropping due to the economic crisis, so your 1,000,000 yen will go a lot farther than it would have a year ago. I also have no idea what type of accomodations you are in now. In general, for that money, you should be able to get at least a 230 sq m house/apartment, with 3 to 4 bedrooms. If outdoor space is a priority (balcony or garden) you may need to give up some indoor space to have that. Utilites are high in Tokyo. Some companies pay these, others do not. Some provide an allowance toward them. generally speaking in a 210-230 sq m apartment your utilities will run you between 100,000 - 200,000 depending on whether you are in an apartment or a house, the age of the property, and how many windows you have. Insulation is not what it is in the US. Hope this helps. You will love it here!