Popular Local Towns Near Yoyogi

All the well-known tourists spots (ie. Shibuya, Shinjuku, Harajuku, Roppongi etc) are excluded from this list.

Shimokitazawa
Use Minamishinjuku station, not Yoyogi. 8min by Odakyu line
Local version of Harajuku where lots of young actors, actresses & musicians live.
Many used clothes shops, cafe and tiny theaters.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shimokitazawa

Okubo or Shinokubo
1 station north of Shinjuku
Korean town.
Great place if you like Korean food and Korean music.
http://okinawa.stripes.com/travel/shin-okubo-japans-seoul-town-attracts-visitors

Koenji
15min by JR Soubu line(#3 line in Yoyogi station):
Musician town where many used clothes shops, tattoo shops and live houses/bars.
http://www.japanvisitor.com/tokyo/tokyo-area-guides/koenji

Nakano
10min by JR Soubu line(#3 line in Yoyogi station):
Nakano broadway is quite popular for vintage/antique toys etc.
http://www.nbw.jp/index_e.html
Also hundreds of tiny local izakayas/bars are located and fun to walk around to have drink everywhere.

Kichijoji
20min by JR Soubu line(#3 line in Yoyogi station):
One of the most popular areas for young people to live.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inokashira_Park
http://www.ghibli-museum.jp/en/
https://www.gotokyo.org/en/tourists/areas/areamap/kichijoji.html

* Of course, there are bunch more interesting places so if you have specific town you want to go, please let me know.