Bukit Chagar and Tanjung Puteri, Johor Bahru: Area Guide

If you are looking at a home near the Causeway, two names keep coming up on addresses and maps: Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru and Tanjung Puteri. This area guide explains what each name covers, how the neighbourhood is laid out, what is within walking distance, and why the RTS Link puts it at the centre of JB’s cross-border future. It also shows where Causewayz Square on Jalan Lumba Kuda fits in. Distances are approximate and should be checked on a map for your own route.

Where is Bukit Chagar, Johor Bahru?

Bukit Chagar is a small hill district on the northern side of JB City Centre, just inland from the Johor Strait and the Causeway. It sits between the Sultan Iskandar Building (the JB CIQ), JB Sentral and the City Square and KOMTAR JBCC shopping area.

The main road through the area is Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, where the Bukit Chagar RTS station is located. Jalan Lumba Kuda, the address of Causewayz Square, runs along the same hillside. The whole area uses the 80300 postcode, which is part of the wider Tanjung Puteri area of the city.

For a buyer, Bukit Chagar means three things at once: the checkpoint, the new rail link and the city’s oldest commercial streets, all within about 1.5 km of each other.

What does Tanjung Puteri mean?

Tanjung Puteri is the original name of Johor Bahru. It began as a Malay fishing village on the strait. After the 1855 treaty signed in Singapore between Sultan Ali and Temenggong Daeng Ibrahim, the Temenggong established the settlement here. It was renamed Johor Bahru in 1862 under his son Abu Bakar, and went on to become the capital of the Johor Sultanate.

Today, Tanjung Puteri is used as an area name for much of the old city centre and waterfront. You will see it on addresses such as “Jalan Lumba Kuda, Tanjung Puteri, 80300 Johor Bahru.” In practice, Bukit Chagar is one neighbourhood inside the wider Tanjung Puteri area.

Bukit Chagar and Tanjung Puteri at a glance

The table below sums up the main landmarks and approximate walking distances from the Causewayz Square site on Jalan Lumba Kuda.

Source for project distances: the project fact sheet and published listings. Actual walking routes depend on crossings and the final pedestrian links.

The RTS Link and Bukit Chagar station

The Bukit Chagar station is the Johor end of the RTS Link, a 5-minute rail shuttle to Woodlands North in Singapore. Passenger service is targeted for February 2027, according to the joint LTA–MOT update of October 2026. Fares have not been announced yet.

Key facts for residents:

• Location: Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Bukit Chagar, 80300 Johor Bahru.
• Journey: about 5 minutes to Woodlands North, with capacity of up to 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction.
• Customs: co-located CIQ at both ends, so passengers clear both countries’ checks before they board.
• Connections: a walkway of about 400 m links the station to JB Sentral for KTM trains and buses.
• Design: the station design, with a double-helix crown inspired by the keris and Johor royal motifs, was chosen from 91 entries by Malaysian architects.

For the full background, see our guides to the Bukit Chagar RTS station and the RTS Link opening date.

Getting around Bukit Chagar

Bukit Chagar is the best-connected neighbourhood in JB for cross-border travel, with rail, road and bus links all meeting here. Once the RTS Link opens, residents will have three ways to reach Singapore from the same area.

• On foot to the CIQ: the Sultan Iskandar Building handles Causeway crossings by bus, car and motorcycle. Many commuters walk to the checkpoint and take a cross-border bus.
• RTS Link: the rail shuttle from Bukit Chagar to Woodlands North, targeted for February 2027, connects to Singapore’s Thomson–East Coast Line at Woodlands North.
• JB Sentral: KTM intercity and ETS trains to the rest of Peninsular Malaysia, plus local buses, about 400 m from the RTS station by walkway.
• By car: the Eastern Dispersal Link and the main city roads connect Bukit Chagar to the North–South Expressway, Tebrau and Iskandar Puteri.

For a side-by-side look at each option, read RTS vs bus vs driving from JB to Woodlands.

Heritage and culture in Tanjung Puteri

Tanjung Puteri holds most of JB’s historic buildings and streets, so residents here live next to the city’s cultural core. These are all a short walk or drive from Bukit Chagar.

The old downtown streets

Jalan Tan Hiok Nee is named after Tan Hiok Nee, the 19th-century leader of the Ngee Heng Kongsi. Along with Jalan Dhoby and Jalan Trus, it forms the city’s heritage trail of pre-war shophouses, now filled with cafes, art spaces and old family businesses.

Johor Bahru Old Chinese Temple

The Old Chinese Temple on Jalan Trus is the city’s oldest Chinese temple, built in the 1870s with land granted by Sultan Abu Bakar. Johor Tourism describes it as a symbol of unity among five Chinese dialect groups: Teochew, Hokkien, Cantonese, Hakka and Hainanese.

Royal and civic landmarks

• Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque on Jalan Skudai, overlooking the Johor Strait, blends Victorian, Moorish and Malay design.
• Istana Besar, the Victorian-style Grand Palace, houses the Royal Abu Bakar Museum and its gardens.
• Sultan Ibrahim Building, one of the city’s best-known colonial-era government buildings, stands on Bukit Timbalan.
• Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Temple, often described as the world’s first glass temple, is a popular stop for visitors.

Shopping, food and daily life

Living in Bukit Chagar puts most daily needs within walking distance. The area’s main malls and food streets are all close by, and Causewayz Square adds its own retail podium of around 90,000 sq ft.

• City Square and KOMTAR JBCC are the main city-centre malls, linked to the checkpoint area.
• R&F Mall is a waterfront mall near the Causeway, about 900 m from the Causewayz Square site.
• Heritage street cafes and hawker food along Jalan Tan Hiok Nee, Jalan Dhoby and Jalan Trus are a short trip away.
• The Causewayz Square podium is planned with about 90,000 sq ft of retail space for residents and passers-by.

Read more in our guide to the Causewayz Square retail podium.

Bukit Chagar regeneration and new development

Bukit Chagar is at the centre of plans to revive JB City Centre around the RTS Link. Iskandar Malaysia counts the city centre as one of its five flagship development zones.

The Star reported in August 2023 that MRT Corp and Hong Kong’s MTR Corporation had signed a memorandum of understanding for a transit-oriented mixed development at Bukit Chagar with a gross development value of about RM3 billion. Local business groups said such a project could make the city centre livelier and more attractive to visitors, while keeping its heritage character.

Private projects are also coming up near the station. Causewayz Square, a freehold development by EXSIM on about 7.7 acres on Jalan Lumba Kuda, is planned with four towers of up to 63 storeys. Piling started in September 2025 and target completion is around 2030. The developer has proposed a pedestrian link bridge to the CIQ and RTS. For a list of other projects, see condos near the JB RTS station.

Property in Bukit Chagar: what is available

Homes in Bukit Chagar are mostly high-rise serviced apartments and condominiums, and many of them are freehold. The area combines completed projects, which are available as subsales and rentals, with new launches such as Causewayz Square.

These are asking prices from listings, not transaction prices, and they change often. For current numbers, see our JB condo price and rent page.

Practical tips for living in Bukit Chagar

A little planning helps you get the most out of a home near the checkpoint. These tips come from how the area works day to day.

1. Time your crossings. The Causeway is busiest on weekday mornings, Friday evenings and the eve of public holidays. Living within walking distance lets you choose the quieter windows.
2. Use the walkways. Once the RTS station and its links are open, check the covered routes between your building, the station and JB Sentral so you can walk in the rain.
3. Plan parking. City-centre parking is in demand. Check how many bays your unit includes; at Causewayz Square, Types A–D come with one bay and Types E/F with two.
4. Explore on foot. Many of the best cafes and food stalls are on the heritage streets, which are easier to enjoy on foot than by car.
5. Use the facilities at home. Large podium facilities, such as the 29 facilities planned on Level 12 of Causewayz Square, mean you can swim, train or relax without leaving the building.

For a full picture of the project itself, read the Causewayz Square buyer’s guide.

Why investors watch Bukit Chagar

Investors watch Bukit Chagar because it brings several long-term demand drivers into one place. Large numbers of people cross the Causeway every day, and homes within walking distance of the RTS Link can appeal to tenants who want a shorter commute. Transport hubs where rail, road and buses meet have historically attracted housing and commercial demand in many cities, and many Bukit Chagar projects are freehold, which suits long-term holders. Returns still depend on budget, holding period and the wider market, so run the numbers first. Our rental yield guide shows how.

Who Bukit Chagar suits

Bukit Chagar suits people who want to be close to the border and the city at the same time. Typical buyers and tenants include:

1. Singapore commuters who want to walk to the CIQ and, once it opens, the RTS Link.
2. Investors who want rental demand from cross-border workers and visitors. Read our analysis of RTS impact on JB property.
3. City lovers who want heritage streets, food and malls nearby rather than a suburban township.
4. Weekend and second-home owners from Singapore who want an easy base on the JB side.

Families who need more space or a quieter setting sometimes compare it with Kebun Teh to the north. Our Kebun Teh vs JB City Centre guide sets out the trade-offs.

Thinking about a home in Bukit Chagar? WhatsApp us for Causewayz Square floor plans and the latest SPA price list.

Sources

• Johor Bahru (Wikipedia)
• Bukit Chagar RTS station (Wikipedia)
• Land Transport Authority Singapore
• FMT: A majestic station and an effective one, too
• The Star: JB can be more vibrant than ever
• Tourism Johor: Old Chinese Temple
• The Edge Malaysia: Causewayz Square

This guide is general information, not financial advice.