http://flockdraw.com/gallery/view/1232631 "tonari no hito", "soba no hito" !!!

As JapaneseTutor-san exactly showed in his cute drawing(LOL), things are side by side if they are "tonari", while they are just nearby if they are "soba." Furthermore, you can use "tonari" only for things of same type. For example, a person and another person can be either "tonari" or "soba" each other, but a person and a building cannot be "tonari."　 correct わたしは、ビルの　そばに　います。 incorrect わたしは　ビルの　となりに　います。 correct タクシーのりばは　えきの　そばです。 incorrect　タクシーのりばは　えきの　となりです。 (May be correct if the taxi station has a building as big as the station.) correct わたしの　うちは　とうきょうタワーの　そばです。 incorrect わたしの　うちは　とうきょうタワーの　となりです。