Everybody living in Japan quickly learns that a condomium is known locally as a mansion and these make up the bulk of inner city housing. Of course, these are not what you might think of as a mansion; there are no 100-acre woods or free-roaming deer. Instead, what you get is a 6-10 – story concrete tower in the middle of dozens of other 6-10 – story concrete towers.
That is not to say Japan is full of dull, grey tower blocks; however much a scan of the Tokyo skyline will have you thinking that. If you spend some time looking around, there are some absolute gems available on the market and plenty of colourful and friendly places that offer a nice touch of luxury for your time in Japan.
One firm that offers a really good choice in this area is Global Agent with a set of properties that they refer to as Social Apartments.
Kamata
The first Social Apartment is also one that we have looked at briefly before. As we mentioned back then, it comes with conveniences such as close proximity to Haneda airport which makes traveling to and from a flight easy going. In addition to that, the place itself is newly renovated with a large roof for beer parties and the like.
When setting up in a Social Apartment, unlike renting by yourself, some of the utilities, the internet and a cleaning fee are included as part of the management fee, which is the only additional cost you have to make. The common areas are also cleaned by professionals, meaning that their facilities are always clean and comfortable to hang out in. You do need to remember to do your own dishes, though…
There are no key money or deposits that you have to make; however a one-time charge of ¥50,000 is made when you first move in.
Inside one of the rooms at Kamata:
Asakusa
A bustling business place since the Edo period, Asakusa is located in the northeast of Tokyo. Despite its modern edifices, such as the Asahi Brewery, some nearby department stores and a focus on tourist dollars, Asakusa has retained as significant an amount of old-world charm as you are going to find in Tokyo. The Sumida River cherry blossoms and fireworks (which you can see from the apartment) are great examples. To experience a melding of old and new, try the Halloween festival at Sensou-ji temple.
The Social Apartment in Asakasa creates a friendly, modern and relaxed communal living center which tends to attract a mix of the types – office workers, students, Japanese folks from out of Tokyo and a few foreigners too. With a mix of backgrounds like that, you need a relaxed and cool place to hang out and meet people; the place does not disappoint. It also makes this particular Social Apartment great for students as there are plenty of opportunities to to put your Japanese language skills in use in a friendly setting.
Perfect way to unwind after a hard day?
Ikebukuro
One of the most popular places to be in all Tokyo. Ikebukero is the center of a number of train lines, has all kinds of businesses close at hand, is a popular hangout for kids but with plenty of bars and clubs, as well as a side of it that is best described as ‘little Akihabara.’ With the Yamanote line and a lot of the suburban lines coming into the station, getting to any other place in Tokyo is easy, too.
Social Apartments in Ikebukero is housed in a mansion complex known as Club Coppola and is 13 minutes away from the station. Things inside have been really nicely designed; all single rooms come with a unit bath and mini-kitchen, so there is a high-degree of privacy but a large communal area for when you need it.
Social Apartments help their residents get to know each other and hang out more by holding various ice-breaking events and follow that up with regular get-togethers every so often. Residents also arrange their own events based on anything – what excuse do you need for a bit of a party?
And the type of room you can find in Club Coppola:
Contact Social Apartment here.
Mention ” GaijinPot ” when you make contact and receive something a little extra..
About Social Apartment
Social Apartment provides a platform for communication with a great diversity of people. You will meet people that you may not meet at your workplace, your school or your standard circle of friends.
Through daily communications at Social Apartment with well diversified residents, it can provide you with various opportunities such as social events and lessons to expand your social life in Japan. Social Apartment is looking for foreigners for more diversity of the residents mix.
Why don’t you enjoy your fruitful life at the Social Apartment!
For further information, visit website or call;
http://social-apartment.com/pages/en_home
03-5485-7377 (from abroad: +81-3-5485-7377)
English available
