I live near Tokyo for $483/month — take a look inside
A resident living near Tokyo gives a tour of their Japanese apartment, which costs $483/month. The video highlights unique features of Japanese apartment living, including strict trash separation rules, a tatami room, and separate bathroom and toilet areas. The resident also shares monthly utility costs.
Summary
The video is a walkthrough tour of a Japanese apartment located near Tokyo, rented for approximately $483 per month. The resident begins by noting the absence of a traditional stove, which is replaced by a portable electric stove. A notable feature of Japanese living shown early on is the strict trash separation system, for which the resident purchased a dedicated organizer from Amazon. Cardboard boxes, for example, can only be disposed of on Saturdays, meaning they must remain in the apartment if it isn't the right day.
The tour continues through the bathroom area, which features a layout common in Japanese apartments: the toilet is separate from the sink. A laundry machine is also present, and the resident has installed a pole for hang-drying clothes, another common practice in Japan. The living area is accessed through sliding doors, and the balcony features metal sun-blocking panels — a practical adaptation to Japan's extremely hot summers.
The resident's favorite feature of the apartment is a traditional tatami room, which they cite as the primary reason they chose this particular unit. The video concludes with a breakdown of monthly utility costs: electricity ranges from 1,500 yen in winter to around 5,000 yen in warmer months, gas costs 1,200 yen per month, and Wi-Fi runs approximately 5,910 yen per month.
Key Insights
- The resident notes that cardboard boxes can only be disposed of on Saturdays in their area, meaning they must store them in their apartment for days if it's not the right day — a reflection of Japan's strict, scheduled trash disposal system.
- The resident's apartment has a separate toilet from the sink, which they present as a common and noteworthy difference in Japanese apartment layouts compared to Western norms.
- The balcony features metal sun-blocking panels, which the resident explains are a Japanese adaptation to combat extremely hot summers — something they were not accustomed to before living in Japan.
- The resident states that the tatami room was the primary reason they chose this specific apartment, highlighting how traditional Japanese architectural features can be a strong draw even for foreign residents.
- The resident's electricity bill varies significantly by season — around 1,500 yen in winter but rising to roughly 5,000 yen in warmer months — illustrating the high energy demand of Japanese summers.
Topics
Full transcript available for MurmurCast members
Sign Up to Access