What a $200 Tokyo MICRO APARTMENT is Like 🇯🇵 Japan Room Tour

We go inside 3 Tokyo apartments under 35m2 to see how small a Japanese apartment can get.

⭐ Special thanks to Alex Shapiro @TokyoPortfolio
⭐ Filmed by @PaulBallard
⭐Edited by @PaulBallard & Chris Broad

00:00 Why Live in a Tokyo Micro Apartment?
01:09 Apartment 1 -- Stylish but Pricey
09:30 Apartment 2 - Cramped but Convenient
14:52 Apartment 3 - Tiny but Cheap

**FOLLOW THE ADVENTURE**
► Instagram: @abroadinjapan

**EQUIPMENT I USE**

[AbroadinJapan]

NOTIFICATION SQAUD: It certainly makes a change from the crazy luxury apartments we've been used to. Which of the three apartments do you think YOU could live in and WHICH do you think is worth the value for money? Let me know below!

[psychojoe]

Being a truck driver for nearly 10 years ive learned just how much you can really fit into such a small space. Honestly i feel like i could definitely live in any of these and be perfectly happy, less space to fill up means your less inclined to fill it up with random stuff and almost everything has a purpose or at least means something.

[Jalapinecone]

the thing I think about most, living in a city in canada where the cheapest ancient run-down apartments will run you $1500 cad, is the fact that there even exist options at this price-point. It's really understated how much an affordable unit can help someone who's fallen behind get back on their feet. If you want to get anywhere near that price here you'd have to jam 8 people into a 2 bedroom apartment

[alohawaiist]

In late 80’s, I was starting out living in Tokyo, and I had chosen just like #3. I signed up a fitness club membership with unlimited use for all amenities for my daily morning routine - shower/big public bath/sauna after gym/fitness class/running track and basic skincare (toner/lotion/cotton), hair dryer, complimentary towel service and use their locker/laundry service. They even had a restaurant for breakfast and juice bar. My work was flex hours, so I hop on my subway after peak hours. It worked out fantastic for me.

[ReeshaLocklan]

Honestly, the thing about the last one that makes me say no is the lack of bathing facilities on site. It's not just that there's a shared bathroom, there's NO bathroom and you have to go pay at a separate business to bathe. If it's $4 to bathe at a public bath it would be $120 a month to bathe every day. I'd be desperately trying to find an apartment that was $120 a month more that came with a bath

[david_r_munson]

My first Tokyo apartment was 17m² and it was long and narrow. Felt like living in a fancy hallway. It was cozy, though, and honestly a perfect size for single guy living alone.

[haikaido]

Please do another video that shows the equivalents outside of Tokyo! I'd love to see what you could get for the same prices, just outside of Tokyo.

[Ederick]

As a Canadian, the price reveal of the first apartment hit hard. taking a quick look at the rental market in Toronto right now the cheapest apartment i could find is 1400 USD (1900 CAD). for 27.8 square meters.

[mauriciopimentel]

The first two apartments are actually very livable, I could see myself living in them in the case that I couldn't find anything else, but the third one I wouldn't live in even if it was Free and the Japanese Government promised me a free Doraemon

[brendan]

Coming from Toronto, it blows me away to see a beautiful, new, clean, centrally-located apartment with a view for ~$1600 CAD/month in Tokyo. There are shared bedrooms here in Toronto for over $1000/month. In fact a central, single bedroom in a shared apartment or house is easily $1600/month.

[nbvw]

Having just spent 2 months in Japan I can totally see why you discuss the kitchen and the space to prepare food at some length. The creativity needed to find places to cut carrots and onions in the average tiny apt in Japan is staggering.

[Gruncival]

This is probably the most expressive and fun I've seen Alex on this channel; glad he's gotten comfortable with your operation!

[I_am_Lauren]

That first apartment is lovely! I love the wood tones and it's very well laid out. I live in a 530sq ft apartment and I'm not sure if I could realistically live in anything smaller than 500 sq feet.

[Brascofarian]

I lived in a 1K, which was about 25m2, for 10 years. It was in a nice location and fine. Simplicity is kinda addictive, but it never felt like a home, just my crash pad.

[jimpickens]

The first apartment is literally my dream apartment. I don’t need a dining table, I’ll put my desk and laptop there and change the sofa for a smaller one or an armchair. Love it❤

[emojo]

one thing i will say about small apartment spaces is furniture placement is EVERYTHING. With the second space, a futon sofa bed would fit quite nicely facing the back wall adjacent to the breakfast bar. then you have room for perhaps a beanbag by the closet with room for light socializing. its about separating the living area from the social area creating 2 spaces that fill the differing needs of a living space

[ryutak]

This video has made me realize how realistic it would be for me to hypothetically live in Tokyo, Japan because I'd be completely fine with living in the 21 meter apartment and it's really affordable.

[sandalphoncpu]

It’s not an Abroad in Japan video without featuring some kinds of gargantuan bug. I swear this is pushing my phobia of bugs to the absolute limit

[wingtipsworld]

in the 90s i lived in a "efficiency" apartment that was the size of that last apt chris showed but it was laid out much better and still had a full baththroom, normal fridge, small stove and sink. The bed doubled as a sofa but it was a "full" sized bed. Rent was $75/week, roughly $300/month. It had a window a/c unit. Think i lived there 2-3 years. The only real issue i had was one winter laying in bed sleeping i kept subconsciously hearing water running, till i opened my eyes and jumped out of bed to find water just pouring down the wall through my cabinets and all the dishes and pooling up in my floor like a lake. The pipes in the apt above me froze and burst.... ya, fun times lol

[LCTesla]

living in small space can be cathartic to some people. it forces you to get out and meet people outdoors.
that kinda makes me excited about these places. so many opportunities out there and still all you need to survive day to day.