Gotanda  is a busy neighbourhood in the Shinagawa ward of Tokyo, Japan. The name “Gotanda” can be literally translated as “a (rice) paddy of half-hectare’s size”. And this is where I live. The district straddles the Meguro river, and is located between the Meguro and Ōsaki stations on the important JR Yamanote Line.

The neighbourhood is centered on the Gotanda Station, which is served by the Toei Asakusa subway line and the elevated Tokyu Ikegami train line in addition to the Yamanote line.

Gotanda is home to the embassy of Indonesia, and Palestine. Peru maintains an office near the train station, as well — the latter being busies enough to attract a Peruvian restaurant.

Home sweet home is what I like to call it. My own Tokyo apartment.  Since I don’t belong to this country, I had a hard time finding the right place for me.  The basic problem was the language barrier. But that was resolved with a help of a friend who belonged here. I must say social networks are a great help in this matter case; then came the stage of finding the right real estate agency. Here in Tokyo finding the right place for foreigners is bit problematic since the landlords are skeptical of renting their place to foreigners. But it is best advisable to seek for a real estate agency. They sort out all your problems and get you what you deserve. I had to go through a lot of procedures.  Different kind of charges have to be paid like the reservation fees which is paid when you apply for an apartment, and before the actual rental contract is signed. It serves as a guarantee for you that the apartment is not given to somebody else, and for the agent that you do not change your mind. Then the deposit, it covers eventual future damage to the apartment. The Key money, this is a non refundable payment to the landlord in the amount of up to several months’ rent. And finally the service charge, this is a non refundable payment to the real estate agent in the amount of at most one month’s rent.

And once I was through this, it was the best feeling I could have. Finally settled in. settling in was no such problem. I prefer my Tokyo apartment to be very cozy and this is how I furnished it. Every night after my office i prefer getting in my bed with a cup of nice hot chocolate and a good flick to catch with it. If I look down from my balcony there is a busy road and a happening market.  A lot of hustle bustle in this city. But all is forgotten when I am home. The credit also goes to my landlords who are very friendly, they live right below. They make you feel as if you are a part of their family. Though hard to find in Tokyo but I was lucky enough.  As I said “home sweet home” is what I call it.

Living in Tokyo, though a mind-blowing experience is not without its pitfalls. If one has never been to Japan before, life in Tokyo will not come without a culture shock. Most of the Brazilian, British, Chinese, Filipinos, French, Korean, and US Americans populace have completed moving to Tokyo. But most expats moving to Tokyo prefer their home according to practical considerations. Factors like proximity to work, international schools, public transport, shopping facilities, etc. – are really important to consider before choosing a home.

Everything within the boundary of the Yamanote Line is centrally situated, eye-catching for foreign residents, and even more luxurious than is usual for Tokyo.  Expat housing tokyo choose to live in Azabu, Hiroo, and Shirokan. These areas have streets lined with boutiques, restaurants, and fashionable apartments. Living in Tokyo is made easy through the existing subways: the Hibiya, Namboku, and Oedo subway lines which make it easier to go from one place to another.

Living in Tokyo, one will probably observe that Japan is a comparatively standardized society, ethnically and culturally, but Tokyo is an excepxtion to this rule. However, quite a few expatriates settle within the eight most central wards, especially in Meguro, Minato, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. Living in Tokyo’s central wards is especially popular among more affluent expatriates.

Older and cheaper housing in Tokyo may lack some amenities. Apartments do not necessarily have central heating, but living-room and bedroom come furnished with a kotatsu, a low table with an electric heater attached to its underside.

Foreigners attracted in living in Tokyo may be delighted to hear that medical standards in Japan are very high, though medical care is fairly expensive. The language barrier is often the major setback for expatriates living in Tokyo. Consequently, quite a few embassies offer lists of recommended medical service providers for their nationals living in Tokyo.

A foreign resident living in Tokyo for one year or more have to enroll in the national health care plan. So expats housing Tokyo often take out added private health insurance during their life in Tokyo.

While there are no travel-health warnings against diseases for Japan, the earthquake of 2011 and the resulting nuclear disaster caused an increase in radiation levels. The area around Fukushima’s nuclear power plant has been declared a prohibited zone. Radiation levels have increased in Tokyo as well, and various governments have issued travel warnings for Japan.