What it is like in my Tokyo apartment
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.