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Streetcars rolling through a Showa period-esque neighborhood that time forgot: Maison de Minowa

Caster Media — Fri, 20 Sep 2013 10:00:46 +0000

Harmony between modern taste and traditional Japan

The sound of a streetcar bell takes you back to the days of old in the elegant neighborhood of Minowa. Located right between Ueno and Kitasenju, as soon as you step off the train you are transported into a shopping district straight out of the Showa period.Through the arcade on the other side lies an old town that once evening, bustles with people drinking at coffee shops, housewifes shopping for ingredients for dinner and students making their way home from school.

Maison de Minowa is a share house 5-minutes walk from Minowa station on the Hibiya line, a subdued building hidden amongst a neighborhood of traditional old wooden houses.

Heading inside we are greeted with a vibrant dining room so different from the look of exterior that will amuse you. This house combines elements of Japanese house design with a modern twist to create a contemporary dwelling that won’t take any time getting used to and provides much comfort to residents.

So without delay let’s introduce the rooms!

「Maison de Minowa」House Details Page

Traditional wooden building a 2-minute walk from Minowa station

The exterior of the house fits in nicely with the traditional neighborhood and mailboxes have been provided for each tenant.

Slip down a path abundant with greenery and arrive at the entrance.

The fence of galvanised sheet iron on the right adds a depth to the atmosphere.

Bright dining room arranged in a slight modern style.

Heading inside and passing a large shoe storage area we come to a colorful dining room in stark contrast from the rugged entrance. The bright colors entice housemates to naturally want to hang out in here.

Placing flowers on the table like this is sure to stimulate conversation during breakfast every morning.

Be welcomed when you return home of a day as soon as you step in the front door.

With this large sink you can use a lot of dishes without cluttering up the area. Kitchen space with room for 4 people to be in there at one time. How fun would it be to plan what to cook for dinner with everyone?
Cookware is provided – no need to bring your own! An array of dinnerware and cutlery is provided with those women who like to cook in mind. There are also chopsticks so you can enjoy both Western and Japanese dishes. Cook something in the oven or whack something in the microwave when you don’t have a lot of time.
There is also a large LCD television. Communicate with your fellow housemates by writing down messages on the board. Wash your clothes on the 2F and hang them in the drying room on the 3F.
If the weather is good you can also watch trains running against the background of a blue sky from the 3F. The toilet and washstand in matching pink. The bathroom is complete with a tub, so you can immerse yourself in hot water and relax on those days when you come home completely worn out.

Light-filled room with elements of wooden design supporting a white color-scheme.

The bed in Room 101 comes with its own storage space. There is also a closet so you can fit in plenty of clothes, and a full-length mirror that is essential for checking your outfit everyday.

The look of Room 102.

The look of room 201.

Room 202. This room has been re-modelled from what was once a communal area and is slightly larger compared to other rooms, with a washstand.

The management of this house, Fine Select, takes care of many other female-exclusive properties so we know that not only do they assist women in living safe and comfortably, they also maintain a kind of interior design that makes being in the house fun. The staff are also female and because of this are able to think about things from the viewpoint of the female tenants.

The simple white rooms have been built in contrast to the bright colors of the dining room, making it possible to decorate your own space however you please. This consideration is because the staff know that a woman’s taste changes over time. Perhaps bright in the summer, monochrome in the winter. You just can’t help but imagine the possibilities of a room that transforms with a girls state of mind.

Wandering about the neighborhood you’ll feel soothed by the traditional atmosphere and bustle of the shopping district that still stands as it had during the Showa period, a hidden refuge from the city.

/Author: Kitano

Where it All Begins：Guest Station Higashi-Nippori

Caster Media — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 05:00:27 +0000

A Smart Design With a Woman’s Touch

Perhaps it’s the recent string of share houses we’ve visited recently, but one could easily be led to believe there’s been a sudden increase in women only share houses. Upon closer inspection, it’s simply the result of an expanding market.

Nevertheless, if you’re looking for colorful, girlish share houses, with gaudy interiors full of ornaments and fanciful decorations, they’re practically a dime a dozen. A more convetional, relaxed women’s share house, however, is something not so easily found.

With that said, today I’d like to show you around Guest Station Higashi-Nippori. Just a 10 minute walk from Nippor Station, this share house takes the focus away from girliness, resulting in a share house design I’d describe as cool or smart.

Nippori Station also gives access to a whopping 6 train lines including the ever popular JR Yamanote Line and a straight shot to Narita Airport, making this the ideal location for those who need to get around.

Now lets take a look at the rooms and see what this house has to offer.

「Guest Station Higashi-Nippori」House Details Page (*Available in Japanese only)

The Outside View

A 10 minute walk from Nippori Station, past the rows of drapery shops in the textile district, and here we are at the Guest Station share house.

Here’s a look at the entrance, already lined with the shoes of several residents.

There’s also an entrance in the back with even more space for residents to place there shoes.

Incidentally, here’s a shot of the back entrance.

In a room next to the entrance is a work space that also serves as an area for a bit of storage.

You won’t find may suitases here, but when you’re in a pinch, there’s a step ladder, tools, and other useful goodies for around the house.

To keep paint on the walls fresh and make sure the building stays in tip top shape, the manager keeps an array of tools on hand to fix just about anything.

The Main Lounge

The metallic beams running across the furred ceiling give the room a rough yet stylish look. It’s very spacious, making it the perfect spot to hang out and socialize.

Near the lounge’s main table is an LCD television, and from the window soft light pours into the room.

The kitchen and laundry room are also connected to the lounge. With so much all in one place, it’s hard to believe this area is so spacious.

All of the television’s wiring is neatly placed behind it, allowing for a sleek look hung from the wall.

The lounge also has storage containers for each resident; perfect for daily necessities you use often.

There’s also a shared computer in the lounge. If something should arise in conversation that requires a bit of quick research, the answer will be right at your finger tips.

The Kitchen

Just like the lounge, the kitchen is fairly spacious. In the center is a worktop making it easy to prep your ingredients for cooking.

With two sinks in the kitchen, its easy to split up the work by washing dishes in one and rinsing them in the other. Kitchen ware has been prepared in an array of colors to spice up the look of the kitchen. There are two IH stove tops with four burners in total. If you’re looking to fry up some food, look no further.
The washing machines cost 200 Yen per use, and the dryers are 100 Yen per use. There are two shower rooms, both of which cost 100 Yen for 7.5 minutes of use. The trade off for this, is that utilities for the house are only 3000 Yen per month, so it’s actually quite a deal. Here’s the bathroom on the first floor. Just like most other rooms in the house, it’s very roomy.
There’s also a wash stand complete with mirror. The other bathrooms in the house are fairly standard. This is one of the independent wash stands.

The Private Rooms

While the lounge has been designed to allow socializing with lots of people, the rooms have been made with a focus on privacy.

In addition to standard bed frames, there are loft beds available as well. When you stop by to visit, make sure to take a look for yourself.

Here’s a shot of the second floor hallway. All the rooms are private rooms, and the numberpad locks on the doors ensure privacy. This is one of the loft bed rooms (room 207). You can hang clothes under the bed, turning it into a make-shift closset. Under the stairs leading to the third floor is a small space for a few people to chat. It looked very relaxing.
This is an example of a room with a standard bedframe (room 304). Also, every room includes a desk, mini-refrigerator, and television. There’s also a quiet room. This is the perfect place to do a bit of work or studying. Last, but not least, is one of the rooms that includes a balcony (room 306). The room looks beautiful with just the light coming in through the windows.
To come out onto the balcony, simply open the window. For those who have no balcony in their rooms, if they go up past the third floor… They can come out onto the roof terrace. This area is also great to hang out clothes to dry, or simply take in some fresh air and enjoy the view.

Office Shintou Ltd., the owner of this share house, believes that rather than a house thats overly luxurious and gaudy, a house should be clean, safe, and provide quality living to its residents. The share house introduced in this article was renovated not long ago, but it’s clear that they work earnestly to manage share houses that hold up to high standards of quality. As mentioned previously, the owner of the house keeps a personal set of tools readily available in the house should something need to be fixed. When deciding on a share house to live in, dedicated management such as this is definitely something to think about.

Inheriting the townscapes of old, Nippori has gracefully adapted as trends continue to change. And whether it’s inside the share house or in the surrounding area, Guest Station Higashi-Nippori is a place where residents can live to the fullest. The house is spacious, catering to a lively atmosphere in the lounge, yet also balanced with a quiet study room, and an emphasis on privacy for those who enjoy peace and quiet alone. Also home to the famous Nippori Textile Town, affordable fashion and shopping in general is sure to be a delight.

If balance is key to good living, Guest Station Higashi-Nippori may be just what you need to unlock the doors to a lifestyle that values quality.

/Author:Kagawa, Translation: Paul

A girls secret garden: Ayase Laputa

Caster Media — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 08:00:39 +0000

Discover your own special space

Coming home from work the very first thing I do is collapse onto the sofa. I do this every day.

This is always where I would be sitting or stretching out, even when I lived at home with my parents. It wasn’t very spacious, and there were other places I could have chilled out in, but for some reason I always found myself coming back to the same spot. And at my favorite cafés I was always able to concentrate better at the window seats not in direct sunlight when studying or enjoying reading a book. I found myself thinking that there must be a lot of people who could understand that everyone is different and as such so is the place they feel most comfortable…

And so today I’d like to introduce a female-exclusive share house, Ayase Laputa, a 10-minute walk from Ayase station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda line and the JR Joban line. Complete with approximately 7.6m2 of communal space including the living room, dining room, counter kitchen, and a wide rooftop terrace with a view of Tokyo Sky Tree that has been made into a second living room. Find your own cozy little spot, be it a seat at the counter from which you can keep an eye on dinner, watching television while relaxing on the sofa or even enjoying a book while swaying pleasantly on the hammock.

Without further ado let’s introduce some areas in the house that could potentially become your own special spot!

「Ayase Laputa」details page

View from outside

This house was originally a family home, now a female-exclusive share house with the capacity to house a maximum of 21 people.

The door locks automatically and requires a passcode. Use of this type of locking system has increased in female share houses.

Here is the front hallway. Shoe lockers line the wall on the left side of the photo. Can you imagine the amount of shoes if there were 21 females living in the house?

There are 4 of these cupboards. If you use the space well you should be able to get everyone’s shoes in there.

There is also storage space above.

A welcome board stands at the entrance to the lounge, greeting those returning home.

Main lounge

The lounge boasts a spacious 7.6m2, a communal area that never feels cramped even living with a large number of people.

The dining table seats 8 people and the placemats and wallpaper have a gorgeous, feminine vibe.

There is a large, comfortable sofa in the living room with a relaxed, soothing ambiance.

Have you found somewhere you’d like to be your own special spot yet? I’ve got my eye on the sofa so I can leisurely stretch out my legs.

The kitchen has a counter, and surprisingly a lot of people quickly eat their food here after cooking. There is also no need to set the table for dinner.

A communal computer has also been provided, perfect for looking up this and that with ease.

Kitchen, Bathroom and Laundry facilities

The kitchen sink is freestanding so the food preparation area is quite spacious as you can see. You could even gut a freshly caught fish if you wanted to.

There are 3 large refrigerators and plenty of space for people to move about.

The sink stands by itself apart from the preparation area. Use one to scrub dishes with detergent and the other to rinse them off and doing the dishes is a cinch.

There are 3 rice cookers set up in the kitchen, and private storage cubby holes beneath to hold small items such as condiments and spices.

There is also a collection of nice, simple tableware to use as you please.

A sink to wash your hands right in front of the toilet.

The toilet.

There is a washing machine and free-standing washstand in the bathroom.

Bathroom complete with tub and a fresh, white color-scheme.

The shower room.

Private rooms

There are two types of rooms – private and double, dormitory type rooms. Size and layout differ per room, so it might be an idea to get yourself down for a private viewing so you can look for yourself.

Each room is fitted with a passcode security system so you don’t have to carry a key around with you. Room 201. A double-window type private room. As well as being spacious… … there is even plenty of space to store a large quantity of items.
Room 202. This room also has a lot of storage space. The skylight in room 204 acts as a natural light system during the day. In addition to room 207 being quite spacious with plenty of storage space…
You can also go out onto the balcony. You can hang your washing out here. Room 301 (a,b) is a dormitory type room. You can still hold on to some degree of privacy with the wall in the middle of the room acting as a partition.
In addition dormitory rooms come equipped with a security box to store your valuables. Going up to the stairs from the 3rd floor to the rooftop, we come out into the ‘Sky Living room’ also boasting approximately 7.6m2 of space. Here you can see the Sky Tree while enjoying a barbeque. Also, my top candidate for the best spot in the house -the hammock- is very comfortable to lay in.

Fine Select, currently handling 14 other female-exclusive share house properties in the metropolitan area, opened a share house in Ueno (Ueno Machiya) and Sumiyoshi (Sumiyoshi Sky Terrace) in addition to Ayase Laputa at around about the same time. They cater to a variety of different needs, with share houses converted from existing homes and even apartments.

Moreover, hearing stories from the share houses managed by Fine Select it is clear that they are doing a great job at building communities. Housemates do things like actively taking charge of the housework on the cleaning staff’s days off and surprise others on their birthdays, and I felt once again that when living with strangers it really is important to support and cooperate with each other. If you go out of your way to do something for someone it is reward enough just to see the smile on their face.

With Ayase Laputa especially, given that it can house up to 21 people it is essential to go in with a preparedness to support the other people living with you.

So we can say that with share houses, the concept of a comfortable environment is first and foremost having a good personal connection with the people you are living with, and once you have that you will be able to find that special spot in the house just for you.

Special moments with special people. And within these moments a special place for both you and me. Come on over and find one for yourself.

/Author: Kagawa

Bluelia Minami-Senju: Tokyo Sharehouse House Report

Caster Media — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 04:18:09 +0000

Live your shared life in style while maintaining your privacy.

Today we stopped by Bluelia Minami-Senju, a female-exclusive share house in Minami-Senju. The stylish living room with its giant 46-inch screen television comes together with white walls and a large, comfortable sofa. The management team attach high importance to the protection of tenant privacy in share houses and this consideration can be felt all around the house. Working girls making it in the city are sure to love this place.

「Bluelia Minami-Senju」House Details Page　(*Available in Japanese only)

Lounge

The 36.73m² living room. The black sofa balances the white of the walls and gives a slight modern feel to the room. To say that the sofa is comfortable would be an understatement – it’s so big you can sprawl out on it and lose track of time.

A roof terrace

There is a spacious rooftop terrace on the 4F where you can hang out your futon with ease. The view is great and on sunny days you could even read a book on the balcony or chat with your housemates all night.


The exterior. We’ll start from the entrance. Bicycles can be parked in front of the house here. Let’s open the orange door and head inside. This is my first time visiting a house with a completely white color-scheme. The building nameplate is also quite stylish so here’s a shot of it for you.
From the front hallway the house is divided with a door leading to the living room and the staircase leading to the rooms. Individual mailboxes are inside the front door. Private shoe storage lockers for each tenant underneath the staircase.
Let’s first have a look at the 1F living room. This room has 2 comfortable sofa chairs. Oh, and here’s another chair.This one is you can lie back and sprawl out on. One of the merits of living in a share house is that you wouldn’t be able to buy these things if you were living on your own. The living room from a different angle. With large three sofa chairs and a giant TV you don’t need much else to keep yourself entertained with the other housemates.
Continuing on to the kitchen and dining area in the same room, a great place to sit down to a meal. Can you see the terrace out the back? The terrace really got our attention so we headed out to have a look. It’s great that you can talk with people sitting outside while you’re in the dining area. This is what it looks like outside. You can just imagine playing café out here on your days off.
Back to the kitchen. There are personal boxes for each tenant to store their cooking sauces and things. The boxes are fairly large so you shouldn’t have any problems finding a place for all of your things. This is what the kitchen looks like. There are 2 large refrigerators. Dinnerware, a microwave oven, an electric kettle, a rice cooker and a toaster oven are all provided so there is no need to buy anything extra on your own.
There are 3 communal showers on the 3F so there should always be one free. 2 washing machines have also been provided. A toilet at the back of the 1F.
Let’s have a look upstairs, starting with 2F. The staircase, too, is pure white. There is a large refrigerator provided on each floor. There’s no need to trek all the way downstairs for a drink when you wake up thirsty in the middle of the night. This is what the hallways look like on each floor.
The toilet and bathroom on each floor. A window at the landing of the staircase. The natural light coming in is lovely. Climbing all the way up the stairs we find the door leading to the rooftop.
On the other side of the door is a wide, open rooftop. There is even a washing line so you can hang out your clothes on a sunny day. There is also a storage shed. (You must confirm with the manager whether or not you can use it) Outdoor lighting has also been installed.

My impressions from going to check out Bluelia is that the house is very white. There was almost no dirt or rubbish to be found, proof that the tenants are keeping it clean on a regular basis, nullifying any worry that maintaining cleanliness in a shared living environment is a difficult thing to do. I did think that perhaps the management has professional cleaners come in quite frequently, but was told that is not the case – the cleaner only comes in once a week so the tenants do their best not to mess things up. I didn’t quite believe it straight off the bat but it is apparently so.

　Minami-Senju is a lively, redeveloped neighborhood with shopping centers such as LaLaTerrace and Tsukuba Express, a very convenient area for those living nearby. The objective of Bluelia is to provide a place for girls giving their all in the city, be it as a student or working woman, and for those wanting to keep living costs down. Those looking for somewhere to live in order to go to school or commute to work should definitely check this place out. Also, I was told that long staying tenants never missing a rent payment can win an overseas holiday paid for by the managing company.

/Author:moriyama