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Quiet cafe accommodations with a touch of the city life. |
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Everyone who's grown up in the country side, or perhaps even in the suburbs, has surely fantasized about life in the big city at least once. With the allure of a dazzling city skyline and a lavish lifestyle, who can resist the call of the metropolis. After experiencing life in the big city, however, it's soon apparent that it's not all glitz and glamour. The constant noise and hardships of urban living can leave even the most die hard lovers of city life longing for a break once in a while. For a vacation it's easy to get away from it all, but for a place to live you have to find balance. A place offering peace and quiet to clear ones thoughts after a hard day's work, but with just enough of that city magic to entertain you on the weekends, or perhaps just a train to quickly get you to where the fun's at. About a half hour train ride from big city hot spots such as Shinjuku and Shibuya, and a 10 minute walk from Urawa Station. That's where you'll find today's share house, Share Place Urawa. Located in a quiet neighborhood not too far from Urawa Station, Share Place Urawa offers all the peace and tranquility you could ask for, and with its sleek interior designing, you're sure to relax in style. When you're ready to go out and have fun, all you have to do is head near the station. There are plenty of restaurants, a shopping plaza, and even a movie theater, or if you prefer something closer to the heart of the city, places such as Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro are all within reach. They have a saying about all work and no play, so if you're looking for a place to give you balance between your daily grind and downtime, and you don't want to end up like Jack, this is a share house you have to see. So let's get started! |
「Share Place Urawa」House Details Page (*Available in Japanese only)
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Speaking of the orange sign, here we are arriving at Share Place Urawa. It's hard to see, but off in the distance there's parking for bicycles behind the house. 
Every resident has a personal mail box, and there are also post boxes for package deliveries, so you'll have no problems with your mail once settled in. 
This is actually the lock to the main entrance of the share house. It looks like something out of a Sci-fi movie, but with unique features such as this, you can be sure they care about security here.  Once inside, one of the first things you'll notice is the share house white board. Here everyone can write their name in the space matching their room to know who's who, and leave messages for each other. |
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 The Main Lounge It looks like you're walking into a Cafe, but no, this is the lounge where you can relax with your share mates. Whether you're on the comfy sofa, or at one of the tables for a better view outside, all your troubles are sure to melt away after coming in here. |
 Connecting seamlessly from the main part of the lounge, this area also functions as the dining room. Here you can enjoy your meals or pull up a chair and read a book with the great lighting from outside.  Here's another shot of the living room from the kitchen. There's a counter with a few extra seats as well as a laptop that's free for everyone to use. |
Here's a closer shot of the house's shared computer. Perfect for quickly checking your mail, and since it's practically in the kitchen, it's also great for pulling up recipes. 
It'd be a waste to let such a great looking house get dirty, and with these vacuum cleaners on standby, keeping the lounge and even your room spotless is a snap. 
Outside the sliding glass doors is a miniature wooden deck and the bicycle parking spaces. |
 The Kitchen When your stomach's rumbling, there's no better place to be. With its IH stove tops, rice cookers, and wide array of kitchenware, there's nothing you can't cook here. |
 Here's a shot of the kitchen in its entirety.  A closer look at the sink. There are 3 in total so this kitchen is fit to handle a lot of people at once.  The shelves opposite the stove tops house all the pots, pans, rice cookers, etc. Everything you need to cook is here. |
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No chef can cook without their secret seasonings, and every resident is given their own storage box to keep track of all their favorite spices. 
Stepping away from the kitchen for a moment, here's one of the house's wash stands and washing machines. 
The washing machine includes a dryer function and it's free to use, so your wallet will thank you when it's time to do laundry. |
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A quick look at one of the toilets. As you'd expect from a modern Japanese home, it includes a bidet. 
Here's the bathing room. Here you can use simply use the shower head or take advantage of the bath tub. Either way, you'll come out feeling refreshed.  There's also no worry of competing to use these facilities either. The house is divided into units, so the bathrooms and laundry rooms are only shared between three or four people!
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 The Private Rooms This is what makes the share house feel like a home. All of the rooms are fairly spacious private rooms. They include all your essentials, sharing a bathroom and laundry room with only a few people, so it almost feels like an apartment. |
No this isn't a Sci-fi movie again, it's the lock to one of the rooms. Again you can see the emphasis on security here. 
Here's a shot of room 103. With light gently pouring in through the windows, this room has a very relaxed atmosphere.  Here's the staircase and a door to one of the units. This one in particular is for rooms 211 through 214. |
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While the staircase has sufficient lighting, the residents thought it'd be fun to brighten things up a bit more and painted light bulbs on the wall. 
Here's room 205. The bed looks ready for someone to hop in.  Looking up at one of the light fixtures, you can see the bare concrete ceiling, which contrasts nicely with the room for a slightly edgy feel. |
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Inside each unit every room's number has been painted above the lock. Here's room 206. 
Stepping inside you'll find a room with great lighting. There's also a rack in the corner to hang clothes.  Room 213 has a unique shape compared to other rooms, but its quite spacious with a nice view of the outside. |
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Here's what the unit's hallway looks like. The doors of each unit also have different uniform colors, giving each one its own unique charm. 
When your laundry needs to be dried, come here to one of the house's two roof terraces. The design of the racks is also perfect for drying a futon.  Going up to the second roof terrace, you can enjoy a great view of the area. Perfect for a sunny day, or a few drinks in the evening with share mates. |
Rebita, the owners of this share house, are known for their stylish and comfortable share houses and this one certainly won't disappoint. The house's quiet surroundings along with its sleek interior design make it the perfect place to relax, and simply heading near the station will ensure you can have a good time.
Taking the train, you can head to Saitama Shintoshin and Omiya to enjoy more great shops and restaurants, or head further down to the likes of Shibuya and Ikebukuro to get your fill of the city.
Balance is key to a rich and happy life, and a share house like this is the perfect way to have your cake and eat it too. So what are you waiting for? If you're looking for a stylish place to relax and do a little socializing, but still have the option to go out and have fun without hassle, this could be the house you've been waiting for.
/Author: Paul
