Despite the relatively rapid rate that buildings go up (and down) in Tokyo, it’s somewhat surprising that there are still a good number of these aged and awful abodes about.
How cold they must be in winter doesn’t bear thinking about, although having ventured into one such home a while ago, the lack of insulation may not be the only worry for tentative tenants — a cesspit and a hole for a toilet arguably making a mere lack of warmth a minor concern. Even worse is that the rather cramped nature of such places means the pit’s pungent aroma pervades the whole house, with fresh waves of it wafting through each room every time the bathroom door is opened. A far cry indeed from the toilet technology Japan is often famed for.
Still, some of them do have rather more modern means of moving waste matter, and with the odd personal touch, they can look a little more welcoming — sort of.
And whilst the majority of Tokyo’s millions of apartment dwellers have to make do with a cramped balcony for drying laundry, many of these domiciles do have more in the way of outdoor space.
Even boasting room for parking too.
Although sadly that’s not always the case. In fact, far from it at times.
And anyway, whether any extra space makes up for some of the other, rather less attractive attributes, is debatable to say the least.
(click images for larger, less than lovely living spaces)
Paul says
That doesn’t look like too bad a gaff, a lick of paint and a Saniflo from B&Q and they’d be laughing. What did the tenants make of you creeping about, taking phtotographs of your washing? I suppose they were just thankful you didn’t steal the knickers off the line. You didn’t, did you?
Oh and while we’re on, I’m still waiting for answers, a la https://www.tokyotimes.org/?p=1269#comments Pull your finger out. 😉
in la ca says
its a home dont knock it
better than a bad apartment
Lee says
Paul: I just ‘borrowed’ those in my size, and only the frilly ones!
Also, I’ll try and answer your questions, just give me some time.
in la ca: I agree, I just wanted to post them as concrete apartments rather than little wooden houses seem to be a more common image of Tokyo.
That said, the toilet was rough…
PkerUNO says
You know what the say – Japan truly is a first-world country!
Written from my apartment in Fukuoka-ken, trying to to move to make sure that the little warmth generated by my electric heater doesn’t go to waste!
Stephen says
“How cold they must be in winter doesn’t bear thinking about.”
Even normal Tokyo houses and apartments are not insulated to any great extent. If it weren’t for the small rooms and low ceilings of Japanese residences, along with the room-by-room split ductless air-cons, heating would cost a fortune.
I agree with Paul in the sense that I’ve lived in concrete mansions and ramshakle looking wood apartments, and on the inside they end up about the same after the owner rehabs them for you as a new tenant. As for toilet facilities, virtually every residence these days, no matter how old, has the obligatory “unit bath” installed. I long for the old gas-heated furos.