This is a single unit dwelling in it's natural habitat. Watch as the realtor tries to intice a potential renter into accepting it as their new place of residence. 🏘️
That was my first thought as well, but I'm sure she's toured empty apartments before, and Alex just agreed with her so maybe it was particularly bad somehow
looking forward to episode 2. One thing I realised that I need to find a job that allows me to say "it's honestly not too bad" to paying $5k a month for a house lol
Haha. Yeah me too! I was thinking "per month?". That's like 8x what i pay for my countryside 200 square meter house right next to the a lake, in Sweden.
That house was legit perfect. Not sure why it had an outdoor shower - my house growing up had one of those, but we lived at a beach (so you wash yourself to avoid tracking a bunch of sand in the house).
@@sharlainjapan I know, but at the end you'll always have the same problem. The cats will be able to leave for a walk and go to the neighbour's house. It makes me worry ...
This was so fun! That first house was *amazing* and I'd move there in a heartbeat if I could. For the second place, the reason it had such a bad echo is because there was no furniture in it to absorb sound. Once you get things like fabrics and woods in there it will significantly deaden the sound, and then you could add rugs and things to absorb even more noise, so don't necessarily write that one off either!
ALEX : definitely the *Go To* guy for great properties. What an entertaining video. I'm sure you've already found a place, but much continued success to you and Chris.
You're right, the first house was amazing! The outdoor spaces could be great for quiet evenings, parties, and barbeques. For Japan, both are huge accommodations.
That's good for cats. City cats should have some way of going out, it's popular here to have some stairs for them from the balcony or a door inside a standard windows if you live on the ground floor. I've seen someone turn their basement into a cat apartment and it has little door in the windows so it can go out at any moment. And its a 4 million city so plenty cars and people
Just let the cats go out, they will love it, I live in busy London and I've had cats my whole life and it's never a problem. Cats are meant to be outside.
Oh I actually like Sharla and Alex together even more than the tours Alex does alone, it adds a really fun banter thing, they have such a natural rapport with each other. Would love to see more episodes!
First house is amazing with so much potential for office and entertaining especially with the roof terrace that on a summers night with some cold beers! PERFECTION; I hope you Chris find the perfect place and wish you all the best
@@sharlainjapan My uncle moved to Tokyo in the 1960s, and is now wanting to "retire"- sell his house in Katsushika and move with my aunt to Hawaii. I could ask if he's still looking for buyers, and details about his house if you'd like!? He's a very interesting man- a tall redhaired (but now completely Japanese) guy who fit in so well there that he didn't even bother to teach his son English! I've aways wanted to know more about the lives of older expats in Japan like my uncle; to hear about their experiences in Japan and if they feel more accepted after a few decades. Particularly if they've gotten Japanese citizenship- I hear that's a difficult process...anyway, DM if interested!
I think the 2nd place makes a lot more sense beacuse you get to decide how to lay it out compared to the 1st place where the room shapes somewhat pre-decide the layout for you. The 2nd place also has that location bonus
The first one is just beautiful! So unique and charming yet still modern. That’s difficult to find anywhere. And just when you think it can’t get any cooler it’s got that rooftop terrace. The second house was also still very nice! Once it’s furnished I imagine the echoing would be almost non-existent and it would look lovely. Two great choices so far! 😊
That first house is just wildly special! I love the creative and slightly quirky design. It's just such a culture shock (if I'm using that term right) how expensive places are in big cities around the world, and you don't even get to own them. My mortgage for my custom built house on 5 acres in the woods is about a 7th-8th of these prices 🥲
I love that first property SO MUCH. It's so beautiful and spacious. You'd be able to have lots of room to film but also you could have friends over very easily. And that kitchen was to die for!
Excellent video, I really enjoyed this. Good to see Alex continuing his trademark ‘sitting in the bath’ and that the cats needs were high priority 😊 Both properties were great but the first one really was fantastic. Wishing you good luck and all the best with your house hunting 😸
Omg that first one is so beautiful! My partner and I are also house hunting currently here in Ontario and it's a nightmare, looks like you'll be able to find something really nice in Tokyo with Alex's help. Good luck finding a house you love❤
Don't worry about the echos in empty rooms. As you add furniture and hang items on the walls, the sound waves are broken up by all of the surfaces. You go from 6 surfaces (4 walls, ceiling, and floor) to dozens or hundreds. For a more thorough explanation, Google "room acoustics".
It's hilarious how invested I am about a property I'm not going to move into 😆 The second place is convenient but if you're looking for a nicer, quieter neighbourhood I'd pick the first one, especially since the both of you are used to living outside the city. Anyway I'm looking forward to ep. 2! Can't wait to see which place y'all end up moving to!
I'm an interior designer. From my experience. The echo comes when the space is empty and there are only walls for the sound to bounce off of. When a space is filled with furniture and your belongings the sound has a place to land and you won't have an echo. Beautiful homes. I absolutely love the first one. Happy hunting.
Wow that first one was dope Edit: Second one is also really nice. The first one was prettier, but the second one seems bigger and more usable. The first one had stuff at odd angles and weirdly long hallway-esque rooms, which seem nice at first, but will probably not be as easy to utilise as you might think.
Second one's nice! The echo is definitely manageable. Once you put up furniture/carpet/curtains, it should go down considerably. There's also DIY options for legit acoustic treatment with rock wool/mineral wool for not a lot of money. Those should basically eliminate the echo with the right placement and make the room sound better (and look pretty nice with the right fabrics). Made a lot of those for my studio and it absolutely made a difference.
i mean over 5000$ a month is not smth i would consider affordable haha, but in comparison to how much more i thought it could have been it was a nice surprise considering this is Tokyo😂
@@NomadicSims also average income is different in each country. In tokyo it sounds affordable. Here in germany with a average income of 2000-3000 bucks it would be beyond regular households xD. And then we look at new york and the rent for something similar would be around 7000-8000 bucks. But either way, i think sharla and chris together are a little above the average pay over there.
Yeah I was thinking it was gonna be in between eight and 10,000. But then again I live at the beach in Florida. So I guess it’s just subjective of your real estate market
I don't know what it is but I love house hunting! It's so fun and neat to see the different layouts, keep these tours coming haha. Love it! That first house is amazing though, you can always add some cat protection to help alleviate that fear of them running out but I do see the worry in that regard. Good luck on the house hunting! :)
The first house really reminded me a lot of Dogen's new house!! He has a very similar indoor/outdoor emphasis. Whichever home you pick, I hope you enjoy it thoroughly!
I'm not usually one to comment but I gotta say this feels so full circle! I was first introduced to Sharla and Chris because of the videos they did with Alex (most expensive apt in Tokyo or something like that!) and now they're looking for an apt together 🥺 anyway can't wait to see the next episode lol
13:35 “I like the door, it feels Japanese….” yeah me, too!!! That’s the kind of door I envisioned, but wasn’t able to articulate, back when I made that comment on your house renovation video. Not like the sliding paper door, but more like a traditional wooden shop house… or otherwise traditional country house wooden door, but modernised. Love your videos! Have become a huge fan recently. For some reason listening to your videos, while I work, calms my mind and helps me to focus ❤ thank you!
I really like seeing these properties, the Japanese interior design and layout is a lot different from what I'm used to seeing in the US. One thing that stuck out though, I can't imagine paying those insane prices for a place just to rent, and not paying it into a mortgage instead.
I find videos like these fun to watch cause I get to see houses unlike the one I live in and try to imagine how people live elsewhere. The first house looked great but yeah, my thought the entire time after showing the huge opening was "The cats could get out!" It'd definitely be more difficult to keep track of your cats in a lrge place although it's a really pretty house. That said, another thing I thought when seeing the house was "it's nice that light is coming in from outside but that seems like it'd be unbearable when the summer heat comes." (that's just my thoughts as someone froma tropical country though). Second place looks nice even though smaller. After seeing the first place though, the second one felt kind of cramped lol. It'd be fun to see more videos like this. Good luck finding the perfect house!
The firts house is just a dream omg !! It's so perfect for u 4 with room for more cats in the future as well! Imagine all the outdoor hangouts you could host and film there
The first house is stunning. I didn’t even know places like that existed in Japan, let alone Tokyo. I assume since you’re giving monthly rent and mentioning whether or not they allow pets, that you’ll be renting the home? Cause I feel like that also plays a big part into the decision process. If you’re buying, you can do renovations, but if you’re renting, you’re limited.
I could watch you 2 house hunting all day long 😂😂😂 You should consider it a series. Just like everyone else here (including you), I have to say the first house is just next level. There is no comparing. Or rather beating it. That one is just amazing
Yay so excited for this series!! The only thing I don’t like about the first house is the bedrooms. The master you can only get to by walking thru the closet and the other two tiny bedrooms don’t have any outside facing windows (just the tiny ones above the door that point to the hallway). That gets depressing fast. Also, I don’t think echo in the second house would be as much of an issue as you think. I had hard wood floors and lots of windows in my first house and it was super echoey when empty but once we added our furniture and rugs there was no echo.
OMG that first house had me saying YASS so many times! I can picture you and Chris absolutely LOVING it there! I definitely understand the cat escape concern! It is a constant concern of mine since I have a little escape artist myself! >.
😂😂😂 Alex should have started with the second property. I really liked both though. Can't wait to see more potential homes for you, Chris, and the cats!
I work in media. A key investment would be in making a set or a filming area look lived in and comfortable. Make it your own. Shop around in second-hand stores, decorate it to your comfort and adjust from there. Ideally you want it to be your own, and made to work for you. Lighting... warm LEDs for comforting lights work well with natural tones. Chaos is good if you control it. Acoustic deadening with furniture and items is fine. Egg-crate foam is best for corners in ceilings, but glue sections to cardboard or thin plywood for easier mounting. Corners = echo.
🙏The first house😍 imagine the cats finaly feel the sun on their bodies and watch&hear the birds fly by😻 😻put a harness on and they will enjoy the outdoors❤ imagine the peace&quiet there😌
Forget the harness and let them run free, they will come back, I've had cats for 40 years in BUSY LONDON and they love it and never ever been a problem, cats need to be free. I've had 15 cats over the years and no harm has ever come to them.
I also love house hunting and would love nothing more than to house hunt in Japan 😊 I don't know if what I'm going to say will help or not but here are my thoughts on the 2 properties. 😋 House #1 The fact that it is a house and not an apartment/condo is already a huge selling point as you won't hear people talking through the walls or hear them walking around. Also as a TH-camr this makes it so you will be able to control the echo/feedback of sounds when recording inside. The kitchen is the closest to Canadian I've seen in a Japanese house in a long time and with the ability to use the oven will help with cutting out fried food and open the door for a lot of different choices for meals. Now the biggest blessing and/or curse of this house for your kitties is all the wonderful outdoor space. As a kitty mom as well I know the fear of an open door with cats. The outdoor space is perfect for both you and Chris to entertain and to have a nice evening "wine" down. Here's something to think about for your kitties. With that amazing opening window wall I would attach a leash outside and have Maro and Tuna wear harnesses. This way they can explore outside while not being able to run away. If they don't like harnesses you can also look into "phantom doors". These are screen doors that come is many different sizes and styles that can cover over the opens of doorways and windows. I use it at my backdoor and my cat hasn't escaped once. House #2 So much room!! I love the living room and dining area. This is a house that, I feel, is geared more towards a large family and not really towards TH-camrs. I say this because of the echo and how loud it sounds everytime you open a door. The spare rooms would make good offices and would be nice for you both to each have your own. You'd need to soundproof them but the accent walls would be nice backgrounds. However the kitchen is a fail in my book. It looks so small and no storage place for anything. If they would have used some of the living/dining room area as the kitchen it would have been better. These are just my thoughts. A lot goes into the hunt aside from what we see. You'll make the right choice for you and Chris 😆 (I'd choose House #1 so far 😝) Good luck with the hunt! I can't wait to see the next choices!
I'm sure Alex would have mentioned it at some point but empty homes are always far more prone to echo, so don't judge too harshly on that alone. That being said, I agree the first property is very difficult to beat. That upstairs office and terrace was just amazing and the kitchen was better than anything I've ever seen in Japan in person. Also, way to go Alex, upping the difficulty from the Impress Abroad series.
I love watching these videos. That first house has so much potential! I feel like you can make cat safe adjustments, and having so many beautiful areas will help keep you both you and Chris feeling happy and refreshed! It's important to think about how happy a place makes you too! And that KITCHEN! Best of luck to you!
It is always nice to see other places in Tokyo, but I think I will stay in Hachioji, despite the distance from downtown. I just love seeing the mountains, and especially Mt. Fuji, from my balcony. Also, lots of great ethnic restaurants.
I totally agree, but I’m saying that as someone in Shizuoka where Mt. Fuji is literally in my backyard lol. I can’t do the city life but it’s nice to visit!
The first house was amazing and perfect for the cats as well. Plenty of space to develop a 'catio' where they have an amazing outdoor space with a fantastic outdoor place to spend as much of the day as they wanted to. You could even have real grass for them to experience. 'Trees' to climb, hiding spots, and climbing frames and a view! Think bit outside the box if it's a cat friendly building you are looking for. You got this.
Really like how you give your opinion on what you don't like about an apartment. Tokyo portfolio is lovely. But I am missing some kind of counter balance to the sell-mode
Came back to watch after watching the second video. #1 is amazing...gorgeous...but that price and its kinda far from the stations. I'm sticking with #4!
I loved the first house, the views and outdoor space was really nice. It would be great to sit on the roof terrace on a nice evening after a busy day or to wrap up a recording with the sunsetting over the rooftops of Tokyo.
That first house was so pretty! 😍 One of my favorite colors is also gray, so I thought all the gray was pretty. I loved the outdoor part too. Really, the whole thing was pretty. And it was a bit more out of the way, and you said you don’t like super city life, so that’s awesome. I totally get that location for work is important too though. The second place definitely did feel like a bit of a letdown after the first, but it was still pretty in it’s own way, too. Exited to see more of your house hunt!
The first house is stunning. I stayed in an AirBnB when I was in Tokyo in Setagaya. It was a lovely area, close enough to be able to explore Tokyo during the day and then quite quiet in the evenings. Really lovely to walk around!
The first house was genuinely amazing! Could it be made cat-escape proof? Because I imagine they would actually love to have their own little guarded area outside (like what you tried with your old balcony)
I'm not much of a "view" person, but that first house was just awesome. We didn't see much of the second, but the first also seemed to have had that more smaller town vibe to its area too. Since it didn't have as many the rooms the second looked more roomier. Though with the design of the first you kind of have to compare the living room/outside with just the living room of the second.
the second house was more amazing than the first in my opinion. but it´s really fun to get to see how houses looks like from the inside and not only from the outside in japan. :)
@@notyou6959 That japan flat is 5.1k$ per month and a flat if you morgage a 1 bedroom flat in venice is around 50¬70k€ for the whole house entirely. so 10¬14months and you have a house.
I would definitely pick the first house. I love the greenery and the outside space, and honestly i dont think it would be hard to make it cat friendly, it would be so nice for them to be able to get outdoors like that 🐱
With the echo remember thats because its just the walls sound waves have to bounce off. Once you start hanging pictures and have other furniture the echo will drastically reduce.
Honestly the first one was so nice and then I saw the bedrooms with 0 windows even though the hallway had a lot and I was like oh you’re not missing out 😂
How amazing is this first house?!?
Stayed tuned next week for Episode 2 of Tokyo House Hunting! 🏠✨
Haven't even watched the whole video, but Ottoto Mexicali are GOATed for sure
LOVED IT!
I wonder if it was designed by an American. I mean, there's a dishwasher, oven, somewhat of a backyard, garage, etc.
The first one was lovely.
Happy house hunting. The echo should reduce once the home is furnished.
Thanks for producing my pilot to "House Hunters Tokyo"!
Haha living our house hunting dreams! I could do this forever, maybe I’ll move again next year😂
Bath tub Alex is the best! 😂
This is a single unit dwelling in it's natural habitat. Watch as the realtor tries to intice a potential renter into accepting it as their new place of residence. 🏘️
I'd watch that. 🙂
Alex is now the resident Real Estate Mogul of Japan in TH-cam lol
I don't think you should worry about any echoing. Once you furnish the space, the echo will diminish.
+1000
Common sense reigns supreme! 🤣
yeah this
I agree I was confused why she thought it would be an issue
sometimes that isnt the case
That was my first thought as well, but I'm sure she's toured empty apartments before, and Alex just agreed with her so maybe it was particularly bad somehow
looking forward to episode 2. One thing I realised that I need to find a job that allows me to say "it's honestly not too bad" to paying $5k a month for a house lol
Haha. Yeah me too! I was thinking "per month?". That's like 8x what i pay for my countryside 200 square meter house right next to the a lake, in Sweden.
@@PeterLesonen here in Switzerland the average two bedroom apartment costs minimum 1k. That’s excluding the big cities- there you pay more than double
That was my first reaction too haha. I'm like, must be nice to have a job where that's not bad
She i am guessing is splitting with Chris so it's not as bad especially for the space and it being in tokyo
Right? Too bad nice houses like that aren't available for common people with regular jobs.
I had the same reactions Sharla had for each and every thing about that 1st house. IT'S ALMOST PERFECT!
It’s soooo gooood😭😭😭
That house was legit perfect. Not sure why it had an outdoor shower - my house growing up had one of those, but we lived at a beach (so you wash yourself to avoid tracking a bunch of sand in the house).
@@sharlainjapan I know, but at the end you'll always have the same problem. The cats will be able to leave for a walk and go to the neighbour's house.
It makes me worry ...
Just need to buy an outdoors enclosed cat run for when the doors are open. There’s some really cool ones!
I want that first house! So gorgeous!
I love how sassy Alex is about the cats. Guessing he's s dog person 😂
Such a fun video!
You guessed right😂😂
The cats, and the room colors. Classy.
This was so fun! That first house was *amazing* and I'd move there in a heartbeat if I could. For the second place, the reason it had such a bad echo is because there was no furniture in it to absorb sound. Once you get things like fabrics and woods in there it will significantly deaden the sound, and then you could add rugs and things to absorb even more noise, so don't necessarily write that one off either!
But the first place was also empty and had much less echo.
@@Koofteh It's the walls and the floors, as soon as you furnish it there will be no echo.
It's so funny how the first one Sharla kept going "OMG THAT`S SO COOL AAAAA" and then the second house it was like "hm... cool" HAHAHA I'm loving it
😂😂😂 I clearly have a favourite
manifesting big window for maro and tuna to look out at :D
ALEX : definitely the *Go To* guy for great properties. What an entertaining video. I'm sure you've already found a place, but much continued success to you and Chris.
The property duo. I love it when you guys go house hunting together! 😊
You're right, the first house was amazing! The outdoor spaces could be great for quiet evenings, parties, and barbeques. For Japan, both are huge accommodations.
An apartment above the garage is definitely needed where Natsuki can grow old. ❤
I mean, he's got a wife and runs a business XD. He's not Joey from friends.
@@sloht4061 just a joke. ✌️
Like Chandler and Monica do with Joey in friends ❤️
He's already 50.
@@sloht4061😂😂😂
I thought Japanese residences had a weird floorplan due to the space limitation, but even those massive ones have such weird plans
Very weird floor plans. Full of poky little spaces.
I don't get it either. Anytime I've see Japanese apartment tour videos they have bizarre layouts
It's only bizarre to western people - don't forget that these apartments are made for asian people.
@@cityintake I’m south east Asian and the floor plan is also really weird for me especially the bathroom doors into the hallway like wtf?
@@Idkmanihatethis southeast Asia has been colonized too long by the west to have a distinct enough taste on certain things
Whichever house you finally choose, I just hope that you have a “Chef’s Kitchen” so that Chris can continue to prepare his gourmet meals!
Thanks for the laugh! :D
🥲
Alex seems like such a nice calm relaxing person.
He’s awesome!!! :)
i LOVE the first house but as a cat owner, my first thought was how fast cats would be sprinting out that fully open patio door
It depends on the cats honestly. There are definitely some who don't care about the unfamiliarity of the outdoors. Don't know about Tuna and Maro.
That's good for cats. City cats should have some way of going out, it's popular here to have some stairs for them from the balcony or a door inside a standard windows if you live on the ground floor. I've seen someone turn their basement into a cat apartment and it has little door in the windows so it can go out at any moment. And its a 4 million city so plenty cars and people
@@Brian-jv8iy Cats are horrific for the native wildlife. Please keep them indoors, especially unsupervised, even just for the cat's health and safety.
Just let the cats go out, they will love it, I live in busy London and I've had cats my whole life and it's never a problem. Cats are meant to be outside.
@@Vemiia Nonsense, I've had cats for 40 years, never ever had a problem. THEY love the adventure
Oh I actually like Sharla and Alex together even more than the tours Alex does alone, it adds a really fun banter thing, they have such a natural rapport with each other. Would love to see more episodes!
First house is amazing with so much potential for office and entertaining especially with the roof terrace that on a summers night with some cold beers! PERFECTION; I hope you Chris find the perfect place and wish you all the best
chris totally needs to be in the next episode, both of your colourful commentary is needed
Have one on his channel, then one with both?
Absolutely love your house hunting videos.
Ahh I’m so glad! I love house hunting haha. Maybe I’ll just house hunt forever and never move🥲
@@sharlainjapan My uncle moved to Tokyo in the 1960s, and is now wanting to "retire"- sell his house in Katsushika and move with my aunt to Hawaii. I could ask if he's still looking for buyers, and details about his house if you'd like!? He's a very interesting man- a tall redhaired (but now completely Japanese) guy who fit in so well there that he didn't even bother to teach his son English! I've aways wanted to know more about the lives of older expats in Japan like my uncle; to hear about their experiences in Japan and if they feel more accepted after a few decades. Particularly if they've gotten Japanese citizenship- I hear that's a difficult process...anyway, DM if interested!
Always love the "Alex tests the bathtub" test
The job he was born to do
Sharm’s video editing and quality is great! She is the reason I visited Japan in 2019. ❤️❤️
Thank you Traci🥰 Hope you had a great trip!!
I think the 2nd place makes a lot more sense beacuse you get to decide how to lay it out compared to the 1st place where the room shapes somewhat pre-decide the layout for you. The 2nd place also has that location bonus
The first one is just beautiful! So unique and charming yet still modern. That’s difficult to find anywhere. And just when you think it can’t get any cooler it’s got that rooftop terrace.
The second house was also still very nice! Once it’s furnished I imagine the echoing would be almost non-existent and it would look lovely.
Two great choices so far! 😊
That first house is just wildly special! I love the creative and slightly quirky design. It's just such a culture shock (if I'm using that term right) how expensive places are in big cities around the world, and you don't even get to own them. My mortgage for my custom built house on 5 acres in the woods is about a 7th-8th of these prices 🥲
Can’t compare the two really.
That's the privilege of living in a country that has so much land vs its population. Couldn't imagine that in my densely populated country...
These seem like LA prices. Or a good sized home in my area. So wasn't too shocking to me lol
@@Mrpartyallnight101 it’s a good price for a home to buy but for renting you don’t own anything or get any equity whatsoever
:-) but I don't envy your commute into central tokyo every day.
He's so good at his job! He really paints a picture of what it would be like to live there, even including both their jobs and the cats.
I love that first property SO MUCH. It's so beautiful and spacious. You'd be able to have lots of room to film but also you could have friends over very easily. And that kitchen was to die for!
Excellent video, I really enjoyed this. Good to see Alex continuing his trademark ‘sitting in the bath’ and that the cats needs were high priority 😊 Both properties were great but the first one really was fantastic. Wishing you good luck and all the best with your house hunting 😸
Omg that first one is so beautiful! My partner and I are also house hunting currently here in Ontario and it's a nightmare, looks like you'll be able to find something really nice in Tokyo with Alex's help. Good luck finding a house you love❤
Don't worry about the echos in empty rooms. As you add furniture and hang items on the walls, the sound waves are broken up by all of the surfaces. You go from 6 surfaces (4 walls, ceiling, and floor) to dozens or hundreds. For a more thorough explanation, Google "room acoustics".
It's hilarious how invested I am about a property I'm not going to move into 😆
The second place is convenient but if you're looking for a nicer, quieter neighbourhood I'd pick the first one, especially since the both of you are used to living outside the city. Anyway I'm looking forward to ep. 2! Can't wait to see which place y'all end up moving to!
I'm an interior designer. From my experience. The echo comes when the space is empty and there are only walls for the sound to bounce off of. When a space is filled with furniture and your belongings the sound has a place to land and you won't have an echo.
Beautiful homes. I absolutely love the first one. Happy hunting.
Wow that first one was dope
Edit: Second one is also really nice. The first one was prettier, but the second one seems bigger and more usable. The first one had stuff at odd angles and weirdly long hallway-esque rooms, which seem nice at first, but will probably not be as easy to utilise as you might think.
the 1st is a really cool house, but not practical
Second one's nice! The echo is definitely manageable. Once you put up furniture/carpet/curtains, it should go down considerably. There's also DIY options for legit acoustic treatment with rock wool/mineral wool for not a lot of money. Those should basically eliminate the echo with the right placement and make the room sound better (and look pretty nice with the right fabrics). Made a lot of those for my studio and it absolutely made a difference.
First property all day long! That amazing outdoor space adds so much living space. Thanks for taking us along for the ride.
I love the dynamics between Alex and you, really fun video!
I’m shocked at how affordable the first property was for how luxurious it was! So excited to watch this adventure as it unfolds!
i mean over 5000$ a month is not smth i would consider affordable haha, but in comparison to how much more i thought it could have been it was a nice surprise considering this is Tokyo😂
@@kohakublubb Maybe because I live in a major city and pay $1200 for a micro studio it seems more affordable to me haha
@@kohakublubb affordable for the quality and location
@@NomadicSims also average income is different in each country. In tokyo it sounds affordable. Here in germany with a average income of 2000-3000 bucks it would be beyond regular households xD.
And then we look at new york and the rent for something similar would be around 7000-8000 bucks.
But either way, i think sharla and chris together are a little above the average pay over there.
Yeah I was thinking it was gonna be in between eight and 10,000. But then again I live at the beach in Florida. So I guess it’s just subjective of your real estate market
Living vicariously through your house hunting experience is oddly satisfying
omg I love that office in the first property! Such a cool sliding door. Nice light. And the outdoor deck and rooftop
It really is great to see Alex work; clearly loves what he does.
I don't know what it is but I love house hunting! It's so fun and neat to see the different layouts, keep these tours coming haha. Love it! That first house is amazing though, you can always add some cat protection to help alleviate that fear of them running out but I do see the worry in that regard. Good luck on the house hunting! :)
The first house really reminded me a lot of Dogen's new house!! He has a very similar indoor/outdoor emphasis. Whichever home you pick, I hope you enjoy it thoroughly!
Omg that first house is stunning!!
I'm not usually one to comment but I gotta say this feels so full circle! I was first introduced to Sharla and Chris because of the videos they did with Alex (most expensive apt in Tokyo or something like that!) and now they're looking for an apt together 🥺 anyway can't wait to see the next episode lol
Aww🥹🩷
Rugs and furniture will definitely help with the echo 😂 the first place was beautiful 😍
I just love Alex. I'm glad you have a friend and realtor like him in your corner.
Really love your enthusiasm Sharla, and it's fascinating to look at Japanese interior design.
13:35 “I like the door, it feels Japanese….” yeah me, too!!! That’s the kind of door I envisioned, but wasn’t able to articulate, back when I made that comment on your house renovation video. Not like the sliding paper door, but more like a traditional wooden shop house… or otherwise traditional country house wooden door, but modernised. Love your videos! Have become a huge fan recently. For some reason listening to your videos, while I work, calms my mind and helps me to focus ❤ thank you!
Congratulations on the engagement!
I really like seeing these properties, the Japanese interior design and layout is a lot different from what I'm used to seeing in the US. One thing that stuck out though, I can't imagine paying those insane prices for a place just to rent, and not paying it into a mortgage instead.
Dude. That first house is insanely nice. I hope you love wherever you land!
SHARLA you deserve the first place girl. treat yourself!! so I can live vicariously through you 🤣
I know why i follow Alex Channel. And watching Alex and Sharla House hunting is just priceless. Can´t wait for episode 2
Loved the first house look forward to seeing the house you and Chris finally choose
I find videos like these fun to watch cause I get to see houses unlike the one I live in and try to imagine how people live elsewhere. The first house looked great but yeah, my thought the entire time after showing the huge opening was "The cats could get out!" It'd definitely be more difficult to keep track of your cats in a lrge place although it's a really pretty house. That said, another thing I thought when seeing the house was "it's nice that light is coming in from outside but that seems like it'd be unbearable when the summer heat comes." (that's just my thoughts as someone froma tropical country though). Second place looks nice even though smaller. After seeing the first place though, the second one felt kind of cramped lol.
It'd be fun to see more videos like this. Good luck finding the perfect house!
Let the cats go out, they love being out and they'll come back safe and sound. They always do
The firts house is just a dream omg !!
It's so perfect for u 4 with room for more cats in the future as well!
Imagine all the outdoor hangouts you could host and film there
Oh my gosh yeah! The filming potential is so great!
I hope you and Chris and the cats find a really nice and within budget home in Tokyo that you're both happy with 😊🏘🏙
I always love Alex's energy! He's so much fun.
The eco goes away with the furniture! Talking from experience. :D I looooove the second option so much, it looks so much nicer! D:
Great fun! And Alex just makes it even more fun -- he does a great job. "You can chuck your cats into here." 😂
Love the second house, I think it’s a little safer for the cats. But the first house is super cool.
The first house is stunning. I didn’t even know places like that existed in Japan, let alone Tokyo.
I assume since you’re giving monthly rent and mentioning whether or not they allow pets, that you’ll be renting the home? Cause I feel like that also plays a big part into the decision process. If you’re buying, you can do renovations, but if you’re renting, you’re limited.
I could watch you 2 house hunting all day long 😂😂😂 You should consider it a series.
Just like everyone else here (including you), I have to say the first house is just next level. There is no comparing. Or rather beating it. That one is just amazing
I' love seeing you being so open about you and chris now! I hope you and the babies get whichever place you want most:)
Yay so excited for this series!! The only thing I don’t like about the first house is the bedrooms. The master you can only get to by walking thru the closet and the other two tiny bedrooms don’t have any outside facing windows (just the tiny ones above the door that point to the hallway). That gets depressing fast. Also, I don’t think echo in the second house would be as much of an issue as you think. I had hard wood floors and lots of windows in my first house and it was super echoey when empty but once we added our furniture and rugs there was no echo.
OMG that first house had me saying YASS so many times! I can picture you and Chris absolutely LOVING it there! I definitely understand the cat escape concern! It is a constant concern of mine since I have a little escape artist myself! >.
I see moving in the title and Tokyo Portfolio and I KNOW Im about to see something jaw dropping.
😂😂😂 Alex should have started with the second property. I really liked both though. Can't wait to see more potential homes for you, Chris, and the cats!
I work in media.
A key investment would be in making a set or a filming area look lived in and comfortable. Make it your own. Shop around in second-hand stores, decorate it to your comfort and adjust from there. Ideally you want it to be your own, and made to work for you. Lighting... warm LEDs for comforting lights work well with natural tones. Chaos is good if you control it.
Acoustic deadening with furniture and items is fine. Egg-crate foam is best for corners in ceilings, but glue sections to cardboard or thin plywood for easier mounting. Corners = echo.
🙏The first house😍 imagine the cats finaly feel the sun on their bodies and watch&hear the birds fly by😻 😻put a harness on and they will enjoy the outdoors❤ imagine the peace&quiet there😌
Forget the harness and let them run free, they will come back, I've had cats for 40 years in BUSY LONDON and they love it and never ever been a problem, cats need to be free. I've had 15 cats over the years and no harm has ever come to them.
I also love house hunting and would love nothing more than to house hunt in Japan 😊 I don't know if what I'm going to say will help or not but here are my thoughts on the 2 properties. 😋
House #1
The fact that it is a house and not an apartment/condo is already a huge selling point as you won't hear people talking through the walls or hear them walking around. Also as a TH-camr this makes it so you will be able to control the echo/feedback of sounds when recording inside.
The kitchen is the closest to Canadian I've seen in a Japanese house in a long time and with the ability to use the oven will help with cutting out fried food and open the door for a lot of different choices for meals.
Now the biggest blessing and/or curse of this house for your kitties is all the wonderful outdoor space. As a kitty mom as well I know the fear of an open door with cats. The outdoor space is perfect for both you and Chris to entertain and to have a nice evening "wine" down. Here's something to think about for your kitties. With that amazing opening window wall I would attach a leash outside and have Maro and Tuna wear harnesses. This way they can explore outside while not being able to run away. If they don't like harnesses you can also look into "phantom doors". These are screen doors that come is many different sizes and styles that can cover over the opens of doorways and windows. I use it at my backdoor and my cat hasn't escaped once.
House #2
So much room!! I love the living room and dining area. This is a house that, I feel, is geared more towards a large family and not really towards TH-camrs. I say this because of the echo and how loud it sounds everytime you open a door. The spare rooms would make good offices and would be nice for you both to each have your own. You'd need to soundproof them but the accent walls would be nice backgrounds.
However the kitchen is a fail in my book. It looks so small and no storage place for anything. If they would have used some of the living/dining room area as the kitchen it would have been better.
These are just my thoughts. A lot goes into the hunt aside from what we see. You'll make the right choice for you and Chris 😆 (I'd choose House #1 so far 😝)
Good luck with the hunt! I can't wait to see the next choices!
Best of luck to you and Chris!!!!! I hope you find the home of your dreams!!! ❤❤❤❤❤
Alex's hands are suuuper pretty. The hands + his personality are such a vibe for me. Definitely someone I would love to have around me.
I'm sure Alex would have mentioned it at some point but empty homes are always far more prone to echo, so don't judge too harshly on that alone.
That being said, I agree the first property is very difficult to beat. That upstairs office and terrace was just amazing and the kitchen was better than anything I've ever seen in Japan in person.
Also, way to go Alex, upping the difficulty from the Impress Abroad series.
You cannot beat that first property. Absolutely beautiful. That rooftop patio would be so magical at night.
I love watching these videos. That first house has so much potential! I feel like you can make cat safe adjustments, and having so many beautiful areas will help keep you both you and Chris feeling happy and refreshed! It's important to think about how happy a place makes you too! And that KITCHEN! Best of luck to you!
I don’t know, the first one just seems like it! One and done, it was literally so nice.
It is always nice to see other places in Tokyo, but I think I will stay in Hachioji, despite the distance from downtown. I just love seeing the mountains, and especially Mt. Fuji, from my balcony. Also, lots of great ethnic restaurants.
I totally agree, but I’m saying that as someone in Shizuoka where Mt. Fuji is literally in my backyard lol. I can’t do the city life but it’s nice to visit!
The first house was amazing and perfect for the cats as well. Plenty of space to develop a 'catio' where they have an amazing outdoor space with a fantastic outdoor place to spend as much of the day as they wanted to. You could even have real grass for them to experience. 'Trees' to climb, hiding spots, and climbing frames and a view! Think bit outside the box if it's a cat friendly building you are looking for. You got this.
Both are absolutely incredible, great in their own way. Alex chose great ones for the first episode :)
Really like how you give your opinion on what you don't like about an apartment. Tokyo portfolio is lovely. But I am missing some kind of counter balance to the sell-mode
I'm so happy for this next stage of your life, Sharla! My boyfriend proposed to me on Christmas and we are also house hunting. Much love to you!
Awww congratulations
Aww congratulations to you both! 💓
Came back to watch after watching the second video. #1 is amazing...gorgeous...but that price and its kinda far from the stations. I'm sticking with #4!
I loved the first house, the views and outdoor space was really nice. It would be great to sit on the roof terrace on a nice evening after a busy day or to wrap up a recording with the sunsetting over the rooftops of Tokyo.
That first house was so pretty! 😍 One of my favorite colors is also gray, so I thought all the gray was pretty. I loved the outdoor part too. Really, the whole thing was pretty. And it was a bit more out of the way, and you said you don’t like super city life, so that’s awesome.
I totally get that location for work is important too though. The second place definitely did feel like a bit of a letdown after the first, but it was still pretty in it’s own way, too.
Exited to see more of your house hunt!
Its all about location, location, location!
Sharla, that first house had me screaming!!! I love my villa here in Florida, but that home seriously had me wanting to pick up and move!
Yaaaaay the house hunting vlogs are happening 😍
Hello may I ask is it 5k for a month or can they actually own it?
The first house is stunning. I stayed in an AirBnB when I was in Tokyo in Setagaya. It was a lovely area, close enough to be able to explore Tokyo during the day and then quite quiet in the evenings. Really lovely to walk around!
The first house was genuinely amazing! Could it be made cat-escape proof? Because I imagine they would actually love to have their own little guarded area outside (like what you tried with your old balcony)
I'm not much of a "view" person, but that first house was just awesome. We didn't see much of the second, but the first also seemed to have had that more smaller town vibe to its area too. Since it didn't have as many the rooms the second looked more roomier. Though with the design of the first you kind of have to compare the living room/outside with just the living room of the second.
the second house was more amazing than the first in my opinion. but it´s really fun to get to see how houses looks like from the inside and not only from the outside in japan. :)
You must get the very first house!!❤️❤️❤️❤️
These prices are kind of reasonable for the size and locations. I'm excited for you guys to get a new place!
In venice you can buy a house in 10months worth of rent on this houses and you live on the most busy city in italy hehe
@@aggressivelyadamant6063 is it a rent for a month?? $5k for a month?
@@notyou6959 That japan flat is 5.1k$ per month and a flat if you morgage a 1 bedroom flat in venice is around 50¬70k€ for the whole house entirely. so 10¬14months and you have a house.
Once you put some furniture and carpet/ rugs it will stop the echo, you look amazing by the way. Love the video 😊
I would definitely pick the first house. I love the greenery and the outside space, and honestly i dont think it would be hard to make it cat friendly, it would be so nice for them to be able to get outdoors like that 🐱
The first apartment is the best. Amazing place.
With the echo remember thats because its just the walls sound waves have to bounce off. Once you start hanging pictures and have other furniture the echo will drastically reduce.
Honestly the first one was so nice and then I saw the bedrooms with 0 windows even though the hallway had a lot and I was like oh you’re not missing out 😂