What do you think? Would YOU live there? Or did you prefer the last place? (th-cam.com/video/jZ7Bu_SDJgM/w-d-xo.html) ||||||||||||| CHECK THIS OUT BELOW!!! ||||||||||||| ----- **OFFICIALLY FOUND JAPAN'S WORST TINY APARTMENT:** th-cam.com/video/R4oQDnHlrR0/w-d-xo.html ----- *OKAZAKI SAN came with me to check out OSAKA'S WEIRDEST TINY Apartment* ------- th-cam.com/video/8XwGFM4ZNv0/w-d-xo.html The people we met in this video were so amazing that I may even post an extended version of this over on Patreon with the full interviews and tours!!
I kinda need much more space than this, like at least 3 rooms, a kitchen cuz I'm Chinese and I just felt like wanting to be able to cook, a bathroom that has a tub cuz here in Malaysia, you would be consider rich if you have a tub in your bathroom and a bedroom that's at least 12.25m² like my current room, big enough for my bed, a computer I plan to build and a cupboard to weeb out and buy figurines and nendos
I totally could and would really like to live in all of those small apartments! Tiny house living in Tokyo :) Get‘s your brain thinking creatively… You literally saw that in her eyes, as she started the „creativity process“! Love it!!
I really don't think I could live there....would need to change my lifestyle to a minimalistic approach to be able to stay there XD They were really interesting though~~ living out of the tub would be interesting though~~
@NoQue Q what are you talking about? I like their positive attitude and outlook. Not once did they have negative comments. The spoiled comment was not directed to anyone in particular so you shouldn’t be offended unless it applies to you.
I loved how the empty apartments seemed cold and non-functional, but seeing Ueda-san and Okazaki-san's living spaces, they were little homes. And how Okazaki-san immediately saw how to inhabit the empty room, that was really fun.
Yes, that was exactly what I thought too! Like, "I will never even try to live in such a place!" was how I first felt, but when I saw their rooms, I seriously think it is ok to stay in room like theirs for a short period of time xD
I really think if I had seen their places empty it would heave felt unlivable, but seeing their stuff and how they've figured things out it really doesn't seem too unlivable. That said for $200 more I had an apartment with ten times the space in the capital of my state so its a bit funny.
Ueda-san has a minimalist wardrobe of black and white, which does a lot to save space. I noticed that neither of these two people seem to have bulky personal electronics like a large TV, stereo, or gaming computer. All their electronic entertainment may be coming through their smartphones.
The fact that both the residents are architecture students 😂 I feel like that's not a coincidence, I wonder if they get inspired by their homes and the way they're utilising space. Like, Ueda's apartment with the bookshelving beams and all the plants really made it feel lived in.
The way Okazari instantly appreciated the possibilities for the space, I know she will make a fantastic architect. I imagine living where she does helps with that.
Bathtub with the window/plants looks so luxe. BUT when u gotta poop and the smell travels everywhere and up to your bed... that would've been a deal breaker for me 🤧
6:12 I love how this guy literally just uses everything to his advantage, from the steel beams for a bookshelf, to the most pragmatic and minimalist use of a pole for privacy ever.
You can tell she studies architecture by how intriguing she found the spaces. As someone who wants to study architecture in the future I understand why she was interested
Feels like she's gonna be a great architect. In just few moment, she's already throwing in her perspectives about the room and how to improve it and she notices every little tiny detail for the room you showed her. never really thought that there are such tiny apartments here in japan.
Tokyo especially has many tiny apartments, similar to these, but lacking the nice design aspect. Those are called "aparto" and much more challenging (depressing) to live in, as they don't have the window/ fresh air aspect.
Those mini splits(white cylinder thing sticking out) at the top of the rooms take care of AC and heating. I'd imagine if they have a need for more heat it wouldn't be hard with a little heater but those mini splits are very efficient with people in the USA upgrading to them because they are cheaper than whole house vent systems here in the USA with direct heat and cooling.
I like the lady's perspective. Especially what she said about being lazy, how having a small room helps her to be more tidy and organized. I know that would be a definite plus for me.
@@lujorom9172 I can definitely relate to her wanting smaller space. I actually could relate to both of their advantages - guess it'll be perfect for minimalist and lazy people who wanted to save money?
@@lujorom9172 oh maybe you refuse to accept that some people might be ok with not living in a huge ass home.. I for one dont mind tiny homes like this especially as a single person
@@pucca9648 I agree, the lack of separation for the bathroom and the huge windows showing everything to people outside were the things I didnt like, but other than that, I'd gladly live in one
@@wallacesousuke1433 No I can imagine that some people are fine with small spaces. It’s just the way they talk about it that makes it sound like they’re desperately looking for reasons. I mean “I don’t have to walk far to get stuff” or “I’m never home anyway” aren’t exactly good reasons imo. Plus, would you really want to be shitting right next to your sleeping spot? Like hey let me just do a dump and then lie down in bed, while my entire room reeks? Idk man.
The first tenant was really proud of his bath time. But Okazaki-san really took it to another level. She was really positive. Rather than feeling bad that its small, I feel good about it being small.
Okazaki seems to have a lovely view on life, enjoying the small things and maximizing the most out of the least. When she started talking about waiting to see the cats walk by, it just shows how the littlest moments of joy can be so big!
She literally talked like an anime character lol, that cat thing was definitely something I'd hear in an anime. And the way she makes that surprised sound when she first walks in a room and then makes some cute little comment lol that was adorable I really like her
Both tenants had such incredible energy like "I do everything in the bath" "when I'm not in the bath I'm outside" and "I'm especially lazy" "I just sit and stare out the window for hours" like YES these are my people
@@DM-kv9kj yknow some people don't need huge houses to live in, some are comfortable with homes like shown in the video. She doesn't look depressed at all I see that she is extremely fine with her tiny space. I may not personally know the problems in Japan but I don't think the guy is glamorizing anything in this video he's just showing us that these apartments exist
Both of the students were so gracious to show everyone their living spaces. They each used their own space to help maximize the use of the small space the had. They didn't seem to mind living in a small place, both looked content with their own space, although I do believe Okasaki-san may have wanted that that loft space after seeing it lol! I enjoyed both of them! Thank you to both of them for sharing their homes with us!
Love Ueda’s apartment, “if I’m not in the bath, I’m outside”. His plants and his books made the space seem full of life and personality. If I lived there I’d think about a custom board to fit over the bath, then it could be a table/seating area maybe? But he obviously loves bath time so having it as is makes sense! Thanks for showing us around.
I had the idea of a board or table over the bath too. Maybe a table that folds up against the wall when using the bath. Interesting to see how the two used their spaces.
Very good idea, with that it would make room for about 2 guests or so for drinks. Great to read such ideas. he could also get a fold out "door" for his bathroom if he ever feels the want to have guests.
both the students living there are studying architecture, they know how to plan their living place. and I think it is great to live in a place like this, well, not really too cramp and has all the things you need for a cheaper price (maybe?). A great personal space to relax, let your imagination free or wait for the cats to come across, love it
@@LenaLuthorWife in my opinion they only fit things that they need. As Okazaki-san said, even if you have a bigger house, you will fill it with unnecessary items. With a small room, you have to tidy things up. I mean it's great to have space to discover new things, but the students in the video can be creative in their room, they even have plants
6:00 This guy gets it! Not only has he adapted to his environment, he has embraced the whole concept and celebrates it.🎉 Personally I could use a couple more square feet/meters but I'm totally into this kind of minimalism. I guess growing up in a dormitory has had some lasting effects 😮
@@majesticeagle5461 why not? from an environmentally and societal perspective it is obviously extremely good. I can totally get into minimalism, less things to think about and manage. For me that is relaxing. Altho these tiny apps are too small for me, but mad respect for the positive people living there.
I guess that’s why that young woman is an architecture in the making. She was instantly able to visualise how to utilise the space and what life would be like in it.
How would u not mind living there?! Prisons in our country have more room than that. This is absolutely not a good place to live! How will u raise kids there..
@@kobalov1 not everyone wants to have kids and even if they do, no one said anything about growing old there. but i can imagine that living there as a student could work fine.
She seemed so cheerful and childish but also very humble and down to earth. Her creative mindset seems to be derived from her personality and I think architecture is a great field for her.
She's super positive (honestly, I think her room was the best one to live in, the second empty one just had the best desk, and the guy's room had a great atmosphere with all of those plants and books).
okay. Okazaki is adorable. Just so cheerful with a hint of weird... ok maybe more than a hint but it's adorable. She also nails that cat route, that's probably the highlight of that unit. Ueda has his priorities and sees all the benefits and seems to think the cons are only a problem if you let them be. I wish I could embrace situations like he does.
I like the concept that every apartment focuses on a room. The ground floor apartment focuses on the bedroom, the first floor empty apartment focuses on the kitchen, Ueda's apartment focuses on the bathroom and Okazaki's apartment focuses on the living room.
I actually really liked the woman's room the most. And I liked the idea of the guy's room with the tub and his bed being above him. He had it decorated nicely, not that there's alot to decorate, but it looked very crisp and clean. Very minimalistic. Depending on my situation & finances, if I needed to save money I would prolly rent one of those apartments. I mean, you get all the main necessities you need in life, aside from no kitchen nor washer/dryer. To someone not wanting much & just needing a place to lay their head at night & clean themselves, then this would be the perfect place.
The woman's room has all that I'd want in a tiny apartment. A main space that can be the living room and the bed because I like sleeping on the floor, so it's perfect for me, a closed bathroom that can also be used to do laundry (and dry laundry by hanging it on the window, maybe?), and a simple kitchen area because I also like to do my own cooking. The one with the pillar in the room also looks decent. The long table could be used as a kitchen and/or laundry area. The bathroom area can somewhat be closed off with curtains or plywood. And tons of space for bed.
This is like when you're playing the Sims and you're just trying to cram everything into a tiny space. But on the flip side... depending on where I was in life (ex. if I just needed a place to crash in as a student?) I could picture myself living here. Thanks for sharing Norm!
Speaking of The Sims I used to always start a new house and put the maximum number of adults in the same house such that I couldn't even afford beds for everyone and they'd share everything sleeping in shifts and stuff as I slowly started to build the house out to properly accommodate everyone but in the beginning the household is sort of a miserable flop house. My girlfriend at the time really liked The Sims too and she walked over and watched me playing the game this way and then she frowned and said "You're playing it wrong!"😆
@@TokyoLens hey there dude just discovered your channel 4 years age & feel in love . ‘ what’s your opinion on japan going back to making game consuls just like in the 70s ?
2 years on. This was the first of yours I watched and I’m so glad it showed up in my recommended videos. I don’t comment often but your videos have become a beloved Sunday tradition for me. Thank you Norm.
I needed to see that positive energy from her. At the end of the day, it all comes down to perspective. Her excitement gave the spaces new meaning. Both the students did really well in utilizing their spaces.
@@cincinnati8087 objectively, your comments are turds. Objectively, living on the street would be shit so that makes your comment not so objective. Objectively, there are other places people would rather live, than Cincinnati.
Okazaki is so adorable and positive about everything, I like how both architecture students were able to turn the small spaces into something unique and amazing.
I have ocd and I can not stand too many household items. I feel ya on this, I also would enjoy the smaller home. A little bigger than these ones though. At least enough room for a guest bedroom plus the one I'd sleep in.
@@emiliagolden4441 personally cant relate but im also used to having a space large enough to play VR in and also be able to stretch in any direction without hitting a wall.
Lol but there is nowhere to breath,besides u can have bigger space bit it doesn't mean u need to stuff it up,it's about having a big space to breath and have more fun
Okazaki is adorable. I think studying architecture really fits her. When she came into the first new room I think you could really see her working and figuring out how everything was put together and what might have been the thought behind it.
I had to laugh when Okazaki-san mentioned "So im basically just sitting here staring out of the window", but what she said after was very relatable about ending up owning to much if you're in a bigger place. She's so genuine
The two University Students were a great aspect to this video tour! Each having their unique desires for their living space and each being equally satisfied. Ms. Okazaki's optimism really shows in her description of the allure of each vacant unit. She's almost like a happy go lucky Engineer from an anime that loves getting into all the spaces and makes sure that every space is utilized and multifunctional.
The only one of those apartments I could imagine living in is Okazaki’s apartment. It’s the only one with a sectioned off bathroom and it has a kitchen space. It’s also not weirdly shaped and you can move around easily (except in the bathroom lol). The living room area is versatile since you study in there relax, eat food or you can put out a futon and sleep.
My SO would 100% pick the bathtub though, he loves baths too much! XD Japanese love their baths, they have numerous hot spring onsen across the country and public baths like Spa World, and even the (now gone) famous Oedo onsen where they have the occassional anime collaboration, an arcade/fun area and eating spots like a tiny village inside with numerous types of baths as well.
I know that big city in Japan has limited space and high cost living, but the more I see this tiny apartments and how the (competitive and really demanding) working lifestyle make me realize that this tiny apartment looks more and more like a prison cell rather than a home.
For college students though I don't necessarily see it as a bad thing, and they look happy. I lived in dorm rooms which were essentially prison sells, even the walls were concrete, and I legit loved the dorm life. Long term though, I could never do this. I'm too accustomed to my house with space and a yard at this point.
I have visited some in Tokyo and it is honestly not as bad as it seems. In Tokyo fast food is extremely cheap and usually healthy, it is normal to eat most of your meals outside, thus you do not need a kitchen. Some buildings have shared bathrooms and toilets aswell, but not shitty toilets. It is high quality 10 toilets shared with 30 units, so it is always atleast one unit free, and they are all clean, because Japanese are just good like that. And the bathing area is like a luxury spa. Shared with a lot of people, but still, really nice. With the culture they have it just works. Idk is an excessive american suburban home where you constantly compete with your shitty neighbor over materialistic status that does not matter better?
The girl is going to go so far in life as long as no one crushes her spirit. I know she's a young woman, but she has a child like imagination and attitude.. not in a bad way! It's so refreshing actually. Watching her being so excited about such a small space and speaking about how she would set things up, etc. Idk, I'm probably not explaining myself well, she just has a lovely spirit and attitude.
I agree with you wholeheartedly. It's difficult to put into words, but one can truly feel her zest for life and the childlike curiosity/spirit that she exudes. Her joy is contagious.
@Orange300 which is reasonable but laziness isn’t the best quality when talking about the said person’s success and potential. I’m not tryna throw shade, if she’s happy that’s kinda all that matters, but I would disagree with OP’s opinion here.
Okazaki's apartment felt the most "livable" of all of them to me, but a lot of that could also be her minimalist style and the way she has the space set up. I think it would be fun to stay in a place like this if I was traveling and staying there while I explored the city or something. I know if I had to live in a space like that for a long time that my mental health would suffer, though.
If you lived in one of these apartments you would probably not spend a lot of time in there anyways. I imagine Tokyo has all kinds of amenities closeby.
I liked Okazaki's energy, it seems like she is just vibing with positive energy all the time, a lot of optimism. About the apartments, is interesting to get this perspective.
The apartments are nightmares and the victims who live in them, conditioned to tolerate them. In a country as large as japan, there's zero reason for such tiny spaces. If you watched a video about homeless people living rough in an abandoned warehouse you'd feel sorry for them. These spaces have little difference to an abandoned warehouse except the homeless person would have more space and be less inclined to go crazy
I wish we had such apartments in Canada, I'd be thrilled to live in a quirky small place like this! I have ADHD and when the girl said how much easier it was to manage a small space and not get overwhelmed with a lot of stuff, she was singing my song! I feel like my only option here will be to turn a van into a living space.
At first i was kinda shocked at how small and inconvenient those apartments seemed, but after seeing how those two university students used their spaces and thought about it, i found myself fascinated with the tiny apartments. Especially Okazaki-san‘s enthusiasm and ideas on how to use the empty rooms she hadn‘t seen before was absolutely delightful to witness. Loved it!
I have lived in a van for a bit while travelling and have plans for some day doing up a sprinter van as a kind of motor home and really get the whole enjoyment of having everything near enough to within arms reach. Also 500 a month mate I would be hella happy with the sacrifices. Cheap enough to eat out in japan to.
This video was super fun to watch and I actually ended up using the apartment layouts as a deisn and architecture challenges for myself to see how I could change up the living spaces to be more efficient! It was super cool to see how the two people decorated their apartments and found the charm of the small homes.
Okazaki's positivity and excitement changed the whole feeling of the video. At first I felt claustrophobic and by the end I felt refreshed by the grateful perspective. Makes me feel like I need to work on my outlook
I love how excited the young lady was over the apartment she went to see. She even took pictures! I'm wondering if she moved to that apartment after this video. Would be fun to see a follow up video if she did.
Whoa! It makes a lot of sense that architecture students would be interested in living in a place like that. The concept is really cool! I don't think I'd want to live there though, at least not long term!
@@PathikritGhosh007 as an architecture student, I can confirm that unique rooms are like honey to bee's for people interested in architecture and interiors, figuring out the layout and how one occupies the space being the most fun....and you know, proving that it can still be functional
Is this the episode where you met Okazaki? I've seen other episodes with her and she is so adorable and unbelievably positive. You could show her the worst place you could think of and she'll find something to be amazed about. Her perspective is so unique and I absolutely love it. I want her to visit every apartment on Earth. Just travel the globe reviewing apartments from $50 a month to the $135 million dollar penthouse in NYC.
I loved how positive she was about everything and hearing her real experienced and fresh perspective, and I was being pretty optimistic about the spaces. But there's no way I could live with those bathroom setups. I'm a very private person and hers was the only bathroom I'd feel comfortable in because it's the only one closed off and not in view of people outside. The quirks from basing the design around a central element were really cool
Ya I liked her apartment the best because she did have a private washroom. Toilet 🚽 and shower 🚿 is all you need, just wash your hands in the sink in the main room!
Ueda's dedication to the concept is amazing, I love it! "Everything in the tub" made me go "wow!" out loud. I bet the person who designed this place would be so thrilled to know this haha
Yes, that's why I wrote in another comment that she feels like a zen monk. Same with the cat spotting place, you can be happy obaout the small things in life, or just life itself. She just feels like a happy, cozy, dreamy girl. I am really curious if she ends up designing houses. I would love to see them.
These videos are so amazing. If I wasn't someone that loves to shop all the time and didn't have so many clothes then I definitely would live in these apartments. It's just so amazing to know how ppl could and enjoy living in such a small space. I think I could live in a small space but I would definitely need a storage unit lol. The ppl on the video have inspired me to literally enjoy the little things in life, no pun intended.
She was too cute with all her excitement! It really is this simple and they're as happy as can be. You're paying for storage space for your stuff while you're gone for most of the waking day. Why do people need to have SO much stuff? Love these two
@@divyabaweja8869 I'm assuming a traditional futon mattress on the floor. It looks like there's one folded up and stored on the shelf above the bathroom.
I'm not gone for most of the waking day. I'm away for max. 7 - 8 hours a day 5 days a week... when I used to work. Right now I study from home so I'm away maybe 7 - 8 hours A WEEK. I need my space, I need a kitchen, I need an office for my computer (can't live without it), I need a bathroom I can relax in. I'm not a hobbit. I'm not a dwarf. These apartments are made for flies. They're too small for someone with hobbies and someone who spends most of their time at home. And I also don't want to live in a mess. I prefer my place neat and clean. If I had to go small an apt. of maybe 20m^2 would be the smallest I could go. These are like 10m^2. It's claustrophobic and there's no space for cooking and no space for a computer. You'd have to be an extremely social person who spends very little time at home to survive in these.
Those 2 were Architecture students and it totally showed in the way they utilised the space. Okazaki-san's ideas💡were pretty good 👍👍👍👍She would make a great architect for sure!! Mining opportunities from what can be considered hopeless by someone!!! Truly hats-off👏👏☺️
@@abcde3347 nope..in med school. but have experience of seeing my family home being constructed under an architect's proper supervision right from the foundation till interior. He was brilliant.
50% of the time I was like no way, I couldn’t do that, then the other 50% was imagining how I could use the space. Both of those tenants were beyond positive people.
I love how much the young man loves his bath tub 😂 He will definitely be incorporating that into his dream house in the future! There is no going back haha it's so interesting to see tiny apartments in Japan, I myself spent a few years in one just a little bigger than those shown here!
He’s just being polite. You can tell how he really feels when he talks about keeping the windows open. Wax lyrical all you want about cultural differences and so on but the simple truth is that cramped dwellings like this cause severe strain on one’s mental health. It’s like a supermax cell with more amenities.
My one requirement for my first apartment was a separate bathroom from my cooking space. I didn't care about the size, I just did not want to poop where I eat. Mad props to people like these two students who see the charming aspect of apartments like these and thrive in the small spaces.
Mad props to sheep who have let their country go so far in the ways of controlling the people that they now live in closets stacked on top of one another.
Also more storage under the bed. I'm sure there's a good reason why there isn't but it seems like there's some wasted space in an apartment where you can't afford to waste any of that.
To be honest, I would actually maybe like this. I get easily overwhelmed and small cozy spaces make me feel safe. I also love the idea of a loft sleeping space. Seems so cozy!
The way they kept both of their places perfectly neat and tidy blows my mind, I could hv never managed to arrange all of my stuff in that tiny space, really appreciate the way they maintained their places
But thats the thing, as one of them point out, when you're living in such a small space it means that you just wont own as much stuff, just the essentials, keeping it basic.
I’m so in love with those units, it’s so cute how each one has a different focal point, one living room, a bath, and a kitchen. I like the guy’s the best, the light with the plants he put in and the bath makes for a very relaxing spa like environment. 😊
dont worry darling, small spaces wont bite you :3 i have fear of open spaces, i feel naked and vulnerable there. small closed spaces are cozy, like a cat who likes to snuggle up a tiny box or tube :3
I think the two occupants have the better apartment layouts, even if the tub is in the middle of Ueda's room. Very clever to use the beams as a bookshelf. Okazaki has everything with a bathroom and mini kitchen plus a place to sit. The stairs cutting off the room of the first apartment plus the lack of area to hang clothes other than over the bed would drive me nuts. I also don't see why the whole underside of the bed isn't storage. The long counter room could be useful if that pole wasn't in the way.
@@ithikithik i think the bathroom and toilet in the first room could be managed if the person who stays there can get the owner’s permission to place a beam and then use some covers I used to live in a tiny space and managed to get some privacy with this technique My biggest problem would be the pole though
yes, claustrophic people are definitely not the target consumers xD but putting that aside would make these rooms a great space, just not for everyone 😩 sometimes I feel claustrophobic as well, sadly 🤣
At first it felt kinda weird "I can't live in a place like that" and then the lady changed my mind haha she's so creative and had great ideas (and I love her place), great choice of her to study Architecture !
i would mind living in a small place like that because i wouldn't own a cat and a dog then , my bedroom is 5-6 time bigger then those appartment. It's just insane.
@@Maialeen well it's not like I had a strong opinion to start with, I never thought about it but had some prejudices and the thing that's more interesting and not scared is that she clearly has a lot of imagination (way more than me) and could make me think with a different perspective. And how she imagined the room was enough for me to agree. What's more scary is to maintain its opinion only for the sake of not being "manipulated". And finally it's not okay for everyone, but when you cannot afford a big place this is comforting, and there are people who prefers small places
I love that bath with all that natural light it’s stunning! And all of his plants make it feel like you’re in another dimension! At night I bet it is gorgeous ❤❤
That woman talking about being lazy really hits the mark. I went from living at my moms house, to one apartment, to another apartment, to my own house, each being bigger than the last in terms of my own living/storage space. The amount of stuff I have accumulated has just increased with each increase in available size. As does the amount of cleaning.
@@Ali-mv3jc Sometimes I really show signs of hoarding because I tend to keep anything that's potentially useful. I can see how this would be prevented in a small space where you don't have a choice to keep things.
@@ivanlagrossemoule my dad does the same, to try and reduce it we either give stuff away to people we know, donate it or put it for free online. That way it's useful for someone else. Best wishes 🙂
These are amazing to me. I live in a moderately decent house in a crap neighborhood today but 20 years ago I was homeless on the streets of palm springs. If something like this existed for say $100 a month then my life would have been exponentially better. This could truly save people's lives in LA. WHY AREN'T WE DOING THIS!?!?!?
I wonder that too when I see this kind of thing. I did see some recent videos touring the streets of LA and they did finally either build or renovate a couple of places into apart the buildings to clean up the streets a little bit, but skid row definitely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon!
with strict zoning laws in LA, you can't build anything except single family house, where everything is so spread out.. no shops, cafes, etc, in walking distance. so build an apartment like this is impossible
I just love their perspectives so much. Rather than focus on the negatives of the small space, they appreciate the things that make the small spaces better. Especially the lady thinking about seeing the cats walking by… that was so wholesome 🥰 It’s honestly an intriguing and awesome concept, building the apartments around one space. It clearly works for people, that guy enjoys baths as much as I do 😅
Gotta admit the tatami in her room is possibly the best feature. The first apartment we had in Tokyo had a tatami room and it's where we slept. There's something... soothing about the smell of the rice straw flooring. Always brings me back to that place.
@@hechetonchieres We never did. Just clean them occasionally and they're fine. Some people do use a kind of... insecticide for them if you get an infestation but we never had that problem.
this made me feel better about my apartment, i thought my place was small and these people are so grateful for their tiny place it makes me feel like i live in a mansion
They are college student that probably saving up money for tuition. They probably move out after they graduate. even i wouldn't really mind living there temporary
i miss my single day when im only rent a room in share house or my studio apartment day. own little things and easier to clean is true. now with my husband in our two bedrooms house it seems very cluttered.
This is fantastic. They need something similar in large cities in the USA. Imagine being able to live and rent in New York City for $600 per month! $600 rent in Tokyo is incredible.
Fully agreed! In fact, I find it rather bizarre something like this *doesn't* already exist because, honestly, one would think there would be an easy and eager market for it, yeah?
it’s interesting how many people were talking about Okazaki San compared to Ueda San when they both had knowledge on the spacial surroundings and usage of their rooms and interesting personalities not to mention their acceptance to let their room be showcased.
I looooved the woman’s perspective on everything and how excited she was to see the spaces and imagine all the things that could be done! She definitely put a smile on my face and changed my mindset of the apartment complex :)
At first I thought it was strange but when I saw the people living there and heard their explanations it felt like it makes sense. I felt kinda confused at first that architecture students would like living there (I understand the student part though lol and was my first thought when I saw the apartment) but Okazaki-san looking around the other rooms and imagining what to do to them made me feel like it makes sense.
I have to agree with Okazaki that living in a very small space can be oddly freeing and cozy. When I lived in Japan, my room was 5.5m² (with a separate bathroom tho) so all that fit in there was a bed, a desk, a small fridge and some shelves on the wall over the desk for storage. But I managed to live there for a year not owning very much but also not really missing anything. When I look around the apartment that I have now, I realize that in contrast now I have so much stuff that I essentially don't really need and having so much stuff and space can somehow weigh you down sometimes.
As a tall person, to me it's beyond claustrophobic but the windows do help. I can see the benefits for students, or those who like to live a minimal lifestyle. It's too bad the design could not avoid the giant metal beams in the rooms in very inconvenient locations! I'd cover some of the windows in that film that comes in patterns to give privacy but keep the light. Thanks for sharing this with us!
The opposite story sometimes happens when Asians marry Americans. They come here, and they think our houses are HUGE. Some are; but I lived with nine other kids in a very small house. One of my favorites was the Gamble House in Pasadena, best known as the mansion of Dr. Brown in "Back to the Future." It's nice, but I wouldn't need one that big.
What do you think? Would YOU live there? Or did you prefer the last place? (th-cam.com/video/jZ7Bu_SDJgM/w-d-xo.html)
||||||||||||| CHECK THIS OUT BELOW!!! |||||||||||||
----- **OFFICIALLY FOUND JAPAN'S WORST TINY APARTMENT:** th-cam.com/video/R4oQDnHlrR0/w-d-xo.html -----
*OKAZAKI SAN came with me to check out OSAKA'S WEIRDEST TINY Apartment* ------- th-cam.com/video/8XwGFM4ZNv0/w-d-xo.html
The people we met in this video were so amazing that I may even post an extended version of this over on Patreon with the full interviews and tours!!
Definitely never going to life there I need my space.
I feel like I'd need to be far cooler than I am to live there. I'd make it look like squalor 😂😭
I kinda need much more space than this, like at least 3 rooms, a kitchen cuz I'm Chinese and I just felt like wanting to be able to cook, a bathroom that has a tub cuz here in Malaysia, you would be consider rich if you have a tub in your bathroom and a bedroom that's at least 12.25m² like my current room, big enough for my bed, a computer I plan to build and a cupboard to weeb out and buy figurines and nendos
I totally could and would really like to live in all of those small apartments! Tiny house living in Tokyo :) Get‘s your brain thinking creatively… You literally saw that in her eyes, as she started the „creativity process“! Love it!!
I really don't think I could live there....would need to change my lifestyle to a minimalistic approach to be able to stay there XD
They were really interesting though~~ living out of the tub would be interesting though~~
So impressed with the positive attitude of the two students. They saw the possibilities of the spaces.
Yeha stockholm syndrome stuff lol
It's the best excuse for not having to host guests
@NoQue Q So many are spoiled or only see the negative.
Socialism sucks
@NoQue Q what are you talking about? I like their positive attitude and outlook. Not once did they have negative comments. The spoiled comment was not directed to anyone in particular so you shouldn’t be offended unless it applies to you.
I loved how the empty apartments seemed cold and non-functional, but seeing Ueda-san and Okazaki-san's living spaces, they were little homes. And how Okazaki-san immediately saw how to inhabit the empty room, that was really fun.
Yes, that was exactly what I thought too! Like, "I will never even try to live in such a place!" was how I first felt, but when I saw their rooms, I seriously think it is ok to stay in room like theirs for a short period of time xD
I really think if I had seen their places empty it would heave felt unlivable, but seeing their stuff and how they've figured things out it really doesn't seem too unlivable. That said for $200 more I had an apartment with ten times the space in the capital of my state so its a bit funny.
Ueda-san has a minimalist wardrobe of black and white, which does a lot to save space. I noticed that neither of these two people seem to have bulky personal electronics like a large TV, stereo, or gaming computer. All their electronic entertainment may be coming through their smartphones.
@@bluebat7496 There is no space for a computer or tv, doh :D
Kun?
This man is out here living his life in a bathtub surrounded by plants and natural light.
Mad respect
fr
The lady just chilling on her tatami, staring out of the window, as well!
Quite amazed with that while im thinking a lot kn what to do with my room its too big for me and i have a lot of space to put my stuffs in
My man there is a literal plant
Dude has his prioretys absolutely straight!
The fact that both the residents are architecture students 😂
I feel like that's not a coincidence, I wonder if they get inspired by their homes and the way they're utilising space. Like, Ueda's apartment with the bookshelving beams and all the plants really made it feel lived in.
I think they would look around their apartment and be like...."Ok, all the things I won't do in future designs" XD
I would guess the landlord is an architect working as a teacher in their school, and that they pick up tenants from class.
Well Since they live in small apartments And see interesting perspectives about houses I think it’s a coincidence.
@@ingvarhallstrom2306I think so 😅😅
The way Okazari instantly appreciated the possibilities for the space, I know she will make a fantastic architect. I imagine living where she does helps with that.
shes so funny too lol
Lovely personality.
A total darling
@
She never showed where her bed was? Was it behind that door by her kitchen?
Weird because he showed everyone one else's sleeping area.
Small apartments can be very cool and even homey to live in, but I feel like a seperate room for the bathroom is a must
it's like somebody used the sims 4 tiny living pack to design it 😆
Exactly- it should not be anywhere near my sitting or bedroom space, everything else is fine by me 👌
A toilet in the kitchen. Gross
"Small apartments can be very cool" ???
Are you kidding me???
Eating in the same room with toilet in it ???!!!
Bathtub with the window/plants looks so luxe. BUT when u gotta poop and the smell travels everywhere and up to your bed... that would've been a deal breaker for me 🤧
6:12 I love how this guy literally just uses everything to his advantage, from the steel beams for a bookshelf, to the most pragmatic and minimalist use of a pole for privacy ever.
And he [can] eat meals, drink and watch movies sitting in the bathtub :D
@@DanielSabrel Absolute boss of his own realm. This is his kingdom.
@@VesperAegis
He’s a badass, living in a tiny house but he can watch TV while bathing and not give a damn about missing his favorite shows.
I loved his use of houseplants to make it feel like home, and give privacy. With all those windows you could have a jungle in there.
😯 it looks like a cell. Clausterphobic 😬
You can tell she studies architecture by how intriguing she found the spaces. As someone who wants to study architecture in the future I understand why she was interested
Feels like she's gonna be a great architect. In just few moment, she's already throwing in her perspectives about the room and how to improve it and she notices every little tiny detail for the room you showed her.
never really thought that there are such tiny apartments here in japan.
Tokyo especially has many tiny apartments, similar to these, but lacking the nice design aspect. Those are called "aparto" and much more challenging (depressing) to live in, as they don't have the window/ fresh air aspect.
Okazaki’s energy is infectious, it was so cute hearing how excited she was about each space. I wish the best for her.
no bitches?
@@lalap6706 can you elaborate?
@@18yearsago88 M plum I Kim m p
Ono olis
Kim Mikel pop pm
You're right. I pray that GOD will bless, protect, and give her favor wherever she is.
I loved Okazaki-san’s energy and the way she imagines using the space. All these apartments are interesting, thanks for showing them to us Norm.
She gives that vibe that she really is an Architecture student who lives her life out of passion.
She feels a bit like a zen monk.
Yeah, she should be hired for every apartment tour video from now on!
I loved her too. And the little things she noticed like the path to watch the cats. So cute :)
I dont mind with the tiny space in small room.. lesser managing or owning stuff, only basic necessities is just enough
More natural light in these tiny apartments than huge houses, must be very cold in Winter
and veeery hot in summer
Especially without a ceiling.
Those mini splits(white cylinder thing sticking out) at the top of the rooms take care of AC and heating. I'd imagine if they have a need for more heat it wouldn't be hard with a little heater but those mini splits are very efficient with people in the USA upgrading to them because they are cheaper than whole house vent systems here in the USA with direct heat and cooling.
@@MrMega200 Yep. And I would guess the "mystery hole" was to allow the cool air from the mini to sink to the lower level as well(?) I dunno
Oh hi Leo nice to see you here
I like the lady's perspective. Especially what she said about being lazy, how having a small room helps her to be more tidy and organized. I know that would be a definite plus for me.
Idk to me it sounded like they were desperately looking for positive aspects. It doesn’t really sound like an advantage.
@@lujorom9172 I can definitely relate to her wanting smaller space. I actually could relate to both of their advantages - guess it'll be perfect for minimalist and lazy people who wanted to save money?
@@lujorom9172 oh maybe you refuse to accept that some people might be ok with not living in a huge ass home.. I for one dont mind tiny homes like this especially as a single person
@@pucca9648 I agree, the lack of separation for the bathroom and the huge windows showing everything to people outside were the things I didnt like, but other than that, I'd gladly live in one
@@wallacesousuke1433 No I can imagine that some people are fine with small spaces. It’s just the way they talk about it that makes it sound like they’re desperately looking for reasons. I mean “I don’t have to walk far to get stuff” or “I’m never home anyway” aren’t exactly good reasons imo.
Plus, would you really want to be shitting right next to your sleeping spot? Like hey let me just do a dump and then lie down in bed, while my entire room reeks? Idk man.
Okazaki san was the perfect person to inspect these tiny apartments with
Honestly amazing energy
I'd like her to be a guest on the channel in the future too!
She is great
She's nice. With her open mind, i can see her becoming a good architect
@@TokyoLens please invite her more.. think im in love :( thank u
The first tenant was really proud of his bath time. But Okazaki-san really took it to another level. She was really positive. Rather than feeling bad that its small, I feel good about it being small.
It's not the size that matters, it's how you use it 😉
He REALLY like to be in his Thub🦭
I'd ask ..."why don't you have the new xbox series x?" ...he'd probably reply "I'd have to get rid of my bath"
@@andysmith5464 man I just watched a Xbox video and here your comment here lol, eagerly waiting for my Xbox to get delivered today 😂
@@aritradhabal congrats! ..I know how frustrating it is to get one without turning to the scalpers.
They both seemed not only content but happy with their homes as well. It was nice to see 😊
Can you imagine how good architect Okazaki will be? She immediately have seen the opportunities even in the most awkward spaces.
Yes indeed 🙂
I hope Okazaki becomes famous.
Yes agree
I loved her expressions of delight in each place.
She is very gifted 💗
Okazaki seems to have a lovely view on life, enjoying the small things and maximizing the most out of the least. When she started talking about waiting to see the cats walk by, it just shows how the littlest moments of joy can be so big!
She literally talked like an anime character lol, that cat thing was definitely something I'd hear in an anime. And the way she makes that surprised sound when she first walks in a room and then makes some cute little comment lol that was adorable I really like her
@@theNimboo You're not wrong 😆 She is very adorable!
@@theNimboo shes not talking like an anime character weirdo, shes speaking japanese. fucking weeaboos
@@theNimboo that’s how all Japanese express their excitement and surprise. It formed part of the reaction and communication.
@@mikaNmiyu Oh so anime is copying real life not the other way around haha. They all make that little sound when they walk in a room? haha it cute
Both tenants had such incredible energy like "I do everything in the bath" "when I'm not in the bath I'm outside" and "I'm especially lazy" "I just sit and stare out the window for hours" like YES these are my people
RIGHTTT
@@DM-kv9kj yknow some people don't need huge houses to live in, some are comfortable with homes like shown in the video. She doesn't look depressed at all I see that she is extremely fine with her tiny space. I may not personally know the problems in Japan but I don't think the guy is glamorizing anything in this video he's just showing us that these apartments exist
@@DM-kv9kj not many people in the west leave their bedrooms or living rooms lol
Yeah cuz their rooms about as big as the street in front of the building. Makes sense when you think bout it
Obviously you’s are all three cats in a trench coat
I really love Okazaki's energy and humour, i hope she never changes.
She's so quirky i love it ^^
Both of the students were so gracious to show everyone their living spaces. They each used their own space to help maximize the use of the small space the had. They didn't seem to mind living in a small place, both looked content with their own space, although I do believe Okasaki-san may have wanted that that loft space after seeing it lol! I enjoyed both of them! Thank you to both of them for sharing their homes with us!
1k likes and no replies, well that's rare
does anyone know if they’ve plugged in their instagrams ?
Love Ueda’s apartment, “if I’m not in the bath, I’m outside”. His plants and his books made the space seem full of life and personality. If I lived there I’d think about a custom board to fit over the bath, then it could be a table/seating area maybe? But he obviously loves bath time so having it as is makes sense! Thanks for showing us around.
My thoughts exactly!! I was wondering if I could build a frame/seat and not break the bath 😆
That's such a good idea!! With a board and a yoga mat/thin futon that could be rolled up when not in use, it could easily become a couch
I had the idea of a board or table over the bath too. Maybe a table that folds up against the wall when using the bath. Interesting to see how the two used their spaces.
Very good idea, with that it would make room for about 2 guests or so for drinks. Great to read such ideas.
he could also get a fold out "door" for his bathroom if he ever feels the want to have guests.
This room should really have a large wine rack within arms reach...
both the students living there are studying architecture, they know how to plan their living place. and I think it is great to live in a place like this, well, not really too cramp and has all the things you need for a cheaper price (maybe?). A great personal space to relax, let your imagination free or wait for the cats to come across, love it
yah actually after seeing them putting their things it doesnt look that small I mean is okay
@@LenaLuthorWife in my opinion they only fit things that they need. As Okazaki-san said, even if you have a bigger house, you will fill it with unnecessary items. With a small room, you have to tidy things up. I mean it's great to have space to discover new things, but the students in the video can be creative in their room, they even have plants
I think, as future architects, they must just enjoy the challenge of making tiny spaces work and being innovative and creative with it.
6:00 This guy gets it! Not only has he adapted to his environment, he has embraced the whole concept and celebrates it.🎉
Personally I could use a couple more square feet/meters but I'm totally into this kind of minimalism. I guess growing up in a dormitory has had some lasting effects 😮
Yeah I don’t think this is really a good thing that you should “be into”
@@majesticeagle5461 why not? from an environmentally and societal perspective it is obviously extremely good.
I can totally get into minimalism, less things to think about and manage. For me that is relaxing. Altho these tiny apps are too small for me, but mad respect for the positive people living there.
@@majesticeagle5461I don't think so. These kind of spaces give a relaxing feeling to me and easy to manage.
@@mangomariel You missed my point(holy shit bad misspelling)
@@IppoX90 it seems extremely hard to manage to me
I guess that’s why that young woman is an architecture in the making. She was instantly able to visualise how to utilise the space and what life would be like in it.
True!
I just love her! Amazing personality 💖
@@stillwatersrundeep001 thank you for the grammar lesson...
She is brilliant, beautiful, proper, and has a great sense of humor. She is hilarious.
The first guy had decorated the apartment so well that i actually wouldn't mind living in that tiny space
It looked great with the plants
If he put a board / some kind of cover on the tub when not in use, then he could have a seating space
How would u not mind living there?! Prisons in our country have more room than that. This is absolutely not a good place to live! How will u raise kids there..
@@kobalov1 what if the person doesn't have kids 😭😭 some people just don't mind the small space
@@kobalov1 not everyone wants to have kids and even if they do, no one said anything about growing old there. but i can imagine that living there as a student could work fine.
I couldn’t stop laughing when she said “So let me show you around the room” *waves hand* “there it is” that was hilarious
@@cesarcuevas4593 I too am very white, and I think it is fascinating. Whiteness has nothing to do with it.
@@cesarcuevas4593 tf does being white gotta do with this? 🤦🏿♂️
@@ThatsaToilet yeah, I don't understand either
@@standunitedorfall1863 what🤦🏽♀️
@@cesarcuevas4593 Um wtf
This is where the friendship started! I love her checking out new places. She is such a delight 🥰
She seemed so cheerful and childish but also very humble and down to earth. Her creative mindset seems to be derived from her personality and I think architecture is a great field for her.
She's super positive (honestly, I think her room was the best one to live in, the second empty one just had the best desk, and the guy's room had a great atmosphere with all of those plants and books).
agree I laughed when she said the simplest thing like watching the cats to look fwd to while I dnt even think of that
I want her room!! Though the first apartment's layout of bath/bedroom is super similar to my house (I live in a travel trailer).
Yeah she definitely has the best room out of all those apartments.
He made it work by having those plants. :)
okay. Okazaki is adorable. Just so cheerful with a hint of weird... ok maybe more than a hint but it's adorable. She also nails that cat route, that's probably the highlight of that unit.
Ueda has his priorities and sees all the benefits and seems to think the cons are only a problem if you let them be. I wish I could embrace situations like he does.
She stole the show. Cute weirdo.
Love how excited she got over the laundry room studio, and it's "big loft"
Yea I find her oddly cute in a good way! She can just do tour videos of these micro apartments and talk about it and id watch it lol
nothing weird about her. what an obnoxious half-brain you must be.
@@Excal123 dm her because you're onto something ma dude!
Okazaki fragments 😲
I like the concept that every apartment focuses on a room. The ground floor apartment focuses on the bedroom, the first floor empty apartment focuses on the kitchen, Ueda's apartment focuses on the bathroom and Okazaki's apartment focuses on the living room.
I believe they call that concept a “house”
I actually really liked the woman's room the most. And I liked the idea of the guy's room with the tub and his bed being above him. He had it decorated nicely, not that there's alot to decorate, but it looked very crisp and clean. Very minimalistic. Depending on my situation & finances, if I needed to save money I would prolly rent one of those apartments. I mean, you get all the main necessities you need in life, aside from no kitchen nor washer/dryer. To someone not wanting much & just needing a place to lay their head at night & clean themselves, then this would be the perfect place.
The woman's room has all that I'd want in a tiny apartment. A main space that can be the living room and the bed because I like sleeping on the floor, so it's perfect for me, a closed bathroom that can also be used to do laundry (and dry laundry by hanging it on the window, maybe?), and a simple kitchen area because I also like to do my own cooking.
The one with the pillar in the room also looks decent. The long table could be used as a kitchen and/or laundry area. The bathroom area can somewhat be closed off with curtains or plywood. And tons of space for bed.
Umm, it's $500 to $600 a month, ur finances must be really good then, lol.
@@therip660 but iys 2000$ for normal rooms🥴
@@infernothegamer7340 In which country🤣? I'm really curious.
@@therip660 tokyo😌
I fell in love with Okazaki. So cute. Her self-described laziness and love of cats! ❤️🐈
@@sherrih.4053 Exactly!! 🐈🐈
I loved her coloured sweater
I have a girl crush! Both so honest and humble.
I feel the same way then realized, "Oh yeah, I'm a girl..."
So cute! You seem sweet! May God bless you with a girl that appreciates your good heart!
This is like when you're playing the Sims and you're just trying to cram everything into a tiny space. But on the flip side... depending on where I was in life (ex. if I just needed a place to crash in as a student?) I could picture myself living here. Thanks for sharing Norm!
Hahaha
Cheers eh
Glad you enjoyed it
This is literally what I thought as well 😂
Speaking of The Sims I used to always start a new house and put the maximum number of adults in the same house such that I couldn't even afford beds for everyone and they'd share everything sleeping in shifts and stuff as I slowly started to build the house out to properly accommodate everyone but in the beginning the household is sort of a miserable flop house.
My girlfriend at the time really liked The Sims too and she walked over and watched me playing the game this way and then she frowned and said "You're playing it wrong!"😆
@@TokyoLens hey there dude just discovered your channel 4 years age & feel in love . ‘ what’s your opinion on japan going back to making game consuls just like in the 70s ?
Lol one of Norm's tiny apt video inspired me to make a tiny house in sims 4
2 years on. This was the first of yours I watched and I’m so glad it showed up in my recommended videos. I don’t comment often but your videos have become a beloved Sunday tradition for me. Thank you Norm.
I needed to see that positive energy from her. At the end of the day, it all comes down to perspective. Her excitement gave the spaces new meaning. Both the students did really well in utilizing their spaces.
@@cincinnati8087 It's not a "turd" to them, that's the point.
She reminds me of my cat! "Ooohhh! Look at this small space here! I like it..." And she's funny, too.
@@cincinnati8087 objectively, your comments are turds. Objectively, living on the street would be shit so that makes your comment not so objective. Objectively, there are other places people would rather live, than Cincinnati.
@@cincinnati8087 your comments are so tone deaf I feel sorry for you.
our storagee room is bigger then these entire appartments. I had to laugh when she walked in one of them and said ofh such a big room 😂
Okazaki is so adorable and positive about everything, I like how both architecture students were able to turn the small spaces into something unique and amazing.
She is so right. The bigger the space the more stuff you end up owning, at least it's that way for me and I find it overwhelming.
I have ocd and I can not stand too many household items. I feel ya on this, I also would enjoy the smaller home. A little bigger than these ones though. At least enough room for a guest bedroom plus the one I'd sleep in.
@@emiliagolden4441 personally cant relate but im also used to having a space large enough to play VR in and also be able to stretch in any direction without hitting a wall.
Lol wtf those rooms are not liveable at all. Looks like prison cells to me.
@@Machozz funny enough ive seen pictures of japanese prison cells and while they do seem unliveable as hell they're probably less cramped than these.
Lol but there is nowhere to breath,besides u can have bigger space bit it doesn't mean u need to stuff it up,it's about having a big space to breath and have more fun
Okazaki is adorable. I think studying architecture really fits her. When she came into the first new room I think you could really see her working and figuring out how everything was put together and what might have been the thought behind it.
She is a gem. She is brilliant with an hilarious sense of humor.
I had to laugh when Okazaki-san mentioned "So im basically just sitting here staring out of the window", but what she said after was very relatable about ending up owning to much if you're in a bigger place. She's so genuine
I like her. I’m lazy too. I can’t keep up with this big house
@@ThomasCorfield same 😂
@@ThomasCorfield Daydreaming.
@@TheGirlnurse well i meant owning a big house to me sounds great and i can have all that space and well if your fit like me to clean stuff up😌
"The more things you own, the more those things start owning you." -something like that, from Fight Club.
The two University Students were a great aspect to this video tour! Each having their unique desires for their living space and each being equally satisfied. Ms. Okazaki's optimism really shows in her description of the allure of each vacant unit. She's almost like a happy go lucky Engineer from an anime that loves getting into all the spaces and makes sure that every space is utilized and multifunctional.
She's an architecture student, so maybe it's not just almost like that
The only one of those apartments I could imagine living in is Okazaki’s apartment. It’s the only one with a sectioned off bathroom and it has a kitchen space. It’s also not weirdly shaped and you can move around easily (except in the bathroom lol). The living room area is versatile since you study in there relax, eat food or you can put out a futon and sleep.
Yeah same I'd hate the bathroom being so open
@@wistyeria There are curtains or screens, you can even put up the same "walls" as Okazaki had.
@@benghazi4216 If only that's enough to deal the smell and steam.
Saaame, I just need that spacey open space where I feel like I could do anything, especially sprawling on the floor :P
My SO would 100% pick the bathtub though, he loves baths too much! XD Japanese love their baths, they have numerous hot spring onsen across the country and public baths like Spa World, and even the (now gone) famous Oedo onsen where they have the occassional anime collaboration, an arcade/fun area and eating spots like a tiny village inside with numerous types of baths as well.
I know that big city in Japan has limited space and high cost living, but the more I see this tiny apartments and how the (competitive and really demanding) working lifestyle make me realize that this tiny apartment looks more and more like a prison cell rather than a home.
For college students though I don't necessarily see it as a bad thing, and they look happy. I lived in dorm rooms which were essentially prison sells, even the walls were concrete, and I legit loved the dorm life. Long term though, I could never do this. I'm too accustomed to my house with space and a yard at this point.
this is a lot better than hongkong's coffin homes.
It really all depends on your attitude really.
I have visited some in Tokyo and it is honestly not as bad as it seems. In Tokyo fast food is extremely cheap and usually healthy, it is normal to eat most of your meals outside, thus you do not need a kitchen. Some buildings have shared bathrooms and toilets aswell, but not shitty toilets. It is high quality 10 toilets shared with 30 units, so it is always atleast one unit free, and they are all clean, because Japanese are just good like that. And the bathing area is like a luxury spa. Shared with a lot of people, but still, really nice.
With the culture they have it just works. Idk is an excessive american suburban home where you constantly compete with your shitty neighbor over materialistic status that does not matter better?
Looks charming to me. Then again, I'm finnish and also used to settling with very little.
I love seeing the different styles of housing all around the world.
Butters❤️
Butter! Meow
Weeee my favorite youtube kitteh is here!
Look at chile we have little solid antisismic houses all closed with metal fences.
Mreeow
The girl is going to go so far in life as long as no one crushes her spirit. I know she's a young woman, but she has a child like imagination and attitude.. not in a bad way! It's so refreshing actually. Watching her being so excited about such a small space and speaking about how she would set things up, etc. Idk, I'm probably not explaining myself well, she just has a lovely spirit and attitude.
The guy did too though?
I agree with you wholeheartedly. It's difficult to put into words, but one can truly feel her zest for life and the childlike curiosity/spirit that she exudes. Her joy is contagious.
Except she said she was extremely lazy, but I don’t know if she’s trolling or not
@Orange300 which is reasonable but laziness isn’t the best quality when talking about the said person’s success and potential. I’m not tryna throw shade, if she’s happy that’s kinda all that matters, but I would disagree with OP’s opinion here.
@@McFeedback1968 so you’re upset because another person shared their opinion?
Okazaki's apartment felt the most "livable" of all of them to me, but a lot of that could also be her minimalist style and the way she has the space set up. I think it would be fun to stay in a place like this if I was traveling and staying there while I explored the city or something. I know if I had to live in a space like that for a long time that my mental health would suffer, though.
Might just be because the room was tatami and the bathroom could be sectioned off though.
@@MegaKaitouKID1412 Probably. The metal pillar in front of the toilet would so annoy me, I would try to smash it after just 2 days.
If you lived in one of these apartments you would probably not spend a lot of time in there anyways. I imagine Tokyo has all kinds of amenities closeby.
@@WuxianTec close by? xD u know the size of the city? minimum 1 hour public transit to go anywhere, and you are living close to cool stuff.
@@doublesalopetoimcre The cities I live closeby have restaurants, bars and stores on every corner.
the guy with the plants really transformed the space, it looks really comforting
I liked Okazaki's energy, it seems like she is just vibing with positive energy all the time, a lot of optimism. About the apartments, is interesting to get this perspective.
I couldn't keep my eyes off her sweater! Love those colorful stripes!! !
Yeah love her a bit. Makes you wanna learn japo
Her comments about looking forward to the cats were so lovely, what a sweetheart.
So humble and respectful these young people were. The small apartments were only opportunities not a hindrance. It’s all about perspective!
For sure. I just decided to stay in a village and have a huge house as a student was a great time too :)
Yeah..... ur stupid
The apartments are nightmares and the victims who live in them, conditioned to tolerate them. In a country as large as japan, there's zero reason for such tiny spaces. If you watched a video about homeless people living rough in an abandoned warehouse you'd feel sorry for them. These spaces have little difference to an abandoned warehouse except the homeless person would have more space and be less inclined to go crazy
⬆️ 😂 😂 😂 “S James”
I wish we had such apartments in Canada, I'd be thrilled to live in a quirky small place like this! I have ADHD and when the girl said how much easier it was to manage a small space and not get overwhelmed with a lot of stuff, she was singing my song! I feel like my only option here will be to turn a van into a living space.
At first i was kinda shocked at how small and inconvenient those apartments seemed, but after seeing how those two university students used their spaces and thought about it, i found myself fascinated with the tiny apartments. Especially Okazaki-san‘s enthusiasm and ideas on how to use the empty rooms she hadn‘t seen before was absolutely delightful to witness. Loved it!
I have lived in a van for a bit while travelling and have plans for some day doing up a sprinter van as a kind of motor home and really get the whole enjoyment of having everything near enough to within arms reach. Also 500 a month mate I would be hella happy with the sacrifices. Cheap enough to eat out in japan to.
This video was super fun to watch and I actually ended up using the apartment layouts as a deisn and architecture challenges for myself to see how I could change up the living spaces to be more efficient! It was super cool to see how the two people decorated their apartments and found the charm of the small homes.
Okazaki's positivity and excitement changed the whole feeling of the video. At first I felt claustrophobic and by the end I felt refreshed by the grateful perspective. Makes me feel like I need to work on my outlook
I love how excited the young lady was over the apartment she went to see. She even took pictures! I'm wondering if she moved to that apartment after this video. Would be fun to see a follow up video if she did.
I'm sure she has twitter
I wondered the same thing! Lol
@@sailormoon2937 WTF
@@JSBach-pd4yg I don't care for twitter
I don't love anything about this .its cruel and people deserve better. This is disgraceful .and anybody who thinks its fun or cute should live in it .
Whoa! It makes a lot of sense that architecture students would be interested in living in a place like that. The concept is really cool! I don't think I'd want to live there though, at least not long term!
Right?
Perfect for them!
It's like a mini-challenge for them.
i would live there for like max a year
@@PathikritGhosh007 as an architecture student, I can confirm that unique rooms are like honey to bee's for people interested in architecture and interiors, figuring out the layout and how one occupies the space being the most fun....and you know, proving that it can still be functional
Is this the episode where you met Okazaki? I've seen other episodes with her and she is so adorable and unbelievably positive. You could show her the worst place you could think of and she'll find something to be amazed about. Her perspective is so unique and I absolutely love it. I want her to visit every apartment on Earth. Just travel the globe reviewing apartments from $50 a month to the $135 million dollar penthouse in NYC.
I loved how positive she was about everything and hearing her real experienced and fresh perspective, and I was being pretty optimistic about the spaces. But there's no way I could live with those bathroom setups. I'm a very private person and hers was the only bathroom I'd feel comfortable in because it's the only one closed off and not in view of people outside. The quirks from basing the design around a central element were really cool
Ya I liked her apartment the best because she did have a private washroom. Toilet 🚽 and shower 🚿 is all you need, just wash your hands in the sink in the main room!
Ueda's dedication to the concept is amazing, I love it! "Everything in the tub" made me go "wow!" out loud. I bet the person who designed this place would be so thrilled to know this haha
@duncanmacleod7287 Ueda is the name of the guy that let us see his apartment...
@duncanmacleod7287 stop ranting nobody cares
Mean@@secretagentcat
i love how okazaki was just like "yeah, basically i just lie here and stare out the window." same, girl, same.
😂
Yes, that's why I wrote in another comment that she feels like a zen monk. Same with the cat spotting place, you can be happy obaout the small things in life, or just life itself. She just feels like a happy, cozy, dreamy girl. I am really curious if she ends up designing houses. I would love to see them.
@@steemlenn8797 I hope one day I'm able to replicate her energy honestly, such an inspiration
The other guy be like. This is my tub, I love this tub, I do everything inside this tub. It's the highlight of this room & my life.
@@winterwolf211 ikr that guy absolutely loved that bath lol
These videos are so amazing. If I wasn't someone that loves to shop all the time and didn't have so many clothes then I definitely would live in these apartments. It's just so amazing to know how ppl could and enjoy living in such a small space. I think I could live in a small space but I would definitely need a storage unit lol. The ppl on the video have inspired me to literally enjoy the little things in life, no pun intended.
She was too cute with all her excitement! It really is this simple and they're as happy as can be. You're paying for storage space for your stuff while you're gone for most of the waking day. Why do people need to have SO much stuff? Love these two
Where is the sleeping place in her room though?
@@divyabaweja8869 I think it's above the bathroom ! Or maybe she sleeps in the neighbours bathtub.
@@divyabaweja8869 She probably sleeps on a mat on the ground. That is not surprising for many in Eastern countries to do.
@@divyabaweja8869 I'm assuming a traditional futon mattress on the floor. It looks like there's one folded up and stored on the shelf above the bathroom.
I'm not gone for most of the waking day. I'm away for max. 7 - 8 hours a day 5 days a week... when I used to work. Right now I study from home so I'm away maybe 7 - 8 hours A WEEK. I need my space, I need a kitchen, I need an office for my computer (can't live without it), I need a bathroom I can relax in. I'm not a hobbit. I'm not a dwarf. These apartments are made for flies. They're too small for someone with hobbies and someone who spends most of their time at home. And I also don't want to live in a mess. I prefer my place neat and clean. If I had to go small an apt. of maybe 20m^2 would be the smallest I could go. These are like 10m^2. It's claustrophobic and there's no space for cooking and no space for a computer. You'd have to be an extremely social person who spends very little time at home to survive in these.
Those 2 were Architecture students and it totally showed in the way they utilised the space. Okazaki-san's ideas💡were pretty good 👍👍👍👍She would make a great architect for sure!! Mining opportunities from what can be considered hopeless by someone!!! Truly hats-off👏👏☺️
My thoughts exactly!
@@abcde3347 I'm an architect student too!!
@@abcde3347 nope..in med school. but have experience of seeing my family home being constructed under an architect's proper supervision right from the foundation till interior. He was brilliant.
@@ImDayv27 I'm impressed! You're an architecture student and do anime too👏👏🙂👍
@@valkyrieot007 thanks hehe. Because of drawing I chose architecture hahaha
Being an architecture student myself, I can tell why she was so excited about the spaces and notices little niches that would make the space work
I live in Brazil and I was complaining how the apartments are getting smaller, but after watching these videos I think they are huge here.
50% of the time I was like no way, I couldn’t do that, then the other 50% was imagining how I could use the space. Both of those tenants were beyond positive people.
I love how much the young man loves his bath tub 😂 He will definitely be incorporating that into his dream house in the future! There is no going back haha it's so interesting to see tiny apartments in Japan, I myself spent a few years in one just a little bigger than those shown here!
A Murat in the making looool!
@@KLondike5 omg you're so right
He'd probably take the tub with him if he could 🤣🤣🤣
He’s just being polite. You can tell how he really feels when he talks about keeping the windows open. Wax lyrical all you want about cultural differences and so on but the simple truth is that cramped dwellings like this cause severe strain on one’s mental health. It’s like a supermax cell with more amenities.
@@elieli56 🤣🤣🤣🤣
My one requirement for my first apartment was a separate bathroom from my cooking space. I didn't care about the size, I just did not want to poop where I eat. Mad props to people like these two students who see the charming aspect of apartments like these and thrive in the small spaces.
Mad props to sheep who have let their country go so far in the ways of controlling the people that they now live in closets stacked on top of one another.
Also more storage under the bed. I'm sure there's a good reason why there isn't but it seems like there's some wasted space in an apartment where you can't afford to waste any of that.
Being Architecture students, the fact that they can see the charm in places like these is a plus.
To be honest, I would actually maybe like this. I get easily overwhelmed and small cozy spaces make me feel safe. I also love the idea of a loft sleeping space. Seems so cozy!
As long as I can fit my three monitors, six consoles and an auto-blow on one table I’m good.
@@LAMENTFORLOSTLOVE id say the same but the fact people can see me (if they so choose) while i take a shit is horrible.
Honestly these are just prison cells..
@Neallord no I'm autistic lol
Me too, for me a safe place to sleep at night is enough. I remember seeing somewhere a mat on the floor behind a staircase with warm yellow light
The way they kept both of their places perfectly neat and tidy blows my mind, I could hv never managed to arrange all of my stuff in that tiny space, really appreciate the way they maintained their places
But thats the thing, as one of them point out, when you're living in such a small space it means that you just wont own as much stuff, just the essentials, keeping it basic.
They were also prepared for him to come in, if someone was coming to my apartment it would be very neat and tidy as well
“This bath is everything…”
I laughed harder than I should have.
Still, I like what he did with the place.
Yup the plants were a nice touch...
Baths are EVERYTHING!!! 😂❤️
His life revolves around the bathtub.
Never resist the power of おふろ (bath)
Well, he's an architecture student
I’m so in love with those units, it’s so cute how each one has a different focal point, one living room, a bath, and a kitchen. I like the guy’s the best, the light with the plants he put in and the bath makes for a very relaxing spa like environment. 😊
I'm a bit claustrophobic so I cannot stay in an apartment that small, but it was nice seeing how people made use of such small space ❤️ amazing
Same! 😣 Too small for my sanity...
dont worry darling, small spaces wont bite you :3
i have fear of open spaces, i feel naked and vulnerable there.
small closed spaces are cozy, like a cat who likes to snuggle up a tiny box or tube :3
Yeah same I'm claustrophobic as well but having such massive windows all around does help!
I am not claustrophobic but I would learn to be in that kind of space
Same. Watching this makes me uncomfortable.
Okazaki is so charming, sweet, and enthusiastic. Honestly you should take her on all your videos like this. She adds something special to it.
She's mad cute too! I definitely want to see her in more vids.
I think the two occupants have the better apartment layouts, even if the tub is in the middle of Ueda's room. Very clever to use the beams as a bookshelf.
Okazaki has everything with a bathroom and mini kitchen plus a place to sit.
The stairs cutting off the room of the first apartment plus the lack of area to hang clothes other than over the bed would drive me nuts. I also don't see why the whole underside of the bed isn't storage. The long counter room could be useful if that pole wasn't in the way.
Pipes maybe?
the under-bed storage was probably cut off so you don't have to crawl way under there to retrieve items.
Maybe because If the whole underside was used as storage it would be to Hollow and could break when you sit on the bed
Also the fact that bathroom and toilet in Okazaki's room is the only one with some privacies.
@@ithikithik i think the bathroom and toilet in the first room could be managed if the person who stays there can get the owner’s permission to place a beam and then use some covers
I used to live in a tiny space and managed to get some privacy with this technique
My biggest problem would be the pole though
looks good just needs a bit of galvanized square steel and eco-friendly wood veneer durable for 10,000 years
Seeing Okazaki imagine what she'd do with that tiny apartment was so much fun! Wishing her a very bright future.
Just looking at these spaces i feel claustrophobic, its insane.
I will definitely die living there without breath
yes, claustrophic people are definitely not the target consumers xD but putting that aside would make these rooms a great space, just not for everyone 😩 sometimes I feel claustrophobic as well, sadly 🤣
We have some apartments in Honolulu of a similar style (a huge Japanese population there, btw) & I never felt comfortable in them.
The landlord is definitely a XXXXXX
الضيق في الأنفس
At first it felt kinda weird "I can't live in a place like that" and then the lady changed my mind haha she's so creative and had great ideas (and I love her place), great choice of her to study Architecture !
i would mind living in a small place like that because i wouldn't own a cat and a dog then , my bedroom is 5-6 time bigger then those appartment. It's just insane.
@@Maialeen well it's not like I had a strong opinion to start with, I never thought about it but had some prejudices and the thing that's more interesting and not scared is that she clearly has a lot of imagination (way more than me) and could make me think with a different perspective. And how she imagined the room was enough for me to agree.
What's more scary is to maintain its opinion only for the sake of not being "manipulated".
And finally it's not okay for everyone, but when you cannot afford a big place this is comforting, and there are people who prefers small places
@@jeromelasonde8672 that would be hell for animals, animals needs space indeed
I love that bath with all that natural light it’s stunning! And all of his plants make it feel like you’re in another dimension! At night I bet it is gorgeous ❤❤
That woman talking about being lazy really hits the mark. I went from living at my moms house, to one apartment, to another apartment, to my own house, each being bigger than the last in terms of my own living/storage space. The amount of stuff I have accumulated has just increased with each increase in available size. As does the amount of cleaning.
Yes, its so easy for stuff to accumulate. I've definitely started to go with the "love it or throw it" philosophy
Well yeah, but...
@@Ali-mv3jc Sometimes I really show signs of hoarding because I tend to keep anything that's potentially useful. I can see how this would be prevented in a small space where you don't have a choice to keep things.
@@ivanlagrossemoule my dad does the same, to try and reduce it we either give stuff away to people we know, donate it or put it for free online. That way it's useful for someone else. Best wishes 🙂
These are amazing to me. I live in a moderately decent house in a crap neighborhood today but 20 years ago I was homeless on the streets of palm springs. If something like this existed for say $100 a month then my life would have been exponentially better. This could truly save people's lives in LA.
WHY AREN'T WE DOING THIS!?!?!?
There's a guy precisely in L.A. that has tried to do that but authorities have blocked him.
I wonder that too when I see this kind of thing. I did see some recent videos touring the streets of LA and they did finally either build or renovate a couple of places into apart the buildings to clean up the streets a little bit, but skid row definitely isn’t going anywhere anytime soon!
with strict zoning laws in LA, you can't build anything except single family house, where everything is so spread out.. no shops, cafes, etc, in walking distance.
so build an apartment like this is impossible
It would be life- changing. Even if you're not homeless but just struggling, living here for a while to save money could help so much
That is a VERY GOOD IDEA...THOUGH..!! & VERY TRUE..🙂
I just love their perspectives so much. Rather than focus on the negatives of the small space, they appreciate the things that make the small spaces better.
Especially the lady thinking about seeing the cats walking by… that was so wholesome 🥰
It’s honestly an intriguing and awesome concept, building the apartments around one space. It clearly works for people, that guy enjoys baths as much as I do 😅
16 million views !!! Totally deserved. I love this woman. She’s a star !
Gotta admit the tatami in her room is possibly the best feature. The first apartment we had in Tokyo had a tatami room and it's where we slept. There's something... soothing about the smell of the rice straw flooring. Always brings me back to that place.
Do you have to change the mats out periodically?
@@hechetonchieres We never did. Just clean them occasionally and they're fine.
Some people do use a kind of... insecticide for them if you get an infestation but we never had that problem.
I dont know how i ended up on this side of TH-cam but im endlessly fascinated by these tiny apartments
this made me feel better about my apartment, i thought my place was small and these people are so grateful for their tiny place it makes me feel like i live in a mansion
They are college student that probably saving up money for tuition. They probably move out after they graduate. even i wouldn't really mind living there temporary
Agreed! These apartments are smaller than just my bedroom, and it makes me want to simplify my apartment and appreciate it more.
My apartment makes one whole floor. I’ll have more gratitude from now on
i miss my single day when im only rent a room in share house or my studio apartment day. own little things and easier to clean is true. now with my husband in our two bedrooms house it seems very cluttered.
Same here. I call my place a 'Vanity van'. And now I see this. Grateful!
This is fantastic. They need something similar in large cities in the USA. Imagine being able to live and rent in New York City for $600 per month! $600 rent in Tokyo is incredible.
Fully agreed! In fact, I find it rather bizarre something like this *doesn't* already exist because, honestly, one would think there would be an easy and eager market for it, yeah?
Okazaki is AWESOME! Bring her back in future house tour videos!!!
Homely might do exactly that lol
Totally agree, she has very different perspective that I didn't understand at first, but it totally made this video 10 times better.
Yes, hire her! She has a fun and interesting perspective.
it’s interesting how many people were talking about Okazaki San compared to Ueda San when they both had knowledge on the spacial surroundings and usage of their rooms and interesting personalities not to mention their acceptance to let their room be showcased.
Her room is the biggest (and has a kitchen space and private bathroom) that probably helps. And she features for more of the video.
Ueda-san's room is super cool; minimalistic and fresh (because of the plants, I assume)!
@@cleargreen123456789 understandable and agreeable, you make a good point.
Wow, Japan is making it possible for University students to afford a place. I've got mad respect.
@@robw5741 that’s at least 1/3 the cost of monthly rent for a decent apartment in america
@@robw5741 that is pretty basic man. Ur not getting much better than that. Unless you share a house with multiple people.
watch his most tiniest luxury room in Japan video which is cheaper and better
Lol it’s not cheaper
@@TokyoLens yeah
Her positive consideration of every unit is honestly kind of inspiring---looking forward to alley cats!
I love Okazaki-san, I loved how she had a bunch of ideas on how to use the spaces of the other units and how excited she was seeing them ♡ ♡ ♡
She really helped me appreciate the small space.
The whole apartment seems like a great place for architecture students to live there briefly and learn to make the most out of spaces- very cool
So interesting to see how they utilize their space! 😯
What space? 🤣
Yep
I looooved the woman’s perspective on everything and how excited she was to see the spaces and imagine all the things that could be done! She definitely put a smile on my face and changed my mindset of the apartment complex :)
At first I thought it was strange but when I saw the people living there and heard their explanations it felt like it makes sense. I felt kinda confused at first that architecture students would like living there (I understand the student part though lol and was my first thought when I saw the apartment) but Okazaki-san looking around the other rooms and imagining what to do to them made me feel like it makes sense.
I have to agree with Okazaki that living in a very small space can be oddly freeing and cozy. When I lived in Japan, my room was 5.5m² (with a separate bathroom tho) so all that fit in there was a bed, a desk, a small fridge and some shelves on the wall over the desk for storage. But I managed to live there for a year not owning very much but also not really missing anything. When I look around the apartment that I have now, I realize that in contrast now I have so much stuff that I essentially don't really need and having so much stuff and space can somehow weigh you down sometimes.
It's all fun and games until it's 2020 and you have to self isolate.
Absolutely. More space more stuff. LOL.
She's so positive and cute! I love how excited she was about seeing the other spaces!
As a tall person, to me it's beyond claustrophobic but the windows do help. I can see the benefits for students, or those who like to live a minimal lifestyle. It's too bad the design could not avoid the giant metal beams in the rooms in very inconvenient locations! I'd cover some of the windows in that film that comes in patterns to give privacy but keep the light. Thanks for sharing this with us!
if you're 6''2 and above, Asia is a living hell.
I live in a 220 square foot microflat. The ten foot ceiling is the main reason is does not feel claustrophobic.
The opposite story sometimes happens when Asians marry Americans. They come here, and they think our houses are HUGE. Some are; but I lived with nine other kids in a very small house.
One of my favorites was the Gamble House in Pasadena, best known as the mansion of Dr. Brown in "Back to the Future." It's nice, but I wouldn't need one that big.