Home Free. Hook up with the perfect pad from Tokyo s housing specialists. special. section. Pull-out Guide ADVERTISING

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1 Home Free Hook up with the perfect pad from Tokyo s housing specialists special ADVERTISING section Pull-out Guide

2 special ADVERTISING section A room of your own House-hunting got you down? Don t know where to turn? Find the home that s right for you with the help of these local professionals courtesy of Oakwood Azabu Court Tucked away on the back streets of the oh-so-posh Azabu neighborhood is one of the city s best-kept secrets in serviced apartments: Azabu Court. This full-service home away from home has all the amenities to make that busy business stay both convenient and fun free broadband, in-house concierge services, and laundry and dry cleaning pick-up, to name just a few. Rooms can be rented at daily, weekly or monthly rates, with sizes ranging from standard studio-style rooms to two-bedroom suites. All units are equipped with kitchenettes and the required peripherals, giving busy execs a place to whip up a quick meal or stash away a few cans of beer. With only a 15-minute stroll to the entertainment and shopping mecca of Roppongi Hills, Azabu Court residents don t have to worry about their last trains or bother with taxis after a night on the town. The area is also home to expat-friendly spots like National Azabu Supermarket and the Tokyo Midtown complex. Homey, sophisticated and convenient, Azabu Court is the perfect serviced apartment for those who want to enjoy the best in creature comforts while staying in the thick of things Minami-Azabu, Minato-ku. Tel: Nearest station: Hiroo. Bens Café/Plaza Housing You might know Ben s Café as the perennially popular New York-style hangout in Takadanobaba. It s been a darling of Tokyo s café scene since 19xx, thanks to its quality coffee, international beers, wide terrace, and a food menu of bagels, meatloaf, soups and sandwiches, which puts it in a different league to most café grub. What you might not know is that Ben s also provides support for foreigners in search of housing. Ben s Café Plaza Housing is run from an office just a few yards from the café, helping match expats with friendly landlords. To date, people from more than 50 countries have found accommodation or office space thanks to Ben s. For exchange students fresh off the boat, or anyone who has struggled to find foreigner-friendly housing, Ben s can make the process quick and painless. And when you ve finished with the house hunting, you can pop down the road to enjoy the café s original espresso blend, a plate of hummus, and perhaps a jam session, Go lesson or poetry reading. 701 Takadanobaba Bldg, Takadanobaba, Shinjuku-ku. Tel: [email protected]. Nearest stn: Takadanobaba. www. benscafe.com 02 download our podcast at podcast.metropolis.co.jp

3 Bamboo House Staying in a guesthouse in Tokyo doesn t have to mean a cramped room in a farflung location. Bamboo House has properties in charming, convenient locales like Nakano, Sasazuka and Mejiro. Eight of its 13 houses have Yamanote-line locations minus the typical Yamanote-line rents. With short- and long-term leases on offer, Bamboo House is an appealing option for tourists and longer-term residents alike. The rooms are fully furnished, and the houses come with satellite TV, washers, dryers, high-speed internet and a communal kitchen. Some locations even have their own garden or rooftop terrace. Check the website for details and photos of the locations and amenities. As a small company, Bamboo House is personal enough to respond quickly and flexibly to requests a feature that can make life a whole lot more comfortable. Rents start at 58,000, and agency fee or key money is required. Bamboo Houses are for anyone who wants a cheap and effortless relocation to a central, convenient destination. Office Bamboo Nippori 1F Nishi-Nippori 2-5-4, Arakawa-ku. Tel: Open 8:30am-6:30pm. [email protected] comwww.bamboo-house.com CENTURY 21 / Smica Create When you ve had enough of renting and decide it s time for your own home, Century 21 Smica Create is the place to go for properties in the glamorous Minato, Shibuya, Shinagawa, Meguro, Ota and Setagaya wards. The central-tokyo specialist covers the Yamanote, Hibiya, Toyoko, Den-en-Toshi and Meguro lines, with expertise in purchasing and listing realty. Whether you re looking for a new Azabu home, land in Nakameguro or just exploring the idea of a Tokyo estate search, Century 21 Smica Create is a professional English service that can find properties and help secure mortgages. Applying for a loan and dealing with the documents involved in property purchase in Japan can be overwhelming, even for those with permanent residency or Japanese spouses, but this company s knowledge and experience takes the pain out of the process and gives discounts off base interest rates to boot. They can also help with property management and other real estate services, whether it s your home or a whole office building you d like to lease. In short, for property or land deals in central Tokyo, Century 21 Smica Create makes the whole process easier and more manageable Kami-Meguro, Meguro-ku. Contact Jason Foutch: jfoutch@c21-smica. com. Tel: or (toll-free). Nearest stn: Nakameguro index.html #

4 special ADVERTISING section Fontana Fontana is a leading source of affordable housing solutions for both foreigners and Japanese in Tokyo. The friendly staff speak English, German, Korean, Polish, Turkish and Japanese, and are ready to help guests find a convenient, comfortable place to live in central Tokyo. Be it a room in a guesthouse, a shared apartment or a private home, Fontana s properties are always furnished, which makes for a pleasant and hassle-free stay. With guesthouses and apartments located all over Tokyo, it s easy to find what you re looking for. Locations include Nakano, Shinjuku, Shibuya, Roppongi, Ikebukuro, Hiroo and Azabu. Rent for private rooms in a guesthouse start at 55,000 in the Nakano, Yutenji and Toritsu-Daigaku areas, with all utilities and internet included. If you re looking for a private apartment, Fontana has units available in Nakano from 70,000; Shinjuku from 85,000; Shibuya from 120,000; Roppongi from 110,000; Ikebukuro from 85,000, or Hiroo from 85,000. No agency fees, key money or guarantors are required just choose which apartment you like and move in. It s that easy. Give Fontana a call, visit the website or walk into the office in Shin-Nakano. 1F Asahi Mansion, Chuo, Nakano-ku. Tel: Open daily 9:30am-7pm. Nearest stn: Nakano. Guesthouse Takumi Let s face it securing accommodation in Tokyo can be tough, not to mention hellishly expensive. Just when you ve saved your key money, deposit, agency fee and first month s rent, you realize that you still need to find a friendly landlord. For anyone staying in the area longer than a week but less than a year, permanent accommodation can be out of reach and the short-term stuff is terrible value. Step up Guesthouse Takumi, with monthly rental apartments and guesthouses that require no key money, guarantor or even deposit. Their properties are furnished with all the essentials, and the rents are surprisingly affordable, with rooms in a guesthouse from just 35,000 and private apartments from 70,000. If you re here temporarily, the guesthouse rooms offer not only great value, but also the chance to meet people from around the world and find support for your life in this giant metropolis. If it s a private place you re after, here s a company that won t squeeze you for all you ve got. The staff at Takumi are fluent in English and Chinese. 4F Nakahane Bldg, 9 Babashitamachi, Shinjuku-ku. Tel: [email protected] download our podcast at podcast.metropolis.co.jp

5 Japan Apartment (JAPT) Part of the Ichii Corporation, one of Japan s leading real estate agencies for expats, Japan Apartment (JAPT) eliminates the hassles that plague apartmentor guesthouse-hunters in Tokyo. With no key money, deposits or guarantors required, JAPT s 600 properties in 80 locations get snapped up almost as soon as they become available. A variety of shared guesthouses and private apartments are available for both short- and long-term rental, starting at just 75,000. All residences are fully furnished, many right down to the cookware and linen that turn an apartment into a home. For those who can t go a day without connectivity, internet access is arranged before move-in, eliminating the need for annoying bureaucratic hoopjumping; the properties also come with flat-screen TVs. JAPT s bilingual website makes navigating their huge variety of properties a breeze, and English-speaking staff make the process as easy as can be by helping customers with everything from the initial home search to the final move Nishi-Gotanda, Shinagawa-ku. Tel: [email protected]. Kimi Information Center Sick of paying rent that s too high? Tired of having to share your personal space with strangers? Kimi Information Center has been assisting expats in finding that perfect home at a fair price for over 20 years, and can supply leads to affordable housing without making expats sacrifice their quality of life. The staff at Kimi believe that the more you know about the customs of Japan, the greater your chance of finding a suitable space, so they act as an intermediary between house hunters and Japanese landlords. With a large network of local agencies and 10,000 properties within various price ranges in Tokyo and the surrounding areas, Kimi can dig down deep to find the right accommodations. From the hunt to the move in, Kimi s experienced, friendly and English-speaking staff are on-hand to keep the move smooth. Many apartments don t require key money or a guarantor, and private apartments start at a mere 50,000 in big-name locations like Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Harajuku, Koenji and Yokohama. Kimi Information Center also provides various other services for expats, including job placement services for teachers all over Japan, translation services, rental classrooms, free guided tours with Japanese students and a bilingual business telephone answering service. For accurate and up-to-date information and courteous assistance with everything you need to get your life on track, contact Kimi and save yourself time and hassle! 8F Oscar Bldg, Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku. Tel: Open Mon-Fri 10am-7pm, Sat 10am-4pm. Nearest Stn: Ikebukuro. kimiinfo@kimiwillbe. com. #

6 special ADVERTISING section section Kurumi Mansion Oceans Kurumi Mansion is a 65-room property on the banks of the Sumida River, surrounded by an enticing mix of traditional culture and modern Japan. Ginza, Asakusa, Akihabara and Tsukiji are all in easy reach, as is Tokyo Station for easy access to every other part of the city. You can enjoy a jog along the riverbank, eat breakfast at Tsukiji Market, indulge in a shopping trip to Ginza, or tour the local temples and shrines. For short-term visitors who don t fancy a pricey hotel room, this is a great location at a great price. Kurumi Mansion has singles, doubles and triples, with weekly rents from 24,150 and no key money or deposit necessary. The residence is about a ten minute walk from Suitengumae, Monzen-Nakacho, Kayabacho and Ningyocho stations Saga, Koto-ku. Tel: Open Mon-Fri & hols 9am-5:30pm, Sat 9am-12pm. [email protected]. Nearest stn: Monzen-Nakacho (Tozai line) or Suitengumae (Hanzomon line). If you re looking for a cozy or luxury home in Tokyo that s a step above the rest, your search should begin and end at Oceans. This Tokyo-based realtor offers accommodations of all shapes and sizes, from luxury studio flats to five-bedroom houses, and rents ranging from 200,000 to 4 million. With locations in such foreigner-friendly areas as Azabu and Omotesando, as well as Hiroo, Roppongi, Ebisu, Shibuya, Aoyama and Yoyogi, they re perfect for professional workers and expatriates who can sign lease agreements under a corporate contract. The staff at Oceans proudly believe the old saying, Customer is king, poring through their database of over 90,000 rental properties to find that perfect expat abode. Updated daily, the database can be accessed through Oceans website, which also features useful information for new Tokyo residents, like basic cable and satellite TV plans, internet availability, fitness clubs, international schools, shops, restaurants and bars. With top-notch support and a wealth of information at hand, Oceans is like one-stop shopping for your life in Tokyo. Tel: [email protected]. Nichio Apartments For 23 years, Nichio Apartments has been providing foreigners with the very best in furnished accommodation. It s the oldest company of its kind in Japan, and that longevity is testament to the comfort and value it offers. For those that like their city served straight up, the house in Nishi-Shinjuku, just behind the Hilton Hotel, offers an irresistable combination of quiet streets and easy access to the world s busiest train station. If you take life slower, Nichio s very first residence ought to appeal: Teacher s Lodge is a guesthouse in Gotanda with a selection of large and small rooms, a very homey lounge, inaternet access and a spacious garden with its own Balinese cottage for meditation. Rates for a furnished private room at the lodge start at 46,000 per month, with discounts for foreign teachers and students. Nichio has ten other locations around Tokyo, each of which has a policy of no key money, no agency fee and a minimal deposit. With all rooms fully furnished, the company says their motto is Just bring yourself and your suitcase, and move right in. Although Nichio s properties used to be known as gaijin houses, the diversity of tenants belies that name. You ll find yourself sharing with Japanese university students, foreign interns, English teachers, tourists and many other kinds of people. The only folks you won t find are nicotine addicts; all Nichio residences are strictly for nonsmokers. Tel: [email protected]. com SAKURA HOUSE Since 1992, Sakura House has been the pioneer in providing monthly guesthouses and apartments exclusively to foreigners in Tokyo. With Sakura, the proof is in the numbers: more than 1,800 rooms in 206 locations throughout the capital (and expanding into new locales every month), hosting approximately 2,000 travelers and residents from more than 80 countries. Sakura House not only provides a place to live, but also opportunities to get out there and make friends with likeminded people from around the world. Among the cultural events and workshops they organize are tea ceremonies, kimono classes and sushi-making parties. And since the yen began knocking out other currencies last year, many travelers have found Sakura House accommodations to be an affordable alternative in the face of an unfriendly exchange rate. Sakura House staff speak English, French, Chinese and Korean, and rent can be paid in cash, Visa or MasterCard, making this a convenient and attractive accommodation for those on the road or looking to settle down. Beginning this November, Sakura House will be expanding into services for small businesses. At the SoHo Business Garden in Shinjuku, entrepreneurs can set up an office just seven minutes from Shinjuku station, complete with a bilingual telephone answering service, from only 60,000 a month. For the latest information on the Business Garden or any of Sakura House s apartments and guesthouses, check out their website or call the Shinjuku headquarters. 2F Nishi-Shinjuku K-1 Bldg, Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku. Tel: Open daily 8:50am-8pm download our podcast at podcast.metropolis.co.jp

7 Oakwood One of the most trusted names for high-class housing worldwide, Oakwood offers the perfect solution for business and leisure travelers who are looking for the comfort of a home, but who don t want to give up all those little conveniences that come with a hotel stay. The Oakwood family provides three accommodation options for businesspeople and others during their stay in Japan. Oakwood Premier in Tokyo Midtown features 107 lavishly decorated residences with private balconies that look down on Midtown s manicured gardens, right in the center of one of Tokyo s biggest entertainment districts. Oakwood Residence has four locations, all in quiet neighborhoods that are still close to the action, with elegant interiors and spacious floor plans that are perfect for those with a spouse and kids in tow. Oakwood Apartments, meanwhile, offers three places to stay in areas that focus on both business and pleasure, with all the comforts to make travelers feel like part of the Tokyo tribe. Each Oakwood apartment unit comes complete with everything you need to make a short- or long-term stay feel like home, including a full kitchen, furnishings, housewares and on-site laundry facilities. For that extra touch of hotel flair, maid service is also available. If you want to make Tokyo your second home, then Oakwood is the place to start. Oakwood Premier Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo Tel: [email protected] Sea Hospitality This friendly real estate company runs an eclectic array of property-related businesses, including a hotel, a storage center, rental offices and a string of guesthouses. The Hotel Seven Seas Ginza, for example, is an elegant, modern place with room rates (from 9,400) that belie its upscale location. If you re staying longer than a couple of weeks, a Sea Guesthouse is one of the most attractive accommodation options in Tokyo. Though Sea Hospitality opened its first guesthouse just last year, they already have another dozen properties throughout the capital, many in the centrally located Minato-ku area. The houses offer private, semi-private or dorm accommodation, and even though most of the locations are for women only, guys are welcome to stay in one of the Akasaka properties. All vacancies are listed online, so visit the website to see if there s a room for you. 5F Fuji Bldg, Sakuragaoka-cho, Shibuya-ku. Tel: [email protected]. #

8 special ADVERTISING section Space Design Many people feel that hotels are the easiest way to find temporary accommodation in Tokyo. This was probably true until about five years ago, when procuring a serviced apartment meant making reservations months in advance, forking out huge initial down payments, and dealing with cryptic pricing and contract terms. But with the worldwide focus on speed, transparency and usability, serviced apartment companies are catering to guests like never before. Space Design Inc., the operator of serviced apartment brands Bureau, B-site and B-conte, has developed a turnkey approach to leasing the perfect executive accommodation in Tokyo and Yokohama (as well the Ziqoo brand in Dubai, UAE). As one of the first Japanese companies to enter this market, they ve spent the last ten years observing how visiting business and technical professionals live, what their priorities are, and what requirements they have for success in this interesting and unique market. Space Design aims to keep up with the volatile needs of the international traveler by opening up lease opportunities to individual visitors, adopting a virtual method of immediate support, demanding transparent and forthright pricing, and offering a variety of payment methods. Other features that make Space Design the preferred choice among business and pleasure travelers here in Japan for one month or more include: a brand new Hotel Apartment in Ariake (B-conte Ariake); the only serviced apartment building with a Japanese bath/sauna facility on its top floor (Bureau Shinagawa); multilingual service support, including a 24-hour toll-free information hotline; flexible pre-check-in cancellation policy; the easiest system for accessing buildings from airports and train stations; high-speed internet access; direct phone lines and large work desk/tables in each apartment. Guests can enjoy all the comforts of home, friendly yet unobtrusive service, convenient locations, and transparency in cost and lease conditions. With a four F policy Fast, Friendly, Fair and Flexible Space Design is raising the bar for userfriendly serviced apartment systems in Japan. For more information, contact Space Design via their website or toll-free hotline. Tel: To contact international sales staff directly, call +81 (0) download our podcast at podcast.metropolis.co.jp

9 Tokai Kanko The Palais-Royal Harajuku rental property lives up to its grand name, with 16 palatial rooms as large as 222m 2. Though it s situated only a few blocks from Harajuku and just three minutes from the new Kitasando station, the neighborhood has a quiet, residential feel perfect for anyone who loves city life but wants a peaceful home. Tokai Kanko operates two other properties that are appealing to foreigners. Sunterrace Akasaka boasts 62 rooms, just three minutes walk from Tameike-Sanno station. For singles who want to feel the pulse of the city, these apartments offer fantastic access to Tokyo s major entertainment hubs. The Astoria Minami Azabu sits somewhere between the two. Grander than Sunterrace and more affordable than the Palais-Royal, this location is an attractive spot for couples. The rooms clock in at a comfortable 37m 2-63m 2, and with that irresistible double act of Roppongi and Azabu Juban as your local hangouts, you won t be starved of stimulation Takanawa-Nichome, Minato-ku. Nearest stn: Sengakuji. Tel: (office), (Mr. Kokubo), (Mr. Kato). [email protected]. TOKYO APARTMENTS Tired of wasting your time and effort when searching for a home in Japan? Tokyo Apartments is the ideal one-stop housing solution for both short- and long-term expats, providing furnished and unfurnished housing throughout Tokyo s 23 wards. Their bilingual leasing consultants know how to work their way into the hearts of difficult Tokyo real estate agents, and will use their expertise and knowledge to find the perfect housing for any hopeful home hunter. Tokyo Apartments have specialists for serviced and rental apartments and premium rental properties, and offer up housing in all shapes and sizes to fit a variety of budgets, including properties with no key money, free rent offers, concierge services, petfriendly apartments and accommodations that accept musicians. Enplus Inc (the company behind Tokyo Apartments) also offers a web service called Mondestay, which introduces customers to serviced apartments and offices throughout Asia, Europe, North and South America and Australia. So when it comes time for the big jump, you know right where to head for reliable and quality English housing. Call for a free consultation, and don t forget to mention Metropolis! Nomura Bldg, 2F, 4-8 Yonbancho, Chiyoda-ku. Tel: Toll free: [email protected]. (serviced and furnished apartments); (long-term unfurnished and furnished apartments); (serviced, furnished apartments and offices overseas) #

10 special ADVERTISING section TRON Corporation This accommodation is so new that it isn t even open yet. The impressively named Guesthouse G Motosumi I will welcome its first residents at the end of October. Located just three minutes walk from Motosumiyoshi station on the Toyoko line a 15-minute ride to Shibuya and just 20 minutes to Yokohama it offers two different cities for residents to enjoy. Single rooms of 4.5 mats (7.5m 2 ) come furnished with A/C, bed, chair and fridge, and guests can use a common room with computer, TV and DVD player, as well as a kitchen equipped with pans, dishes, a microwave and toaster oven. An on-site laundry room is coin operated, as is the shower ( 100/5min). There s no guarantor or key money just a 20,000 (non-refundable) deposit. Rent is 49,800 per month. Tron Corp. also operates a quartet of guesthouses at Kuji station, 30 minutes from Shibuya and Shinjuku on the Nambu line. The facilities there are identical to those at Motosumiyoshi, but the rent is even cheaper 39,800 per month. If you re interested in either place, call in Japanese or apply in English via Tron Corporation s website Kuji, Takatsu-ku, Kawasaki. Nearest stn: Kuji (JR Nanbu line). Open Mon- Sat,10am-5:30pm. Tel: Nagaoka: [email protected]. Tulip Estate Sorry gents the charming, spotless houses operated by Tulip Estate are strictly for the ladies. And with an emphasis on tranquil living, party types probably won t have much fun here, either. But for women in search of a peaceful, comfortable place to live, within easy reach of major hubs such as Shinjuku, Shibuya or Ikebukuro, Tulip s houses are a wonderful choice. Tulip runs eight quirkily named houses forget about Heights, Mansions or Palaces, these residences have creative monikers like Vitamin Color, Bricks, and Lohas Plus. Each is looked after by all-female staff. The largest property, Witt Style Jingu, is a 26-room house in Sangubashi, near Yoyogi. For more intimate living, there is also a former geisha house in Nakano and a chic Western-style residence in Otsuka, among the choices. One of the unusual services at Tulip Estate houses is the cultural program, offering residents the chance to eat early-morning sushi at Tsukiji market, do volunteer work at a local farm in exchange for fresh produce or go canoeing down a Tokyo river. The houses are also popular with Japanese career women, offering foreign visitors a great chance to learn the local culture in their own homes. Private rooms are available from 43,000; shared rooms from 29, Arai, Nakano-ku. Tel: (English ). info@ tulip-e.com. Open 10am-6pm, closed irregularly download our podcast at podcast.metropolis.co.jp

11 Ashley Furniture Had enough of low tables, thin floor pillows and bumpy futons? American furniture manufacturer Ashley Furniture has got just what you re looking for at their four-floor showroom in Yokohama. From plush sofas and sturdy dining tables to beds with enough room for the tallest expat to stretch out in, the showroom offers all the furniture triumphs of the Western world under one roof. Ashley stocks all the styles you would never dream of finding at Muji, from traditional to country to contemporary, along with fun and funky kids furniture. If you re looking for the comfort and style of Western furnishings but don t have the time or inclination to sit and compare fabric samples, Ashley Furniture can do a coordinated makeover of your entire pad, and even provide a preview based on your floor plans. Prices are reasonable, and the quality is what you d expect from the number-one selling furniture brand in America. Ashley provides customers with all-american service and warmth mixed with the Japanese hospitality you ve come to expect, making your foray into the world of furniture as pleasurable as slipping between the crisp sheets of a king-sized bed. Metropolis staff who have visited the showroom say this treasure trove is a pleasant surprise and definitely worth checking out, so if you re in the market for some truly comfortable home furnishings, give Ashley a try Azamino Minami, Aoba-ku, Yokohama. Tel: Open Wed-Mon 10:30am-7:30pm, closed Tue. Nearest stn: Azamino. www. ashley-furniture.jp SAI WORKS GALLERY by SAI RECYCLE If you re looking for an inexpensive and offbeat way to furnish your apartment this fall, go retro. S.A.I. Recycle helps you keep it real with its newly o p e n e d s e c o n d h a n d store, S.A.I. Works Gallery. Go on a scavenger hunt and discover designer, antique and luxury goodies, not to mention good ol junk! Mainly featuring furniture and home electronics, S.A.I. Works Gallery is confident you ll find something you ll want to give a second life to. The shop also offers interior decorating services for short-term foreign residents. For more information, contact the Gallery s appropriately-named manager, Funk Fumiya Shirokane, Minato-ku. Open daily noon-8pm. Tel: or Nearest stn: Shirokane-Takanawa. #

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