Tourist Long Stay Apartment in Tokyo | Japanese Monthly Mansion Experience

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I asked David, he didn’t want to mention the link so we didn’t endorse any particular company. atinn.jp/en I don’t know that, it’s not an endorsement, but so many have asked so here it is. Please weigh your options, there are dozens of companies offering the same service. He said to me also that he’d searched the Japanese site to see what properties were available THEN contacted them via the English site. Do this, do your homework please :) this is just one suggestion and on persons experience but he enjoyed the place and gives them a good rating (so far) -John

[@le_th_]

Very kind of David to share his monthly mansion rental for his extended stay. Super helpful! EDIT: I just watched the video all the way through for a second time, and he seems like such a reasonable, calm, genuine human being. He is the sort of person you automatically trust because he comes across as so sincere and without pretense. This was a really solid interview and you asked helpful questions. Thank you fo. r conducting such a thorough and helpful interview and posting it for your subscribers. Very well done!

[@onlyinjapanGO]

David is amazing, one of the smartest people I've ever met - calm and cool. Kanae, Leo and I are so glad he came for a visit!

[@le_th_]

@@onlyinjapanGO Yes, he comes across as calm and cool, yet also warm and kind. He definitely seems not only highly intelligent, but also high in intellectual curiorsity. He reminds me of some of my favorite professors at UC Berkeley that you could just sit and talk with for hours because of their depth of knowledge and insatiable curosity. I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed his visit! It was adorable at the very end when you asked him if he wanted to share/plug anything and he chose to plug your channel. 😎

[@surft]

This is a refreshing look into more resonably priced foreigner friendly housing than what I usually see watching high end offerings on Tokyo Portfolio

[@BeyondTravelsPH]

If i planned to visit Japan, This Room in Tokyo, is Perfect. Thank you for the tour John.

[@Aiken47]

Thanks John, this really interests me for extended stays.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Thank you @aiken it seems like a great deal, location! Def should be considered for anyone staying for a month or so!

[@collectivecommentary123]

At first I thought David was on a work trip and that his company asked him to foot the bill for the Monthly Mansion, but then I breathed a sigh of relief when I found out he was a tourist.

[@teresa_davis]

Wow! This was a really neat insight into another way to stay in Japan 😊 I can see the benefits..and what a great way to experience immersive living in Japan! Definitely something to look into. Thank you David for sharing your place with everyone.. it’s been super helpful!

[@heythave]

David, very gracious of you to show us your place. Now I know about monthly mansion rentals. Thanks, John, for the tour.

[@naomifurukawa]

It's like an Airbnb in Japan that I used to stay in until I found my own place. Really cool video

[@jarihult]

Very cool apartment tour , that was nice from David to share this with us 😎Nice looking apartment 🙂Thank you for sharing this 🙂👍!!!

[@landspide]

I have just done this for 3 months (leaving next week). This is a super economical way to travel Japan. Osaka, for 6 weeks I was in a brand new apartment for around 35AUD per day, 5 mins walk from Osaka Castle... Tokyo for 6 weeks, in Komagome more expensive at 50AUD per day. Use them as a base and do day trips and weekend away to further locations. Unbelievable experience, I really lucked out, especially with Osaka. The catch is that it has to be at least 30 days. I am actually reluctant to let people know how to do it, so that it stays an option in the future. This is something that could be abused by certain types of travellers, David is very much the right type of person to use it.

[@michaeldrechfachs1547]

If you can't be bothered to help, then don't bother commenting. No one - except maybe your sorry self - is interested in your supposed pot of gold flat found. Keep or keep lying about it, your choice.

[@landspide]

@@michaeldrechfachs1547 geez, tell us what you really think. Notice how the video itself also doesn't mention, maybe it's a promotional thing? I also said I was reluctant, not that I wouldn't. KZbin comments are probably not the place to discuss, maybe the discord server makes some sense, but I haven't seen any discussion there yet.

[@XLessThanZ]

Extremely useful video John (and David) 👍🏽. Definitely a new consideration for future Japan trips. Mahalos 🤙🏽

[@korntron]

Awesome vid John! This is exactly how I want to visit… 1-2 month stints. I was somewhat aware of these but your post puts it in real terms. Thanks.

[@kosanmr2]

never heard of it, that's awesome, thx for sharing, super helpful!!

[@GilAsakawa]

Fascinating report, John. Thanks. If I ever get he chance for a longer-term stay in Japan (for a research project, for instance), I'll definitely look into this option!

[@sdjgfashjasbfasd]

What a great deal for that space...and for a month! We were in Ueno again last week and our room was basically an 8'x10' room with a Japanese pre fab bathroom. Clean and new, but very cramped space. Definitely consider this for next time. Also spent four nights at Shibuya Stream Hotel which seemed like a mansion in comparison, but very expensive.

[@captainnerd6452]

I've stayed at Sakura House apartments in Monzennakacho, they specialize in furnished monthly apartments only for foreigners.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

This is definitely a more authentic experience, Japanese neighbors. It can get lonely though, there are advantages and disadvantages to Sakura House type places.

[@captainnerd6452]

@@onlyinjapanGO This is true, I mostly choose it if I'm planning a long stay, it's cheaper than a month at hotels, and I usually have a friend traveling with me, so we each get one. It's good as a base of operations for local trips, and it's a way to get a better feel for actually living in Japan.

[@seiya880]

Thank you, David, for the tour! I've been thinking about staying a month in Japan in a place like this. Maybe outside Tokyo, in a smaller city, so it should be a bit cheaper, but there might be less options. It seems like when you move in, you need to spend half a day to study that apartment's encyclopedia-like book. Understanding how trash works is the biggest thing.

[@Gaara11990]

Thanks to David for allowing you to show this that’s a cool option, I will be traveling with a small party so this isn’t for me but will keep it in mind if I come back solo.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

David was very generous to allow us to show his place.

[@ChrisClogg]

Cool to see! Ive been staying at Hmlet places in tokyo for 30-60 day stays myself. Also has similar amenities and new buildings that are concrete.

[@susanpurcell3120]

Evening from the U.K and OMG it's amazing I would definitely do this if I was travelling for a month, thanks for sharing ❤

[@BizByte]

cool interview. thanks john and david. this info will be helpful in near future for my long term stay with my wife after retirement as we plan to stay 1-2 months at places we like to get feeling of staying in other country and travel. thank you so much

[@LuisMCTrabuco]

Thanks to John and David!

[@flatironnewyork]

Thanks David, this is super helpful to know about

[@davidgunderman6348]

This is good to know. When we retire next year and move to Korea for 2 years our plan to visit Asia. We’ve been visiting Japan recently the past 5 years.

[@DavidHazelhof]

Super informative. David seems great 😃

[@26Sundrops]

We stayed just down the street at Monday Premium Apart a couple weeks ago! It's another popular long-term style place. It worked out well for our short-term visit, too. In-unit washer-dryer was really helpful, though you have to only wash a few things at a time if you want them to dry lol

[@mycharmedunicorn8715]

Seems a little high in cost. But as David said a hotel would be 2x the cost. Thank you David. Have a nice vacay in Japan. You are blessed. My cupboards would be empty too. I want to go to Japan just to browse and eat their food.

[@willden]

This is great to see. I have been looking into a longer stay.

[@heythave]

This comes in handy for a future visit but the sorting of the trash bit is quite daunting especially when it is all in Japanese.

[@KK-tr8tf]

Very valuable information! We're about to retire and want to spend 3 months in Japan twice a year. We have been looking into extended stay places to start putting a budget together.

[@G00DBL00MS]

Wow the protected remote controls are *chefs kiss* lol very nice.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

haha! You know it's clean if you can't touch it yourself. Thank about the next person I guess. I AM THE NEXT PERSON lol

[@PrograError]

@@onlyinjapanGO Although some people might have itchy hands if it's opened up to more foreigners, not worried of the Japanese and local foreigners, but as with the recent shenanigans by the foreign travellers, the bad habits of the bad apples will harm the future prospects if it happens too often...

[@vinzcueto2451]

This is very helpful. Thank you so much!!!

[@HuntinNoobs]

i appreciate the video! I've been watching you for so many years and finally came to Japan last October and it was beautiful, everyone was kind, I was able to enjoy the trip. This would be an amazing idea as I paid almost 3200 CAD for 5 nights at Hotel Groove for a larger suite and this would be a good idea for my next trip and to save money! Thank you again for the informative video, we viewers appreciate it greatly!

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Thank you! We’re lucky David shared his “home” ^_^ I’m happy the monthly mansion system is opening to tourists. This is def a money saver and slice of real Tokyo life

[@Devar]

I lived in a 1K in Mishuku, Setagaya, very similar to this one, for a several months in 2015! Monthly cost back then for it was ¥133000 via "Sakura House". Def recommend if you want to stay in a spot an extended period.

[@mycharmedunicorn8715]

I would say somewhere near $1000 usd a month would be fair

[@dwalker6868]

This was really helpful thank you for sharing

[@stacyscooby8488]

amazing video thank you for the tour .

[@purberri]

If you stay in Kyoto-try Zen Hotel it’s a little out of the city center but rates are good. You get a full kitchen, washing machine and there is parking for a fee. I always stay there.

[@loudsisi7895]

David is amazing!

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Here, here! I second that. He researched this and found this place then made it happen without ever having visited Japan before. It's quite impressive.

[@TheHowlingStone]

Wow, I feel like that's a super reasonable price especially for the location. (In Boston $1,200 will get you a closet with a working light if you're lucky lol) I had no idea these were options! Great video.

[@PinoysaTCIpoolclub]

timely information... thanks John

[@backintheclay]

I found an agency in Yokohama for about $800/month. Not as big or fancy as this one, but, i had a bigger Frig.

[@vinzcueto2451]

How is it in Yokohama?

[@Bergkatse2]

I lived in Yokohama last year and it’s fabulous. I lived in Basamichi so lots of amenities and public transport (I could be in Shinjuku in 30 mins) but Yokohama is HUGE so you could end up in Ofuna 😅

[@onlyinjapanGO]

That's quite a deal! You pay more for location! I stayed in one in 2001 and the price was 450 USD a month in Ibaraki. double the size, really out of the way!! hahaha

[@backintheclay]

@@onlyinjapanGO This was in NishiYokohama and 23 min out of Shibuya on the JR and Tokyo Metro lines, and a stones throw from Yokohama Chinatown and Yokohama Station. This was in February and March, this year 2024. This agency only does properties in Kanagawa. So, nothing in Tokyo from them, Minimum was like 21 days for a contract lease. I did 2 months.

[@backintheclay]

@ dude, it’s very livable! It’s one of the major cities in Japan.

[@LarryNg-mx8qz]

this is nice.. thank you

[@SlashSabercat]

I recognize that area! I stayed at the Mimaru next door my last visit to Tokyo

[@Claudia_87]

I stayed at an Airbnb that was similar to this and it was so convenient because I'm vegetarian, so I wanted a place with a kitchen. It was in Kanamecho, so it wasn't really close to many attractions but I liked it because it was quiet and it wasn't that long of a walk to Ikebukuro anyway.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

It's good to know about Kanamecho, maybe I'll try it next time!

[@hamamatsucho]

Planned some two to three weeks in early 2025. Since I'm a solo traveler and not too demanding some weekly mansion would do just fine for that as a temporary home base when dinning out or prepackaged high quality meals are so easy to come by that you can do with a microwave and kettle so easily.

[@shoiku4734]

Wow. Some time ago, I looked up Mimaru but it was expensive. So I gave up & haven't been able to find something monthly. I started to think these mansions are for residence/working permit holders. Right now, the hotel prices are crazy, paying above US$68 for a small room 15m2 (or less) in Osaka & skyrocketing prices everywhere on Fridays & Saturdays.

[@REVIEWSONTHERUN]

Cool! Thanks for sharing it. ✌️

[@Ulfy-_-]

Great insight! I wonder if this would be a good option for people moving to Japan... temporary housing while working with a realtor.

[@jeniferfrenchdravillas]

Fantastic video! Enjoyed getting to know David.

[@asuranrocks]

I would loveeeeeeee to do this

[@Pitman33]

I couldn't find a link to this service in the description.

[@pilauopala843]

Very informative video, thanks! Is there an option for renters insurance or is it included in the price?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I would be the responsibility of the owner not the renter and included in the contract. Things like theft are probably not covered so it's good to have travel insurance. Damage from earthquake, fire etc is covered typically. Good question! I had my iPhone 13 Pro stolen from my apartment mailbox - my apartment didn't have insurance for that. Made me quite upset hahaha which I laugh about these days since my credit card reluctantly covered it a year later.

[@deant5226]

John and David, great video and it was very informative. Do monthly rate come with utilities (electric, water, gas, etc,.) or are they all separately charged? If so, how do you pay. Many thanks. Dean

[@alanhui3914]

What is the name of the rental service?

[@spasdar]

I was paying 90k yen a month for basically just a bed (shared kitchen, toilets, showers) with Sakura House, although in west Shinjuku, this is way nicer, next time I'll spend the extra cash and maybe opt for a location that's not as busy

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Loads more options than people realize. I think Sakura House is nice for first timers - have other forieers around to talk to - but this is more authentic. Neighbors definitely will keep quiet, not be social LOL

[@Bergkatse2]

I ended up staying at a long term rental in a hotel in Yokohama as it was cheaper and nicer than a monthly mansion in Tokyo. One bedroom, fully furnished, 49th floor with balcony, view of Mt Fuji from my bedroom and all the way to Tokyo Skytree from the living room. Came with a washer/dryer combo, dishwasher, kitchen and a microwave I could NEVER workout how to use properly. Plus you had hotel amenities like a concierge, cleaners 2x a week, people to accept your parcels, they’d arrange luggage and parcel shipping etc. The cost was about $3000 a month (which is cheap compared to a small one bedroom rental prices for an apartment here in Boston)

[@mycharmedunicorn8715]

Wow, Boston is that expensive? That is ridiculous. I think big towns assume everyone makes $100 an hour at working. My husband has worked 38 years at a store similar to walmart. He just now is making $20 an hour. Took 37 years to reach that goal.

[@ktkace]

not too shabby! does it come with extra goodies like gym / onsen / breakfast buffet?

[@Bergkatse2]

@ a very nice gym. I’m a big big guy and would get a decent workout there (if it was too rainy to walk to the Golds), there was a residents communal room that looked into the baseball stadium. No onsen or sento sadly. The best thing actually was that I could get to the railway station in the basement of the building and be in Shinjuku in 35 mins.

[@rockstarsouth3405]

They seem to love living there

[@markvader8083]

Wow what a great deal! How is the noise factor?. Are the walls insulated from noise pretty well?.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

It seemed a little loud with traffic. I bet a lot of Ambulance go by, hospitals nearby but that never bothered me.

[@rctw89]

I was just looking into this when my friend from Hiroshima told me about it. Some places turned out to be pretty affordable, outside of Tokyo. I think a place in Hiroshima that I looked at would've cost around... $400 a month maybe?

[@jenjen59]

Thanks John..such a helpful video for me...mind if you ask David whether there is an equivalent monthly mansion in Osaka run by the same company please/ (i am heading that way in a few months time)...many thanks!😀

[@georgemunoz5812]

Hey John been considering this option for a while now. How do deliveries such as Amazon work for places like this? Last time we were in Japan my wife went bonkers buying through Amazon JP and delivery was easy since we were staying at a hotel. Great segment!

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Definitely! I stayed in one years ago - it offers a lot of freedom. It's living in Japan for sure.

[@jediron169]

Is it really more efficient energy wise to run a heater in a bathroom, than just use a dryer?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Efficient? No. There is no space for a dryer. No vent for the air to blow out either. There are several reasons why Japanese don't have dryers. This system is only used on rainy days when wet laundry may get moldy. 98% of the time it hung outside.

[@jediron169]

@@onlyinjapanGO That makes sense. Thanks John!

[@merrynpreston9446]

We stay at a mansion in Okinawa when ever we go there super cheap huge rooms.

[@heythave]

Do you have their contact info? I will be there in a couple of months.

[@tankahcheong]

Love your channel, please provide a link to that mansion? Thank you

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I'll ask David tomorrow.

[@tankahcheong]

@ thank you

[@shogafs3554]

what site did David rent from. Several sites pop up when i do a search on Monthly Mansion Tokyo?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I pinned it to the top comment ^_^

[@MeanderingMax]

Sounds a lot like an Airbnb I recently stayed at in Tokyo for a month (the Sumida area has a decent amount on that platform), contract and all. I'm actually doing the same in Okinawa as I write this, but the contract was less detailed. I prefer a private apartment, but all the things you mentioned are important details for people to think about before making the decision. You are on your own in a way, living like a local, and need to be a considerate and responsible neighbor who takes care of the trash properly (it's a unique system); don't rent one of these if you're there to party... big savings for long stays if this type of place suits you... I'm paying an Airbnb premium, totally understandable to me because they take a cut, but I'll definitely look into other companies for my next visit; if anyone has particular companies/websites to look into, please let me know.

[@mycharmedunicorn8715]

Did you learn fluent Japanese before you went?

[@MeanderingMax]

​@@mycharmedunicorn8715 haha I wish, I only know a few words (the very basics of greetings, excuse me, please, thank you, etc), but I've gotten along just fine. Many people do speak English, but even when they don't you can use Google translate, or just smile, show respect, and be patient... a little bow and smile go a long way.

[@dannguyendac6105]

@@MeanderingMax : Which Airbnb are you recommend for stay in Tokyo. I don't need stay in the famous station, Yokohama or Oimachi, Omori ... are OK. Thank you in advance for your information

[@MeanderingMax]

@@dannguyendac6105 Everyone's different and options/availability varies a lot, so I really can't make specific recommendations like that; sorry.

[@dannguyendac6105]

@@MeanderingMax thank you

[@Ralliart2k9]

Seated heats 3:23 😅

[@XYoukaiX]

Oh wow this place is actually really nice and big .... then again I only pay ~100.000 which is like 650$ so yeah about half and all of my Japanese friends still tell me I get ripped of ^^V My place here in Koenji is so small and even though it is furnished it feels like they didn't really think it trough properly :/ At least the area is awesome almost right in front of the actual Koen-ji with a walk way behind that goes all the way to shinjuku.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

That’s quite a way from the Yamanote line, central Tokyo - always going to be much cheaper there but it’s a nice area, locals of food and bars! I think Ueno is on the cheap end of central Tokyo too. Shibuya or Shinagawa is gonna be ¥¥&&

[@anthonylamesa7619]

The furniture is included? Or no?

[@allencoffland1685]

any website? availability outside of Tokyo?

[@ConomadicArt]

What are the websites to look for place for monthly mansions like this?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Google “Monthly Mansion Tokyo” 😂 I’ll ask him, he found it on Reddit and searched it out.

[@SAVED1288]

Hi John! What’s the name of the apartment? I’m interested in these apartment when I visit Tokyo.

[@onlyinjapanGO]

It's in Higashi Ueno 3 Chome. Not sure the company. I'll ask David tomorrow.

[@SAVED1288]

@ thank you! hope to heard from you soon.

[@nipponmanju4516]

David....?????

[@runderbaby5045]

The only time I see neighbors is in the elevator

[@R-R07]

HAHHH ? didn't know about these type pf places !! I paid / wasted 6k $ last year . for 21 days . yikes

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Yikes! Loads of options - this is the Japanese way, usually Japanese company workers do this but it's nice they've opened up the Monthly Mansion system to internationals.

[@halesm]

Company name?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

I'll ask tonight at dinner. David;s leaving Japan soon so we're going out for sushi.

[@jeniferfrenchdravillas]

Looks like the name of the mansion on the building said “Main Stage Ueno”

[@anoyakashi8775]

THE INTERVIEWER IS LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT?

[@onlyinjapanGO]

No. He's a tourist,. He's staying in a Japanese apartment system called "monthly mansion"

[@michaeldrechfachs1547]

The interviewer is, in fact, John Daub, who has been living in Japan since 1998. He is not currently looking for an apartment. The interviewee however was a week away from going back home to the US when this video was recorded.

[@MadAudi]

My mortgage is $1800/month on a 2600 house on almost an acre of land in America. 😌 I’ll survive here in America (I can afford my groceries and bills) and enjoy watching videos of people paying a lot of money for tiny apartments in Tokyo.

[@globaltokyollc-f1322]

Davida ;-)

[@Khalil.8611]

A very unusual looking David 🧐🤔

[@michaelcedillos224]

Expensive.Waste of money.😮

[@onlyinjapanGO]

Where do you want to stay, a tent in the park? For a real apartment in central Tokyo, this is pretty good considering it 3-4 min from JR Ueno Station. If you want cheap, you can stay in the countryside :) commute in.

[@lorrane2177]

Very reasonably priced. $1200-$1400 USD for an apartment with all utilities paid in a key area of Tokyo is an amazing deal. Not sure where you live, but if this was in Seattle and close to the light rail, it would be almost $2K or more per month. Even if David found a hotel room for $100/night it would be $3K for the month. Plus, the size of a typical economical hotel room is small. For someone who has traveled to another county, I believe this would be the most ideal option for a place to stay.

[@orlandopotts4819]

Can u show Christmas lights around tokyo please

[@onlyinjapanGO]

They just lit the tree at Tokyo Station today!