Have you ever wondered what the tiniest apartment in Japan looks like? 🧐🤔 There is a trend of ultra-compact apartments, one of the most intriguing phenomena in this country! 🇯🇵👌 People here tend to maximize every single inch of available space! 💯🤫 The absolutely unique home rents for around $3️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ per month and there is a reason for it! ☝️I will share the photos inside in this article! 👇
In the heart of Japan, amidst towering skyscrapers and centuries-old temples, there’s a trend that’s gaining ground: micro-apartments. These ultra-compact spaces are built for those who are willing to compromise on size in exchange for a prime location in the bustling city center.
Travel influencer Nakamura Norm recently explored this phenomenon firsthand, posting a video about one of Tokyo’s most unique rental properties. This tiny flat is nestled in one of the city’s slimmest buildings, standing as a testament to Japan’s ability to maximize every inch of available space.
So, what’s the deal with this impossibly narrow apartment that rents for around $300 a month? Let’s take a closer look.
The building, which is constructed from bright yellow bricks, looks more like a wedge jammed between two larger structures than a typical apartment building. Originally, this plot of land was home to a parking lot, but with the premium cost of real estate in Tokyo, developers saw an opportunity to make use of this tiny space by building up.
The result? A building that’s almost flat in appearance but contains multiple floors of residential units. Getting to the entrance, though, is no easy feat. It’s so narrow that entering the building feels like squeezing through a tight corridor, and removing shoes without bumping into the walls is a challenge in itself.
Inside, the apartment is an exercise in functional minimalism. The kitchen is small, nestled right next to a compact bathroom that somehow fits in a full bathtub. Norm, though challenged by the cramped quarters, pointed out that Japan is no stranger to even smaller bathrooms.
The main living area, which doubles as the bedroom, office, and lounge, is a mere 2.5 meters in length. Despite the tight space, the large window allows for plenty of natural light, making the room feel a bit more spacious and surprisingly cozy. Upon closer inspection, though, Norm discovered that the brick walls were merely wallpaper designed to mimic masonry, further emphasizing the clever use of space.
In this tiny room, Norm was able to squeeze in a small foldable sofa bed, a narrow table, and a few shelves. The furniture was all multifunctional—such as the table, which could be folded away, and the bed that transformed into a work area when needed.
At a monthly rent of 40,000 yen (around $300), this apartment is a bargain for the Tokyo rental market. However, the size of the space certainly left an impression on those who watched the video, sparking a lot of discussion about the trade-off between cost and comfort in one of the world’s most expensive cities.
