Why a new graduate who moved to Tokyo at the age of 22 chose to live in a social apartment even if he had to give up his savings.

Social apartments are rental apartments that include a lounge and other public spaces in addition to conventional private rooms. It is a new style of living where you can enjoy community with other residents while maintaining your privacy, and “expanding your world.

We interviewed Ms. Kogawa, who has been living at Neighbors Higashi Jujo, a social apartment located within a 4-minute walk from Higashi Jujo Station, for a year.

Mr. Kogawa decided to move into a social apartment after graduating from college. Before moving to Tokyo, he had heard that “living alone in Tokyo makes you sick”…?

If you live in Tokyo, you have to make friends or you will get sick.

——First of all, what made you decide to live in a social apartment?

Anyway, I wanted to be independent. I was born and raised in Osaka, and I had never left my parents’ house, but I felt that it would be bad for me to be spoiled by my parents. I decided to leave my hometown and move to Tokyo when I started working.

It was during my job hunting that I found Social Apartment. I was watching a YouTube channel that introduced a variety of properties, and I saw several Social Apartment properties introduced. As I went to look at the website, I thought to myself, “I definitely want to live here!”

——By the way, did you have the option of living alone at the time?

Not at all. There were people around me who got sick after moving to Tokyo and came back to Osaka. Because of that, I thought, “If I live in Tokyo, I will get sick if I don’t make friends.”

So, before moving to Tokyo, I went to preview social apartments in Osaka and asked for advice on various matters. One of the places that caught my attention was Neighbors Higashi Jujo. The residents were all smiling and seemed to be having a lot of fun in the group photos they posted…!

To be honest, the rent was expensive for a new graduate, and that was a big obstacle for me, but in the end I decided to take comfort in a place even if it meant throwing away my savings.

I was worried about whether I would fit in, but the person who was in charge of the viewing said to me, “Don’t worry at all! Have confidence!” so I was able to move to Tokyo with peace of mind (laughs).

I actively participated in events. A year focused on “having fun”

——How do you feel now that you have actually moved into the Social Apartment?

I have always been sociable, but now I am even more so (laughs). Most people are older than me, so it is strange that I can talk to people 10 years older than me without a care in the world. Until I was a university student, my seniors were at most two or three years older than me, but now I talk to people who are unbelievably older than me on a first-name basis.

And, although I had no money at first and the room was a bare space, many things were given to me…. I used to buy groceries every day and use up all the food, and sleep on a mattress directly on the floor, but now I have a refrigerator, microwave oven, bed frame, etc., and my life has become very rich.

Recently, I have been studying for a certification, and someone in the social apartment has the same certification and lent me some instructional books. They have been really helpful (laughs).

——I like that the residents are giving things away to each other. By the way, did you adjust to the social apartment right away?

I knew that I absolutely had to go down to the common areas, so I did my best. It took a lot of courage because everyone was so friendly, but people talked to me just by being there. In particular, the kids who had been living in the social apartments since I graduated really cared about me.

The events helped me a lot, too. When I told them that I played soccer, they put me on a team and told me that there was a futsal tournament for the properties! I learned everyone’s names through playing, and since we were together all day, including at the launch, we became fast friends.

▲Futsal that strengthened our bond as a team.

I also tried to participate in other events as much as possible, such as the Molucco tournament, Tako-pa, birthday parties, and so on. Once I was recognized as a “participant,” I was invited to more and more events.

Anyway, by focusing on “having fun,” I was able to have a lot of fun this year!

▲They won the Molook competition!

I like the people who live here. I don’t plan to live alone in the future.

——How do you usually spend your time at the Social Apartment?

I work remotely, so I basically do my work in my room, but at lunchtime I go down to the common area to talk with everyone over a meal I’ve prepared. Even though I’m inside the building, I feel like I’m outside, and it’s very refreshing.

After work, I borrow a resident’s bicycle and go to the gym. When I get back, I set the rice cooker in the common area, go back to my room, take a shower, and then come back to the common area to cook dinner.

I take a shower first because I enjoy myself too much in the common area. After talking with everyone, I am too lazy to take a bath, so I definitely do it first (laughs).

——Wow. You have a perfect routine, even the enjoyment is taken into consideration. Are you in the common area every day?

Almost every day. But I think I’m getting a good sense of closeness with everyone. At first, I would stay until the end of events that I wasn’t too keen on, but I sometimes didn’t sleep well, so now I’m able to cut loose quickly.

Recently, I have become addicted to cooking for myself, and I look forward to it every day, thinking, “What should I cook? I want to cook so many different kinds of food that eating is now a bonus (laughs).

My goal was originally to become independent, but after a year of doing personal things, I think I’ve become able to do a whole range of household chores. Sometimes I cook dinner with everyone and ask residents who are good cooks to teach me their tips.

The interesting thing about social apartments is that when you are in the common area, spontaneous events happen. Thanks to this, I have not felt lonely at all since I moved to Tokyo.

——What do you like about Social Apartment?

I like the people who live there. For a new graduate, the rent is expensive, but I think it is because of that, all the people are working hard and are kind.

When I was struggling with a certain issue, they gave me a lot of advice. Without their advice, I don’t think I would be where I am today. I try to follow in everyone’s footsteps and actively talk to newcomers.

——Lastly, please give a message to those who are currently considering moving in!

There is no reason to live alone, especially if you are coming out of the countryside. I think it’s lonely to go home to live alone and have no one there, and I think I’d have a lot of free time on weekends. There might be some company colleagues, but they are just company colleagues.

In my hometown, I was told “Tokyo is not interesting,” but the people at Social Apartment are very warm.

Two months after I moved in, I had my birthday party. I was embarrassed because I had never had a big celebration in my life, but I still feel happy when I see the group photo.

▲”I also received these sandals as a gift!”

I don’t plan to live alone in the future, so I think I will continue to live at Social Apartment. I can never live alone, so I probably never will (laughs).

——Thank you very much for sharing this episode with us. Thank you very much for your time today!

(Reporting and writing by Yuki Ishikawa, Photography by Keishi Matsuma)