Sample Apartment
So wanted to share a sample apartment brochure with all of you. This is one we might go and look at - although I doubt we will take it (Ayako doesnt like tatami mat rooms - she says they are more trouble than they are worth). We are on a waiting list for the apartment complex with 7 floors - so we hope to hear something from them soon, but nonetheless - the hunt must continue.
As you look at it you will notice it is a 2 bedroom apartment. In Japan they list apartments as 2LDK or 1LDK or 2DK etc. Essentially 2LDK = 2 living rooms (bedrooms), 1 Dining room, and 1 Kitchen. I guess a 2DK = 2 dining/bedrooms + Kitchen.
With most Japanese apartments the shower is separate from the toilet. Unlike American showers - the floor outside the tub is also used. A standard Japanese bath starts with a sponge-bath while standing outside the tub. Then after you are clean - a hot soak in the tub. Although relaxing - this is time consuming - and I generally just take a quick shower.
When I look at these brochures I try to pinpoint a few things.
- 徒歩23分 (the number differs)
- This tells us how far of a walk the apartment is to the nearest train station, sometimes it may be listed more than once if there is more than one station closeby
- 9.7万円 (that last character is “Yen” so this tells us how much the apartment is)
- this example is = 97000 ~ $970.00 a month
- 2004年3月
- This tells us what year and month the apartment was built, or will be available. Since dates are common - it depends on the context what this is telling us.
Click here to have a look at a PDF brochure of a Japanese apartment.
Or you can click here to view a really basic page on an apartment. (the one I pulled the example numbers from)
