So everyone knows Japan is not cheap and Tokyo even less so. Most precious of all is space. When we left Europe we left behind wide open spaces forever. Seriously, if you are claustrophobic do not come here. Rooms and apartments are tiny, streets are narrow and even bars and restaurants you can sometimes barely squeeze into.
We got a real reality check when we visited Angeliki and her husband’s flat. Check it out:
 

Obviously you have to adjust. Angeliki has learnt to cook standing up in a tiny space, which is amazing considering for me sometimes a whole kitchen isn’t enough. No oven or microwave either so boil it, fry it, steam it or eat it raw (which to be fair is a large proportion of the dishes)

  
There is also the use of all the walls and horizontal space as tissues can be stuck on walls and shoes can be tucked into ceiling pipes, and of course racks of stuff are a must.

bedroom

ceiling/shoe storage

 
And bills are outrageously expensive- for this tiny space they pay the equivalent of €80 a month for electricity even though their stove is on gas and they doesn’t have a tv- absolutely insane. Luckily for them they pay “ghost rent”. As Japanese people are super superstitious, when someone dies of unexpected circumstances they believe that person’s ghost remains in the house for two years. During this period a lot of Japanese people refuse to live in such a place so the rent is much cheaper. The agency advertises the place as a ghost place and shares details about the ghost- name, cause of death etc. After two years rent increases, although Angeliki’s hasn’t increased yet as her land lord is not sure if the ghost has left yet.

Traffic is also bad and many young Tokyans do not have a car. But don’t worry they have an answer to that too. With Angeliki almost 9 months pregnant they have a mother-taxi prepared for her for when the moment comes to pick them up and rush them to the airport super speedy. They really do think of everything in this city!