Hopefully, Apartment, Part 4!

[unforth]

So I called Sakura House when they opened this evening...and I didn't get the apartment in Sangubashi. Sure enough, when my deposit wasn't received within 24 hours, someone else got it.

Determined that I wouldn't get off the phone until I had a fricken apartment, Watanabe san, a very nice woman, found the request I'd sent in earlier today, where I had listed Asakusa Iriya #205 in Asakusa (the closest thing to a historical district that Tokyo has when you consider that most of the city has burnt to the ground twice in the last century) as my first choice. The apartment was still free, and Watanabe san promptly sent me the "submit payment" link and the Deposit Agreement. I sent in my payment, signed the agreement, ran to Kinko's to scan the thing in again, and sent it back to her, and I JUST got her confirmation that I'm all set.

TAKE THAT. I have a goddamn apartment FINALLY.

So. This apartment is someplace between a guest house and an actual apartment. It's located in Asakusa, obviously, and it's 130 square feet. I get my own kitchen and bedroom, but I'll have to share a bathroom with the other four apartments on the floor - by far the biggest disadvantage of the place. The plus side that makes up for this is that it's only 77000 yen ($625), which includes all utilities and internet - making it less than I pay in rent now! Yay! I haven't yet checked where the nearest bookstore is, sadly, but I'll be doing so before I finish this post you can be sure. ;) It's available the day I arrive, and it looks like it has "personality." That is to say, it looks kinds of run down and old, but in a way I suspect (knowing me) that I'll like. :) It's not really close to any stations, but it's within a 15 minute walk of four stations, including the Ueno stop of the Yamanote line, putting it within a mile of Ueno park - the largest park in Tokyo - and Ueno itself.

And most importantly, it's MINE, confirmed by Watanabe san, so no more hypothetical apartment, no more getting myself all happy about a place only to find out that I didn't get it, no, the deposit is paid for, done and done! haha! :)

Speaking of the bookstore, it looks like it's about a half mile. :)

Anyway, there is lots of neat stuff in the area. I've started to mark it on thsi Google Map - this is gonna help me find stuff so much when I get there! - but for now it's late and I have GOT to get to bed.
At least I don't have to worry about an apartment any more...I hope...

Comments

[unforth.livejournal.com]

Damn you, Rumiko Takahashi!! If only this meant I'd have a handsome house owner...but my property has no manager, sadly. :)

[skygawker.livejournal.com]

Yay! Congrats on finding an apartment. And now your Google Map is distracting me. Hey, your Book Off isn't too far, at least. It was a lot farther to the nearest one where I was studying. 'Course, that's easy for me to say 'cause I just discovered mine is about 3 minutes by foot from my apartment. ;)

[unforth.livejournal.com]

When I was first looking it up, I thought it was right around the corner, but it turned out I was looking at the wrong intersection - I was way excited for a few minutes. It's still a lot closer than the one I used to go to, though. :)

Yay! Congrats~!

[nekomata.livejournal.com]

Here's where I lived (city), since you'd asked.
http://www.globalcompassion.com/aobadai.htm

Re: Yay! Congrats~!

[unforth.livejournal.com]

Neat!! :) I'll have to take a longer look, I want to visit Yokohama, I think one of my friends from HS is there (he's in the navy)

[sapphohestia.livejournal.com]

Yay apartment!

[unforth.livejournal.com]

*happy dance*

This probably makes me seem dumb, but . . .

[sapphohestia.livejournal.com]

What is Book Off? A quick search indicates Book Off is a used bookstore chain. But what makes it so famous?

Re: This probably makes me seem dumb, but . . .

[unforth.livejournal.com]

It's not famous. It's a used book store chain. :)

What makes it famous to ME is that I found the one in NYC about a week after it opened. I was used to paying about $8 for manga volumes from Japan - a chunk of change for something I could barely read! Book Off sells used manga for $1 - $4 (typically), and used Art Books (usually about $30 - $40 new) for under $10. CDs are $5 to $10...pretty much, it's a mecca for anyone who is used to paying the normal price for imports from Japan. I spent hundreds of dollars at the one in NYC, and got plenty of manga for my trouble.

Think of it like the first time you realized that you could buy books from the Library Booksale for $1...except unlike library booksale books, the ones at Book Off are almost always like new condition. :)

I love Book Off...I could live in Book Off.

Re: This probably makes me seem dumb, but . . .

[mistress-sin.livejournal.com]

it's true. i've been to book off with her. she tends to get lost in the stacks.

[gilded-ygdrasil.livejournal.com]

I'm very glad that this is all working out. Hell, I'M really excited about all of it and I'm not even going. I shall expect many pictures and stories. ^^

[unforth.livejournal.com]

There will be many of both. :) And I'll purchase people stuff on request, too!

[bakanekotoo.livejournal.com]

Yay! No more frustrating apartment hunting :-) Congrats! :-)

[unforth.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :) I'm excited...and nervous...