Tokyo

Man, where to start.

I have seen so many places over the last 2 days.　14 to be exact.　I'm exhausted and my legs are aching.

But I've had an awesome time!

It was no way near as stressful as I thought it was going to be. It's totally different once you're actually here. I totally belong here. This is where I need to be in Japan. When I was coming into Tokyo on the monorail from the airport, I was just feeling great. And when the train pulled into 浜松町 and I saw all the tall buildings and flashing lights, I just broke into this massive grin. And over the weekend as I've been wondering around, asorbing city life, I know that I've 100% made the right decision.

So, about the flats.

One agency I registered with gave me 8 apartments to look at. All in 杉並区, which was my first choice for somewhere to live. What I loved about this agency is that they just send you a load of maps which you print out and then they leave the keys at the apartments so you can just let yourself in and look around at your own pace. I loved it because I didn't have someone over my shoulder telling me how great a place is and all that crap. It wasn't hard to find any of the places either which was a bit of a surprise. And it was good because I understand Japanese addressed better - how to read all the numbers and stuff.

So most of these apartments were 1Ks. I.e. one room and a kitchen (and bathroom obviously). Some of the rooms were pretty big and I was LOVING the location of some of them - especially the ones in 荻窪 and 阿佐ヶ谷. Absolutely LOVED them. But the problem I had with every single place was the so called kitchens.

Dear Japan - taking a sink and putting a cupboard underneath it does not make it a kitchen.

I love cooking. And I thought the kitchen where I am now was tiny. But it's at least 6 times the size of these ones. Only room for a one hob stove, no draining space, no counter space, no room for any kind of appliance. A fridge, microwave, kettle, toaster, rice cooker, EVERYTHING would have to go in the main room. And that's not cool. For me, a kitchen should be completely separate. I mean, I don't wanna be lying in bed staring at a microwave!

The kitchen was what ruined every single apartment for me. But that's what I've realised I'd have to put up with if I was to get my own place.

And I think that's why I've decided to go into a house share.

More on that tomorrow - I'm gonna get ready to hit the town!

I LOVE TOKYO!!!

xx