Teaching Japan: The Living Space
This is part of a series of articles about the experience of living abroad and teaching English for AEON. These represent only my viewpoint and are not sponsored in any way.
I will present both the positive and negative. Ask questions! I tend to gloss over some details while going too far into others.
Another thing I get asked about a lot, and people who want to teach in Japan need to know, is about your living space. This would otherwise be known as “The Apartment.”
It could probably be regarded as a common fact that the average Japanese apartment is smaller than the average American apartment. The lesser known extension of this fact is that the average apartment for a teacher is smaller than the average American closet.
Ok, it is not quite not that bad… but it is very different from what most people are used to. Instead of going into great detail, I’ll throw out some pictures first.
This served as my bedroom, office, living room, and cooking prep room (not that I cooked much). The shot is from the door to my deck where I dried laundry and had breakfast when the weather was good.
This is the kitchen, it was also the only sink I had. Just to the left of that was my clothes washer, it really isn’t worth a separate picture though.
Yeah, it was small. Very very small. When first coming to my apartment my manager was actually worried I might not fit on the bed. Luckily the bed was not a problem, it was small, but it was adequate for sleeping. I can say truthfully that I almost had a panic attack upon first seeing my apartment. I can also confirm that you get mostly used to it very quickly.
It’s not all bad though, having a tiny place encourages you to get out and see things. Also, Japanese culture is largely based around the fact that you don’t host any activities at your apartment, you tend to take people out. This is a big reason why karaoke clubs with private rooms are such a big thing.
I don’t have much to say on the apartment topic. It was small, but it served as it needed to.
Hahaha nice apaato ~ You’re totally right about having a tiny place encourages you to get out and see things. This sure is my credo when going on city trips (not while on going on a sun vacation). City trips can get very expensive here in Europe, but is it really important to have a swimmingpool or sauna in the hotel? You’re supposed to get out and see things!
Thank you for sharing those pictures. My former fellow students showed me loads of their tiny appartments while they were in Nagasaki. But hmm, those were probably ‘dorms’ not really a single appartment… Looking forward to reading future posts (and might do some backreading too!) *bookmarked*
Chris Schaffer Reply:
October 29th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Thanks for stopping by!
Yeah, my apartment was close to dorm style… The actual description for Leo Palace units of the type I was in basically said they were meant as temporary employee housing. However, all the other residents at my building also seemed to be there for longer stays.
Well…small apartments like that shouldn’t be a problem for a single person living in them. I probably would have a hard time trying to fit stuff in since I bring so much on the trips. Your place looks pretty clean.
Chris Schaffer Reply:
October 29th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
It was mostly very clean because those pictures were taken on my move out day. Although I did try to keep it in pretty good order.
It wasn’t a big problem living in a small apartment, but it did take some getting used to.
Wow, it is interesting to see how other people live. It would be hard for me to imagine living in such a small space, but I guess you would get used to it after a while. Good luck with everything.
Chris Schaffer Reply:
October 29th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
Thank you! It did take some getting used to, luckily now I am back to a much bigger space.
Japan = not for the claustrophobic. XD
(= That looks really neat. Although I’m not a fan of tiny places which would put me perfectly into the American stereotype that everything is better bigger. XD
Chris Schaffer Reply:
October 29th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
hehe yeah.
I also like bigger places. I’m not about the huge houses that have become almost common, but I like more space to stretch out both physically and materialistically.
that’s a kitchen!! =) I would love to have one that small, easier to keep clean than the one I have the now lol.
I guess the space isn’t too bad as long as you are there alone – but like you say it encourages you get out and about more.
Chris Schaffer Reply:
October 29th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
It was easy to keep clean. The no counter tops really helps.
I got used to the space pretty quickly, but it’s hard when you keep thinking “with another room I could actually have a real place to sit”
WOW! I have never seen such a living space so…tiny! It almost looks like the inside of a dollhouse =x. I am glad you can manage this; i think i may have developed closterphobia or something =\
Chris Schaffer Reply:
October 29th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
It was a very hard first few weeks in the apartment. I got used to it, but I am very happy to be in much larger place now.
At least you have your own place. That’s how I see it.