This is my first time in Koenji and I loved it! There are lots of local Japanese bars, thrift stores, food/grocery places within walking distance, and it's located in a quiet residential neighborhood which is very close to the station. There is even a local public bath near by, so I'd say it's definitely the place to live if you want to have a more non-touristy and casual experience, the streets around the neighborhood are just fun to explore. Looking back, the photos and descriptions of the apartment is pretty accurate. It's literally a very small apartment, but we got used to it right away and it's got everything a traveler needs. For example we were able to make our own breakfast, wash our clothes, and have unlimited internet to look up things. (I'll give a reminder that the cooking equipment only includes a single stove and a pot, so you have to be creative, skilled, and bring/buy your own condiments if you want to make something fancy). We also slept very well during our week there, and we like how clean, bright, and simple the place is. (The ladder to the bed is a little steep though, so elderly people or people with disability might need some special arrangement). We didn't meet Choco, he was easy to reach and he answered all of our questions very quickly, both before and during our trip. Overall we had a very pleasant stay, this is a place that I would book again, and I would definitely recommend it to other low budget travelers who don't want to compromise comfort and convenience.