Let me start by referring to the host Daisuke as 'D'. This is a reflection of how much I'm going to say his name as it pops up frequently in regards to our AMAZING trip to Japan.
D and his place were both equally amazing. As a host D was 100% of the time engaged in our trip. From arrival to landing in the next country, D was ensuring we were good. While there he helped make reservations, gave us suggestions on things to do and experience, and went above and beyond our expectations for a host. Two of our favourite restaurant experiences for Ramen and Okonomiyaki were reco'ed by D and in Shimokitazawa. D is an all-star and deserves the super host credit. His hospitality and attentiveness made our trip what it was!
As for the place, it was a perfectly quaint apartment 2 mins from the Shimokitazawa Subway line. It was more than enough for my wife and I. The place was clean, organised and the heater worked great. The pocket wifi was a major bonus especially when it came to travelling on the subway. Next door was a doughnut spot that made them fresh. Hard to resist in the morning. For arrival, D gave thorough directions on the best way to get to his place by train/subway. As for location, friends recommended Shimokitazawa for having Williamsburg, Brookyln vibes. I'm from Toronto and if you're from here it's got Parkdale/Kensington vibes. It's known for vintage shopping and I found it amazing for shopping in general. Everything was much cheaper in Shimo vs Shinjuku, Harajuku, Shibuya. Loved the location in general. The shopping, the restaurants and the vibes. Even though it's a smaller part of town, it still has an infectious energy at night. It was 8 min subway ride to Shinjuku from Shimo.
The above was my attempt at keeping it short. There aren't enough words to express how great of a time we had in Japan, how perfect Shimokitazawa was, and how amazing of a host D was. 5 Stars!