This place is excellent. The place may be a bit old. But it's clean, convenient, comfortable and secure, The apartment building is in a residential area with some offices. Beside it is a playground great for kids, A few steps away is the Sugamo police station. What could be more secure than that.
The unit is big enough for 4 to 6 people, It has a separate bedroom. The comfortable bed inside can fit 2 adults or 2 adults plus 1 kid. The beds in the living room have the same arrangement. There are separate bathroom and toilet. Very convenient. But a bidet would be a nice addition.
The unit's design will please music buffsand those who love vintage. The hosts' collection of jazz vinyl is displayed on the wall There is a phonograph with great sounding speakers to enjoy the records. The kitchen is big and the dining table sits six. There's enough space to stow your luggages. Below the apartment is a vendo if you're craving for hot coffee or cold soda. A Natural Lawson store for the health conscious is nearby.
The unit is located on the second floor. However, there;s no elevator from ground to second. So it may not be easy to carry heavy luggages up the stairs. But that's a minor issue compared to enjoying Kitaotsuka where the apartment is. It's a small town with modern conveniences.
The apartment is 5 to 10 minute walk away from Otsuka station. Otsuka takes you to either Shinjuku or Ueno. One station away is Ikebukuro where you can do lots of shopping and sightseeing. But for daily conveniences, Otsuka has Atrevie shopping mall below with Starbucks, Uniqlo, supermarket, drugstore and restaurants. Across the station is a small shop selling fresh sushi and sashimi for 400 - 600 yen. There's Ikinari Steak resto nearby that serves excellent steak, if you want to splurge a bit. And lots of convenience stores around.
The best way to do sightseeing, I believe, is to take the local, one-coach train below Otsuka. You can buy a 1-day pass for 750 yen, ride the train to various suburbs of Tojyo, and enjoy Japanese culture and sights that most tourists miss. Kitaotsuka is away from the busy tourist areas and noisy crowds. Quiet but modern and much convenient. And Takumi has a perfect place to stay for those who want to enjoy the area and Tokyo, as well.