Tomo was so thoughtful and very thorough from the moment we first arrived at his home, despite our late arrival. We were provided with a fully described manual on how to get there, access to nearby shops and restaurants and his home was very clean, quiet and beautiful. Only a few minutes walk from Otsuka station, we found it extremely handy for trips to nearby areas such as Harajuku, Ikebukuro, Shibuya and half an hours train ride to Tokyo central. Tomo kept in regular contact, including some reassurance when the earthquake hit Kyushu. On our departure we were given a gift as a token of his appreciation. I would recommend anyone who is intending to stay in Japan, they should stay in Otsuka Toshima-ku. Especially if you dont know Japanese all that well, Tomo is very good at his English. Next time we visit Japan, Tomo's house is first on our agenda for our accommodation needs.