We loved this place! Yasuko and Hiro are such warm hosts and we can't thank them enough for their hospitality. ❤ they were very responsive and thoughtful, and very easy to talk to. They made sure we were comfortable, and even gave me medicine when they noticed i had a cough (it was very cold and rainy in tokyo during our stay). Make sure to also avail of their calligraphy lessons, their kimono service, and the shibamata tour! We had fun and it was such a memorable part of our stay. (And say hello to their sweet cat Romeo who lives upstairs! 😺)
The place itself is very clean and very accessible, and is in a quiet neighborhood. The peacefulness is perfect after a very busy day in central tokyo. It's at most a 5-minute walk from the station, and there are ATMs, supermarkets, specialty shops, clothing and shoe stores, restaurants, eateries, cafes, and convenience stores very close by. There is also a coin laundry down the corner if you need it. A mall with a grocery, a department store, and a daiso are also within walking distance.
Tips for smokers: the nearest smoking area is at a Family Mart, about a 3-minute walk from the apartment. There is also a coffee shop at the takasago station that has a smoking area. 😄
Commute to tokyo is super easy. Just get yourself to Oshiage/skytree station (124yen), and from there, use the subway and a tokyo metro pass to get EVERYWHERE in tokyo.
The space itself is compact, so it is best for solo travel or for 2 people. You might also want to avoid oversized luggage as storage space is a bit limited. Small and medium luggage and some carry-ons should be fine. There are signs in english throughout the apartment, as well as a guidebook to help you learn how to operate the appliances and connect to their super fast wifi.
The free mobile wifi was also super useful and super fast. For maps, train schedules, social media, and regular browsing while away from the apartment, it's a godsend. (Just remember to switch to the house wifi when you get back to the apartment!)
Before arriving, make sure you have notes/printouts/screenshots of the check-in instructions and codes.
One last thing: for future guests, it is required by japanese law that airbnb hosts take copies of their guests' passports and info. It literally says so on your reservation. So please comply when your hosts ask for it, ok? Hiro and Yasuko are the nicest folk so pls don't get them into trouble. ❤
TL;DR - we loved it here, it's clean but small. It is very accessible and there are many amenities nearby. Portable wifi is super handy. The hosts are the sweetest, and we would love to return even if it's just to visit Hiro, Yasuko, and Romeo. ❤