Nobu & Tatsuya's apartment in Shibuya was the ideal stay for my first trip to Tokyo. Located in a residential area of Shibuya, the apartment is nearby the famous Shibuya crossing, as well as the expansive and beautiful Yoyogi Park, nearby the Chiyoda Line -- I preferred to walk down Kamiyama Street for its calm yet energetic ambiance many nights.
Though you may have heard that Japanese apartments are high functioning and efficient, if you have not stayed in a small space before, you may be caught off guard. However, Nobu & Tatsuya's apartment exceeds all marks on high functioning. While small, I never felt constricted or limited; the space is used exceedingly well and doesn't sacrifice creaturely comforts. Great shower, warm heating system, and the combo washer/dryer was a life-saver after a week in Seoul and a pile of washing to do. Plus, it's an extremely stylish apartment, and you'll really feel like you're in posh Shibuya every night you come and wake up.
Other reviews have noted that the walk to/from Shibuya Station is uphill, as well as the entrance to the apartment has a steep staircase. A couple things: 1) You get used to this very quickly! 2) You only have to do the steep staircase + bags twice (check-in and check-out). However, do bear this in mind if you have heavy bags; the staircase has a concrete ramp on one side that cyclists use to push their bikes up -- I used this when I checked out. Additionally, if you want to avoid the uphill walks, you can try to center your traveling around coming back to Nobu's apartment via the Chiyoda line, which is flatter.
A final note about location: As with much of metro Tokyo, the neighborhood is very, very safe. I came home some nights at 3AM, where I was often the only or only other person on the street, and did not feel weary, anxious, or out of sorts. Of course, my perspective does not apply to all, but do bear in mind that the neighborhood's quietness is an indication of calm.
Nobu & Tatsuya were super hosts. Many of the basic questions are answered in the in-home manual, but if I had any special questions, they were quick to respond and very informative. Should I return to Tokyo and want to stay in Shibuya again, I would definitely want to re-book their place for its location, amenities, ambiance. Thank you, Nobu!