Shinnosuke is a fantastic host. He is clearly very experienced at managing properties and has thought of everything - including providing an Istanbul travel card to use on buses and trains with credit on it. His guidebook to Istanbul is fantastic and we highly recommend newcomers to Istanbul study it carefully. His thoughtfulness extends to the apartment where he has supplied many of the basics necessary for a comfortable stay as well as being able to cook meals with a bit of flavor from added herbs and spices. The apartment is nicely decorated and spacious. It is located in an old building and for people sensitive to such things, be aware, it has quite a musty smell. It also needs a little bit of maintenance work here and there. The location, however is fantastic! Down the hill is the T1 tram to take you directly to Sultanehmet, up the hill is Istanbul's best shopping and people watching street, and in various streets close by are great cafes and interesting sights. A great base for getting out and about to the best of the amazing city of Istanbul.