Ginrei Sou
Danielle and I have decided on our apartment. If you read my previous post on the decision, you can see some of the basic specs there. Since then we have received and exchanged a few emails with our predecessors and Danielle’s supervisor. Danielle’s supervisor threw another apartment into the mix. The biggest problem with the apartment we have chosen was the distance to Danielle’s school. However, the distance is only about 6 kilometers (about 3.5 miles). Which, to both danielle and myself who have bike commuted in chicago, did not seem like an insurmountable distance. I just hope there isn’t a large hill in her way.
The new apartment will be on the third floor, which eliminates the fear of peeping toms, something of a risk with foreign women apparently. Also, it decreases the risk that we will have a problem with Mukade. Great news on both parts. David, my predecessor, also had some nice things to say about our future apartment landlady and the neighbors living there. However, the most interesting info we received, was some pictures from Danielle’s supervisor. It is still in the process of being renovated to a certain extent, we were asked to bear that in mind when we saw the pictures, but the layout should be much the same.
This is the front of our new home. It doesn’t seem to be much to look at, but it is supposed to be pretty clean. It is also very close to a train station which should make it easy to get to nagoya, and from there to anywhere else in japan.
Tadaima! (this means something like “I’m home.”) Notice that the door says 3c. I think that this means, if you look at the first picture, we will be in the top floor farthest apartment from the stairs, but I am not entirely sure.
TaDah! This is most of our apartment. The wood floor room in the front is our living/dining/kitchen. The two rooms in the back of the picture will be getting paper doors and tatami mats fit. The paper dividers mean that we will be very cosy with all of you that choose to visit. Acoustic privacy will not be easy to obtain, please inform us if you are heavy snorers so we can arrange your accommodations accordingly (earplugs for everyone!). I also think that the cabinetry that is sitting in the right hand room will be part of our new kitchen, which we didn’t get a picture of.
Apparently one feature that is pretty standard in all apartments in japan is the balcony. (Something we do not often get here in the Midwest.) This is because everyone needs somewhere to air out their futons, and dry their clothing, as dryers are not common there. I kind of wish we could see the view we will have, but I am kinda just glad to have a balcony.
Danielle is very excited that we have a western style toilet. No squatty potties for us. Notice the built in handwashing sink on the tank. This allows the graywater produced by washing your hand to be used in the next flush. How environmentally responsible!
The bathroom has a traditional japanese bath, or ofuro, which is square and very deep. You are supposed to wash outside of the bath and just use the tub for soaking. Hence the shower head on the hose. I am actually looking forward to this kind of bath it seems really very relaxing.
That is all for now, I will try to post more information as it becomes available.
The view looks like the building across the street to me.
Looks pretty cool! I have read (and have had to research in the past) that Japan has the most high-tech toilets of any nation–which confused me when I saw your traditional squatter toilet mention, but apparently they went from squatters to all tricked out. I realize not all places will have funky toilets, but I’m hoping I’ll see at least one!
I, too, am excited about the high-tech toilets. Apparently some of them play the music that you have downloaded to your cell phone. At least that’s what I’ve heard. Jill, we’ll make sure to scope out some awesome toilets for you to check out when you arrive.
The japanese do, in fact, have very advanced toilets. However, they also have an obsession with sanitation. As such they still prefer the squatty potties they used historically in many public settings. (no touching means more sanitary right?) Some older houses still have them, however, western toilets are on the rise, with high technology following. Many dispense a sanitary barrier, play music or noises to cover the sound of your peeing, have built in bidet, and the list goes on and on. Most commonly toilets have built in seat warmers, which is good considering their lack of central heating. However, there were recently a rash of recalls from toilet seats that were starting on fire!
About that environmentally responsible toliet you guys are going to have — what happens if you don’t wash your hands enough to fill the tank? Do youhave to wash before and after you go?