Hi!

As a part of our monthly recommended house series we had the pleasure of visiting Social Residence Minami Urawa. Minami Urawa opened in September 2015 and quickly became one of the more popular share houses at Oakhouse. Using the knowledge gained through managing share houses for 20 years no compromises where made when designing this house. Outstanding common facilities, excellent access to large parts of Tokyo, spacious and convenient single rooms – this house has it all!



We had the pleasure to sit down with a few house residents to pick their brains about why they chose to live there and how it’s actually like.
 

House residents

Interviewee #1: Adam 

English teacher in his thirties, from New Zealand
Has lived in Minami Urawa for almost 6 months

 

Interviewee #2: Sakaguchi

Real estate agent in her thirties, from Japan
Has lived in Minami Urawa for three weeks

 

Interviewee #3: Mitchell

English teacher in his twenties, from Seattle, USA
Has lived in Minami Urawa for more than half a year

 

Reasons for choosing Social Residence Minami Urawa

"... I was a bit hesitant about living in a share house with over 100 residents. I just couldn’t see how it could be manageable! Then I came here for a house viewing, and saw how clean and well-kept the house was. Everyone sitting in the lounge was very warm and the atmosphere was great. All my doubts were swept away and I felt then and there that this was the place for me."

A spacious common lounge where it is easy to meet new people.

Adam: My first month in Japan I stayed in an apartment. But it was so boring! There was no one to talk to but the television. That's when I decided to stay in a share house. My first share house was another Oakhouse share house called Premiere Ayase. After returning home to New Zeeland for a while I came back to Tokyo and wanted to move in there again. It was fully booked though so I thought I would try something completely different and chose Social Residence Minami Urawa.


All single rooms are spacious, have plenty of storage room and has a balcony.

I chose this house mostly because of the share house looked amazing and because the rooms seemed right for me. Going to a local gym in Japan can be expensive, but here I can use the gym for free!

Sakaguchi: Before moving here I lived in another share house with a different company. There was just no community there and so boring. I had heard about Minami Urawa but as a real estate agent myself I was a bit hesitant about living in a share house with over 100 residents. I just couldn’t see how it could be manageable! Then I came here for a house viewing, and saw how clean and well-kept the house was. Everyone sitting in the lounge was very warm and the atmosphere was great. All my doubts were swept away and I felt then and there that this was the place for me.



Mitchell: I looked at quite a few share houses before eventually settling on this one. There was just no other place that could compare to what Minami Urawa offered! I enjoy singing and fell in love with the music room as well as the atmosphere of the house. I visited the house on a Friday afternoon and saw many people hanging out with each other. They were very friendly to me even though I was just visiting. Having a gym to use was also a definite plus!

 


The popular music studio. Free to use!

 

Community and Atmosphere

"There are more Japanese people than foreigners so I can recommend it for those who wish to learn a lot of Japanese! The Japanese residents are more than happy to help people with any Japanese language problems they might have and there are so many opportunities to just learn everyday Japanese."

When someone move in we take a picture and post it on this board. It is important to make everyone feel welcome.

Mitchell: It’s a really welcoming atmosphere here. When I first moved in I was a bit nervous and actually didn’t use the kitchen for a full week. Once I dared to go down I felt very welcomed though and quickly made lots of friends. I am not always in the common lounge, but it is a very pleasant experience cooking food in the same kitchen as others, talking and laughing. Always having the possibility to eat with someone else is not to be underestimated.

 


This brand name espresso machine is apparently one of the most expensive pieces of equipment in the house. 

Adam: I spend a lot of time in the common lounge. We frequently communicate through a LINE group were people can invite each other to different get-togethers. For example we once had a huge pot luck party with over 20  different dishes! Even on normal weekends we often end up hanging out in the lounge until late.

 


From time to time there are also parties held by Oakhouse.

There are more Japanese people than foreigners so I can recommend it for those who wish to learn a lot of Japanese! The Japanese residents are more than happy to help people with any Japanese language problems they might have and there are so many opportunities to just learn everyday Japanese.

Sakaguchi: I haven’t been here for long yet, but I felt welcomed from the very start. On the day I moved in I signed the contract with the house manager and went down to the common lounge. I was just sitting in the sofa by myself when some residents approached me and started talking. We ended up going out drinking together that same night, so it was a great first day!

 

Japanese style bath - inside the house! 

What's also good about a bigger share house like Minami Urawa is that you are free to choose how social you wish to be. If you cook in the kitchen and wish to hang out with people that is no problem, but if you wish to bring your food to your room no one is going to blame you.

 

Common Facilities

"As a singer I have used it quite extensively, also for spontaneous jamming sessions with other residents. I can definitely recommend it for people who are into music."

 
Sakaguchi: Up until now I haven’t really been much of a cooker since I’ve either lived alone or in a share house without any good kitchen. The kitchen here is just amazing with all the utensils you could possibly need and it is just so much more fun cooking and sharing food together with other people.

 



 

Mitchell: A major reason for choosing this house was the music studio available for free use. I didn't expect it to come fully equipped, but it even has a drum set! As a singer I have used it quite extensively, also for spontaneous jamming sessions with other residents. I can definitely recommend this house for people who are into music.

 



I also like the library. Many residents give books to the library so there are a lot of different interesting books from all over the world.

Adam:  For being a big share house the common facilities are surprisingly clean and well kept. There is never any wait to enter the shower and even during peak hours you do not have to wait long for your turn to cook in the kitchen.

 


The theater room is very big so many people can gather and a popular place to take it easy.

 

Surrounding area and convenience

"The access to the rest of Tokyo is great. You can get to Ikebukuro in less than 20 minutes and from there to Shinjuku or Shibuya. With the Keihin Tohoku line you can also get to Ueno, Tokyo station and Asakusa in less than 30 minutes! "

Social Residence Minami Urawa has great access to large parts of Tokyo.

Adam: There are two super markets by the station and also one about 5 min. walk from the share house. The most famous one around the house is Mirabe, where you can get really cheap meat! I mostly spend my time in the house or being more in central Tokyo, so I don't know very well what dining options there are in the surrounding area. I know there is a nice ramen place and you also have Hama sushi. Ikebukuro is very close by train so it is tempting to just go there instead.

Mitchell: There is a nice park only a few minutes walk away from the share house. Great for jogging! There is also, of course, a karaoke place by Minami Urawa station.

Sakaguchi: The access to the rest of Tokyo is great. You can get to Ikebukuro in less than 20 minutes and from there to Shinjuku or Shibuya. With the Keihin Tohoku line you can also get to Ueno, Tokyo station and Asakusa in less than 30 minutes!



 

Final evaluation

As always we, the share house experts at the Shibuya information center, are happy to give you a final grade for the house (see the graph furthest up)! Social Minami Urawa is one of the pearls in Oakhouse's crown so we can't help but give it almost a full score. If you are interested do not hesitate to come and see the house or contact us for more information!

Date posted :

2016.07.13

Poster :

Shibuya Information Center