My first Japanese apartment.

At first I went with the easy option and stayed in a company apartment.
Given that I was moving to a new country, couldn’t speak the language, and wasn’t aware of how the accomodation system worked, this was a prudent decision.
I feel like in so many aspects I was extremely lucky and somehow found myself in places and around people that suited me.
Perhaps part of that may be due to “things turn out best for those who make the best of how things turn out”, but only partly due to this.

The apartment was of a nice size, in good condition, in a nice area, with nice views. It was furnished with full size and decent quality appliances, bedding etc.
This is the front entrance.
The bulge on the back of the front door in the centre bottom is for mail.

When I first arrived, I shared the apartment with a co-worker until he moved out. Then I had the apartment to myself. Then a new co-worker moved in, who stayed for a while and then moved out, after which I again had the apartment to myself.
I got along with both of these co-workers really well.

This is one of the two bedrooms.
Looking back on this photo makes me cringe a little, as the futon is not folded and out of the way, and the clothes rack is not in the cupboard, freeing up more space. I had only just moved in so I guess that can excuse it.
I was quite happy with the room. Cream walls. Wood. Pale green curtains. Tatami matting. Tatami mats in excellent condition. I’d never seen tatami mats before, but we instantly got along like old friends. Not hard like flooring, they have a little bit of give. Cool under the feet in Summer. Little ridges that almost without you noticing, almost imperceptibly massage your feet.

And the view out of the window. I really lucked out there.
A small rice field!
If you look past the rice field, behind the house opposite, you can just see outlines of mountains.

Here is the bathroom. Well, part of the bathroom.
Off to the right is a kind of wet room with a deep bath.

I wasn’t the one who decorated with blue stones and sea shells, but I can’t say that I disapproved of the marine style.

Apart from the two tatami bedrooms, and the bathroom, there was a wood floored kitchen/dining and living area.

In the end, I would live in this apartment for about three years, before being apologetically asked to leave by my landlord when the company I worked for went bankrupt and, despite deducting rent from my salary, did not pass this money on to the landlord.

One more photo of the view out the bedrooms and living room balcony.