Oakhouse Comfort Higako Sports in Koganei, Tokyo, is a share house that offers long term residence to both Japanese and international residents.
Higako Sports has over 160 rooms and is 15 minutes from Higashi-Koganei Station, which is just 20 minutes from Shinjuku Station on the Chuo Line. The share house is also located near Studio Ghibli and the Edo Tokyo Architectural Museum. Typically the rooms are singles, though one additional person is allowed to live in the room. Rent costs anywhere from ¥52,000 to ¥74,000, plus an extra ¥12,000 for utilities a month. An additional ¥10,000 is added monthly for a room with two people.
Rooms are furnished with a desk, bed, refrigerator and closet and each have a balcony for hanging clothes outside to dry. Each floor has at least one shared restroom and kitchenette, however the kitchenette is only to be used for heating and preparing instant food items .
On the first floor of the building, there is a spacious kitchen and lounge with nearly all the cooking supplies needed, including sponges and soap. The dining table can seat over 20 people. Dinner time provides an opportunity to interact with other residents. Many of the residents speak Japanese, English, or both, as well as their native tongues, which can prove beneficial to those hoping to learn a language.
Higako Sports offers a variety of facilities, including a communal Japanese-style bath, a social office for studying and classes, and a multi-purpose room. The multipurpose room is divided into three sections. One is a roomy lounging area equipped with bean bag chairs, a TV, a projector and a number of gaming systems. The next section has a pool and ping pong table. The last section is a workout studio with a sound system, yoga equipment, free weights and even a trampoline. It can be great for those wanting to get or stay in shape without having to go to the gym.
Among other things available at Comfort Higako Sports Oakhouse is free laundry (although the dryers cost ¥100 for 20 minutes) and free internet, including wireless. There is also a courtyard where you can hang laundry or hang out. The court is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and has tennis, basketball and more - but if that doesn't satisfy you, the share house is just 7 minutes away from Koganei Park.
The residents of Higako Sports are encouraged to say hello when passing others in the hallway, and they are also prone to making conversation, so newcomers may find this share house to be friendly and easy to adjust to.
To sign up for an available room at Oakhouse Comfort Higako Sports, fill out and submit a request form here.
