Social Apartment Experience. Former residents report on the charm of Neighbors Gotanda.

Hello. My name is Hayashi of Global Agents, and I am in charge of planning articles for the Social Apartment website.

For those of you who have never lived in a social apartment before, you may be wondering what it is like to live in a social apartment. Some of you reading this article may be curious about Neighbors Gotanda, and some of you may have opened the article somehow.

Actually, I have lived in Neighbors Gotanda before. So, I would like to tell you the charm of Neighbors Gotanda as I felt it during the one year and two months I lived there, which cannot be conveyed only by pictures.

This is only my subjective viewpoint, but it may be similar to other social apartments, not limited to Neighbors Gotanda. I would be happy if you find it useful.

No.1: Lounge with a sense of openness

The first thing I want to mention is that having such a spacious lounge in the middle of the city for daily use is in itself a major attraction. the lounge on the 4th floor has high ceilings and windows that let in natural light throughout the day.

When you have a favorite space at home, do you naturally want to "spend more time in your daily life"? Even though I am not a morning person, sometimes I would get up early (almost zombie-like) and soak up the sun in the lounge. The lounge was almost deserted in the early morning, so I would soak up the dazzling morning sun and feel like I was spending some special time alone. Now that I think about it, it was a "wonderful life" (laughs).

The lounge at Gotanda has multiple zones, including a work space, sofa area, table area, and kitchen, so you can choose where to spend your time according to your mood or scene.

In the evening, you can enjoy a movie on the 100-inch theater in the sofa area, or have a chat over dinner at the table. In the spacious kitchen, while cooking together, we sometimes confided in each other about things we would not normally talk about.

The work space just outside the elevator is a favorite spot, with a view of the park's greenery through the window. I could comfortably switch off between work and chat with the person sitting next to me, or take a breather by turning my gaze outside.

I feel that this lounge, with its luxurious yet warm facilities, is a place I have fond memories of spending quality time alone or with multiple people.

No.2: Terrace and rooftop

The terrace connected to the lounge is lined with tables and chairs and can be used like another lounge. I often used the terrace when I wanted to read alone or talk quietly with a small group.

The rooftop leading off the terrace is also a special favorite place. It is equipped with yoga mats, and I often visited there thinking, "What a luxury to have a place at home where I can stretch outside. On spring and fall nights when the temperature was pleasant, I would take an outdoor bath on the rooftop after my bath before going to sleep. I could sleep surprisingly deeply.

I also have fond memories of running into someone heading for the smoking area on the rooftop and having the usual chit-chat with him, only to find myself half-crying as I asked him for life advice.

No.3: The number of households with a homey atmosphere of 30 people

Social apartments vary in size from property to property, ranging from around 30 households to 180 households. Neighbors Gotanda has about 30 households. Neighbors Gotanda has about 30 households, which is about the size of a class of apartments.

One of the advantages of the small size of the apartments is that most of the residents know each other by name within a month of moving in. Personally, I felt a sense of familiarity just by conversing with them once, even if it was just to say hello.

At that time, I went to work every day, and even on my days off, I had many opportunities to go out for my hobbies, so the only time I could talk slowly with other residents was at night. Even so, I felt a sense of distance from the residents who would casually say to me, "Welcome back, where have you been today? I felt very safe because of the distance between me and the other residents, who would casually say, "Welcome back, where have you been today?

Of course, each number of households has its own charm. If you are interested, please check this article as well.

[Reference article]
Up to 180 households! What is the difference between social apartments by property size?

Attractiveness #4: Located within walking distance of good restaurants and public bathhouses

In addition to the nearby Togoshiginza and Gotanda Stations, you can also access Musashikoyama and Osaki Stations in the direction of 20 minutes on foot. The surrounding environment is very well-developed, with supermarkets and daily necessities for daily life, as well as restaurants and pubs that you will want to repeat, and public bathhouses that you will keep coming back to.

With Neighbors Gotanda as my base, I was never bored with the surrounding environment, as there was always something new to discover.

It is reassuring to know that there is someone who can give me advance information on areas I cannot explore on my own.

When other residents tell you about stores and spots that you cannot explore on your own, you will be able to enjoy the town in a much broader way. You can visit the places you are interested in alone or together with other residents. I felt that I could love the town even more because I could share it with others.

Since I'm here, I'd like to introduce some of my favorite restaurants and public bathhouses that I frequented back then.

Favorite restaurants

Sushi and Mas (Neighbors Gotanda, 17-minute walk)
This restaurant mainly serves fish dishes such as obanzai and sashimi. There is also a wide selection of sake,
It is a great pairing of delicious sushi and sake.

Kasugatei Gotanda (14-minute walk from Neighbors Gotanda)
At the time, I loved the oil soba here. After work, I suddenly had a craving for oil soba, and I would eat the noodles covered in oil night after night along with the residents who were good friends of mine. On the way home, I felt as if I had consumed all the energy I had eaten. It is a good memory.

BEETLE Gotanda (20-minute walk from Neighbors Gotanda)
A retro Showa-style bar where you can enjoy flavorful and cost-effective izakaya food.
It was almost always full no matter when I went. The restaurant was crowded with people, and we had a lot of fun talking and ended up drinking too much.

My favorite public bathhouse.

The photo is an image.

Matsunoyu (7-minute walk from Neighbors Gotanda)
There were many regular residents. You can enjoy an old-fashioned public bath.

Kinshunyu (8-minute walk from Neighbors Gotanda)
A public bathhouse established in 1950. Both men and women have saunas. I used to go there as a regular customer including the tenants at that time.

Musashikoyama Onsen Shimizu-yu (15-minute walk from Neighbors Gotanda)
You can enjoy a natural hot spring bath while being in a big city. The design of the facilities is sophisticated, and the attraction is that you can enjoy an extraordinary experience. On holidays, the area was crowded with many public bathhouse visitors.

After actually living here, I realized that a social apartment is a place where you have to experience it to understand how interesting it is. You may find that you have a favorite place to stay, or you may find yourself developing new hobbies or making new friends. The accumulation of such small discoveries will make your daily life a little more special.

What I have described here is just my personal experience. I am sure you will find different charms depending on the property and the way you live. I would be happy if I could give you some hints for those who are thinking about moving in or already living here.

(Text: Hayashi)