[Roundup Article] Interviews with Social Apartment Residents

Social apartments are community-oriented rental buildings featuring well-equipped common areas, such as lounges. They offer a lifestyle where diverse communities naturally form—ranging from casual interactions with just the right amount of distance between residents to deeper connections built on shared hobbies and values—going beyond simply living there.

With approximately 50 properties across the Kanto and Kansai regions and about 3,000 residents, there are as many stories as there are residents in these Social Apartments.

For this feature, we’ve compiled interviews with nine residents centered on the theme of “Encounters, Change, and Growth in Social Apartments.”
You might be interested in Social Apartments but unsure if they’re right for you. Or perhaps you’ve decided to move in but are a little anxious about whether you’ll fit in…

We’re sure that the residents’ stories will offer hints on how to find a way to connect that feels right for you.

“This might only be possible right now…” The “go-with-the-flow” mindset I gained after moving into a social apartment | Yukiko from Neighbors Kyoto Nijojo

Yukiko, who lives at Neighbors Kyoto Nijo Castle, is a true veteran of social apartments, having lived in four different ones.

You might think she’s always been an active person, but apparently, her social circle and range of activities used to be quite limited. What kind of daily life led her to transform into the “carefree Yuki-chan” she is today?

“Living Alone in Tokyo Is Absolutely Out of the Question”: Why a 22-Year-Old Recent Graduate Who Moved to Tokyo Chose a Social Apartment—Even If It Meant Giving Up Her Savings. | Koga at Neighbors Higashi-Jujo

Born and raised in Osaka, Koga had never lived on her own before.
She moved to Tokyo after joining a company right out of college. While determined to become independent, she harboured the anxiety—shared by many who move to the city—that “living alone in Tokyo might make me feel isolated.” What kind of life awaited her at the social apartment she chose to avoid that anxiety?

Connections That Expanded My Creative Horizons | Neighbors Miyamaedaira: Ramu

Ramu has made “self-expression”—through singing, dancing, design, calligraphy, and more—her career.
She has lived at Neighbors Miyamaedaira for seven and a half years, where shared spaces—such as a dance studio and soundproof room—allow her to immerse herself in her creative work.

She says that when she first moved in, she was sometimes at a loss, unsure of when to join the community. But following a certain event, her creative activities took on a whole new dimension.

[Circle Creators] A Circle Bound by the Flavors of Home | Neighbors Kasai, Mo

One of the appeals of social apartments is that residents can connect with one another beyond the boundaries of a single building. The resident-only app features a “Circle” function that allows people to interact based on shared hobbies and interests.

Among these, the “Let’s Try Chinese Cooking!” circle stands out.
We spoke with Mo, the circle leader who takes on surprising dishes like whole roasted carp and stir-fried crayfish, about the connections formed through the flavors of home.

Social Apartments as a “Third Place” | Neighbors Esaka: Monica

Monica, a college student, was born and raised in Brisbane, Australia, and moved to Japan when she started high school.
She says that while she was initially bewildered by Japan’s unique “culture of reading the room,” a certain incident caused her values to shift dramatically.
What kind of “place to belong” has the social apartment become for her?

Spending Her Student Years in an Environment Where People of All Ages and Nationalities Come Together | World Neighbors Gokokuji—Ms. Ogawa

Social apartments are home to residents across a wide range of ages, primarily in their 20s and 30s.
Some might think, “Isn’t this a bit too early for a student?”
However, Ms. Ogawa deliberately chose to immerse herself in that environment and embrace a student life enriched by diverse values. How did these interactions—which transcended age and social status—influence her student years? This is a two-part series: Part 1 and Part 2.

Neighbors Saginuma Alumni Interview | Yacchan Edition: “What I’d Like to Tell My Past Self”

Yacchan, a former resident of Neighbors Saginuma, spent an intense period there as one of the founding members.
Now, looking back as an alumna, she says there is “something she wants to tell her younger self.”
What impact did life in a social apartment have on Yacchan’s life...?

Neighbors Saginuma Alumni Interview | Shigeto’s Story: “The Role of Connecting the Charms of the People Who Gathered”

Like Yacchan, Shigeto lived there as one of the founding members. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his desire to connect with others grew stronger, and before he knew it, this once shy person had taken on a specific role of his own.

What kind of place was the social apartment for Shigeto during his limited two-year stay?

From Zero Japanese to Everyday Conversation Level in Just 6 Months! Language Skills and Community Gained Through a Social Apartment | World Neighbors Kiyosumi-Shirakawa: Josh

Living with people across cultural and language barriers.
For foreign nationals who have just arrived in Japan, this can be a major challenge.

Josh, who could speak only basic greetings in Japanese when he first arrived,
but through daily interactions with residents of various nationalities, ages, and backgrounds,
he says his Japanese improved to a conversational level in just six months. What were the days he spent at the social apartment that transformed him...?