Are Social Apartments a Good Option for Students? A Special Feature on Properties Recommended by Interns!

Social apartments are community-oriented rental buildings featuring well-equipped public spaces, such as lounges. They offer a new lifestyle that allows residents to enjoy socializing with one another while maintaining their privacy.

For this article, we spoke with Kohaku and Kinoshita, two third-year college students working as interns in the sales department of a social apartment complex.

While living in a Social Apartment themselves, the two are working as long-term interns, handling tasks similar to those of full-time employees—such as making property recommendations and conducting on-site tours for prospective tenants. Although the Social Apartment community consists mainly of working professionals, the time they spend there seems to be a surprising opportunity for these students to broaden their horizons.

We asked these two, who know Social Apartment inside and out, to share what life is really like there and to show us their top picks for properties they’d recommend to students.

Left: Kohaku; Right: Kinoshita

—Kohaku, Kinoshita, thank you for your time today! First, could you please briefly introduce yourselves?

Kohaku:
“I’m Kohaku, a junior in college doing an internship while living at Neighbors Kasai.I’m studying the tourism industry at university; my hobby is traveling, and I’d love to go on a working holiday someday. I’ve always been interested in the hotel industry, and while researching a hotel chain called LIVELY HOTELS, I discovered that ‘the same company also runs social apartments!’—that’s how it all started.”

Kinoshita:
“I’m Kinoshita, a third-year college student living at World Neighbors Gokokuji. I’m studying electrical engineering at university and also work part-time at a café. I learned about Social Apartment just as I was looking for a long-term internship in face-to-face sales, so I decided to move in.”

—So, how has your experience been living at Social Apartment?
Kohaku:
“At first, I was worried about whether I’d be able to fit in, but thanks to people my age inviting me to drinking parties and get-togethers, I settled in right away. Lately, it’s become a big trend here for everyone to gather late at night to play board games after eating dinner together. It’s such a blast!”

Left: Preparing for an octopus party in the lounge; Right: Residents enjoying board games together

Kinoshita:
“I was also nervous about joining an established community. But as we played ‘Momotaro Express’ and had drinks together, I found myself feeling right at home before I knew it. Personally, I often use the workspace to prepare for job interviews and study for exams, and I’ve naturally become friends with the people I see there all the time.”

—If there’s one memorable moment from your time at SA so far, please share it.
Kohaku:
“The Christmas party we hosted with our building’s residents and ‘Social Night Out’—a large-scale event where residents from all buildings can mingle—are especially memorable! At our building’s party, we ate cake together, exchanged gifts, and celebrated in a cozy, homey atmosphere—it was so much fun.

I participated in ‘Social Night Out’ as part of my internship duties, and it was a valuable opportunity to interact with many residents from other properties. I was helping take photos with a Polaroid camera, and I had so much fun meeting and chatting with people from all the different properties! Also, the food at the venue was so delicious that before I knew it, I might have been completely absorbed in eating the whole time (laughs).”

▽ Check out photos from last summer’s Social Summer Outing here!

Left: The Christmas cake we all made together Right: Gifts exchanged among residents

Kinoshita:
“It was a farewell party for a resident I’d become close with. While there are new encounters, there are also sad goodbyes, but I’ll never forget the warm atmosphere as we all took photos to see them off. We promised to ‘keep meeting up regularly even after they move out,’ so I felt that the bonds formed here will last forever.
I also connected with a working professional—who was in charge of hiring at a company I used to live at—through a resident’s introduction, and they gave me a ‘mock interview.’ Their advice from a professional perspective was truly reassuring as I moved forward with my job hunt.”

We asked these two residents to share the property they’d recommend to students!

—First, which property would Kohaku recommend?
Kohaku:
“I recommend Neighbors Miyamaedaira! The number one reason is that the design is just so stylish. It’s the kind of space that makes you want to invite friends over.
Also, there are spots in both the living room and the workspace where you can really focus on your work, so even when you’re swamped with college assignments and reports, you can switch up your surroundings at home to refresh your mind and get back to it. The fact that you can get to Shibuya on a single train ride, yet the rent is only around 60,000 yen, is a huge plus for students.”

The lounge space at Neighbors Miyamae-hira

Kinoshita:
“That’s true—it’s so spacious and airy that friends would definitely be surprised if I invited them over! Plus, since there’s a spa area, you can relax while listening to your favorite music. I hardly ever see anyone using it when I’m showing people around, so I actually think it might be quite the ‘hidden gem’ (laughs).”

Spa Area with Massage Chairs

—That’s true. With 84 households, it’s a fairly large complex, so it seems like there’ll be plenty of opportunities to connect with all kinds of people.
Kohaku:
“That’s right! In fact, Neighbors Kasai, where I live, also has 72 households—which is quite a lot—and since there were residents my age, it was easy to fit into the community. I’ve been able to connect with people from overseas and from all kinds of professions, so every day has been a learning experience. Another great thing about SA is that the older residents really take me under their wing.”

[Property Introduction: Neighbors Miyamaedaira]
A 7-minute walk from Miyamaedaira Station on the Tokyu Den-en-toshi Line, with a direct 25-minute ride to Shibuya.The 200-square-meter grand lounge, featuring brick tiles inspired by the New York City subway, is truly impressive in scale. It’s fully equipped with a focused workspace, a studio, a spa with foot baths, and even a soundproof room. With spacious 15-square-meter private units, you can enjoy a fulfilling life both at work and at play.
◇ Click here for details on Neighbors Miyamaedaira

—Next, please tell us about the property Kinoshita recommends!

Kinoshita:
“For me, it’s Neighbors Kamikitazawa!Not only does it have great access to Shinjuku and Shibuya, but the fact that it’s so close to the station was the deciding factor for me. I have a lot of friends who attend universities along the Keio Line, so I think it’s really convenient for commuting to school. Also, this place has private workspaces. I felt it would be perfect for online job interviews or when I just want to focus on work in a quiet environment.”

The lounge at Neighbors Kamikitazawa

—It’s a real luxury to have such well-equipped common areas despite being so close to the station, isn’t it?
Kinoshita:
“That’s true. The private booths are appealing, and the terrace space has lots of greenery, which is really calming. Plus, the kitchen is stylish! I feel like my cooking skills will naturally improve just by cooking with the other residents (laughs).”

Left: Private workspace Right: A scene in the lounge

Kohaku:
“Being just a 2-minute walk from the station is the best. Even if I oversleep and look like I’m going to be late for class, I can just run and catch the train in about 30 seconds, so it’s a relief (laughs). Also, the kitchen is really cute! It comes fully equipped with all the cooking utensils from the start, so I just have to buy the ingredients to make authentic meals—that’s a big plus.”

Left: Checking out the spices in the kitchen Right: Hanging out on the terrace

[Property Introduction: Neighbors Kamikitazawa]
Located in a quiet residential neighborhood in Setagaya Ward, just a 2-minute walk from Kamikitazawa Station. It also offers excellent access to Shinjuku and Shibuya. The large communal kitchen, designed for residents to socialize over food, is equipped with everything from the latest appliances to organically grown herbs. With a variety of workspaces available, it provides a comfortable environment for remote work and studying for exams.
　 ▽ Click here for details on Neighbors Kamikitazawa

—Has living in a social apartment changed your values in any way?
Kohaku:
“Honestly, every day was a series of new discoveries! The real appeal of a social apartment is being able to interact daily with people from various professions and backgrounds—people I wouldn’t normally meet in my everyday college life. I had so many opportunities to realize, ‘There are ways of working that are this free and cool!’ and it really boosted my motivation for my own future.”

Kinoshita:
“A particularly meaningful experience for me was when I connected with a former resident who works in HR—through a current resident—and had a ‘mock interview’ with them.Receiving direct advice from a professional’s perspective was incredibly helpful for my job hunt, and more than anything, interacting with people living such diverse lifestyles in the social apartment gave me a major opportunity to deeply rethink ‘what I really want to do’—even regarding career paths I’d only vaguely considered before.”

—What do you think are the benefits of experiencing life in a social apartment while you’re still a student?
Kohaku:
“The biggest benefit is being able to build equal relationships that transcend age, gender, and even nationality. Conversations naturally arise in the kitchen or lounge with people I’d never have crossed paths with in my everyday life. I feel my horizons have broadened significantly through exposure to diverse values.”

Kinoshita:
“The best part is getting the best of both worlds: the ‘freedom of living alone’ and the ‘peace of mind knowing someone’s there when I get home.’ I can make sure to set aside time to focus in my own room, but when I feel like taking a breather, I can go to the lounge where someone’s always there to chat about nothing in particular.
Living alone can often lead to loneliness, but living at home doesn’t offer this much freedom either. This perfect balance—allowing me to enjoy the best of both worlds—makes me feel incredibly at home, especially as a student with so many things I want to do.”

—Finally, could you share a message for anyone considering moving into a social apartment?
Kohaku:
“If you’re not just going back and forth between college and your part-time job, but are thinking, ‘I want some excitement’ or ‘I want to explore a wider world,’ don’t hesitate—just take the plunge! The connections you make here will make your college life so much richer and more fulfilling. Some wonderful friends are waiting for you!”

Kinoshita:
“I realized that the experience of sharing daily life with working professionals while still a student is a huge asset—not just for job hunting, but for the rest of your life. It might seem like a high hurdle at first, but once you step inside, you’ll find a warm and welcoming community. To any student who wants to grow as a person, I really hope you’ll start a new chapter of your life at a social apartment.”

[Editor’s Note]
As the author, I’m also someone who lived in a social apartment right after graduating.
Listening to Kohaku and Kinoshita, I suddenly found myself reminiscing about my own past.

I think the greatest appeal of living here, based on my own experience, really lies in the “casual connections.”Hearing “Welcome home” when you return, or the casual exchange of “I’m off”—that small, everyday sense of security is what you’ll find here. Also, the lounge is full of opportunities to discover things you find “interesting,” and I felt that the barriers to meeting a side of myself I hadn’t yet seen and taking on new challenges naturally became lower.

“What if I’d been part of this place since my student days?”—

My time here was so rich and special that I couldn’t help but imagine that very scenario. The time I spent in the lounge that day with people I would never have crossed paths with otherwise has undoubtedly shaped who I am today.
I hope this article serves as a small step toward a new world for all of you students who are searching for your own way to live life.

(Interview, Text, and Photography: Taguchi)