Is a social apartment possible from a student? Featured properties recommended by interns!

Social apartments are exchange-style rental condominiums with a lounge and other ample public spaces. It is a new style of living where you can enjoy communication with other residents while ensuring your privacy.

For this interview, we spoke with Kohaku and Kinoshita, third-year university students working as interns in the sales department of Social Apartment.

While living in Social Apartment, the two interns are in charge of the same tasks as employees, such as proposing properties to customers who are considering moving in and showing them around the property as long-term interns. Although the residents of Social Apartment are mainly working people, the time they spend there seems to be an amazing opportunity for them to expand their world as students.

We asked these two people, who know Social Apartment inside and out, to tell us about their real life at Social Apartment and show us their top recommendation for students. We asked them to show us their top recommendation for students.

Left: Mr. Kohaku, Right: Mr. Kinoshita

Kohaku-san and Kinoshita-kun, thank you for your time today! First of all, please briefly introduce yourself.

I'm Amber:
I am Kohaku, a third-year university student living and interning at Neighbors Kasai. My hobby is traveling and I would like to go on a working holiday in the future. I have always been interested in the hotel industry, and when I researched hotels called LIVELY HOTELS, I found out that "Social Apartment is also managed by the same company! That's how I came to know that Social Apartment is run by the same company.

Mr. Kinoshita:
I am Kinoshita, a third-year university student living at World Neighbors Gokokuji. I am studying electronics engineering at university and also have a part-time job at a café. I found out about Social Apartment when I was looking for a long-term internship in face-to-face sales and decided to move in.

How do you like living at Social Apartment?
Amber:
At first I was worried about whether I would fit in with the group, but thanks to the invitations to drinks and gatherings by other students my age, I was able to fit in right away. Recently, it's become a boom at the property to get together at night after dinner and play board games. It's the most fun time!"

Left: Preparation for Takopa in the lounge Right: Board games enjoyed by residents

Kinoshita-kun:
I too was anxious about joining a completed community. But as we all played Momotetsu together and had drinks, I found myself getting more comfortable. Personally, I often go to the working space to study for job hunting and tests, and I naturally became friends with the members I see all the time there."

Please tell us about the most memorable episodes in your life as an SA so far.
Amber:
The Christmas party held by the members of the properties and the "Social Night Out," a large event where we could interact with tenants from all the properties, were particularly memorable! At the party at the property, we all ate cake, exchanged gifts, and really enjoyed celebrating in an at-home atmosphere.

I participated in "Social Night Out" as an intern, and it was a valuable opportunity for me to interact with many people who live in other properties. I was helping to take Cheki photos, and it was much more fun to meet and talk with people from different properties! Also, the food at the venue was so delicious that I probably found myself eating like crazy the whole time (laughs)."

▽Social Summer Outing held last summer is here!

Left: Christmas cake made by everyone Right: Presents exchanged by residents

Kinoshita-kun:
"It's a farewell party for the residents who have become good friends. There are new encounters and sad goodbyes, but I will never forget the warm atmosphere of taking pictures and sending them off together. We promised that we would get together regularly even after they moved out, and I felt that the bonds we made here will continue for a long time.
Another time, a resident introduced me to a former resident who was in charge of recruitment, and we had a "mock interview. The advice from a professional's point of view was really reassuring as I went about my job search."

We asked them to tell us what they would recommend to students! We asked them to tell us what they would recommend to students.

First of all, which property would you recommend?
Amber:
I would recommend Neighbors Miyamaedaira! The main reason is that the design is just so stylish. It's the kind of space that makes you want to invite your friends over.
Also, there are places to concentrate on work in both the living room and the working space, so even when I am busy with university assignments and reports, I can refresh and work on them while changing locations within the house. And the fact that I can get to Shibuya with just one train and the rent is only about 60,000 yen is also quite a plus for a student."

Lounge space at Neighbors Miyamaedaira

Kinoshita-kun:
It's spacious and open, so if you invite your friends over, they'll definitely be surprised! Also, it has a spa, so you can relax while playing your favorite music. I don't see many people using it when I'm showing people around, so I think it's actually a pretty good 'hole-in-the-wall' spot (laughs).

Spa space with massage chairs

Kohaku-san: Yes, it's a large building with 84 households, so it seems like you can get to know a lot of different people.
Amber:
That's right! In fact, Neighbors Kasai, where I live, is also large with 72 households, and there were residents of the same generation, so it was easy to fit in with the community. I got to know people from overseas and people from all walks of life, so I learned something every day. Another great thing about SA is that the older tenants are very loving.

Neighbors Miyamaedaira
A 7-minute walk from Miyamaedaira Station on the Tokyu Denentoshi Line and a 25-minute direct connection to Shibuya, the 200㎡ large lounge with brick tiles reminiscent of a New York subway is an impressive scale. The spacious 15m2 private area allows you to enjoy a fulfilling life both on and off the job.
Click here for more details about ◇Neighbors Miyamaedaira

Next, please tell us about the property you recommend!

Kinoshita-kun:
Neighbors Kamikitazawa for me! It has good access to Shinjuku and Shibuya, and it's close to the station, which was the deciding factor. Many of my friends go to universities along the Keio line, so it's very convenient for commuting to school. Also, there is a private working space here. I felt it was perfect for when I wanted to take a corporate interview online or work in a quiet environment.

Neighbors Kamikitazawa lounge

It's a luxury to have such an extensive common area so close to the station.
Kinoshita-kun:
Yes, it is. The private booths are very attractive, and the terrace space is very relaxing with lots of greenery. Also, the kitchen is stylish! I'm sure my cooking level will naturally improve as I cook with other residents (laughs).

Left: Private working space Right: Lounge

Amber:
It's great that it's a two-minute walk from the station. Even if I oversleep and am going to be late for the university, I can get on the train in about 30 seconds if I run (laughs). Also, the kitchen is really cute! The kitchen comes complete with all the cooking utensils right from the start, so all I have to do is buy the ingredients and I'm ready to cook some authentic dishes."

Left: Looking at the spices in the kitchen Right: Enjoying time together on the terrace

Neighbors Kamikitazawa
Located in a quiet residential area in Setagaya-ku, 2 minutes walk from Kamikitazawa station. It has good access to Shinjuku and Shibuya. A large kitchen where residents can interact with each other through food, the latest appliances, and even naturally grown herbs. A variety of working spaces are also available, providing a comfortable environment for remote work and studying for exams.
Click here for more details about Neighbors Kamikitazawa.

What has changed in your sense of self-worth since living in a social apartment?
Amber:
Every day was really a series of new discoveries! The best part of living in a social apartment is that you can interact on a daily basis with people from various occupations and backgrounds that you would not normally encounter in your normal university life. There are so many opportunities to learn that there is such a free and cool way to work! It has given me a lot of opportunities to learn about such a free and cool way of working, and it has really increased my motivation for my own future.

Kinoshita-kun:
I had a great experience of having a "mock interview" with a former human resources manager through a current resident. I was able to use the advice I received directly from a professional's point of view in my job search, and more than anything, being involved with people who are living various lifestyles at Social Apartment gave me a great opportunity to rethink deeply about what I want to do, even though I had been thinking about my career path somewhat casually until then. I am very happy to have been able to do that.

What do you think are the advantages of living in a social apartment while you are a student?
Amber:
Kohaku: "The best thing is that you can build flat relationships with people of different ages, genders, and even nationalities. You can naturally start conversations in the kitchen or lounge with people you would never have contact with in normal life. I feel that being exposed to diverse values has broadened my horizons."

Kinoshita said:
Kinoshita: "It's great to be able to combine the freedom of living alone with the peace of mind of knowing that someone will be there when I get home. I can concentrate in my room, but if I need a break, I can go to the lounge and have a chat with someone there.
Living alone tends to make you feel lonely, but if you live at home, you don't have this kind of freedom. I feel that the perfect distance where I can enjoy the best of both worlds is very comfortable for me as a student with so many things I want to do.

Lastly, do you have a message for those who are considering moving into a Social Apartment?
Amber:
Kohaku: "If you are looking for something stimulating and want to know a wider world, rather than just going back and forth between the university and your part-time job, please don't hesitate to jump in! The encounters you make here will make your future university life much richer and richer. I'm sure the people you meet here will make your future university life many times richer and richer.

Kinoshita-kun:
I think that the experience of living with working people on a daily basis while still a student will be a great asset not only in job hunting, but in later life as well. It may seem like a high hurdle, but once you join, you will find a warm and welcoming community. If you are a student who wants to grow as a person, I hope you will start a new life at Social Apartment.

Editor's Postscript
I, the author, am one of those who have been living in Social Apartment since I graduated from university.
As I listened to the stories of Amber and Kinoshita, I was suddenly reminded of my former self.

I think the most attractive thing about actually living here is the "loose connection" that I feel. The "welcome home" when you come home, the casual "I'm off" exchanges. Such small, everyday reassurances are what you will find here. I also feel that the lounge is full of opportunities to discover what I find interesting, and the hurdles to meeting new people and taking on new challenges have naturally been lowered.

If only I had been here since I was a student.

I could imagine how rich and special my time here would have been if I had been in this place since I was a student. The people I met in the lounge that day, with whom I would never have met in the first place, have definitely shaped the person I am today.
I hope this article will be a small step into a new world for students who are searching for their own unique way of life.

(Reporting, writing, and photography by Taguchi)