Uniquely YOUR Own Tokyo Style – The Guesthouse Living
The ways to settle yourself in a new city is always tough, and the Tokyo is no different. Welcome to the capital city of the second largest economy in the world- holding a handle of my old suitcase in the Nippori station, I was feeling absolute solitary. That was my very first day of Tokyo when I didn’t even have a place to sleep. I’m sure safety is everyone’s issue. Especially when you are a stranger to the city, having a place to call home means a lot. Personally, I just can’t think of any better ways to start Tokyo life other than joining guesthouse. You know no one and have no place to work yet, where would you go? Without establishing residency, you can’t buy a single cell phone and bank won’t even open your account (Yap, they brushed me off). Who is offering their hands to the newcomers to take the first step? Granted, there are individuals who are offering their own rooms to share but you don’t know who they are, and there are just too much to worry about; how much do I have to pay, is the rate fair, what if they kick you out just because they can? In that sense, the guesthouse systematically ran by a company with a contract paper are a safer bet and fewer headaches.
Well… sorry for bursting your rosy bubble of Tokyo life, but guesthouse life is not exactly in a five star hotel or a boarding house. Rather, this is just another apartment life just like you and I are accustomed to; but that is only if I could talk about the objects and surroundings of the guesthouse. The big difference is the existence of “unknown people” everywhere you go in the house except the time you mind your own business. You will also find the various belongings of these “unknown people” here and there (Oh, don’t worry, the great human beings’ survival instinct will kick in; we ADAPT). If I write like this you may imagine some anarchy shack but the reality is far away from that picture. The public area is always clean, appliances are in order, things are in its place, and housemates safely come home every day! (Yes, it matters.) Sure, I did worry about housemates in a different way first; I mean… what if they are bunch of psychos? After all, it is Tokyo, where people head to for who knows what, right? But it didn’t take long for me to lower my guard. Actually, it didn’t even take a day. Their laughing voice on TV brought me back the memory of friends in back home and I found myself feeling very safe and homey in my first night bed hearing housemates’ voice of “Tadaima” (I’m home) and “Okaeri” (Welcome back) from living room. I felt smile on my face.
Let me introduce you our peaceful house. Our house is conveniently located at alongside of the Yamanote-Line that surrounds Tokyo Metro; the heart of Tokyo. I strategically chose a house where I can easily get to Yamanote-Line because it’s simple enough to move around in this big city that I’m not familiar with. Yamanote runs through major spots in Tokyo like; Shibuya, Shinjyuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno and more. You can transit to Japan Rail (JR), Metro lines and many more lines from many of Yamanote stations. It’s amazing that each station town has its distinctive face. But that’s not the scope of this essay, so I guess you can find that out by yourself. Ok, enough with that. Our house itself may be old but maintained fairly well. Along with the Cleaners’ cleaning effort, we all clean our own mess; after cooking, bathing, eating, etc. I would say that there will be no trouble in a house when each housemate respects one another and being independent. Basically, give each other a space. If they don’t want to talk, respect it. Never take it personal, just leave them be. Don’t ask questions over questions. They will tell you if they want you to know. Keep public area clear. We don’t care how you live in your own crib (within normal use, of course), but if you have to invade space that is not yours, tell them about it. Communication is the key of successful guesthouse life. Tokyo is one heck of a busy city. If you care about every small happening around you, you’ll make yourself sick. In my case, these happenings are multiple job rejections. When I cannot hold my feeling in myself, I drop a piece of my story on my housemates. Not to seek for a resolution but to pick myself up again. I didn’t make a mistake by choosing a guesthouse life. Don’t we all need somebody to talk to in rainy days?
Today, I’m still struggling for survival. But that happens wherever you go. We are all uniquely different. As we all have choices, I have mine. For now, I choose to stay here in Tokyo at this guesthouse to see where these super punctual trains will take me tomorrow.
Enclosure
