Palace Studio Akasaka Nibankan

For a short stay, the relatively low price in Akasaka could make this place worthwhile. The third-floor position also gets a decent amount of sun, and there are nearby coin laundry facilities, a convenience store, and a tobacco shop. Getting to the station takes a bit of a walk, but there's bicycle parking, so a motorbike is a practical way to get around. Bicycles are less useful around Akasaka because of all the hills. I can't point to a particular problem with the building itself, but the management company's careless handling of it worries me. Having a management company doesn't guarantee good oversight, and I wouldn't choose this for a long-term home.

The rent is the main plus, since it's inexpensive for Akasaka, and the delivery box is genuinely handy. The downsides add up, though. Nearby buildings block much of the sunlight, so a dryer may be useful. There's a bar behind the property, and with the windows open through spring, summer, and fall, noise carries late into the night. I work nights and it doesn't bother me, but people with morning jobs might struggle. And there are cockroaches, usually two or three whenever I go to the shared garbage area. They're pretty unsettling. Taken together, it leans more negative for me.

The low rent for Akasaka is about the only reason to consider this place if noise doesn't bother you. A restaurant right next door gets loud with drunk customers, and shutting the windows doesn't keep the sound out. It's unbearable at night. I wish I'd known that before moving in.