Here is the front entry. Behind you is the front door, the washing machine, and the toilet. To the right is the bathroom, where the sink and shower/tub live. I didn’t take a photo because it’s really messy! The door leads into the main apartment. I try to keep it open, but it’s quite heavy… if you step on the floor next to the doorstop, it will close. Also, when it’s open, you can’t get into the bathroom!
Also pictured: my shoe/slipper collection. Remember, in a Japanese house you always take off your shoes when you enter and put on house slippers! Comfort!

Looking back at the front door from the kitchen/room 1! To the left, you see my boombox, aka MUSIC CENTRAL. I listen to the Japanese version of NPR and to CDs while I’m cooking or cleaning or hanging out. I dance a lot in this room.
To the left is the table, and to the right is the sink/fridge.

Oooo, the sink. That cabinet above the sink is stuffed full of tea/coffee/cocoa goodies. Unfortunately, the handle on my teapot is mysteriously burnt to a crisp and snapped in half, so I boil water in a saucepan. High class!
Also pictured: my one-range gas stove, broken mini-fridge that smells and is never opened, sporadically functioning wall clock.

In the other corner of the room lies my awesome appliances! Small fridge, microwave aka PIZZA CENTRAL and my amazing vacuum cleaner. I honestly adore this vacuum cleaner. It has lots of power, mobility, and is only slightly held together with sello-tape. Please also note the basket of food items on top of the microwave. I finally realized that you have to take this weight OFF the microwave when you want to use the oven feature, otherwise it begins to set itself on fire.
Also pictured: slick mirror left by some long-ago JET.

My excellent kitchen table. The chair on the left is never used because if you move it, the floor starts to tear up. From the window I can see the river, and the tops of some neighboring buildings. The cabinet on the right holds all the dishes and extra food and a whole bunch of stuff that isn’t mine and is never used.
Also pictured: the fan that kept me alive in the heat, cute tablecloth, closet door full of extra futons and blankets.

Into the next room (which would technically be the same room as the kitchen, were it not for the sliding wall doors (not pictured))

My kotatsu! You sit on the floor and stick your legs under the blanket under the table, and turn on the heater built into the table and keep yourself warm! Traditionally, you also eat a persimmon.

Kotatsu contents: typewriter (for writing letters/pretending to be either Jack Kerouac or a British spy), computer (for more up-to-date communication), basket of letters from back home aka LOVE CENTRAL.

My ukulele and chair. My predecessor described this chair as “exactly the kind of chair I would choose” (she inherited it from a predecessor). This just goes to show that she had lousy taste in chairs, because it is both uncomfortable as a bag of bricks, and a horrid orange color. Hence I have covered it with a disguise of pillows and sheets.

The bed! Two comforters, stack of futons, lots of pillows. Exactly how I like it. I sleep with my head out in space and my feet towards the wall, which is a bit weird, but there you go. My head is also right by the sliding balcony door, which is probably why I keep getting sick too…
Also pictured: heinously loud alarm clock, library books, small bookshelf, elephant with lucky flower and amethyst necklace.

The closets! To the right is the kotatsu, and I am standing on the bed to take this shot (you can see the foot of the bed in the left corner, pointing towards the closet). To the left is the balcony. I usually keep the doors closed, as they take up floor space.

Balcony! Hurrah! The bed blocks both doors, but is a nice place to sit with legs danging out in the air. Right below is the river. I can’t move around outside easily after I strung up a laundry line, but it’s honestly a small price to pay for easy clothes-drying.

So there you have it… my apartment!