Okay, I took 30 minutes trying to find this place. Blame it on the customer service staff that gave shoddy directions or Japan’s uber-complicated address system, but I finally found it with the help of the staff at Curry Meijin. If you applied for the apartment online like I did, you should have received an email with a four-digit combination. Sort out your data roaming arrangements, or print that out, because you can expect to stand around in the cold frantically trying to get the 24-hr help desk if you don’t have it with you.
The hard to find entrance to Ginza B-Site
After unlocking the locker on the right of the entrance, you would receive a set of keys which leads you to puzzle number one. There is a metal intercom on the right wall where you have to use the key in an obscure looking keyhole in order to enter the apartment. While it made me feel like Indiana Jones, the following few new residents weren’t as impressed.
I made it into my 6th floor apartment without any difficulty. The photos did not lie, the room was very well-designed. It was of a comfortable size for a single
traveler like myself. With a promotional price tag of ¥180000 a month, the room would be very worth the dollar for a couple. Equipped with basic amenities like an iron and ironing board, stove, utensils, vacuum cleaner, radio, television, alarm clock, washing machine, dryer and even towels. Nice touches included some washing powder and detergent to start off your Japan living experience.
Friends who dropped by my place commented that it is maybe one of the nicest apartments they’ve seen in Tokyo and spacious for a place so close to Ginza. Compared to an average of ¥10000 per night at a decent hotel, I think the apartment was well worth it for a month. It was very comfortable which kinda made me stay in more than I should.
There are a few food places within walking distance of the apartment, with the Tsukiji Fish Market being the most prominent. With Shintomicho station being a minute walk away and Tsukiji station being 5 minutes walk away, it would be best to plan your travel based on these two stations. Ginza is also 20 minutes walk away, and was the main reason why I chose to stay here. Although I was slightly disappointed at the lack of clubs in Ginza, with bars taking up the majority share.
While most would make the mistake of over utilizing the JR Yamanote line (eg. taking the subway to Yurakucho station and taking the JR Yamanote line to Shibuya), I would advise you to plan your trips with only transfers within the Tokyo Metro if possible. This usually ends up in faster travel times and cheaper fares. Eg. To get to Shibuya from Shintomicho. Shintomicho to Nagatacho and then to Shibuya via the Hanzōmon line.
