2 people took me inside their affordable Tokyo apartments. After seeing what I can get in the city for as little as $500, I'd move to there in a heartbeat.

Monica HumphriesJul 29, 2023, 17:16 IST

Ryan Crouse and Ryza Rynazal in their Tokyo apartments.Monica Humphries/Insider

While visiting Tokyo, Japan, two people living in the city welcomed me into their apartments.
I was shocked by their spaces, which cost $450 and $800.

My New York City apartment had just enough room for me, my roommate, and her cat Mimi.

And while our narrow kitchen and living room sometimes felt tight, it also felt affordable for $2,550.

That was two years ago. Fast-forward to this year, and I toured two apartments in Tokyo, Japan.

After seeing what people could get for as little as $450 a month, I'm convinced that I should reconsider Tokyo as a place to call home.

My first stop was to visit Ryan Crouse in his 172-square-foot micro-apartment.

Ryan Crouse at the doorway to his apartment in Tokyo.Monica Humphries/Insider

Crouse has since moved, but when I visited him in March, he lived in Tokyo's Taishido neighborhood.

An arrow points to Ryan Course's neighborhood.Google Maps

And he was paying just $450 a month.

A bird's-eye view of the living area in Ryan Crouse's micro-apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

I knew stepping into his apartment that his space would be small, but I was shocked that I never felt cramped. Instead, his apartment felt spacious with its large ceilings and natural sunlight.

Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

I knew stepping into his apartment that his space would be small, but I was shocked that I never felt cramped. Instead, his apartment felt spacious with its large ceilings and natural sunlight.

Crouse's apartment was separated into three rooms.

The desk area in Ryan Crouse's micro-apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

There was a narrow kitchen, which felt reminiscent of my NYC kitchen. While he lacked an oven, he did have a smaller stove, mini fridge, and microwave.

Ryan Crouse's kitchen in Tokyo.Monica Humphries/Insider

The second room was his bathroom, which he said he "can literally touch wall to wall."

The bathroom in Ryan Crouse's micro-apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

But the room that impressed me the most was his living space.

The living room area in Ryan Crouse's apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

In the back of the apartment, Crouse had a room large enough for a lofted bed, desk, love seat, and TV.

The living room area in Ryan Crouse's apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

Plus, he had a balcony overlooking the neighborhood.

The balcony in the micro-apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

No, Crouse's apartment wasn't huge, but for $450, it seemed like a steal.

Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

Later that day, I visited Ryza Rynazal, who had recently graduated from the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Ryza Rynazal at the entrance to his apartment in Tokyo.Monica Humphries/Insider

Rynazal was living in an even larger one-bedroom apartment in Tokyo's Meguro City neighborhood.

An arrow points to Ryza Rynazal's neighborhood.Google Maps

At the time, rent for his 285-square-foot apartment was around $800.

Ryza Rynazal in his Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

And he told Insider that he loves his apartment. When searching for a space, Rynazal said he toured four different homes. The apartment he landed on was a newer building and close to work and his friends.

A view of Ryza Rynazal's apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

And he told Insider that he loves his apartment. When searching for a space, Rynazal said he toured four different homes. The apartment he landed on was a newer building and close to work and his friends.

For the cost, I understood why Rynazal loves his space so much. The kitchen was large for one person. He had a small fridge, microwave, and stove.

The kitchen in Ryza Rynazal's apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

He also had a spacious bathroom.

One room had a toilet, sink, and washing machine.Monica Humphries/Insider

Typical of traditional Japanese homes, Rynazal had separate rooms for the toilet and shower.

Another room had his shower.Monica Humphries/Insider

And in the back of his apartment was a large bedroom. Here, he stationed his desk and created a small living area.

The bedroom in the Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

Overall, Rynazal said he's happy with his choice and couldn't imagine calling another space home.

Ryza Rynazal's desk area in his Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

I left Rynazal and Crouse's apartments impressed. I had set out to tour tiny apartments in Tokyo, but I hadn't set out to fall in love with the spaces.

Ryza Rynazal at his desk in his apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

Their layouts were cleverly designed and felt far more spacious than I had imagined they would.

A bird's-eye view of the living area in Ryan Crouse's micro-apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

Plus, they were affordable in my eyes. When it comes to the US, I don't have any friends who are living alone in major cities for $800 — much less $450.

Ryza Rynazal sits on his bed in his Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

As I boarded a train back to my hotel, I reconsidered whether I could live in a major city like Tokyo.

Insider's author on the train after touring apartments in Tokyo.Monica Humphries/Insider

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2 people took me inside their affordable Tokyo apartments. After seeing what I can get in the city for as little as $500, I'd move to there in a heartbeat.

My first stop was to visit Ryan Crouse in his 172-square-foot micro-apartment.

Crouse has since moved, but when I visited him in March, he lived in Tokyo's Taishido neighborhood.

And he was paying just $450 a month.

I knew stepping into his apartment that his space would be small, but I was shocked that I never felt cramped. Instead, his apartment felt spacious with its large ceilings and natural sunlight.

Crouse's apartment was separated into three rooms.

There was a narrow kitchen, which felt reminiscent of my NYC kitchen. While he lacked an oven, he did have a smaller stove, mini fridge, and microwave.

The second room was his bathroom, which he said he "can literally touch wall to wall."

But the room that impressed me the most was his living space.

In the back of the apartment, Crouse had a room large enough for a lofted bed, desk, love seat, and TV.

Plus, he had a balcony overlooking the neighborhood.

No, Crouse's apartment wasn't huge, but for $450, it seemed like a steal.

Later that day, I visited Ryza Rynazal, who had recently graduated from the Tokyo Institute of Technology.

Rynazal was living in an even larger one-bedroom apartment in Tokyo's Meguro City neighborhood.

At the time, rent for his 285-square-foot apartment was around $800.

And he told Insider that he loves his apartment. When searching for a space, Rynazal said he toured four different homes. The apartment he landed on was a newer building and close to work and his friends.

For the cost, I understood why Rynazal loves his space so much. The kitchen was large for one person. He had a small fridge, microwave, and stove.

He also had a spacious bathroom.

Typical of traditional Japanese homes, Rynazal had separate rooms for the toilet and shower.

And in the back of his apartment was a large bedroom. Here, he stationed his desk and created a small living area.

Overall, Rynazal said he's happy with his choice and couldn't imagine calling another space home.

I left Rynazal and Crouse's apartments impressed. I had set out to tour tiny apartments in Tokyo, but I hadn't set out to fall in love with the spaces.

Their layouts were cleverly designed and felt far more spacious than I had imagined they would.

Plus, they were affordable in my eyes. When it comes to the US, I don't have any friends who are living alone in major cities for $800 — much less $450.

As I boarded a train back to my hotel, I reconsidered whether I could live in a major city like Tokyo.