Take a step inside a 172-square-foot micro-apartment in Tokyo that costs $450 a month

Monica HumphriesJul 8, 2023, 17:06 IST

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

Ryan Crouse moved to Tokyo for college.
After living in a dorm, he moved into a micro-apartment in Tokyo's Taishido neighborhood.

It started in second grade. Ryan Crouse remembers sitting in class and learning about Japan — where it was on a map, its landmarks, and the country's rich history.

Crouse told Insider that by the time he was in ninth grade, his fascination had only grown. He was always watching anime and eagerly following YouTubers who had moved from the US to Japan.

"Japan and its culture was a long-time thing that I was interested in," Crouse, 21, said.

When he headed to college in New York, Crouse planned to study abroad in Japan.

But he wasn't sure if a semester would be enough. Then, he came across Temple University's satellite school in Tokyo. He applied, got in, and "it just snowballed into a thing I was doing," Crouse said.

In May 2022, Crouse moved to Tokyo. Like the YouTubers he followed, he started documenting his life on the platform, as well as on TikTok.

He lived in Temple University's dorms for his first semester. Then, he spent a year in a 172-square-foot apartment in Tokyo's Taishido neighborhood before moving into a bigger space.

Crouse said his micro-apartment suited all his needs. And for $450, it was a steal. But that doesn't mean it didn't have its quirks. Take a look inside.

In Tokyo's Taishido neighborhood, there's a small apartment Ryan Crouse called home for a year.

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

Crouse said he toured about 10 different spaces. But the moment he stepped inside the 172-square-foot apartment, he knew he wanted to live there.

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

Beyond the lofted bedroom, the apartment was a steal, he said. It cost him 65,000 yen a month, which is about $450 USD.

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

"It was the cheapest apartment I'd seen and the best one I'd seen," he said. "That being said though, there are some drawbacks."

Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

From an oven-less kitchen to a tiny bathroom, the apartment had its advantages and disadvantages.

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

But ultimately, Crouse said he loved living in the space. He filled it with mementos — dried flowers were taped to his door, anime scenes filled a wall, and Polaroids were tucked into his full-size mirror.

Drawings are stacked on Ryan Crouse's dresser.Monica Humphries/Insider

But ultimately, Crouse said he loved living in the space. He filled it with mementos — dried flowers were taped to his door, anime scenes filled a wall, and Polaroids were tucked into his full-size mirror.

After a year of living in the apartment, Crouse decided to move into a bigger space. But before his move, Insider gained a peek into the mico-apartment. Take a look inside.

The entrance to Ryan Crouse's Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

After a year of living in the apartment, Crouse decided to move into a bigger space. But before his move, Insider gained a peek into the mico-apartment. Take a look inside.

After opening the door to Crouse's apartment, visitors stepped into a small genkan, which is an entryway area in Japanese homes where people remove their shoes.

The genkan in Ryan Crouse's apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

Just past the genkan was Crouse's small kitchen, which felt more like a hallway than a room.

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

When Crouse first moved in, the kitchen had only a mini fridge. There wasn't a freezer and there wasn't enough space for his fresh food, so he added a second, larger fridge to the kitchen.

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

When Crouse first moved in, the kitchen had only a mini fridge. There wasn't a freezer and there wasn't enough space for his fresh food, so he added a second, larger fridge to the kitchen.

Beyond the fridges, there was just enough space for a microwave, rice cooker, single burner, and sink.

The kitchen lacks a dishwasher and oven.Monica Humphries/Insider

A doorway in the kitchen led to Crouse's bathroom.

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

"It's absolutely tiny," he said. "I can literally touch wall to wall." While most bathrooms in Japan have separate rooms for the toilet and shower, Crouse's was just one small room.

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

"It's absolutely tiny," he said. "I can literally touch wall to wall." While most bathrooms in Japan have separate rooms for the toilet and shower, Crouse's was just one small room.

The back of Crouse's apartment functioned as Crouse's office, living room, closet, and bedroom.

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

A steep ladder led to an area Crouse transformed into his bedroom, which was one of his favorite features of the apartment.

Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

The platform had enough space for a bed — without a bed frame — and some cushions for seating.

The micro-apartment features a small loft.Monica Humphries/Insider

Down below was Crouse's closet.

The closet and desk in Ryan Crouse's apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

He also bought a desk from Ikea, which fit snuggly between his closet and the loft's ladder.

Ryan Crouse's desk.Monica Humphries/Insider

When one small closet couldn't fit all of Crouse's clothes, he added a clothing rack and dresser to the space. Not only did the clothing rack function as storage, but Crouse said it created a natural divider between his desk area and living room.

Ryan Crouse uses a clothing rack for additional storage.Monica Humphries/Insider

When one small closet couldn't fit all of Crouse's clothes, he added a clothing rack and dresser to the space. Not only did the clothing rack function as storage, but Crouse said it created a natural divider between his desk area and living room.

In what Crouse called his living room, he had a little loveseat with just enough space for him and his cat, Dote.

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

He also saved space by placing his TV on a windowsill instead of a TV stand. Nearby was a corner for Dote's water and food bowls.

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

And the space continued outside, where Crouse had a private balcony. Here, he had a table and chair — which Crouse said he never used — and a washing machine.

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

And the space continued outside, where Crouse had a private balcony. Here, he had a table and chair — which Crouse said he never used — and a washing machine.

Between the glass doors leading to the balcony and a window filling another wall, Crouse said the room got plenty of natural light — another one of his favorite parts of the apartment.

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

Between the glass doors leading to the balcony and a window filling another wall, Crouse said the room got plenty of natural light — another one of his favorite parts of the apartment.

But even if natural light and tall ceilings created an illusion of space, Crouse said he sometimes struggled with the limited room.

Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

Cooking was nearly impossible without a counter, and crawling up a ladder to sleep every night wasn't ideal. So after a year in the micro-apartment, he said goodbye and hunted for somewhere larger.

Ryan Crouse and his cat.Monica Humphries/Insider

Cooking was nearly impossible without a counter, and crawling up a ladder to sleep every night wasn't ideal. So after a year in the micro-apartment, he said goodbye and hunted for somewhere larger.

Crouse said he's thrilled in his new apartment, but he looks back on his micro-apartment as a place where he established himself in the new city he calls home.

Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.Monica Humphries/Insider

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Take a step inside a 172-square-foot micro-apartment in Tokyo that costs $450 a month

In Tokyo's Taishido neighborhood, there's a small apartment Ryan Crouse called home for a year.

Crouse said he toured about 10 different spaces. But the moment he stepped inside the 172-square-foot apartment, he knew he wanted to live there.

Beyond the lofted bedroom, the apartment was a steal, he said. It cost him 65,000 yen a month, which is about $450 USD.

"It was the cheapest apartment I'd seen and the best one I'd seen," he said. "That being said though, there are some drawbacks."

From an oven-less kitchen to a tiny bathroom, the apartment had its advantages and disadvantages.

But ultimately, Crouse said he loved living in the space. He filled it with mementos — dried flowers were taped to his door, anime scenes filled a wall, and Polaroids were tucked into his full-size mirror.

After a year of living in the apartment, Crouse decided to move into a bigger space. But before his move, Insider gained a peek into the mico-apartment. Take a look inside.

After opening the door to Crouse's apartment, visitors stepped into a small genkan, which is an entryway area in Japanese homes where people remove their shoes.

Just past the genkan was Crouse's small kitchen, which felt more like a hallway than a room.

When Crouse first moved in, the kitchen had only a mini fridge. There wasn't a freezer and there wasn't enough space for his fresh food, so he added a second, larger fridge to the kitchen.

Beyond the fridges, there was just enough space for a microwave, rice cooker, single burner, and sink.

A doorway in the kitchen led to Crouse's bathroom.

"It's absolutely tiny," he said. "I can literally touch wall to wall." While most bathrooms in Japan have separate rooms for the toilet and shower, Crouse's was just one small room.

The back of Crouse's apartment functioned as Crouse's office, living room, closet, and bedroom.

A steep ladder led to an area Crouse transformed into his bedroom, which was one of his favorite features of the apartment.

The platform had enough space for a bed — without a bed frame — and some cushions for seating.

Down below was Crouse's closet.

He also bought a desk from Ikea, which fit snuggly between his closet and the loft's ladder.

When one small closet couldn't fit all of Crouse's clothes, he added a clothing rack and dresser to the space. Not only did the clothing rack function as storage, but Crouse said it created a natural divider between his desk area and living room.

In what Crouse called his living room, he had a little loveseat with just enough space for him and his cat, Dote.

He also saved space by placing his TV on a windowsill instead of a TV stand. Nearby was a corner for Dote's water and food bowls.

And the space continued outside, where Crouse had a private balcony. Here, he had a table and chair — which Crouse said he never used — and a washing machine.

Between the glass doors leading to the balcony and a window filling another wall, Crouse said the room got plenty of natural light — another one of his favorite parts of the apartment.

But even if natural light and tall ceilings created an illusion of space, Crouse said he sometimes struggled with the limited room.

Cooking was nearly impossible without a counter, and crawling up a ladder to sleep every night wasn't ideal. So after a year in the micro-apartment, he said goodbye and hunted for somewhere larger.

Crouse said he's thrilled in his new apartment, but he looks back on his micro-apartment as a place where he established himself in the new city he calls home.