Housing

The last year, my wife (oksan) and I have been fantasizing about a house, where, how much, etc. We have looked around on some websites, and when I was in Japan last year, we even visited 2 houses. The size of a house is in Tatami size, one tatami is measure roughly 180 cm x 90 cm. What were looking for was a house with 2 rooms, both 6 Tatami exl Kitchen, and bath. Normally for something like this you pay around 60/70.000 yen a month * convert* and the first month you have to pay around 4 to 5 times the rent: Reservation fee (tetsukekin), Deposit (shikikin), Key money (reikin), and Service fee (chukai tesuryo) . So yeah this will cost around 240.000 yen, which is of course expensive! But the good thing is, that in Japan, you don't have waiting lists, you can get a house in 1 or 2 days! and that's what I like, because here in Amsterdam, you will come on a waiting list from a minimum of 3-4 years, at least to get something that you Like!.

Because when I come to Japan, I won't have a job yet, we need to life from my oksan her salary, so we shouldn't get a too expensive house. So what we did, well actually she did, was applying for a special house *provided by the City Hall* , which only people who don't have enough income, are handicaped, etc. and the good thing is, we got one!! (well for 99%, she only should show the papers!) this house cost us only 30.000 yen a month, compairing to what I wrote before, it's a BIG difference!!! we have size what we want, 2 rooms from 6 Tatami, and a balcony *what more do you want!!! and one of the best things is that it is located between Kobe, and Osaka, in a place called Rokko, which is just under Mt. Rokko * we spend our wedding day here. From this area you could view over the whole city of kobe, and see the ocean.

So yeah, I am really happy to get to life in this area, even though we have to walk up the mountain from Rokko station! Here are some pictures from the Mt Rokko area.