Amazing stay, can't recommend enough
Amazing stay, can't recommend enough
Submitted: October 12, 2011
Stayed: March 2011
It's been several months since we visited, but I realized today that I had never written a review and they definitely deserve one. This is both a review for the apartment as well as Makoto-san. We flew to Tokyo the day of the major earthquake earlier this year and arrived the day after. Things were, understandably, hectic and many services were shut down. We were luckily able to find an alternate train to take us into the city since the main Narita Express was not in service. Makoto-san had been working and waiting for us to arrive, even through all of the service disruptions, and was able to meet us and get us settled into the apartment that night. He had been up for a very long time and we can't express how grateful we are for helping us. Quite frankly, I would only expect this kind of hospitality from very close friends and he went above and beyond to be there for us when we arrived. We honestly can't express how much this meant to us.
Sadly, because a lot of services around Tokyo were offline or had interrupted service (most museums, some local trains, the shinkansen, etc) to conserve resources and most of our vacation plans had been cancelled, we decided the best thing to do was to not waste resources for those who needed them and to head home. Our families were also very worried, so it only made sense. We wound up leaving after only a few days into our trip. Makoto-san was very easy to work with in making sure we were able to get out of the apartment quickly. We tried to leave it the same as it was when we came and I hope we did so.
The apartment itself was extremely nice and in great area. Because we were trying to conserve resources for everyone else by not taking the trains when we didn't need to, we got to explore Nakano fairly extensively and were very happy. The shops around the apartment were very fun and hospitable and offered a lot in the way of experiencing Tokyo as it is experienced by the residents who live there. We can't recommend this apartment enough and, I would assume, any of those that are managed by Makoto-san and his company.
While we were sad to cut our stay short, we will without a doubt be returning. We weren't able to do most of the things we had planned, but it truly was a life changing event even in those few days. Hopefully we'll be returning in the very near future (we're already planning a return trip) and will be meeting Makoto-san again!
-James and Teya Miller
Recommended for:
Age 55+,
Adventure Seekers,
Tourists without a Car,
Sightseeing,
Families with Teenagers,
Families with Young Children,
People with Disabilities,
Romantic Getaway
Helpful votes: 5/5
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