It’s probably the result of memories from their long-ago youth, but a lot of older Japanese people tend to have the stereotypical image that dwellings for college students are usually cramped and shabby.
Yet take a look at a nine-story building standing in the Hakusan district in Tokyo’s Bunkyo Ward. Walking through a locked automated entrance, the first thing that jumps out is the first floor looks like a cafe-style coworking space — except that it’s a public area for students.
The second to eighth floors are dedicated to living space for students, offering tidy bedrooms, shared kitchens stocked with cookware and appliances, as well as common areas with video games and a rooftop balcony.