<!-- wp:html --><p>A bird's-eye view of the living area in Ryan Crouse's micro-apartment.</p>
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
<p>Ryan Crouse moved to Tokyo for college.<br />
After living in a dorm, he moved into a micro-apartment in Tokyo's Taishido neighborhood.<br />
The 172-square-foot space cost him $450 a month and had a lofted bed, living area, kitchen, and tiny bathroom.</p>
<p>It started in second grade. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ryancrouse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Crouse</a> remembers sitting in class and learning about Japan — where it was on a map, its landmarks, and the country's rich history. </p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>"Japan and its culture was a long-time thing that I was interested in," Crouse, 21, said.</p>
<p>When he headed to college in New York, Crouse planned to study abroad in Japan.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>In May 2022, Crouse moved to Tokyo. Like the YouTubers he followed, he started <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ryancrouse/about" target="_blank" rel="noopener">documenting his life</a> on the platform, as well as on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@ryanthetwat">TikTok</a>.</p>
<p>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. </p>
<p>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. </p>
<div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">In Tokyo's Taishido neighborhood, there's a small apartment Ryan Crouse called home for a year.</div>
<div class="slide-image">An arrow points to Ryan Crouse's neighborhood.
<p class="copyright">Google Maps</p>
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<div class="slide-content"></div>
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<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse at the doorway to his apartment in Tokyo.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Beyond the lofted bedroom, the apartment was a steal, he said. It cost him 65,000 yen a month, which is about $450 USD.</div>
<div class="slide-image">A bird's-eye view of the living area in Ryan Crouse's micro-apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">"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."</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">From an oven-less kitchen to a tiny bathroom, the apartment had its advantages and disadvantages.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The bathroom in Crouse's apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Drawings are stacked on Ryan Crouse's dresser.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
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<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The entrance to Ryan Crouse's Tokyo apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The genkan in Ryan Crouse's apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Just past the genkan was Crouse's small kitchen, which felt more like a hallway than a room.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse's kitchen in Tokyo.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse's kitchen in Tokyo.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">Beyond the fridges, there was just enough space for a microwave, rice cooker, single burner, and sink.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The kitchen lacks a dishwasher and oven.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
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<div class="slide-title">A doorway in the kitchen led to Crouse's bathroom.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The bathroom in Ryan Crouse's micro-apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">"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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The bathroom in Ryan Crouse's micro-apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">The back of Crouse's apartment functioned as Crouse's office, living room, closet, and bedroom.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The living room area in Ryan Crouse's apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">A steep ladder led to an area Crouse transformed into his bedroom, which was one of his favorite features of the apartment.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">The platform had enough space for a bed — without a bed frame — and some cushions for seating.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The micro-apartment features a small loft.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
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<div class="slide-title">Down below was Crouse's closet.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The closet and desk in Ryan Crouse's apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
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<div class="slide-title">He also bought a desk from Ikea, which fit snuggly between his closet and the loft's ladder.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse's desk.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse uses a clothing rack for additional storage.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">In what Crouse called his living room, he had a little loveseat with just enough space for him and his cat, Dote.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The living room area in Ryan Crouse's apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The living room area in Ryan Crouse's apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The balcony in the micro-apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">The living room area in Ryan Crouse's apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">But even if natural light and tall ceilings created an illusion of space, Crouse said he sometimes struggled with the limited room.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse and his cat.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
<div class="slide">
<div class="slide-title">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.</div>
<div class="slide-image">Ryan Crouse in his Tokyo apartment.
<p class="copyright">Monica Humphries/Insider</p>
</div>
<div class="slide-content"></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="read-original">Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/inside-172-square-foot-tokyo-micro-apartment-photos-2023-7">Business Insider</a></div><!-- /wp:html -->
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.
The 172-square-foot space cost him $450 a month and had a lofted bed, living area, kitchen, and tiny bathroom.
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
