Sumii Furnished Apartments in Tokyo! (and this article is all about my stay at long term Tokyo apartment run and owned by Sumii in Ueno.
Those who have followed my blog for many years know just how excited I get when accommodation options in Japan really take into consideration exactly what families really really need in Japan! A lovely lush hotel for families sounds great in theory and can be cool for a night but can all fall apart when the family members all need some space to stretch, wriggle and downtime. They also need the option to be able to wash and dry clothing, the ability to cook a light meal for picky eaters while they adjust to new foods or for jet-lagged little ones at funny hours of the day as well as the option to cater to those with special dietary requirements or allergies easily.
Sumii currently have 17 apartments all over Tokyo!
*Since writing this article I have stayed at TWO MORE Sumii apartments – Sumii Yoyogi-Uehara and Sumii Hongo.
I have written about each of them here.*
This isn’t an affiliate link but I do have a 10% off discount code for Sumii – please be sure to use the code “SUMIISUMMER26”
How to experience what it is like to LIVE in Tokyo as a family
I am delighted to hear from more and more families (almost daily now!) who wish they could do a little taster of what it is like to LIVE in Japan as a family. Naturally, visa and job opportunities don’t always make this the most accessible option for everyone. But I’m so excited that I now have a fabulous option that I’ve already been sending on to family, friends and The Tokyo Chapter readers!
These apartments are FULLY furnished (linen, washing machine, cutlery and crockery even!).Sumii have also taken into consideration all of the things families need when considering a temporary or longer term home in Japan such as proximity to train stations, supermarkets, playgrounds and family-friendly restaurant options (this is of particular important when needing to access these options on foot.) I speak here about other points to take into consideration when choosing the best accommodation for you and your family in Japan.
Sumii apartments are particularly popular with families who are moving to Japan and are getting settled nice and slowly (and are checking out which area suits their family’s needs best.)
They are also great for those who are in Japan as a part of their family’s self-driven worldschooling / homeschooling curriculum.
Ordinarily, renting a longer term space in Japan involves something called key money. Key money is a large sum of money to secure the rental property as your own – in addition to rental fees. I liken key money to a big down payment many country clubs or gyms can ask for when you become a new member.
However, I’m so glad that Sumii Apartments have decided to not charge their guests/residents any key money at all!!! Amazing, right?
These apartments have a one month minimum (which is fabulous as the standard tourist visa is maximum 90 days for many countries) and a maximum of one whole year!
Many of my readers come to Japan for all of summer or winter and have been looking for something just like this. It is just soooo much more practical and affordable for families than “living” long term in a pricey hotel where you are all on top of one another all the time.
Would this be a good accommodation option for offering to family members who are visiting me in Japan?
YES!! If you live in Tokyo and have another family visit – this is a wonderful solution to not having the space to “house” visitors.
As you’ll know if you live in Japan – a guest room or space to host others is pretty much unheard of!
This is a way to make sure your guests are truly comfortable (you’re going to be jealous of their surroundings and the space so don’t say I didn’t warn you!)
If you have grandma and grandpa visiting, you could also have the kids have little Tokyo sleepovers at “Granny & Grandpa’s Tokyo House.” (Warning: your visitors are going to think that all Tokyo homes are this spacious and gorgeous ! Spoiler: the homes of many of my Japanese friends are MUCH smaller than these Sumii apartments – your family and friends have no idea how lucky they are to stay here!!!!!!)
Which Sumii Apartments have I personally stayed in?
I have stayed at Sumii Ueno, Sumii Hongo and Sumii Yoyogi-Uehara.
They are all beautiflul properties in local neighbourhoods – yet are all extremely convenient locations.
How to we sort rubbish while staying at Sumii Apartments ?
Properly “living” in Japan as a family also involves taking part in the recycling and rubbish sorting, of course. The building rubbish area is so well organized ( and clearly sign-posted in Japanese and English) that it makes it so easy to follow along with the trash sorting expectations. Typical Japan having cool little systems for everything.
Can Sumii Apartments assist with extra items for families?
Yes! In fact, Sumii are open to additional requests such as cots for small children and high chairs etc. When making an inquiry let them know which options you will require as a family.
Rental options for families include the following:
-Baby gates
-Baby mattresses
-Cots
-Strollers
-Baby carriers
-Baby baths
-Baby monitors
-Milk warmers
Can I watch Netflix while staying at Sumii in Ueno?
You can ! In fact, you can easily log into Netflix, Youtube and Prime Video.
What is it like inside Sumii Ueno?
