"Simple and Affordable"... 'Best Value' Japanese Senior Housing [Senior House]

[14] Japan's 'Ultimate Cost-Effective Senior Housing' Looks Like This

Different Atmosphere from Korea's Luxury Senior Welfare Housing

Common Areas Include Dining Room, Laundry Room, and Bathing Room Only
Services Include Cleaning, Emergency Calls, and Welfare Checks

Monthly Rent Set According to Middle-Class Seniors' Pension Levels

On the 24th of last month, Grandma Fujita Reiko (90), who lives in the elderly housing "Minnanoie Hakusan" in Odawara City, Japan, came out to the communal sink to water the orchids she raises. Photo by Park Yujin

"For ordinary elderly people like me, reasonable cost is much more important. Many common facilities are unnecessary. In the place where I live, there are only a lounge, dining room, laundry room, and bath. There are only a few, but the essential ones are there, so I live without feeling any inconvenience."
(Grandmother Fujita Reiko, 90 years old)

In the two-story senior housing called ‘Minnanoie Hakusan’ where Grandmother Fujita lives, 14 middle-class elderly people in similar situations reside. You won’t find fitness centers, golf courses, movie theaters, or health care rooms?common in Korea’s luxury senior welfare housing?here.

On the 24th of last month, we visited this place, which best fits the concept of ‘service-provided senior housing’ for Japan’s middle-class elderly: ‘as simple as possible, as affordable as possible.’ It is located in Odawara City, south of Tokyo, about a 3-minute walk from Ashigara Train Station. This is a ‘best value (performance for price)’ housing that carefully selects only the common spaces and services essential for seniors.

As Simple as Possible, As Affordable as Possible

The exterior view of the senior service housing 'Minnanoie Hakusan' visited on the 24th of last month. There are 14 units on the second floor. Photo by Yujin Park

The common dining room, laundry room, bathhouse, and lobby were all gathered on the first floor. The dining room, about the size of an apartment living room, had two four-person tables and a shared sink. The bathhouse had only two shower rooms. Bath times were reserved in advance to prevent overlap among users. There was no separate laundry room; it was placed right next to the bathhouse to maximize space efficiency.

The care services within the housing were limited to only what was necessary. They restock daily necessities, clean on behalf of residents, and respond immediately when the emergency call button next to the bed is pressed. The rooms are 20㎡ (about 7 pyeong) studio types. Furniture was limited to a bed, wardrobe, and desk to avoid hindering the elderly’s movement. Air conditioning was optional. Instead, a small balcony was provided so that seniors could get fresh air even when feeling unwell.

Interior view of the elderly housing "Minnanoie Hakusan" in Odawara City, Japan. Photo by Yujin Park

Monthly Rent 1.43 Million KRW, Affordable with Pension

Mr. Suzuki Masaru (81), who has been living here for five years, said, "Sometimes I feel dizzy due to high blood pressure, but there are staff who check on me three times a day, so I live with peace of mind." He added, "I use the nearby local government center facilities for exercise and occasionally take walks, so I don’t feel the absence of a fitness center." The monthly rent is about 163,000 yen (approximately 1.43 million KRW). This price includes rent, maintenance fees, and meal costs. It is affordable with the combined amount of the national pension and elderly pension that Mr. Suzuki receives.

On the 24th of last month, Kayoko Tokita, CEO of the elderly housing "Minnanoie Hakusan" in Odawara City, Japan, is explaining about the housing. Photo by Yujin Park

Ms. Tokita Kayoko (70), the representative of this place, said, "Although the facilities are simple throughout, we always keep them clean so that residents don’t feel a lack." She added, "Since I used to be an Italian restaurant chef, I pay extra attention to the nutrition and taste of the meals for the elderly."

Ms. Tokita operates the senior housing business inherited as a ‘family business.’ Minnanoie Hakusan is run by a social welfare corporation called ‘Junseien,’ where Ms. Tokita serves as the chairperson. She inherited the position from her father 20 years ago. Besides Minnanoie Hakusan, she operates two more service senior housing facilities nearby. In Japan, there are many small-scale senior housing facilities, with operators ranging from large corporations to social welfare corporations.