Share This Article The Solo CastleIn the US or Europe, if you are a college student or a young professional in a big city, having a roommate is totally normal. It saves money. But in Japan, having a roommate is incredibly rare. Almost all young people live completely alone in tiny apartments. The “1R” Micro-ApartmentsWhy? Because Japan has an abundance of “1R” (One-Room) or “1K” (One Room + Kitchen) apartments. These are micro-apartments explicitly designed for single living. They are very small (sometimes just 15 square meters) but surprisingly affordable. You don’t need to split the rent to survive in … Continue reading Why Do Japanese Students Live Alone? (The “No Roommate” Culture)