Life between walls: the tiny Tokyo homes where the forgotten struggle to survive

💸 Poverty in Tokyo? It’s not what you think. It’s worse. Much worse. 🏠 Walls so close they suffocate, a bed blocking the only exit, a bathroom where you can’t even raise your arms 🤯 And yet… this is the daily reality for thousands. Open your eyes. Look at these images. 😲👇

Tokyo, a city of lights and excess. Dizzying skyscrapers, bustling districts, luxury everywhere. But behind this façade lies another reality. That of cage-like apartments, spaces so small they become inhumane. Even those who work hard can barely afford more than a repurposed closet.

Keiko survives here. Just a few square meters. A space designed not for living, but for enduring. Every corner is optimized, every object has its place—otherwise, there would be no space at all.

From the entrance, you have to duck to avoid hitting the doorframe. A meter further, a small shelf, a few hanging memories—an attempt to bring warmth. This is the Genkan, a tiny vestibule where shoes are removed. A ritual that marks the entrance… not into a home, but into a box.

A narrow corridor winds to the main room, where every centimeter matters. Near the only window, a double bed takes center stage, bathed in daylight. Right beside it, an improvised living area: a low table, a few soft cushions—an invitation to relax, without excess.

But the real treasure hides behind the bed: a miniature, almost secret balcony. Even the tiniest apartments in Japan offer this little breath of fresh air—a detail Keiko adores. To reach it, she must hop over the bed, a daily acrobatics routine she doesn’t mind. There, she finds her small slice of sky, despite the imposing presence of an outdoor air conditioning unit, its twin installed high inside to save space.

At the end of the hallway, several doors line the passage. Behind one, a discreet closet. Behind another, a kitchen designed to the millimeter: a sink, a stovetop, a clever rack for pots. Nothing sticks out, everything is optimized—the essence of Japanese design.

Another door reveals a bathroom, almost like a capsule. Here, every element has its place: a sink, a toilet, a compact bathtub with a single faucet to control it all. A masterpiece of ingenuity.

Rather than a bulky router, Keiko chose a small portable device, keeping her world connected with ease.

This modest studio is much more than just a living space. It is a cocoon, a breath of air, a perfect reflection of Keiko’s bright personality.

Tokyo shines. But not for everyone.