Oh, and in case you want to see more photos of the apt, here's a link.

Here is a link that might be useful: Apartment

It's funny that the upper cabs are so high. My friend(stationed in Afghanistan)'s wife is Japanese and comes up to my chin - I'll have to ask her why upper cabs are hung so high.

Just think of the tiny, non-functional kitchen as your dust free temp kitchen. Lots of GWers are going on year 2 in their temp kitchens and I'm sure they don't have that gorgeous view to take their breath away.

Ha! When we move back to the States, we're going to be moving into a camper trailer on our twenty acres while we build (mostly DIY) our dream house--now that's going to be hard! But it's all good, I'll have my perfect kitchen eventually. In the meantime, this board will help me perfect my plans.

Fabulous view & a great sink!

Before the island, it must have been a pain to do anything complicated. I guess it would force you to be organized, and to clean up as you go (just so you'd have a work surface available.) Beautiful place, though, and beautiful view.

I lived in Japan for years (in the '90s) and none of us (gaikokujin and native alike) had a range. (I lived in both Tokyo and Tochigi-ken, and then after I returned to the US and married a Japanese man, moved back to Tokyo.) In fact, yours is the first I've ever seen in a Japanese home, which leads me to believe it's a military-perk ... or evidence of a strongly US-influenced culture down on Okinawa. You are v. lucky!

I felt like Laura Ingalls Wilder, figuring out how to bake cookies / cakes, etc., in my micro or on the two burner cooktop. I don't know of any Japanese who would have coveted a range (or a dedicated oven) but every fellow foreigner would have. So many of missed lasagne. You are so lucky and hearing you're there makes me natsukashii. Does your fridge have the dual-open door? I thought that was a kick -- there was just the one choice as the door could open from either side.

I love the mod mizuya!

Gambarimashou, ne!

It's just like NYC! My kitchen as it stands is pretty much like that but with just a bit more counter space and normal height wall cabs. I roll dough on my DR table. We also don't have disposals and most people I know don't have a DW (but I will soon!).

Only difference is that the view is much worse, it's 2/3 the SF, and would rent for twice as much.

The oven is a military thing. Most houses around here just have a little fish broiler tray under the cooktop. I don't bake much, but I would miss the oven if I didn't have it. The gas range is very low-end, the burners have very little power, but at least it isn't electric. The fridge is also an American fridge, but I do love the ones with the doors that open from either side. I've never seen that on an American fridge before--I wonder why no one has picked up that feature?

The island was the first thing we did when we moved in--it was finished about a week after we moved; I knew 1.5' of counter wasn't going to do it!

Cool, thanks for posting these pictures. It's interesting to see this apartment. It looks so western. I guess I have a silly notion of what Japanese homes are like. It seems nice and spacious, too -- also not what I expected. Tho it probably is big by Tokyo standards?

My little sis is stationed at Yakota- her apartment shower/bath portion of her bathroom was the same size as her kitchen (before she moved back on base).

I did love the Japanese bathrooms- in hers, you walked into a smallish room with the sink and storage, and to your right was the toilet in its own little room, and to the left was the tub room, in which the whole thing was tiled and it was basically a huge shower.

those stools are great
I like the basic "deign elements"
stainless counter, white tile back splash, "wood" cabinets and the countertop mosaics on the island are a nice combo of color.
I would put a big mirror on the back wall to reflect the view from the other side:)

This is great fun to read and see how you're living, Raenjapan. Thanks! The drive in alone has me wanting to move to Okinawa. Coincidentally, the ikeafans.com forum currently also has a thread about kitchens here versus kitchens in other countries, minus the lovely views though.

I could live with that kitchen full time if my home was right on the beach:) I'd feel like I was on permanent vacation. You really added a major bonus with the island. Can't imagine not having any countertops. Your island must be the envy of all the neighbors.

I think it's really nice that you can have a garden! Of course your beach views are to die for! So your outdoor space gets an A+! The interior is very nice too. Did you get your dogs in Japan bring them with you? I hear Japan is a very dog-friendly nation. Thanks for sharing all those photos, I really enjoyed seeing your place!