Ikea, whose furniture is a familiar landmark in tens of thousands of Airbnbs and millions of homes, has built a super-tiny apartment in crowded Japan to show off its skill at making small spaces work, and will rent the micro-flat to a lucky winner for about $1 a month.
The tiny space—about 10 feet by 10 feet—in the Shinjuku district may be very small for real family living, but Tokyo is noted for small apartments, and there are expected to be plenty of applicants for the bargain rate. Applicants must be over 20 and be able to pay their own utility bills.
While the space is small for long-term living, it’s probably only a matter of time before some Airbnb hosts pick up on the idea for travelers, a market where the small size might easily be outweighed by location and price. As shown in Ikea’s ads, the tiny space includes a small sofa, desk and chair, clothes rails, storage drawers, lamps and shelves, potted plants and artwork. Up a ladder, there’s a bed on a mezzanine.
