The closer you are to the train stations, the more expensive everything becomes.

Tiny little one room apartments barely big enough to fit a bed can run you at least a thousand dollars a month, if not more.

Coming from America and Brazil, our houses were big and we had plenty of space.

Hi Daddy! Throw him a kissy kissy.

(kiss) aww!

Can you throw him a kissy kissy?

Awww!!

Ironically, as we had kids, we moved to Japan — our family growing and losing space at the same time.

Our house seemed so small when we first moved in.

This is our new home — we're going to stay here. A long long long long time?

Yes! A long long time.

However everyone that came over to visit said “Wow, it’s such a big entrance” — which we learned is a good thing in Japan.

A big entrance means you’re prosperous!

One of the biggest adjustments for Ruth in Japan was the size of the kitchen.

There was so much less storage and counter space than she was used to.

The kitchen is Ruth’s creative space, so we really wanted her to like it.

So, I think that every time Dad comes he ends up building us another shelf which is so wonderful.

Because we need the space!

What shelves did he build, Ruth?

All these here.

Both of these shelves. He built an extension to our counter here.

Yeah.

And you built a shelf over here, right?

Yea, that one there.

So, is there space for another shelf somewhere?

Yea, we're going to go right on top of the door. Whoa!

OK, let's open the car. Hi!

It's time for Kuruganeya.

Kuruganeya is a Japanese do-it-yourself store, and we love it.

Finding things in Japan is not the same as in America.

One of our favorite places. Yea! Kuruganeya!

It may be winter, but you can still have flowers here.

Not only is there a language barrier, but the products themselves are different than the products oversees.

Many times there were solutions to the problems we faced, but we didn’t even know they existed.

Even if we had, we wouldn’t know what to look for.

What is that?

It's a... it's like a chalk board.

but it's... digital? ... yeah

Digital chalk board?

But I don't think it's working right now.

So the kids can draw and do their...

Yea... and just so I can write notes and leave it for them

I mean, it just looks so cool.

At least we have built many shelves over the years and know exactly what to look for.

We have one other stop we have to make first, though.

Are you playing with the doggies?

Do you like those doggies? Yea!

Yea? What about this one?

Look at this doggy there, huh?

Is he so cool?

Oh my goodness!

Look, he's got a little toy there himself, doesn't he?

Yeah. Yeah he does.

How long's it going to be until we have to get one of these?

Oh - hopefully not too long.

That's my puppy right there. That's the kind of puppy that Ruth likes right there.

I'm thirsty to walk and run.

You're thirsty to walk and run?

Do you mean you're tired of it? Yeah.

Can we sit down right here?

You want me to sit with you?

Hey, should we go see some of the fish?

Do you want to go see some of the fish?

Whoa

Here, let's look over here. Here's the fish.

Those guys are big, aren't they?

That's the gold one.

Yeah, it's gold.

Wow.

There's another one. There's another one.

Look at... aren't they pretty?

Yep. Come with me, I saw something.

You like those?

Look at that one there.

These are some of my favorite ones.

Look how big they are!

They're huge, aren't they? Yea.

We need to get what we came for: supplies to build shelves.

Come with me, Daddy!

We found the supplies we need.

Look pretty good. Yea.

Well girlfriend — you're getting another shelf! How about that?

I am!

Exciting? Yes.

I see Joey!

There we go - there's our cousin!

You want to spin?

Like that? Ah!

Ah!!!

Whoa!

Bonk!

This is weird.

I don't know what — what's off level here?

Something's off level.

What's off?

Did you say the ceiling is...

Well we measured from here to here...

Dad, if you measure from this door to the ceiling and that door edge to the ceiling, it's going to be off.

Put it up to the ceiling.

See, the ceiling's off. Or at least the trim on the ceiling is (off).

Oh, the ceiling itself.

Oh my.

It is not level.

Daddy! You're being summoned.

What are you playing?

(inaudible)

Luigi's Mansion, huh? Whoa.

It looks so off!

It looks like it's drooping on this one side.

So just push it up a little bit, Dad, when you do it.

So maybe I should leave it on the top of the doorframe?

Do you need a hand putting this up, maybe?

Uh... let's see here.

It might be, actually... putting this part... just getting it up there by myself.

It's.... that looks about right.

It's not my best job, but... Ah! It's perfect.

There we go! It look beautiful.

Now we can start loading it up!

We're learning to maximize our space in Japan.

Our bedrooms are also our offices.

Our living room, dining room and school room are all one room.

Common baby. Common baby.

Common baby America! Whew!

OK! Whose turn?

So when my Dad was here, we also had him help us install a coatrack for the kids

because we have this one coat rack

Well, they're too high for the kids to put their coats on

And there's only four hooks down below.

So...

We hid our make-shift coat rack right here so the kids can all reach it...

and put their coats away.

If you live in a small home or apartment, how do you maximize your space?

Leave your comments below

And as always, thanks for watching, liking and subscribing.

We'll see you next time on Life in Japan. Bye Bye.