After 11 years together in Southern California, Yumiko and Kurt decided to move the family to Japan.  Our first apartment in Japan was a small two bedroom place or 2LDK (2 bedroom + Living room, Dining room and Kitchen) as they are called in Japan, owned and operated by a large apartment rental company called "Leo Palace".  We selected this apartment as Leo Palace specializes in renting to those who need temporary housing (they rent by the week or month) and they also have no job requirements (neither of us were employed when we came to Japan).  In addition, Leo Palace apartments are furnished and the rent includes all utilities.  In also helped that our new apartment was only 5 minutes walking distance to Yumiko's parent's home.

Having come to Japan with little more than a few suitcases of clothes, Yumiko and I sometimes joked that our little Leo Palace apartment felt more like a college dormitory than a family home.  However, as houses are very expensive in Japan, it is quite common for families to spend their whole lives in apartments, and so we quickly felt at home in our new community surrounded by many nice families and a neighborhood full of kids.  Our family stayed at our little Leo Palace apartment for about 5 months before we moved in December to a more permanent apartment directly across the street.  Our new apartment is in a building called "Sugiyama Mansion" and is bigger (one more bedroom) and cheaper than Leo Palace.  Both apartments are modest and small, but hey, who can complain when the first place was a "palace" and the second is a "mansion".  (more photos below)

   *** Click to enlarge ***