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West Coast Vibes in the Heart of Tokyo: A Pacific Furniture Service Masterpiece

West Coast Vibes in the Heart of Tokyo: A Pacific Furniture Service Masterpiece

The moment you step into this stunning custom-built home in Setagaya's Nakamachi district, you're transported to a sun-drenched California beach house – complete with surf-worthy design details and that effortless coastal cool that makes everyday living feel like a permanent vacation.

A Design Story Worth Telling

This isn't just another house for sale. This is a 134.5 million yen opportunity to inherit a piece of architectural artistry that would be nearly impossible to recreate today. Designed by the legendary Pacific Furniture Service – the masters of California-inspired interiors who've been defining Tokyo's surf culture aesthetic for decades – this 2013-built home represents the perfect fusion of West Coast laid-back luxury and Japanese attention to detail.

What makes this property truly special isn't just the pedigree of its designers, but how the original owners added their own sophisticated touches. Where Pacific Furniture Service's aesthetic might typically lean rustic and warm, these owners introduced crisp white paint and refreshing tile work that creates a more contemporary, breathable atmosphere. The result? A home that feels both timelessly cool and thoroughly modern.

The Space That Steals Hearts: That Second-Floor Living Area

Let's start where every visitor inevitably gravitates – the expansive second-floor LDK (living, dining, kitchen) that serves as this home's stunning centerpiece. The vaulted ceiling follows the natural roofline, finished with rough-hewn planks that have been painted to perfection. It's architectural honesty at its finest – embracing the structure's bones while elevating them into something genuinely beautiful.

But here's what really sets this space apart: the floors aren't traditional hardwood. Instead, the owners chose tile throughout, creating a surface that's both practical for daily life and perfectly suited to the coastal aesthetic. It's the kind of detail that makes you think, "Why doesn't everyone do this?"

The kitchen area benefits from a strategically placed skylight that bathes the cooking space in soft, natural light throughout the day. Picture yourself preparing morning coffee as gentle sunlight streams down, or hosting dinner parties where the ambient lighting creates the perfect atmosphere without any effort on your part.

A Kitchen Worth Inheriting

Speaking of the kitchen – this is Pacific Furniture Service original cabinetry and built-ins we're talking about. These aren't pieces you can simply order online. The craftsmanship, the attention to detail, the way each element works together – it's the kind of kitchen setup that takes years to develop and would cost a fortune to replicate today.

The storage solutions extend beyond just the kitchen cabinets. Behind the main cooking area, you'll find thoughtfully designed storage for appliances and tableware that maintains the clean aesthetic while keeping everything you need within easy reach.

Adjacent to the kitchen, a flexible study space features custom built-in shelving that currently serves as a home office setup. The beauty of this design? It can easily be converted into a separate room if you need an additional bedroom or want to create more defined spaces for children.

Indoor-Outdoor Living Done Right

Step out onto the second-floor balcony, and you'll understand why this home feels more like a vacation retreat than urban housing. This isn't just a narrow Tokyo balcony – it's a genuine outdoor living space where you could easily set up a small garden, lounge in a hammock, or create your own private escape above the city.

The connection between indoor and outdoor spaces flows seamlessly throughout the home, thanks to thoughtful window placement and the way natural light moves through each room.

First Floor: Surprisingly Spacious and Smartly Designed

An Entrance That Actually Functions

Most Tokyo homes skimp on entryway space, but not this one. The entrance hall spans approximately 1.8 meters wide – generous enough for proper shoe storage, bicycle parking, and all those daily items that need a home. It's the kind of practical luxury that you don't fully appreciate until you experience it.

The staircase design deserves special mention. Built with generous proportions, the area underneath becomes valuable storage space perfect for everything from wine collections to camping gear. The current owners have installed pegboard systems that give the space a modern garage-workshop vibe, but the possibilities are endless.

A Bathroom Experience That Rivals High-End Hotels

If you've ever lived in Tokyo, you know that spacious bathrooms are rare treasures. This home's bathroom and washroom setup is genuinely extraordinary. The wash area is wide enough for two people to use simultaneously – imagine the convenience during busy morning routines or when getting ready for events.

The bathroom itself goes beyond spacious to downright luxurious, with a separate shower area that had even the owners admitting they "might have gone a bit overboard." But when you're facing the large windows that open to the private terrace, soaking in natural light while you bathe, you'll understand that sometimes "overboard" is exactly right.

Master Bedroom: A Peaceful Retreat

The master bedroom takes a different approach from the bright, open common areas. Windows are deliberately limited here, creating a calm, cocoon-like atmosphere perfect for rest and relaxation. The adjacent walk-in closet provides ample storage for an entire family's wardrobe, with smart connectivity to the washroom that makes the laundry-to-storage process effortless.

The Hidden Technical Brilliance

Next-Level Floor Heating System

Most homes install floor heating beneath the first-floor flooring. This house does something far more sophisticated: the heating system is built into the foundation itself, with ducts designed to circulate warm air to the second floor.

The genius of this system reveals itself year-round. In winter, the foundation heating creates a chimney effect that warms the entire house efficiently. In summer, the earth's natural coolness transfers through the foundation, keeping the first floor pleasantly cool. It's the kind of engineering detail that demonstrates the level of thought that went into every aspect of this home.

Location: The Best of Setagaya Living

Nakamachi: Where Urban Meets Natural

Setagaya's Nakamachi district strikes that perfect balance Tokyo residents dream about – close enough to the city center for easy commuting, far enough out to maintain a sense of space and tranquility. The 13-minute walk to Kaminoge Station on the Tokyu Oimachi Line connects you efficiently to the broader Tokyo network, while the area itself retains pockets of farmland and greenery that make daily life feel less compressed.

The immediate neighborhood provides everything you need within walking distance: a well-stocked Ozeki supermarket, Kobeya Restaurant for dining out, convenience stores, and pharmacy services. For those days when train transfers feel like too much effort, the bus stop at Engei Koko-mae (10 minutes on foot) offers direct service to Shibuya in 25 minutes.

Recreation and Nature Access

One of the most appealing aspects of this location is its proximity to Tokyo's best outdoor spaces. Futako-tamagawa, the Tama River, and Todoroki Valley are all within cycling distance, offering everything from riverside walks to the unique experience of Tokyo's hidden valley. Expand your range slightly, and you can reach Kinuta Park and Komazawa Olympic Park – perfect for weekend family activities or morning runs.

The Investment Perspective: Value Beyond Price

Replacement Cost Reality

Here's a sobering thought exercise: what would it cost to build this exact house today? Between Pacific Furniture Service's custom work, the sophisticated heating system, the quality of materials, and the time required for such detailed craftsmanship, you're looking at significantly more than the asking price – assuming you could even find craftspeople willing to take on such a project.

The built-in elements alone – from the custom kitchen to the integrated storage solutions – represent years of design development and implementation that simply can't be rushed or replicated easily.

Maintenance and Updates

The practical considerations are refreshingly minimal. Built in 2013, the home's major systems are relatively new, with the gas range already updated in 2024. While items like the water heater may need replacement in the coming years, the bones of the house and its custom elements are built to last decades.

The home features period-appropriate details that have become modern classics – American-style light switches and toolbox's signature "rib panels" that were ahead of their time when installed and remain perfectly current today.

Who Will Love This Home?

The Perfect Fit

This house calls out to creative professionals who work from home, families who value both style and function, and anyone who's ever dreamed of California living without leaving Tokyo. The flexible spaces adapt to changing needs – home offices can become bedrooms, the study area can expand or contract based on your work style, and the outdoor areas invite whatever lifestyle you want to create.

The design appeals particularly to those who appreciate authentic materials and craftsmanship over trendy finishes that will look dated in five years. This is a home for people who understand that true luxury lies in thoughtful design and quality execution, not flashy features.

Lifestyle Possibilities

Picture hosting dinner parties in that skylit kitchen, working from the study space while your children play safely in the second bedroom, or starting each day with coffee on the private terrace surrounded by established plantings. The home's design supports both intimate family life and entertaining, solo work and community gathering.

The Garden: Mature Beauty Included

The established landscaping, designed by SOLSO FARM, comes with the property and adds immediate value that would take years to develop from scratch. The mature olive trees and Australian native plants have grown into the perfect complement to the architecture, creating privacy and visual interest that changes with the seasons.

The front garden references iconic Palm Springs design – particularly the Ace Hotel's distinctive aesthetic – while the rear terrace provides a private oasis where the large windows from the bathroom and washroom create an almost resort-like experience.

A Rare Opportunity in Today's Market

In a real estate environment where authentic, architect-designed homes are increasingly rare, this Pacific Furniture Service creation represents something you simply can't commission today. The combination of established landscaping, custom built-ins, sophisticated systems, and prime Setagaya location creates a value proposition that extends far beyond the purchase price.

This isn't just buying a house – it's inheriting a carefully crafted lifestyle that someone else spent years perfecting. From the moment you walk through that generous entrance to the last evening light filtering through the skylight, every day here feels like living inside a thoughtfully curated design magazine.

The question isn't whether this home is worth 134.5 million yen. The question is: how do you put a price on inheriting someone else's dream home that happens to align perfectly with your own vision of the good life?

For more information about this property or to schedule a viewing, contact the listing agent HERE This level of design integrity and location desirability rarely comes to market – don't let this opportunity pass by.

Property Summary:

  • Price: ¥134,500,000

  • Building Area: 109.30㎡

  • Land Area: 118.89㎡

  • Location: Setagaya-ku Nakamachi

  • Transportation: 13 min walk to Kaminoge Station (Tokyu Oimachi Line)

  • Built: 2013

  • Structure: Wood frame, 2 stories

  • Special Features: Pacific Furniture Service design, custom kitchen, foundation heating system, established garden

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