Inside a $100,000 Japanese HDB in Singapore

Inside a $100,000 Japanese HDB in Singapore

Today I’m visiting a HTB apartment in Singapore 
that looks more Japanese than my home in Japan. And the person who renovated this is a Singaporean 
and she’s very passionate about it. But the question is, does it really feel like Japan or is 
it Singapore’s version of Japan? Let’s find out. Hi, Lisa. Long time no see. Right. So, this 
is Lisa. You might remember her from my last video. I did a Japan hour style video in Popio 
and she kindly invited us to her HTB and now you got a renovation, huh? Yes. So, what’s the 
concept? We didn’t really follow any concept, but there were a lot of things that we knew 
we wanted that we had in mind that we wanted to execute and uh we realized that a lot of 
them were aligned with how the Japanese like way of living. I see so many Japanese 
elements. I’m excited to check it out. Okay. Can you give us a home tour one by one? 
Sure. All right. So, this is our entrance and uh we really wanted to do something like with the 
ridges and the light wood color. We wanted this like cove lighting here. And these are some of 
the things that we’ve gotten from Japan. I think they are good reminders to be mindful. That’s why 
we brought it home. Is that a storage? Yeah. So, over here we created some storage to put shoe. 
Wow. It looks a bit crammed there, but too many. So, over here is our living area. And I actually 
flew in some tatamis from Tokyo. Wow. This is from Japan. Yeah. Wow. Rio tatami. Oh, it’s like a Oh, 
you can lift. Oh, it’s a panel. Yeah. So, I took out one by one then can clean also. Wow. This one 
towel don’t have. I know. So real. You don’t need much cheaper. So I mean this is the real deal. 
So actually when I first brought my mom to NO, we had like a Japanese style room and so next to 
the bed area there’s like some like tatami then you can go girl go like no like and you loved it. 
Yeah. So it’s like the kind of I feel like it’s a kind of like moment that I want also in my home. I 
think to me it’s like you know you can like gather with your family here. Uh, so it’s about spending 
time together. I mean, I can imagine like you watching TV. You even got PS5, Switch. Oh, you got 
solid games, huh? Hardwards, Spy Family. You even got Goatsushima. Very good game. See, I wanted 
a Kotatu. Kotu, you melt in Singapore. Yeah, because sometime very cold, you know, on your 
own account, then you can like this. Lisa, I love this little tree you have. Do you feel like 
you get enlightenment? Oh, like the concept. No, it’s very zen. You know, I’m sitting here. Oh, 
so peaceful. Your TV console also very nice. Where do you get your furniture? Mostly buy in 
Singapore cuz I want to see the thing itself. In the ceiling, you also added this thing, right? 
The feature. So, we made like a false ceiling down so that we can create the cove lighting on 
top there. And that’s the kind of like lighting we want cuz I think lighting. Yeah. It feels 
much more warm and inviting. I think I actually have a housewarming gift. I don’t know if you 
know, but I started selling sake. And we have a perfect sake for you. Wow. Voila. Yes. Sorry 
about the interruption. I just wanted to share this exciting news. You see behind our bestselling 
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celebrate this, we are doing a Christmas promo. Buy our sake gift box or any 720 Minute bottle to 
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gift box, it only starts from 72 Singapore dollars and you can choose two bottles of your choice. 
If you’re getting this for Christmas, I think the gym biscuit will be nice because the color 
is kind of uh Christmy. We are even throwing in a Japanese sake glass for free. The promo ends on 
31 December while stock last. So if you’re a king, check it out before it’s gone. So over here, we 
actually knocked down one room to create this open space so that you know this wall is gone. We can 
create an open island with the kitchen. And then uh I wanted to create like a study space here. 
Since we have a window here, then we can make use of the view also. It also creates a space for me 
to have like my own like work from home desk. Over here we created the entrance that also can kind of 
see through to this area. I guess this way if you open the window the wind will go through. Yeah, 
correct. Without nothing obstructing these blinds also we custom made so that it fits just nice. 
By the way, Lisa, the concept of this video is, you know, I’m Japanese. So, how do you feel? If I 
find something a bit funny, a bit like Singaporean Japanese, I make fun of it. Can How confident are 
you? like authentic. You’re not confident. No, but look at that. You got a very nice phrase 
right here. Huh? Incense. We We like the idea of a lot. Okay. So far, you’re probably Japanese 
more than most Japanese in Japan. Typical people don’t do the incense. They especially youngsters 
and I think we wouldn’t have like a reminder of gratefulness as well. So, you have a island 
cooking table. I really like the idea of being able to talk to your, you know, family members 
while you’re preparing stuff and it also help around. So that’s why we wanted to knock 
down the wall also so that we can create this open space. By the way, later I’m asking 
Lisa how much everything cost. So stay tuned. So I guess sometime you eat here at the 
counter. Yeah, we can eat here. We can first. So we wanted to put plugs here so 
we can put the hot pot and also pot. Ah, okay. rice. Then we have had hot pot here a 
few times so that it continues to be staying hot. This is like a sink cover that is from 
the same like wood finish and I just chose a simple lines. You can choose like zigzag 
and things like that to cover the sink when you’re not using. Wow. Yeah. So, uh why 
why you must cover sink uh to hide all put the camera here. See what you’re hiding. 
You can help me check. Super clean. Oh, this is handy, huh? Yeah. So, when you 
have like a random visitor like me, you can just hide. Hide. Yeah. Push everything 
inside. Perfect. So, what do you call this area? I would say like this is our mini pantry cuz 
we like to drink a lot of tea. So, this place is dedicated to make tea and all our like tea 
collections. Actually, here is all tea. Hey, more tea. Oh, no. Yeah. Look at that. Yeah. 
I thought it’s only here. No, no, no. I said here. You got lifetime supply. Shall I make 
you some tea? Can? Yeah. Yes. Let’s do it. Yay. Wow. Thank you so much. It smells 
very good. You will have ice one because it’s a hot day. Wow. Thank you. Thank you. I love how it’s not, you know, too Japanese, 
you know, like some uh Singaporean obsessed with Japanese culture. Sometime I I read article and 
video, it’s like, wo, I don’t know, too Japanese. It almost feels a bit uncomfortable for me. It’s 
like too much. understand what what was the thing that like everything tatami wood but you I can 
feel like your is a good mix it’s not like totally Japanese right like you said there are Japanese 
elements but it’s not a word you use to describe your food it wasn’t like explicitly the intention 
it was just like we wanted like this but you like Japanese culture what part do you like about 
Japan I think has evolved over time as I get to know more so and learn the language I’m guessing 
initially it’s like more like anime and game, right? Yeah. The games that you all create. I 
don’t know how your thing makes you really like I mean you know Pokemon. Pokemon. Yeah. I like it. 
Uh then eventually you appreciate like the culture aspect because you go there then you visit there 
more. I started to watch anime and try to learn the language. I always believe like learning the 
language is like one step towards understanding people. There are some things that cannot be 
translated to English. What’s one Japanese phrase or philosophy you like? I think something I saw 
recently was the art of doing nothing and there are some like uh cannot be translated words like 
and things like that super specific and then like you realize only the Japanese people pay attention 
to that. That’s why there’s a word for it. I also clean my fridge for you. Oh, okay. Can 
I can I see? Yeah. And this is a fridge from our previous I mean before renovation. So, 
we kept it. But I also Thank you so much. What do you have? No, I thought I thought you 
clean. Only here. Oh, only here. Okay. Okay. Okay. Wow. Lots of like atas stuff. Jam. Hey, 
this one we all buy from Japan. Wow. Even Hey, I never has this left. You can you can eat rice. 
Got some nice drinks as well. The stove also you did a complete renovation. Yeah. Just buy one. 
Just buy a new one. This one. I think it’s new brand. I’m not sure. So, this real fire. Yeah. 
This one is like a This one I just organize my pasta cuz I like to cook pasta. Wow, nice. I got 
so many types. And this is all the storage. Got the laundry machine. And is this a storage as 
well? Oh, yeah. So, this house doesn’t have a uh store room. Oh, not store room. Yeah. Yeah, 
we have uh the bomb shelter. Yeah, we don’t have Yeah. Hey, I thought EGB have this house 1973. 
So, we have to create storage spaces here and there. And this rounded thing is something we did 
to put more of our like tiny stuff. Oh, I love how it’s curved. Wow. This also adds up. Yeah. And 
cost choice money can earn back. And next to it, you also have So, we created this mini sink area 
for outside the toilet. And then uh I chose this bowl cuz I wanted a bowl kind of sink bowl sitting 
on top of the Then I chose this cuz I wanted the water to flow out. I love how it’s so bright and 
the touch of the greens. So your toilet doesn’t have the sink. Uh no. Oh, interesting. Can look 
here. Was it always like that pre- renovation also? Yeah. So that’s the sink was here. Oh, 
okay. Okay. To have it own area. Oh, even a toilet fancy. Oh, this one also curved on. H over here 
we cut the walls. Actually, it’s an extension of the previous size of the bathroom. So, we extended 
the dry area. So, the inside can make something. This is what? Oh, this is the bathroom. So, I 
will turn on the lights. Oh my god. Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Do I see a Japanese 
style onen? Can I go inside, please? Wow. Lisa, you got to tell me about your bathroom. 
But bathtub cannot be. I thought Yeah. Just have to get approval. Ah, subject to 
approval. And there are regulations, right? You have to follow. There’s certain set. 
So, you just follow. Wow. You’re so lucky. You have this beautiful Japanese style on. It has the 
real feel and there’s wood here. But the bigger question is uh do do you really need a bathtub 
in Singapore? So hot. I think yeah you can put cold water but you know like I always I see JP now 
after work a long day they will definitely have a bath. Yeah it’s a great way to wind down. Yeah it 
makes such a difference like when I was staying in Japan every day there’s onen in the hotel I will 
just go and it makes so much of a difference. Yeah. Right. Yeah, it makes me feel like I want 
to have that after I work in. But can I ask you a question? Uh, don’t lie. How many time a week 
you use a week? Maybe one. One. Okay. Not bad. I wanted light wood doors for all 
the in the house. But inside my theme is darker. Oh yeah. Wow. Your room. I wanted this kind of feel. That’s why I they’re 
all darker wood as well. And here as well, it’s like a hotel. I want like this. Yeah. Also 
elevated. So it really feels like a hotel. Over here. I wanted sliding door because I wanted 
it to be like a hotel. So over here to suit my own needs, I need like a vanity. This is 
like my own area to use to do makeup and all that. I think in the past all the all the things 
were all over. So now that I created this area, my haird dryer can also be here cuz I created a 
plug and things like that. I love how you also have a sofa. So like people can chill there 
when they come to my room. Wow. And this is your work desk, but you already have your work 
desk here. So yeah, I do my makeup here. Oh, makeup here. Yeah. So like I use these spotlights 
as well. Yeah. I thought the makeup was there just now. Look like dry hair, skin care. You 
need dedicated place for this. Sometimes the lighting lighting was very bad there. Oh, guys 
will never understand. Oh, you also have Oh, actually I bought it from Kyoto. Kyoto. This one 
I can carry back to Tokyo. Wow. I can carry back to Singapore. Wow. So much work. So over here is 
like my Japanese city pop. And there’s one more unit arrived. And these are all Ariana Grande. All 
her albums I have. I love it. You integrate your hobby into your bedroom. And again, I I love this 
part. Feels like a hotel. And this is my parents room. Oh yeah. Oh, it’s very simple. My mom just 
wanted something zen and simple as well. Yeah. Lisa, I love your home, you know, because I 
know the before. It’s really a big change. Last time was nice, too. Lots of green, but 
now it’s like a hotel. I’m glad you liked it. Got character as well, like Japanese. 
I know you appreciate Japanese subculture, Japanese inspirational quotes scattered around. 
And of course, the bathtub. Beautiful. However, the question is door shop. I think a lot of 
people, you know, curious how much was the total cost of renovation? Total will be around 
100k. 100k. Yeah. But I can tell because you know I can tell this a lot of work. It can be like 
20 30k. Are you happy about the result? Yeah, definitely. We moved in for a year plus now and 
sometimes we still think back like thankfully we did all these. I mean going through Renault is 
always like a roller coaster journey but we’re always like very thankful that we still decided 
to do it cuz it’s the space you come home to every day. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It will directly 
affect your life. What’s your favorite corner of your house? I want to say my room but but you 
know after coming and sitting here I also like it and then going to the bathroom. Yeah, I can spend 
my time and take my time there. What is it like living in Topio? You like it or not? Yeah. I mean 
it has been my home since primary school. Yeah. So it feels comfortable. Very central. Yeah, you’re 
right. It ordered how many station? Three station. Ah, like 10 minute. Yeah, it’s probably one of the 
most central neighborhoods in Singapore. You’re so lucky because I I remember talking to my Japanese 
viewer. She live in Yishun. Oh. So, she say like she want to invite her friends to her home, but 
she feel pisy because it’s so far and dangerous. I mean, of course, the dangerous part dangerous part 
is a joke, but it’s far a lot compared to here. It’s very difficult to invite friends to our house 
because it’s very far from everything. Yeah. So, you’re very lucky. I mean, to was a beautiful 
neighborhood. It’s so lively but calm at the same time. I love it. Lastly, do you want to share any 
renovation tips if have like some mistakes you’d avoid next time? If have I think the measurements. 
Measurements. So, like this one also I had to measure so that it fit 3×3. Then this thing 
still fits. Wait, wait, wait. Huh? That’s I’m I’m laughing so hard because uh we actually screwed 
up on the measurements. Really? We bought a closet from IKEA. Uhhuh. When we set up it didn’t fit. So 
it cannot stand. It’s like so basic, but we didn’t do correctly. So yeah, do your measurements 
correctly. Thanks, Lita. Thank you. Goodbye.

Inside a Japanese-inspired HDB apartment in Singapore. 🍶 Shop delicious & RARE Sake from Japan at Sake Ichiba! https://linktr.ee/ghibojisan
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Thanks Lisa! https://www.instagram.com/lisaplanteats/

Chapters
00:00 Living Room
04:19 Work Area
05:56 Kitchen
11:02 Bathroom
11:53 Bathtub!
13:21 Bedroom
15:15 Renovation Advice

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