Hidden Wonders | A Triangular Building with a 20-Degree Angle

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Not far from Nerima Station on the Seibu Ikebukuro Line, in a quiet residential corner of Tokyo's Nerima Ward, I came across an unusual building.

It's a five-story structure with a basement, painted in bright yellow and orange. The bold colors stand out, but what really caught my eye was the shape. The building is a narrow triangle — so thin from certain angles that it barely looks like a building at all.

I took a closer look at the sharpest point. The wall there was only about 60 centimeters wide. Using Google Maps' aerial view, I measured the interior angle — it came out to just 20 degrees.

*The Nerima Triangle Building has five floors above ground and one basement level. Old signs show it used to house small bars.*

Into the Basement

Curious about what the inside of that narrow tip might look like, I took the opportunity to go in. The basement had been converted into a multipurpose rental space, so I was able to take a look around.

*Entrance to the basement rental area | Stairs leading to the basement*

Just inside the door was a spiral staircase. It was steep and narrow, like something out of a cave or hidden passage. I carefully made my way downstairs, ducking my head as I went.

To my surprise, the space below was warm and inviting. It looked like it could comfortably host a small party of about five people. In the back, there was space for a fridge, a kitchen sink, a washing machine, and even a shower room.

"Please enjoy the space like your own secret base," said Mio Aoki, who manages the rental.

*The space includes Wi-Fi and a projector.*

The Sharpest Point

I headed toward the narrowest part of the building. There, neatly tucked beneath the spiral stairs, was a toilet. According to floor plans I found on a housing website, it seems every floor has a toilet in the same spot.

*The toilet in the corner of the basement space.*

The building is certainly one of a kind. I wondered what else it was used for beyond the rental space.

According to Aoki, the upper floors are occupied by residents. Before the basement was converted, it served as a storage area. Old signage on the side of the building suggests it once housed a snack bar or izakaya.

As for living in the basement, Aoki laughed and said, "That would take a bit of courage."