Loud Noise and Musical Instrument Playing Allowed... Japan's 'Perfect Soundproof' Apartments Gain Popularity

Complete Noise Blocking of Instruments and Speakers
Trending Among Musicians, YouTubers, and Other Professions

Soundproof apartments that allow residents to shout and play instruments to their heart's content without disturbing neighbors are gaining popularity in Japan. In the past, these residences were preferred mainly by specific professions such as musicians, but now, as more people enjoy hobbies indoors, demand from the general public has also increased.

According to the Japanese media outlet Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei), the apartments in question are called "Musision," developed by the Japanese real estate company Livran in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The Musision soundproof apartments have been developed since 2000, with a total of 30 buildings constructed to date. About half of these, 14 buildings, were built after the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.

The apartment name is a combination of the English words "music" and "mansion" (a term used in Japan for apartment buildings). It signifies that residents can play instruments freely inside their homes without worrying about their neighbors.

Japan’s soundproof apartments measure noise-blocking performance using a unique sound insulation index called the "D value." The D value quantifies how much sound from a neighboring unit is reduced as it passes through walls to the adjacent unit. The higher the D value, the better the soundproofing is considered in Japan.

The D value for typical apartments is around 50, and a value close to 55 is regarded as "excellent soundproofing." In the case of Musision apartments, the D value is at least 70 and can reach up to 85 depending on the unit. According to the official Musision website, a D value of 85 is sufficient to block noise from playing instruments like the piano, lessons, or sounds from speakers.

Thanks to these features, Musision apartments were originally designed to enable musicians without proper studios to work from home.

Musician Apartment is reported to have soundproofing performance capable of blocking noise from musical instruments such as pianos. [Image source=Musician official website]

However, recently, demand from the general public with little connection to music has surged. These residents come from various professions such as internet broadcasters and live game streamers.

Musision apartments were designed with thorough noise blocking in consultation with acoustic experts, including separate structural separation of rooms, walls, and ceilings, requiring considerable effort. Because of this, monthly rent for Musision apartments is around 120,000 yen (approximately 1.1 million KRW), about 30% higher than nearby apartments. Despite this, there is strong demand, with as many as 2,800 people on the waiting list.

In particular, demand for these apartments reportedly skyrocketed after the COVID-19 pandemic. This is attributed to more people enjoying indoor hobbies and the spread of contactless leisure culture.

According to Nikkei, preference for soundproof housing in Japan has increased significantly since COVID-19. A recent survey by the housing information site "Life Homes" found that the number of people who moved or bought new homes to live in places with good soundproofing increased by 80% compared to before the pandemic.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.