Sawada Mansion

Sawada Mansion is a five-story residential complex with 70 units in Kōchi, standing on a site of about 1,800 square meters (19,000 square feet). The construction connects ramps, spiral stairs, and hand-operated lifts that serve all floors.

The building started in 1971 following plans by Yoshinori Sawada and his wife Hiroe, who expanded the construction over several decades. The complex grew organically through step-by-step additions that adapted to changing needs of residents.

The name comes from builder Yoshinori Sawada, whose vision created a housing complex that stands apart from typical 1970s apartment towers. Wide outdoor walkways and shared exterior zones shape daily life for residents, who meet and talk with each other in these common areas.

Short-term rentals are possible and start at 95,000 yen per month including utilities, with terms from one to seven months. The complex offers apartments in different sizes, with access through several types of stairs and ramps.

The grounds hold plots for growing food, small ponds with fish, and areas where residents keep different animals. Pigs, chinchillas, and other small creatures live here in homemade enclosures between the apartments.