For those who have trouble finding space for a large wine collection, a new apartment block in Japan with an in-house cellar and a visiting sommelier could be the perfect place to live.

The aptly named Wine Apartment in Tokyo’s posh Shibuya district features a temperature- and humidity-controlled room in the basement for 10 000 bottles. Each of the 18 units comes with a wine fridge for 26 bottles and a rack for glasses.

“Tokyo is a unique market for wine lovers,” said Takayuki Suzuki, the president of property developer Inovv.

“They do not just enjoy drinking wine but also have academic interest in wine. Wine schools are always busy here. That is why I am seeing potential for a property like this.”

A popular bistro will open a branch in November on the first floor of the 10-storey building, where residents can bring and drink their own bottles for a 2 000-yen (about R180) corkage charge. They can also order food to be delivered to their apartments.

About 70 percent of the units have been taken, Suzuki said. Monthly rents for the apartments of 42 to 46 square metres run from 239 000 yen to 258 000 yen, about 30 percent above the market price in the area.

Tenants pay a monthly storage charge of about 20 000 yen to put up to 300 bottles in the wine cellar and can pay extra for larger collections. A sommelier will visit the building on weekends to advise residents on how to pair food with wine and can be hired by the hour for parties.