On March 22nd, we held our very first inter-house event at BORDERLESS HOUSE Kyoto Uji — a fun Gyoza & Chirashi Sushi Party!
What made it so special?
It was co-hosted by one of our original Kyoto Uji housemates! Residents from Kinugasa and Kamigamo Share Houses also joined in, and the day was full of great food, new friendships, and lots of smiles 🙂
Thinking about joining an international share house?
This is a peek into what it’s really like — sharing meals, cultures, and warm moments together.
Cooking Together, Beyond Words!
Our first-ever house exchange event at Kyoto Uji was a big success — and full of heartwarming moments.
The idea started with Fumi, a Japanese housemate who loves cooking. She told us, “I’d love to do a cooking event with everyone someday!”
So we teamed up and made it happen — and it turned into something really special.
From the kitchen prep to the final bites, it was a mix of cultures, languages, and lots of fun!
Even people meeting for the first time were chatting while making gyoza:
“How do you do this part?”
“In my country, we fold it like this!”
Cooking together really does bring people closer — no matter what language you speak!
Gyoza, Chirashi Sushi & Sweet Treats!
Our housemates brought so much creativity to the table — literally!
Fumi and the Kyoto Uji crew planned an awesome menu full of variety and veggie-friendly ideas.
We had:
– Classic meat gyoza
– Veggie versions with tofu, mushrooms, even broccoli & koji powder!
– A chirashi sushi “cake” that looked as amazing as it tasted
And yes — there were handmade desserts, too!
A Chirashi Sushi Inspired by “Flowers”
For the sushi presentation, two housemates designed it using the kanji character for “flower” (花) — such a fun and creative idea!
Everyone gathered around, watching them work with excited voices:
“Whoa!! That looks amazing!”
And when it was time to remove the mold… the tension was real!
But it turned out beautiful — and everyone cheered!
Fumi even printed the recipe for everyone and prepped ingredients like lotus root and shredded egg in advance.
One housemate said, “Honestly, it was all so perfectly prepared, I just followed along and had a great time!
Dessert Time = Pure Happiness
After all the gyoza and sushi, it was time to enjoy something sweet — and one of the tenants, Fumi had us covered with her amazing homemade desserts!
She made: Cookies, Muffins, Raspberry mousse, and Carrot cake! Everything tasted so good, people kept saying, “It’s like a real bakery!”
We all ended the day with a big “Gochisousama!” (thanks for the meal) and a heartfelt “Thank you!” to Fumi. The event wrapped up in the warmest, happiest way possible.
The Day Didn’t End with Dessert — It Became a Memory to Keep
After enjoying all the food and good company, the day wasn’t over yet.
“Since we’re in Uji, let’s go somewhere,” someone suggested — and just like that, everyone went out for a walk to nearby temples and the World Heritage site, Byodoin.
One resident shared a sweet story too:
“There’s a cat at the temple next to the house. I visited so often that we became friends. And now, I even have plans to go out with someone I met through those visits.”
Even after everyone said goodbye, people kept chatting on LINE, sharing photos and messages. The warmth and connection from the event didn’t end — it kept going, beyond the day itself.
Voices from the Housemates
・Shiyoo（China）
“The event was so lovely, peaceful and serene and well prepared. I am glad we get to connect with people from other houses and feel proud of our space. I was very overwhelmed by the amount of food and gifts provided by people in the event, it was a pure luxury.”
・Vivian（USA）
”I was pleasantly surprised when I was invited to a gyoza making party at Uji house. As someone who just arrived in Kyoto, it was nice to make new friends and eat delicious gyoza. One of the Uji house members even went above and beyond and baked delicious sweets for all of us to share! We explored Uji together after lunch, and visited a temple with a cute cat. Thank you Borderless for organizing such a warm and friendly event ❤️”
・Fumi（Japan）
”It was a dream come true to host a fun, lively party with people from other houses. I planned a vegetarian menu for the first time — and learned so much from it. I want to keep getting better at vegetarian cooking. And I was so happy that everyone enjoyed the desserts I made — it really meant a lot to me.”
A Note from Our Community Creator
Uji House’s very first event was really special to me.I’ve been involved since the renovation began — so seeing our residents enjoying themselves in a space we worked hard to build, together with the owner, contractors, and our team, was truly meaningful.
We shared food, stories, and laughs in the sunny living room. Fumi’s desserts, the warm atmosphere — everything made it a day to remember.
These kinds of homey, heartwarming events are what make Borderless House Kansai unique.
And here, residents can help plan events too — just like this one! Want to create your own event and connect with others? We’d love to help you make it happen!
Borderless House — A Place Where “Someday” Becomes Now
Here, residents don’t just live together — they create together.
From cooking parties to cultural events, you can take the lead and make your ideas real.
You don’t need perfect language skills.
Sharing time, creating something together — that’s how real connection starts.
Just like Fumi’s dream of hosting a cooking event came true, yours can too.
And who knows — it might inspire someone else’s journey along the way.
Ready to take the first step into a more connected life?
Live in Japan. Connect with the World— Start Your International Life at BORDERLESS HOUSE!
At BORDERLESS HOUSE, people from over 120 countries live and grow together — sharing daily life, learning about different cultures, and building real friendships.
Since 2008, we’ve created more than 50 international share house communities in Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, and Sendai.
Looking for a place to start your international life in Japan?
You can explore all our share houses through the Tokyo, Kansai, and Sendai listings.
Looking for your future share house? Check out our listings here:
▶Kyoto, Osaka & Kobe Share Houses
On each house page, you can see who’s currently living there — their nationalities, ages, gender, and even a short self-intro. It’s a great way to imagine what life could be like before you move in!
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