On February 1, 2025, Borderless House opened its doors in the Sendai, Tohoku region for the very first time. Now, a year later — here’s what it’s really been like.
Hi, my name is Daichi Miura, and I’m a university student in Miyagi. Since August 2025, I’ve been working as a student intern helping to run the Sendai house. I haven’t lived here as a resident — I’ve been here as staff. But honestly? That’s given me a pretty unique view of how this place has grown.
This is Borderless House Sendai, from my eyes. ( I’m the one in the purple hoodie.)
Sendai’s Green City, Global Community — That’s Borderless House Sendai
Before we get into the fun stuff, let me tell you a bit about the house — and the city it calls home.
First Time in Tohoku! Premium Co-living at BORDERLESS HOUSE
The official name for the share house is BORDERLESS HOUSE SENDAI-TOHOKUDAIGAKUMAE1.
It’s a five-minute walk from Tohoku University’s Kawauchi Campus, and about seven minutes from Kawauchi Station on the Tozai Line. From there, Sendai Station is just three stops away. Getting around is easy.
(The “1” in the name is intentional — the plan is to keep growing, with a 2, 3, and more to come.)
Just 3 Stops to Sendai Station — Commuting Has Never Been Easier
The closest station is Kawauchi Station on the Sendai City Subway Tozai Line, about a seven-minute walk from the house. Several residents actually commute to offices in central Sendai from here, which gives you a sense of how easy the access really is.
Three stops to the city center. That’s it.
What Makes Sendai So Special?
To truly introduce the unique charm of BORDERLESS HOUSE SENDAI, I first have to talk about Sendai itself. The character of this city is deeply connected to what makes living here so special.
As the capital of the Tohoku region, Sendai is its only major designated city. True to its nickname, “Mori no Miyako” (The City of Trees), you’ll find lush greenery right in the heart of downtown. The Kawauchi area, where our house is located, is surrounded by bamboo groves and trees—giving the air a peaceful, calm quality you wouldn’t expect in a city.
Sendai is the perfect “middle ground.” It isn’t a forest of skyscrapers, yet it’s far from being the countryside. This “just right” size makes daily life feel incredibly comfortable.
Adventure is always close by!
We are also lucky to be near amazing spots like Matsushima (one of Japan’s three most scenic views), Tashirojima (the famous “Cat Island”), and the world-class ski slopes of Zao. Our residents often head out on trips together to explore these gems!
Want to see our latest adventures?
Check out the BORDERLESS HOUSE SENDAI-TOHOKUDAIGAKUMAE 1 Instagram!
There is still so much to tell you, but I’ll save the rest for another time so this doesn’t get too long! ^^
Real International Exchange in Sendai!
Now that you know a bit more about the city, let’s dive into what life is actually like inside BORDERLESS HOUSE SENDAI-TOHOKUDAIGAKUMAE 1 and the amazing connections happening here!
▲ A group shot from our Cherry Blossom viewing party. The night blossoms were stunning!
As of April 2026, we have over 25 residents.
While many are students from Tohoku University, our community is a diverse mix of working professionals and international students from various universities. With people of all ages and nationalities, you’ll hear a mix of many different languages—though English and Japanese are the most common.
Because our nationalities are so varied, you never know what language you might hear next!
I once saw a student who was taking French as a second language at university spending the entire night before an exam practicing in the living room with a French housemate. It was a perfect example of the “International Exchange x Share House” lifestyle!
I still remember my first day here as an intern. Seeing people from completely different countries naturally cooking together in the kitchen made me realize: “Wow, a place like this really does exist in Sendai.
So Much Going On! A Look Back at Our Events
At BORDERLESS HOUSE SENDAI-TOHOKUDAIGAKUMAE 1, the residents are the ones who make things happen!
I’ve been involved in a few events myself, and I think the most exciting part of this house is how someone will simply say, “Let’s try this!”—and a new idea naturally comes to life.
Here are just a few highlights from the month I spent living here. I joined every single one of them, and looking back at the photos now, I’m reminded of just how much fun we had!
Community Gardening
At our share house in Sendai, we are lucky enough to have our very own garden! On this particular day, we used compost gifted by our local neighbors to prep the soil for growing vegetables.
This “Community Garden” is the heart of many events throughout the year. We grow fresh vegetables during the warmer months and various herbs when it gets cooler. For us, cooking with ingredients we’ve grown ourselves is just a normal part of daily life.
As someone who loves to cook, I once made Peperoncino using a generous amount of chili peppers and parsley harvested right from our garden. I still remember the joy of hearing “Delicious!” shouted out in so many different languages across the dining table.
Sendai Bar Hopping
At BORDERLESS HOUSE, international exchange doesn’t just happen inside the house! As I mentioned earlier, our great access to the city center makes it easy to head out and explore the local scene.
While the legal drinking age varies from country to country, we are in Japan—so of course, everyone in our group was 20 or older! We had a blast hopping between local spots, enjoying the nightlife, and getting to know the city and each other even better.
Imoni-kai: A Taste of Local Tradition
In Sendai, there is a special seasonal culture called “Imoni.” To put it simply, it’s a hearty soup made with taro roots and pork (similar to tonjiru). Every year between October and November, people gather for “Imoni-kai”—outdoor parties dedicated to making and sharing this dish.
Here is a photo of us having our own Imoni-kai by the river! Our Japanese residents took the lead, preparing everything to introduce this local tradition to our international housemates. It was such a unique sight—a diverse, multicultural group huddled together enjoying local soul food—that a local TV station even came to interview us! It’s one of my favorite memories.
Local Miyagi traditions like Imoni-kai and the Tanabata Festival are always a huge hit, especially with our international residents!
Japanese Nabe (Hot Pot) Parties
Dinner parties like this happen all the time! Being able to enjoy authentic dishes from all over the world right at your own dining table—and with close friends—is truly one of the best experiences you can only find at Borderless House.
We’ve cooked countless meals together, but there’s something unique about our Sendai community: for some reason, we have a lot of talented bakers! Our residents love making sweets, so we often get to enjoy desserts that look and taste like they came straight from a professional patisserie rather than a typical home kitchen. ^^
Real Voices: Resident Interviews from Sendai Share House
We sat down with some of our Japanese residents at BORDERLESS HOUSE SENDAI-TOHOKUDAIGAKUMAE 1 to hear about their real-life experiences!
2nd Year Student at Tohoku University (Female, 20s)
ーー Q. Did you have any worries before moving in?ーー
“To be honest, I was a little nervous because living with people from other countries was such an unknown for me. But once I moved in, I realized everyone is just so kind and fun to be around. Now, those initial fears feel like a lifetime ago!”
1st Year Student at Tohoku University (Male, 10s)
ーー Q. What have you gained from living here?ーー
“I’m no longer intimidated by the idea of interacting with people from different backgrounds. My English has definitely improved, too. Gaining this confidence before I eventually study abroad has been an incredible advantage.”
Working Professional in Sendai (Female, 30s)
ーー Q. What is the biggest change you’ve felt since joining?ーー
“It’s having a place where I can say ‘I’m home’ (Tadaima) and someone is there to hear it. When I lived alone, I was just returning to an empty apartment. Here, someone is always around—that sense of connection is much more meaningful than I expected.”
Looking Toward Year Two for BORDERLESS HOUSE SENDAI
SENDAI-TOHOKUDAIGAKUMAE 1 share house is still just a year old.
In this short time, we’ve heard a growing chorus of voices—not just from our residents, but from guests who visit us—saying, “I’m so glad a place like this exists in Sendai.”
As we move into our second year, our vision is to grow beyond being “just a community inside a house.” We want to become a hub that connects with students from Tohoku University and the local neighbors in the Sendai community.
“Dissolving the boundaries between the house and the local neighborhood.”
Don’t you think a community like that would be wonderful?
We look forward to sharing more about our journey and our upcoming projects right here on the blog.
Thank you so much for reading until the end!
Thinking about starting your new life in Japan? Why not consider Sendai
Experience the perfect blend of nature, culture, and community. Discover why this city is the ideal place for your next adventure!
Explore Living in Sendai