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Event | Making Tang Yuan on Winter Solstice

Cold and freezing winter is coming!

Isn’t it a perfect season to eat Tang Yuan?

Today we are going to review our winter event, Making Tang Yuan with BORDERLESS HOUSE. Not only learning Taiwanese traditional culture, but also enjoying the vibe of winter.

What is Winter Solstice?

Winter solstice: There are 24 solar terms in a year and winter solstice is one of the most important among all. It is also called, Rì Duǎn, which means a short day. The sun travels around the southern regression line on this day, so the days are shortest and the nights are longest in the northern hemisphere. After this day, it also means that real winter is coming in the northern hemisphere.

What do we eat on Winter Solstice?

Tang Yuan that we eat is also called “Dōng Jié Yuán” or ” Yuan Zī ” in the traditional way. The family will gather together and rub the glutinous rice dough into different sizes of balls on the eve of winter solstice.

Normally these Tang Yuan are available in sweet, salty, large, and small sizes. Nowadays, there are various kinds of Tang Yuan with a variety of fillings on the market. But in our tradition, it is usually red or white in color, filled with peanuts or sesame.

In Taiwan, we have all known to have Tang Yuan on winter solstice since we were young. “After eating Tang Yuan, you grow one year older!” After leaving home, eating Tang Yuan on the winter solstice seems to be a must. To have a bowl of sweet Tang Yuan with friends, roommates, or colleagues, give a warm feeling and brings a touch of warmth to the cold winter.

Actually, it is not difficult to make Tang Yuan! Just need to prepare glutinous rice flour and water, mix them into a dough, rub them into small round balls. If you want to have different colors, then just prepare some pumpkin powder, matcha powder, coffee powder, or tomato powder. Not only create the ideal shape but also eat healthier.

(The two cute Tang Yuan were based on our staff and made by one of our tenants.)

Our tenants were all creative and produce their own one-of-a-kind Tang Yuan. Then ate them all! Winter solstice is according to the lunar calendar, it is also closed to Christmas. So we could see some works related to Christmas. It was quite interesting!

Winter is really right for this kind of warm feeling! If you have any activities or ideas that you would like to participate in, please feel free to share them with us! Let BORDERLESS HOUSE provide more and more great events in the future!

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✨Rent Prepay Discount✨

Hello everyone!

Thank you for your continuous support and love for BORDERLESS HOUSE! We hope that each tenant can find a sense of home here and create wonderful memories with friends from all over the world.

In appreciation of our long-term supporting tenants, we have specially introduced exclusive discounts for those on long-term leases, making your life at BORDERLESS HOUSE even more exciting. Join us in creating more unforgettable memories and enjoy this unique international exchange experience together!

Plan Details

Prepay your rent and utilities to enjoy the following exclusive discounts:

1. Half-Year Prepayment Plan:
• Receive a half-month rent reduction.
2. One-Year Prepayment Plan:
• Receive a one-month rent reduction.
• Utilities will be a fixed monthly charge of NT$800.

Important Notes:

1. Not affected by any adjustments in rent or utilities, and cannot be combined with other promotions.
2. In the event of early termination due to personal reasons, prepaid rent and utilities are non-refundable.
3. If there is a violation of the contract or circumstances deemed unsuitable for residing at BORDERLESS HOUSE, we reserve the right to terminate the contract immediately. We will refund the remaining rent for the period, but the tenant must reimburse the discounted amount during the promotional period.

Application Process

Form Submission ▶ Contact Staff ▶ Email Confirmation ▶ Contract Signing at the office and Payment (within 7 days)

*Please proactively reach out to us after submitting the form. Thank you!

Q&A

1. After applying, when is the earliest I can enjoy the rent discount?
The effective date for the prepayment discount is the 1st of each month, and the application process takes 3-5 business days (excluding the signing procedure). Please make sure to apply in advance to avoid delays.
2. Is it possible to request the relocation of the house or room in the future?
Yes, it is possible. The discount will be recalculated based on the duration of residence in the two rooms.
3. Can I apply for the prepayment discount with a one-year contract?
Yes, you can. The contract type and prepayment discount do not conflict.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. Thank you:)

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Regarding our policies in prevention of spreading of COVID-19

*In response to the “Response to COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) after the classification change” announced by the government effective May 8, 2023, the following measures are now in effect.

1. If a current resident becomes infected with a contagious disease such as the coronavirus or influenza, they will be required to self-isolate outside of Borderless House, such as in a hotel. This isolation period will be determined by the instructions of the hospital or public health center.

2. Regardless of the type of disease, if a current tenant needs to go out to common areas when he/she is not feeling well, he/she will be asked to wear a mask.

*Please refer to the following for the policy before May 7, 2023.

Borderless House is taking the following measures against Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) considering the safety and health of our Tenants, partner companies, staff, and their families.

The Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare of Japan has officially approved the change of the status of the new strain of COVID-19 under the Infectious Disease Control Law to “Class 5,” the same status as seasonal influenza, from May 8, 2023.

Due to the recent changes in the treatment of corona infectious diseases announced by the Japanese government on May 8 (Mon.), the following will be applied to our share house accommodation policy.

1. Those who have contracted an infectious disease, such as covid or influenza, will be quarantined in their rooms or in a hotel as instructed by the hospital or public health center.

If hotel quarantine is requested from Borderless House, we will charge the Tenant the rent according to the current contract. If the Tenant is quarantined in the house, please be considerate of others and do not use common spaces that are used by other residents.

2. In case the Tenant is infected, the Tenant must contact BORDERLESS HOUSE immediately.

3. Even if the Tenant is not infected, please wear a mask when the Tenant is not feeling well. In any case, avoid using common areas as much as possible.

4. After May 8, BORDERLESS HOUSE will not be responsible for disinfecting houses. For those concerned about infection, please note disinfection procedures will be done at the Tenant’s own expense.

5. As stated in the house regulations contract, we will only enter private rooms with the permission of the resident. Residents in shared rooms will receive only a notification in advance about the entry time and purpose.

However, in urgent circumstances (facilities maintenance included), we may enter both private and shared rooms with advance notification regardless of permission.

We would like to support our tenants to ensure their health and peace of mind at Borderless House.

Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

〖Tokyo office〗
Inquiry

〖Kansai office〗
Inquiry

※Regarding the management and operation policies of our company due to COVID-19, feel free to read this blog written by the president of BORDERLESS HOUSE, Seiichi Lee – For Tomorrow’s Bright Future with a New Year 2021 ~What BORDERLESS HOUSE can do~

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BORDERLESS MATES Program▏Mate’s Voice of BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY (Part.1)

Until now, over 100 Borderless Mates have registered to BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY program! In this blog article, we’d like to let you know more about this special program that is designed for our residents and help them connect with Borderless House Mates around the world by interviewing our resident!

 

What is BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY?

Borderless Mates not only have diverse nationalities and language abilities but also have a range of international experience in specialized careers and hobbies. Undoubtedly there are Borderless Mates around the world who have the same interests or areas of specialization. Through BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY, we would like to connect all these knowledgeable and passionate people with each other!

We imagine each Borderless Mate as a single book in the expansive Borderless Mates Library, which is comprised of both current and past residents.

Then let’s hear out the real voice from our resident, Ash about her experience of using BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY!

※Aboved pictures are Ashleigh meeting other Borderless Mates from different share houses in person after exchanging messages through Borderless Mates Library!

Tenant’s ‘Borderless Mates Library’ Story and Experience

Please introduce yourself first!

To quote my self-introduction on Borderless Mates Library, “G’day! I’m Ash and I was in Perth Australia until I moved to Japan… I love meeting new people, traveling, photography and I want to learn Korean, Chinese, and Spanish.” I have been living in Itabashi-kuyakushomae House since I moved here in March 2018 and am currently an English teacher at a bilingual kindergarten.

Why did you sign up for Borderless Mates Library?

Being in Borderless for over 3 years, I used to go to almost every event and was even the MC at the Borderless Olympics and Christmas Party in 2019. I loved that it created a community with members from other Borderless Houses and I was able to make friends living in different houses. Everyone has their own interesting background and we can create a connection from living in the same busy city. However, since the start of the pandemic, Borderless has been unable to run these events and I was unsure how to continue creating connections with other houses. Many of my foreign friends that lived in Borderless had to go home and I was left to my own devices to find more Borderless members. I was excited when Borderless announced its Borderless Mates Program. I thought that maybe it was a way to connect with people from other houses again and hopefully have inter-house parties in the future.

Could you please explain to us how it works?

Within the program, Borderless Mates Library peaked my interest the most, as you can post a profile and also look at other people’s profiles who have or are living in a Borderless House. Only those who have created a profile can send you a message because the site is password restricted. If you want to connect with someone after reading their profile, all you have to do is click “I want to contact this mate!” at the bottom of the page and it will lead you to a google form asking why you want to contact them and to write a message to them. The message is then moderated by Borderless Staff before being sent. As I read my profile again, it looks like I might have to update it, but at least that didn’t stop people from messaging me!

Making friends!

After making my profile soon after Mates Library started in September, I was eagerly waiting for someone to contact me. After a couple of months, someone finally reached out to me. I almost forgot that I had created a profile by this time, but was glad that Eiji, who had recently moved into Kikukawa 2. Being my first time to reply to a request, I used the template that Borderless adds to help me respond. Having our interests and hobbies written on our profiles made it easier to make a conversation and we soon exchanged Line IDs to arrange to meet up at a cafe. Being the first Mate to meet, I was nervous but excited! When we met, Eiji told me he was moving to Honancho!

What do you think is the best thing about joining Borderless Mates Program?

The great thing about the Borderless Mates Program is that you can sign up for multiple activities. During the Language Exchange in February, I had the chance to talk to Moe and so I was so glad to see that she reached out to me through Mates Library shortly after! Moe was moving into the same house as Eiji had moved to and she also contacted my housemate Dani, so we arranged for the four of us to get dinner together.

The most recent Mate to contact me is Shinjuku-Nakai member, Shun. Not many Australians are in Borderless right now because they decided to go home, so he reached out to me to make an Aussie friend. We have been hanging out a lot lately and he introduced me to his housemates. Eiji and I even made a small event and I asked Shun to invite his housemates, so we had people from different houses there. It was great to meet others who were interested in being involved in the Borderless community! What I love about this program is that you don’t form just one friend, but many.

※Image of BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY platform 

There are more interesting stories from Ash that we would like to share with you in our next article, please look forward to it!! 

About BORDERLESS MATES PROGRAM & How to join

Not just BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY, we also have LANGUAGE EXCHANGE that allows you to brush up your language skills while having fun chatting with other Borderless Mates via 1 on 1 language exchange online, and  CLUB ACTIVITIES to meet people who share common interests and hobbies as you, also BORDERLESS TRAVEL that helps you to meet locals, start an interesting journey! You can find more details from the webpage of BORDERLESS MATES PROGRAM!

Once you become our tenants, you can join and enjoy those programs for free!

We are now offering foreigners who are currently living in Japan a rent-free room for up to 2 months with 【Trial Stay Campaign】! 
This is a great opportunity to try out living in a shared house while enjoying the special program!

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Tokyo City Guide ▏Shinjuku・Nakano・Kichijoji Area

Without question, Shinjuku is the heart of Tokyo. With Shinjuku Station being the busiest railway station in the whole world, handling more than 2 million commuters per day, it pumps life into every corner of the Tokyo metropolitan area.
Being so closely connected with Shinjuku, the surrounding areas of Nakano and Kichijoji grew into very sought-after residential and development areas. With a combined population of over one million, these areas have developed a specific characteristic unique to each of these districts, whether it be the major commuting center of Shinjuku, the small but compact shopping streets of Nakano, or the peaceful and quiet neighborhood of Kichijoji.

Shinjuku

Access from Tokyo Station; 15 minutes via the Chuo Line.
Already a big highway hub during the samurai era, Shinjuku has become known globally for its extremely hectic, and efficient way of handling the 2 million travelers daily. From here, no matter where in Tokyo, and even Japan you want to travel to, you have many options to choose from. There are hubs for subways, long-distance trains, shinkansen, busses, and long-distance highway busses.

Outside the station, Shibuya has much to offer. The famous Kabukicho is Japan’s largest red light and nightlife area. While it is famous for having an extremely active and varied nightlife, it has been considered to be one of the slightly more risky areas in the otherwise safe country. Filled with tourists and locals, you will always find someone to grab a few drinks and talk to.

While here, take the time to admire the great skyscrapers just west of the station, and travel up to the free viewing platform on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building and bask in the beautiful view, night or day.

After exiting the extremely compact station, you can almost feel like you have entered another world when you reach the nearby Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. With over 20,000 trees and 58.3 hectares of pure serenity. Yearly, it hosts many celebrations and is a common meeting place for friends to gather for picnics and events.

International Share Houses in Shinjuku Area

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE SHINJUKU-CHUO1

Located in a walkable distance to Shinjuku station! When it comes to shopping, gourmet, living, and entertainment, there is nothing left to wish for. Around Shinjuku Station, a station with the world’s largest number of passengers per day, large department stores such as Isetan and Lumine and various leisure spots line side by side.

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE SHIN-OKUBO1

It’s a one-minute walk from this house to Shin-Okubo Station! It feels like traveling in Korea when walking around the neighborhood! And it feels like you’re studying abroad when you’re back home! 

Nakano

Access from Tokyo Station; 20 minutes via the Chuo Line.
A much smaller, but with much more character, Nakano is a more quiet and local part of central Tokyo. Great area when you want to have good access to the more active areas of Tokyo, but still have a peaceful place to return to after the day is done.

Much of the shopping and local life is centered around Nakano street and especially the Nakano Broadway shopping complex. A four-story shopping complex with each floor covering different needs for different people. The two top floors offer great anime, manga, and idol goods, both retro and modern. Floor one and two are focused on more daily life shopping, and most of the clothing and second-hand goods stores are found on these levels. On the basement floor, there are local markets that have goods like fruits, vegetables, and fresh meat, and fish!

Enjoy your off time at the Nakano central park area, with many local events and gatherings taking place here, with many students from the nearby Meiji University Nakano Campus, studying and socializing around their areas.

International Share Houses in Nakano Area

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE SHINJUKU-NAKANO1

Just one stop away from Shinjuku from JR Nakano station! The house is located on the north side of Nakano Station, where is a lively area where you’ll find a big shopping street bustling with customers. There are many restaurants, bars and izakaya where you can enjoy the nightlife in the neighborhood and great access to supermarkets for groceries/household goods.

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE SHINJUKU-NAKANO3

Easy access to Shinjuku by train within 4 min! This sharehouse is located in a quiet and safe residential area. You can easily find a convenience store, supermarket, and Japanese traditional public bath ‘Sento’! If you want to study in a quiet place, you can go to a public library in the neighborhood.

Kichijoji

Access from Tokyo Station; 30 minutes via the Chuo Line.
In polls taken by CNN GO, Kichijoji has been ranked the Nr 1 area people from Tokyo wish they lived in. One quick look at the spacious and serene streets, it’s easy to understand why. With all the convenience and practicality of the major districts, but without the super tall buildings blocking out the sky and constant sound, many have considered this an incredibly ideal place to live.

With the local Yodobashi Camera department store, a slew of local live music venues, and many independent restaurants and bars, even people from outside this district travel here just to wind down and walk along these relaxed streets.
Many young students travel here after school for studying and socializing, so it is a great chance to make local friends who often want to freshen up on their English and learn about foreign cultures.

And enjoy all the different, fantastic seasons at the breathtaking Inokashira park, where you can enjoy the cute Inokashira Zoo or join the annual events that take place here, like the Kichijoji Music Festival and Kichijoji Anime Wonderland!
And make sure to not forget to visit the Studio Ghibli Museum located inside this park as well.

International Share Houses in Kichijoji Area

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE KICHIJOJI1

Kichijoji is one of the highest-ranked cities for living in Japan! In the surrounding area and near Kichijoji station, you will find shops such as Loft, PARCO, and Yodobashi, as well as many fashionable cafes and restaurants. On your walk home from the station you can get all your shopping done and grab a bite to eat! Here also provides convenient access to Shinjuku, which is 15 minutes away on the Chuo Line, and to Shibuya, which is only 16 minutes away on the Keio Inokashira Line.

Trial Stay at Borderless House with RENT-FREE!!

Are you looking for…
a room on a limited budget or a place to stay temporarily only for the short term?

Do you want to…
make local Japanese friends or put yourself in a new environment where you can practice Japanese every day?

Then you should check out this TRIAL STAY campaign that is offered by BORDERLESS HOUSE! You can enjoy a RENT-FREE stay for up to 2 months at an international share house!!

 

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Tokyo City Guide ▏Akasaka･Roppongi･Iidabashi Area

While it is always more exciting to explore and find things on your own, it can be just as fun (and more time-saving) to have a guide to give you a hint of what can be found in those areas! Especially if you are going to spend a long time there, it might be valuable to have some prior insight. Let us look at the different areas where Borderless house has share houses, to make the decision of moving there, or just to visit these areas on your own, just a little bit easier!

Akasaka･Roppongi･Iidabashi Area

If the variation is a high priority, these three areas are a perfect match.
With Akasaka being a cultural paradise and close to the political heart of Tokyo, Roppongi being Tokyo’s biggest nightlife district, and Iidabashi being so close to Tokyo’s most well-known and biggest baseball stadium in Japan, this area of Tokyo has something for everyone.

Akasaka
Access from Tokyo Station; 7 minutes via the Chiyoda line.
With a population of roughly 17,600 residents, Akasaka is both a vast variety of political, industrial, and cultural hotspots.
Some of its high points include;
The Suntory Hall; A concert hall that has hosted famous musicians and singers from all across the world. Suntory also hosts the Suntory Museum of Art
A neighbor with Nagatacho, where the Japanese diet building and the prime minister’s office are located.
And in its center lies the Tokyo Midtown area. A vast shopping area with many cafes, shops, and fashion hubs.

Roppongi
Access from Tokyo Station; Roughly 9 minutes via the Chiyoda and Hibiya line,
While considered Tokyo’s biggest nightlife district, with an endless amount of clubs and bars, it is home to the famous Roppongi Hills, a commercial mega-complex, that have spread the name internationally. With its most famous landmark, the Mori tower, 57 stories tall, it hosts everything from restaurants, clinics, shopping malls, and even whole museums. It also has offices belonging to giant corporations like Lenovo, Google, Konami, and even the headquarters of The Pokemon Company.

Iidabashi
Access from Tokyo Station; 5 minutes via the Tozai line.
With just a population of roughly 3000 (2009 estimates), it is a much more isolated and calm part of Central Tokyo. It has a small but cute selection of Bars, restaurants, and cafes located inside its borders.
Just north of Iidabashi, you can find the Tokyo Dome, the world’s largest roofed baseball stadium, that can host roughly 45,000 visitors.
Just south of it, you can find the Tokyo Science Museum, and the Nippon Budokan, which hosts giant events of Kendo, Judo, Sumo, and much more.

International Share Houses in Akasaka ･ Roppongi ･ Iidabashi Area

BORDERLESS HOUSE ROPPONGI1

◆Close to Roppongi Hills and Tokyo Midtown! Great access to Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ginza and even within walking distance to Aoyama-Ichome! You will enjoy both Japanese and international atmosphere here!◆

【About ROPPONGI1 area】
In Roppongi, you will find Tokyo’s most exciting art and design museums, luxury shopping malls and stores, also a range of exciting fashion, design, and gourmet boutiques! Tokyo Midtown, a large-scale commercial complex is filled with all kinds of stores, from local shops to famous brands as well as art museums, restaurants, supermarkets, delis, and bakeries, you can find EVERYTHING here!! You will always have so many things to explore and so many things to do here, from shopping, going to movies, checking out art, having an afternoon tea with friends, visiting bars and nightclubs during the weekend, and a whole lot more!

【About ROPPONGI1 Share House】
ROPPONGI1 Share House has 14 private rooms and one shared room, so total 16 people from all over the world living in this multicultural and multilingual share house! It has a large living room where people can gather together and build a good community! Our share houses are fully furnished with nice facilities and equipment. 
▶Check More Details of Roppongi House◀

BORDERLESS HOUSE KASUGA1

Nearby Kasuga station offers access to the Toei Mita Line as well as the Oedo Line. Also not too far from the house is Korakuen Station which provides access to 4 different lines, including the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line and the Namboku Line. With so many transportation options, you will be able to reach almost all major stations throughout Tokyo with no problem. For example, Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Ikebukuro are all within 20 minutes by train.

Kasuga is a town that has its own unique atmosphere depending on your location, specifically when comparing east vs. west Kasuga. The eastern side is a quiet residential area with many historic buildings and sights. The western side, where our Kasuga1 sharehouse is located, is in a bustling area with many shopping streets and restaurants. Tokyo Dome City is also within reach which gives you the opportunity to watch sports, attend concerts, go shopping, and even enjoy a day at the amusement park! Taking advantage of all these opportunities together with your housemates will make for a day well spent! 
▶Check More Details of Kasuga House◀

BORDERLESS HOUSE IIDABASHI1

【The convenience of commuting to work or school is one of the best!】
● Iidabashi House with a retro look features a large living room!
Perfect for movie nights and parties with friends.
● The nearest stations are Iidabashi Station and Korakuen Station, with excellent transportation access to a total of 6 lines.
You can get to Shinjuku and Ikebukuro in about 10 minutes, so it’s a great location for commuting to school!
● In the Iidabashi area, there are not only cool cafes and restaurants, but also many spots where you can enjoy the beautiful nature, such as the Imperial Palace Sotobori where you can enjoy the colors of cherry blossoms in spring and some touristy shrines and gardens!
▶Check More Details of Iidabashi House◀

Trial Stay at Borderless House with up to 2 months RENT-FREE!!

“BORDERLESS HOUSE Free Trial Stay Campaign” allows foreigners who are currently living in Japan to stay at Borderless House for FREE as a trial! You can stay at Borderless House for up to 2 months without paying rent! If you just want to stay for only one month is also no problem!

This is a great chance for you to stay safe at home in a new environment with many wonderful Japanese housemates! You can also brush up your Japanese language skills by listening and speaking in Japanese on a daily basis!
Make your Japanese learning experiences reach beyond the textbook!

★★★Feel free to check our Campaign Page for further details★★★
https://www.borderless-house.com/jp/blog/tokyo-20210601/

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Introduction to Kansai Area, Japan ▏Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe

Back in the days when Tokyo was called Edo and the nation was still un-unified, the Kansai region was where all the economic, technological, diplomatic, industrial, and cultural development happened. Whether it be the imperial court at Kyoto or the main trading ports at Osaka and Kobe, Japan truly started in these regions and still holds massive importance in Japanese, and even Asian, culture, even after almost 2,000 years.

After Tokyo, these are the most popular tourist, developing, and economical areas in Japan. Therefore, many cultural locations, universities, and global companies reside here. With easy access to transportation and their close vicinity to each other, it is common for both locals and tourists to commute between these cities on a daily basis.

Osaka

Starting at its center around Osaka – Umeda Station, you will leave the station and be taken aback by the glorious and grand skyscrapers surrounding it. A great way to start getting familiar with the city is to visit the Umeda Sky Building and view the city from its 170m high viewing platform. Around the station, you can find many different shopping areas, many of them to the east. Like the Hankyu-east shopping street, Izuma-no-Hiroba, the Tenjinbashisuji shopping street, or the Dotonbori, with the famous running man sign, further south!

Hosting both the Osaka international airport and the Kansai international airport, while also having great long-distance shinkansen trains and highway busses, Osaka is in a fantastic location for further travels inside the country. With many low-cost flights, you can take trips wherever and whenever you want.
Culturally, Osaka hosts many memorable locations. Osaka castle, once the largest and grandest castle in the country, lies just a few minutes away from Umeda.

And on one of the artificial islands on the west part of the city, lies the Universal Studios Japan park! Directly connected with its own train station, it is a perfect destination for all movie fans. Take time to also enjoy its more peaceful locations, like a picnic in the tranquil Ryokuchi park, or walk along the green and great Yodo river!

【Borderless House in Osaka】

➤BORDERLESS HOUSE OSAKA-BENTENCHO 
➤BORDERLESS HOUSE OSAKA-TOYONAKA1
➤BORDERLESS HOUSE OSAKA-TSURUHASHI1
➤BORDERLESS HOUSE OSAKA-TAMATSUKURI

Kyoto

For over 1,000 years, Kyoto has been the capital of Japan. Having been so vital to the culture and politics, it has been spared from a lot of the damage and degradation other modern cities have. Because of this, many shrines, temples, and other structures are hundreds of years old but still kept fresh and clean.
Around Kyoto station, there are various clothing stores and shopping malls, especially around the Kyoto tower. Outside of that, there are small shopping streets scattered all over the city, like the Teramachi shopping district accessible via subway or bus.

In this city lies some of Japan’s most historically famous locations. Here lies the famous Kinkaku-Ji, The golden pavilion, the Kyoto imperial palace; home of the emperor for centuries, Senbon Torii; the thousand Torii Gate, Heian Shrine; build to celebrate the cities 1100th birthday, and the great Kiyomizu-Dera; a great temple complex with its famous wooden balcony. Nearby to Kiyomizu-Dera, you can also find the Sanneizaka and Nineizaka area. This entire area is built to look like old samurai-era buildings, and many of them are still the same ones from that period.

But that does not mean all in Kyoto are historical buildings and shrines. For non-historical scenery, there is the Arashiyama Bamboo forest; a stunning walking path in the middle of a bamboo forest, and the nearby Arashiyama monkey park as well! The local Kyoto city zoo, Funaokayama Park, with peaceful zen-like isolation, the Toei Kyoto studio park; home of so many old samurai era films, with many performances made by local samurai! Or take a lovely relaxing stroll along the great Kamo River, an especially beautiful location during sunny summer days.

【Borderless House in Kyoto】

➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KYOTO-HANAZONO1
➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KYOTO-KINUGASA
➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KYOTO-NISHIJIN
➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KYOTO-SAIIN1
➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KYOTO-SAIIN2
➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KYOTO-KAMIGAMO
➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KYOTO-KURAMAGUCHI

Kobe

Home of the world-renowned Kobe beef and the 7th largest city in Japan, Kobe has, among Osaka, being the two most historically important ports in Japan. During the Meiji period, Kobe became one of the biggest ports for western industrial and economical research, so even today, Kobe has a visible mix of Japanese and western architecture in many of its districts. Especially in the Kitano area, which used to hold the foreign diplomats and merchants. Many of Japan’s industrial powerhouses lie here as well. Companies like Kobe Steel, Kawasaki Shipbuilding, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

While being an industrial city, there are many benefits to living here. From its harbor, there are many short-distance ferry rides and several cruise lines going all over Japan and Asia. Take a relaxing boat trip over a weekend to places like Kyushu, Hokkaido, or even to other countries like Taiwan and South Korea! Also accessible, is the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, which leads to the great island of Honshu.

Some of the local hotspots among locals and tourists are the Arima onsen, a historical hot spring resort that is still considered one of the best hot springs in western Japan, and the breathtaking Nunobiki Herb Garden, which lies high up the mountains, so whether you want to view the city night lights, or see as far away as Osaka during the day, this is a fantastic option for a relaxing trip.

【Borderless House in Kobe】

➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KOBE-MOTOMACHI1

With these areas being so varied and grand, it is difficult to mention or guide anyone to all their unique locations. But hopefully, this guide has given some more clarity over what each area has to offer. Since all these three areas are great tourist locations and often deal with global industries, Using only English is not such a big hindrance as it is in many other Japanese cities. Ask locals or any information desk in these areas and they will likely have a huge array of guides and tips for any first-timers around!
Enjoy, and stay safe!

★Enjoy RENT-FREE for some of the houses in Kansai Area with Summer Free Trial Stay Campaign★

Borderless House just launched a “Summer Free Trial Stay Campaign” that allows foreigners who are currently living in Japan to stay at Borderless House for FREE as a trial! You can stay at Borderless House for up to 2 months without paying rent! If you just want to stay for only one month is also no problem!

Because we hope to have more foreigners experience international share houses in Japan and create more international exchange opportunities for all our tenants in our share houses! Especially during the pandemic, having a social life and meeting new friends is difficult now.

This is a great chance for you to stay safe at home in a new environment with many wonderful Japanese housemates! You can also brush up your Japanese language skills by listening and speaking in Japanese on a daily basis!
Make your Japanese learning experiences reach beyond the textbook!

★★★Feel free to check our Campaign Page for further details★★★
https://www.borderless-house.com/jp/blog/tokyo-20210601/

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BORDERLESS HOUSE ▏Rooms, Locations, and Reservation Steps

At BORDERLESS HOUSE, we promote community building this is why our common areas are specially designed for a large crowd to sit together and chat or just chill. The common space has been arranged keeping in mind increased interaction possibilities. Housemates can take advantage of these characteristic layouts with wide-open spaces by spending time with their new international friends. Tenants do not have a refrigerator or TV in their rooms. We provide two types of living arrangements, shared rooms for the ones who do not mind living in a shared room and private rooms for the ones who like to have privacy.

Shared Rooms: Shared rooms increase the interaction between international mates. They have a better possibility of building a good friendship with other housemates.

Private Rooms: Private rooms offer privacy after a long interaction with other housemates. It is good for students and employees who need privacy to focus on their work or studies. Tenants can have their personal space when they are finally in their rooms.
All our rooms are fully furnished. Tenants only need to bring their suitcases and they are ready to move in. Both private and shared rooms have separate working/study areas where tenants can focus on their work/study.

Locations of BORDERLESS HOUSE

Even though all BORDERLESS HOUSE locations are good, tenants have their preferences. This location guide will help them in figuring out a BORDERLESS HOUSE location that is suitable for them.

Tokyo Locations

● Ikebukuro: Besides Shinjuku and Shibuya, Ikebukuro is the busiest area of Tokyo. This means you will see the Japanese life happening around you if you live in this area. Ikebukuro is in the top 10 list of places where people want to live in Tokyo.

● Shibuya, Harajuku, Shimokitazawa: All these three locations have large department stores like Shibuya 109 near them along with entertainment facilities. These are good living options for youth.

● Shinjuku, Nakano, Kichijoji: These locations are situated between urbanity and greenery. With greenery, just a few steps away from the tenants at these location’s BORDERLESS HOUSE will have a comparatively peaceful living experience. These are soothing and calming living locations good for those who do not want to live near the busy streets of Tokyo.

● Shinagawa, Meguro, Ebisu: Shinagawa BORDERLESS HOUSE is situated at a location from where both Haneda and Narita Airports are closer. A large crowd thinks that this location is only good for people living for business purposes but the location is also famous for bayside and rich in greenery.

● Ueno, Asakusa, Akihabara: These are the locations where the old meets the new. Ueno has one of the leading train stations in Japan because a large sightseeing spot is near the train station. Tourist attractions like Ueno park, museums, art galleries, and the zoo is near these locations.

● Akasaka, Roppongi, Iidabashi: These are the locations popular among business people. Foreign companies have made these areas cosmopolitan with many shops and pubs aimed at foreigners.

Kansai Locations

● Osaka: Osaka is a city filled with warm people. The people here are so nice that it has been called ‘the city of humanity’ for a long time. It is also called ‘the city of comedy’ for other reasons as well.

● Kyoto: Kyoto is a large tourist attraction with several world heritage sites, shrines, historical temples, and beautiful nature every season.

● Kobe: Kobe is a very convenient and affordable place to live. You will not face any issues while living in Kobe.

SUMMER TRIAL STAY at BORDERLESS HOUSE★Enjoy Free Accommodation

Borderless House just launched a “Summer Free Trial Stay Campaign” that allows foreigners who are currently living in Japan to stay at Borderless House for FREE as a trial!

You can stay at Borderless House for up to 2 months without paying rent!
If you just want to stay for only one month is also no problem!

Because we hope to have more foreigners experience international share houses in Japan and create more international exchange opportunities for all our tenants in our share houses! Especially during the pandemic, having a social life and meeting new friends is difficult now.

This is a great chance for you to stay safe at home in a new environment with many wonderful Japanese housemates! You can also brush up your Japanese language skills by listening and speaking in Japanese on a daily basis!
Make your Japanese learning experiences reach beyond the textbook!

★★★Feel free to check our Campaign Page for further details★★★
https://www.borderless-house.com/jp/blog/tokyo-20210601/

How to Reserve Your Seat at BORDERLESS HOUSE

  • Reservation Form: Residents first need to choose a house of their requirement then fill a reservation form available on the website. Candidates can also reach out to BORDERLESS HOUSE staff to help them pick a house and location. You only need to tell them your preferences.

  • Call: After receiving the reservation form, we will arrange a call to confirm your booking details. Over the call, we will give you a detailed description of the house and answer all your queries. You can get your doubts clear over the call.

  • Payment: After confirming all details over the call you will get instructions to do payment and upload your document. We only need your ID proof. You can do the payment via credit card or bank transfer, we are flexible with both.

  • Reserved: Once we receive the payment and ID, Voila! your house is now reserved. Soon after reservation, you can start packing for your trip to Japan. You can move into BORDERLESS HOUSE right after if you like.

    This was everything you probably needed to know before considering a BORDERLESS HOUSE as a living option. A BORDERLESS HOUSE is for people who like to live in a community while sharing and receiving knowledge. BORDERLESS HOUSE mates keep you company when you feel alone in an entirely new country. The Japanese residents tell you their ways of living making you comfortable around other Japanese people. We grow together as a community without leaving any housemates behind. The more we share, the more we have.

 

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Where to Stay in Japan? Accommodation option – BORDERLESS HOUSE

Visiting Japan for a few months but do not know where to live? Yes, a hostel is a general option but is it a good choice for a long visit? Hostels only provide you with one room. That one room is the only place where you can be if not outside. And if you chose the one with a bigger space, such as an apartment that includes a living room, it will be considerably expensive.

In a BORDERLESS HOUSE, you have the option of both private and shared rooms. There is a common area where you can interact with other housemates. And every room has some personal space for tenants in the shared room too. BORDERLESS HOUSE is fully furnished with basic necessities.

Moreover, we have the following advantages where you can not gain if you stay somewhere else!

Staff Support

Whenever BORDERLESS HOUSE residents face troubles of any kind, its staff is at their service. The staff teaches them everything from cleaning equipment to fixing the internet connection. The staff also helps residents with relationship building during times of conflict.

At a new place, you find new tools and technologies. You do not always know their working process. If any residents face issues with anything staff helps them. It includes teaching them how to run a washing machine and helping them fix the internet when it’s slow or not working at all, etc.

Solving issues together

When people from different backgrounds live together, sometimes there will be conflicts no matter how well they get along. The issues can be based on different living habits, housework, personal or cultural differences. Sometimes tenants also face conflicts with their neighbors, such as noise issues, etc. In these scenarios, BORDERLESS HOUSE staff encourage residents to communicate with each other and help to arrange house meetings to resolve the conflict together along with the residents. The staff will always be there listening to the residents, get to the bottom of the conflict, and help tenants resolve them.

All the support you need 

When you land in Japan you might have some knowledge if you did research in advance. But this internet knowledge does not come in that much hand. Yes, it will give you tips about where to eat and what to see but it can never help you when you are planning to live in Japan for a long time. BORDERLESS HOUSE staff helps you with everything you might need from the day you land in Japan till the day you leave. If you need to find a job, if you want to learn the basic knowledge of living in Japan or if you are worried about when you get sick, Borderless staff is there to help you with everything. We are not only providing a place to live, but we are also helping youngsters setting up their new lives at a new place.

How to Make Your Stay More Fun at BORDERLESS HOUSE

There are four special programs available for BORDERLESS HOUSE mates to connect with each other. All these activities allow residents to connect with more than 10,000 residents and share their experiences with each other.

Borderless Mates Library

Living in a BORDERLESS HOUSE feels like living in your own personal library with exciting new neverending books. You will be at a great exposure which will allow you to learn new exciting things. Borderless mates from Japan, Taiwan, and Korea who are willing to share and make friends from all over the world all gathering here! We hope you will find the person that you want to connect with and share your knowledge, experiences, interests, skills, or specialties with each other!

Borderless Mates not only have diverse nationalities and language abilities but also have a range of international experience in specialized careers and hobbies. Undoubtedly there are Borderless Mates around the world who have the same interests or areas of specialization. It would be wonderful if we could connect these Borderless House Mates around the world!

There are many topics and interests that we can find in common!!
People should take advantage of every possible chance to be active in their fields of expertise or interest, even across geographical borders. The more common points shared between two people, the more intimate and deep the conversations and exchanges can be. Through BORDERLESS MATES LIBRARY, forging a deeper and more meaningful interaction with the Borderless House community, you will be able to gain valuable experiences and your global mindset will certainly grow stronger!

You can connect with other residents online living at other BORDERLESS HOUSE through this program and learn new things from each other!

Language Exchange

LANGUAGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM is an online service that allows you to brush up your language skills while having fun chatting with other Borderless Mates from different countries and making friends!

With various people from various countries, you can learn various languages from all over the world. The small chats will not at nothing by the end of your visit to a BORDERLESS HOUSE. You will have a working knowledge of a different language if you practice a little every day. 

Club Activities

Based on common hobbies, a community program – Club Activities that bring everyone together! These activities will help you connect with people who share the same interest! 

You can enjoy offline activities, online activities that you can participate in anywhere, and regular offline events hosted by Borderless House.

Borderless Travel

Taking small trips to explore the country better? Well, no worries your BORDERLESS HOUSE mates have your back. You can stay for free at the overseas Borderless House in the place where you are traveling by using Borderless Travel Program! Take trips together and explore areas while enjoying every second of your trip with local housemates!

※Borderless Travel is scheduled to start after the travel restrictions lifted due to COVID-19

 

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Cultural Exchange ▏ There is More Power in Unity than Division

In recent years, it feels like it can’t go one week without hearing about racist remarks or attacks in the global news. In America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia there have been incidents against the minority groups of all these areas of the world.

Those people get judged by their heritage and color, and not their actions. It cannot be described as anything other than saddening and heartbreaking. But while fear and hate of the new and unknown have always been part of human society, we must not let fear get the better of us. Humanity is beautiful and sharing our cultures with each other, makes us a better species.

And as of the 21st Century, we have never been more globally diverse and culturally open-minded. Never before has it been so easy to share, discuss, see and experience culture and traditions as it is right now. During my one year in Japan, I discussed politics with an American, relationships with a Frenchmen, how to properly cook food with an Italian, (I learned to never mention ketchup in such conversations), shared a warm hug with an Irishman, climbed mountains with a Swizz and made friendly fun of one another with my Scandinavian neighbors. And that is not mentioning how every day I learn new and breathtaking things about the Japanese culture, witnessing how their daily life and traditions were worlds apart from my own.

The point is, cultural exchange is a fantastic and precious thing we should cherish. While cultural appropriation has become a little controversial, one should never say no to learn more, to ask more questions, and to understand. Every culture has had hundreds, if not thousands, of years of history. Their traditions are as normal in their eyes, as yours is in your own. We are all in this life together.
So let’s share about our differences and similarities!

What can you do to take part in sharing and experiencing the varied fruit baskets of worldly cultures?

Ways to get a perspective and a small taste of other cultures are almost endless. Every year people travel abroad on vacations to get away from their own daily lives back at home. Enjoying new foods, drinks, and nature. But you can only experience so much while living in a hotel, drinking a pina colada at the beach or pool. And very often, tourist destinations are not a good window into the lives of the population as a whole. The same goes for media like movies and television. Arts like these can give a good hint of what the culture can be like, but while not necessarily a lie, rarely portray a realistic view of what actual life is like. Things like anime, Korean dramas, and Hollywood are good examples of this. Although it is a decent supplement when you are unable to travel abroad.

It goes without saying, that the greatest of options is visiting the country, to socialize and observe the population. How do they celebrate things like birthdays, marriage, or the birth of a newborn? How do they mourn the loss of a loved one? How do they feel about foreign cultures? What does their home-cooked food taste like? How do they like to celebrate weekends? How much does a beer cost? What political topics do they often discuss amongst each other? These are all things you can’t truly learn without being there and living amongst them.

Exciting Ways to Experience Local Culture

That is why so many choose to study abroad in countries they love. They get to learn the subject they are interested in and get to live and breathe side by side with the people of that country.

Spending some time living in the home of a local friend, staying with a host family, or living in a share house, are all perfect ways to get hands-on experience. So many people who choose to study or move abroad take the opportunity to live in one of these options. While living with a host family is amazing and you get taken well cared of, the difference in age groups can become apparent after a while. That’s why share houses have become so big in recent years. You get to live semi-independently while at the same time share living spaces with locals, or in cases like Borderless House’s International share houses, a balanced mix between foreign tenants and locals.

Stories of people cooking different ethnic dishes to each other every week, celebrating local and foreign Holidays together, sharing memories and experiences from their hometowns, traveling and exploring together to learn what lies beyond the crowded tourist locations, creating strong friendships with people that while having different cultural and religious values, still connect with you. To make friends and be happy, it is important to love each other’s similarities, while also respecting our differences, even if we don’t agree with everything.

Start to experience different cultures!!

So when this pandemic is over, take a chance. Go somewhere you have not been before. Try the foods you have never eaten. Find a stranger and talk to them. Travel abroad and ask them to show you what life actually is like there. Buy someone a drink and ask them to tell you about themselves. In my experience, this gives the most real and pleasant view of someone’s culture and life. And might even make you appreciate or improve your own life, after being inspired by someone else’s stories.

As my childhood hero once said:
“Sharing tea with a fascinating stranger is one of life’s true delights”
—–Uncle Iroh

Stay safe everyone 🙂