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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 🙂

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【Quarantine Experience】Tenant’s Review of Government Facility (2)

What do you expect when you do quarantine at Government facility?
We are again sharing how our tenant did before and you can check how she thought about the facility managed by Korean government below.

We hope you would enjoy the rest of her stories!
If you miss the first her story, please check our first update for her!

Quality of Government Facility

I was very pleased with the facility. I stayed at Hotel and the room was clean with various amenities that I would need during my 14 days. There was also a pack provided with information regarding the quarantine process, a thermometer to record our body temperature, face masks and other items. Before coming to Korea, I read that I should be prepared to pay anything between $1400 – $2100 USD for the accommodation and luckily my total was in the lower spectrum; roughly $1500 USD. Meals are provided 3 times a day and staff members make announcements through speakers in the room when the meal has been delivered in front of your room door. The meals are nutritious and mostly include rice, a meat dish, several vegetable side dishes, fruit and soup. I definitely found the meals tasty and filling. Sometimes they give ramen along with the dinner if you get hungry later. There are waste bags provided to put all your rubbish in and you are advised to leave it outside your room after lunch everyday. This way, you don’t have to worry about food waste smells in the room. If there are any other items you may need such as tea/coffee, water, toilet tissue etc, you can call the front desk and they would send them up to your room. On top of recording your temperature on the app every morning and night, the nurses also came every afternoon to do temperature checks.

Personal tips or recommendations 

the people staying at the government facilities also do the test 2 times during quarantine. Nurses came to my room on the morning of Day 2 to do the PCR test and I will have one more test done on the morning of Day 13.

the hotel has provided me with a form to fill out to let them know what my preferred means of transport will be. If I choose for someone to pick me up from the hotel, they can either come just before midnight on the day before I am allowed to leave or 6:00am on the release date. A shuttle service can also be accessed and the two destinations offered are Seoul Express Bus Terminal and Seoul Station. From there it is up to you how you travel to your final destination. These are the options for the particular hotel that I am staying at and may be different depending on which government facility you will be taken to.

Some tips I have include possibly moving furniture in the room to make it more spacious. In my case, my room had an additional bed and its positioning made the space a little tight. Once I moved the bed to a side, the room definitely felt a lot less cramped. Of course remember to move things back to their original place before you leave. I would also suggest bringing snacks if you have a sweet tooth. I have heard some other facilities provide a lot of snacks but at the facility which I am staying at, they mostly stick to the healthy fruit. For me, the meals were more than enough to satisfy my appetite (I still have lots of ramen, juice and yogurt stocked up) but others may not feel the same. In that case, it would be good to bring preserved food like canned tuna, ramen etc. As I drink a lot of tea and coffee, I made sure to bring a lot with me, just in case the hotel did not provide it, and I also brought long life milk that I was able to stick in the fridge as soon as I opened the carton. Although thinking about how to pass the time may be one of the first things people think of, I would just like to stress again to make sure you have plenty to keep yourself occupied. Whether that is bringing your electronics to watch netflix all day or bringing textbooks to study a language, I think it’s really important to have plenty to do to avoid boredom. Establishing a rough routine could be helpful; I know it has worked for me and days pass a lot quicker which is a shame because I do find quarantining rather comfortable.

We have a lot of the other tenant’s experience which we have not uploaded yet.
However, all updates we have shared are enough to help your plan coming to Korea. If you do not really know well even you check this all, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are always ready for your inquries.

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【Quarantine Experience】Tenant’s Review of Government Facility (1)

If you plan to visit Korea for a short term stay less than 90 days,
this blog helps you do understand and prepare what you need for future plan .

As we many times share about quarantine experiences , please check this all in detail if you do not have a specific visa and come to Korea for just a trip . 

One of our tenant who just was done her quarantine at Government facility shared how she made for 14 days in Korea!

How she got quarantine info before coming

I was aware of the quarantine rules in Korea. I did a lot of research on quarantining before coming and my friends who were already in Korea also shared their experiences with me. I found out that long term visitors were given the option between sourcing their own appropriate accommodation to quarantine in or quarantining in a government facility. However, for short term visitors it is mandatory to stay in a government facility. Most of the information I found was either from the Korean embassy website or YouTube videos.

Procedures after arriving at Incheon airport

When I arrived at the airport, there was not much information provided. At various stages of going through immigration security, I was handed different pieces of paper stating that I will be going into mandatory quarantine for 14 days but I was not told exactly where I would be quarantining. I ‘m sure if I had asked someone, they would have been able to give me some more information but I simply went with the flow and trusted the process that I would eventually get where I was supposed to be . While waiting to be boarded into a bus going to our quarantine facility , I overheard an airport worker mentioning the name of the hotel we were going to and I was able to look it up briefly before arriving at the hotel .

To give you more details on arrival date ,
When I got off the plane, there were around 5 stations of processing which I needed to go through. At the first station, the airport staff checked my passport, my negative PCR test and took some of the documents which I had to fill out while I was on the plane. At the second station, the staff called my Korean contact to verify that they knew me and then they helped me install an app to upload my temperature and symptoms if any were to arise. the third station was the standard border security where they took my fingerprints and picture. They checked if I had a visa but as I have a British passport, I was allowed to enter the country without a visa. They gave me a lanyard with a red card which signified that I did not have a visa and that I would be staying at a government quarantine facility. At the fourth station,they took my fingerprints and photo again and verified my purpose for travelling. They then gave me 2 papers which were official notices of my quarantine period. At that point, I was able to collect my luggage and begin to exit the airport. As I came out to the area where people are greeted by their family and friends, airport staff noticed my red card and guided me to the final station where they checked my passport again, wrote down my details and advised me to wait until I am called to board the bus. the bus journey took about 20 mins to arrive at the hotel. At the hotel, the staff made sure everyone had the correct app downloaded and we filled out a form to state if we had any ongoing medical conditions or any special food requests ( eg vegetarian food, Halal food etc). After handing in that form,I paid for my stay and finally got to go to the room.

Not only tenant’s review who used Borderless Quarantine Support,
But Borderless House Seoul would like to share all kinds of experiences which are really helpful for those planning the quarantine in Korea.

We next time would share how Government facility is nice and well organized.
Thank you for your interest and time. Meet you again and Stay safe!

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Study in Japan ▏How to choose a Japanese language school?

To learn a language on your own, and to learn it by having to use it every single day in the lands it has been forged in, is as different as night and day. Or more fitting with our beloved country in the east, like kanji and katakana.

Going to Japan and learning a wholly unique language like Japanese, can have many deep-rooted goals and inspirations for the future. Whether it is about joining a global super conglomerate with branching offices scattered all across the world, wanting to dive deeper into the isolated but rich history of samurai, shoguns, Daimyos, and Emperors, wishing to learn the engineering secrets behind the state of the art robotics, or earthquake-proof skyscrapers, dreaming to visit the Inspiration behind your childhood animes.

There is no “one right” answer to learn Japanese. Japan has so much to offer no matter what your reasons for visiting are. Be it Pop culture, Technology, Music, Cinema, History, Nature, or Linguistics. Many of you might initially come for one reason, but decide to stay for an entirely new one! And to truly know a place and its people, you need to be able to communicate with them, and English won’t cut it.

That is why joining a Japanese Language school is such a fantastic option. There, you will learn Japanese and only Japanese, from day one. And though it might sound scary at first, they do it in an incredible way where you feel your satisfying progression from the first minute you enter the school.
And I will try to help you think about what you might want to consider and look into before you start looking into the Study abroad agencies in your country, to make the process easier.

Some of the biggest factors in my decision-making were the following: location, what was my purpose for studying? culture, socializing, or is it academic? learning style/speed and how big is the size of the classes?

Let’s try to go through these things and get some ideas of what you would prefer.

Where Do You Want to Study?

Location is a very important part of the selection process. If you are going to dedicate a lot of time and resources to go somewhere, making sure it’s somewhere you will enjoy, is always a great investment.

With Japan being a country of roughly 378 square kilometers, you can find anything from the snowy plains of Hokkaido, sprawling mountain ranges of Nagano, Buzzing city-life of Tokyo and Osaka, open fields of Sendai, to the almost tropical climate of Okinawa and Kyushu.

While many choose the language school based on the city they plan to eventually go to university or work in, many also choose it based on aspects like climate, population, attractions, pastime activities, the accessibility to travel to other locations from that city, or even that the environment is closer to what you are used to from back at home.

We all know the colorful and bright views of Shibuya, Shinjuku, and Akihabara. Central Tokyo is a perfect location for those who love an endless amount of activities, technology, life, and opportunities to find connections and work. But what outside of Tokyo have Japan to offer?

While all the big cities will give you a similar big city lifestyle, filled with bars, restaurants, museums, shopping malls, and arcades, every city in Japan has its own unique style and tradition. My experience in Fukuoka, for example, was completely different from my friend’s in Osaka. So why not read up about what the different famous cities in Japan can offer?!

Kyoto, the old capital filled to the brim with history, Fukuoka, home of the Yamakasa festival, Hakata ramen, and for all fans of K-pop, a short boat trip away from South Korea, Sapporo, a more rural city that turns into a snowy wonderland during the winter. There is a city for everyone!

The point is since many of these cities often have many different options of Japanese language schools, you might as well go somewhere you feel that your soul is more drawn towards!

How Do You Want to Study?

Well then, what about the school and the studies themselves?
The most common terms used for the two different teaching styles are Asian style and Western-style. Because Many foreign students living in Japan are from China and Korea, their own language is so similar to Japanese, they can skip much of the basics and go at a faster pace and much more focus on Kanji and difficult vocabulary.

While for Western Languages, so far distant from Asian, are too different to give us an advantage. So westerners often have to start from the ground level and work up at a more gradual speed. And many go to Japan and learn without the direct intent to reach academic levels. Therefore they study at a much more casual rate. That’s where the terms Asian Style, and Western Style originates.
Western Styled schools also tend to have smaller classes. They roughly aim for a maximum of 8-10 students per class. This makes it easier for the students to interact with the teacher and each other. Because of this, there is very little confusion, since you can always make your question heard, either to the teacher or ask for tips from the ones sitting next to you.

It is important to know what your end goal with your studies will be. Is your goal to push hard and enter the university or business level Japanese and know all the Kanji’s needed to fully understand any task or information given to you? Or do you wish for a slower speed, but with more focus on the daily life of Japanese and culture? Focus more on making friends than business opportunities?

So it’s up to you if you feel like you prefer a slower, but more personal and social study experience, or if you want to focus on reaching your goal as efficiently and fast as possible.

Where Do You Want to Live?

Another topic worth taking some time to think about would be accommodations. Of course, the Agency or school you have contact with will help you organize everything. But ask yourself what type of accommodation you want, will help you immensely.

And since many travels to Japan to learn the culture and people, living by yourself in an apartment will start to feel a bit isolated. That is why options like International Share Houses are great alternatives. You will both get to live and interact with Japanese people every single day, cooking traditional food together, being able to practice Japanese daily, and making friends for life. In addition to living with other Westerners who you can talk to regarding your studies, lifestyles, and problems your Japanese roommates might not be able to relate to.

So take some extra time to think about where you want this magical time to take place. And when you actually have started your studies, being forced to study at a pace much too slow for you to reach your goal, or being so fast you get too stressed to enjoy the world around you, can really ruin the magical journey you have chosen to partake in.

Any serious Japanese language organization cares deeply about all of their students and will give you any and all help they can in regards to accommodations, rent, phones, and sim cards, transportation, helping you create a Japanese bank account for longer stays, and anything else you might need help with.

What’s keeping You From Planning?

While, of course, there are many, many more things to consider, research, and ask in regards to choosing a school, these topics are what I and most of my fellow students felt were the main deciding factors we had in common. Because when you finally do get to live and study in Japan, it will be a time you will never forget, so it is important to be in an environment you can enjoy both in and outside of class to the maximum.

Whether it’s the Study abroad agency or the school you already have selected, it’s never wrong to ask any question that might arise. They are there for you, so don’t be shy about wanting to make your dream as perfect as you can.

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Entering Japan During COVID-19▏Mandatory Preparation before Departure (Mar 29th, 2021)

COVID-19 has had a significant impact on travel. This blog is to provide updated and relevant information for foreign nationals who are going to enter Japan from aboard, including all the mandatory preparations before departure.

(1) Certificate of negative PCR test result within 72 hours before departure

The PCR test must be performed at a hospital in your country, and the test must be taken within 72 hours before the flight takes off (holidays will be counted as usual).

Required information in the result report (must be in English)
① Name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, gender
② Testing method and test results
③ Time of the test (to confirm if it is within 72 hours before the scheduled takeoff time)
and date and time of inspection results, date and time of delivery of inspection certificate
④ Name of medical institution and doctor’s name, address of the medical institution, the seal of the medical institution, and doctor’s signature
⑤ All the information must be written in English.

You can check the details of the Certificate of Testing for COVID-19 for the entry or re-entry of foreign nationals and download the specified format form for PCR test from here: http://www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001337717.pdf

This is the official format from the Japanese government, so you can take them directly to your doctor to fill out.

(2)Submission of a Written pledge

The written pledge has to be submitted by people with a new visa. It usually requires a company, a specific organization, or a school to guarantee the submission of information and an estimated itinerary to the government and to comply with the company’s and school’s regulations.

The main contents of the Written pledge

1.Refrain from taking public transportation (trams, cab taxis, buses, domestic lines, shinkansen, long-distance ferries, etc.)

2. 14 days for self-quarantine, and go out as little as possible for non-essential purposes.

After signing the pledge, foreigners who violate the regulations will be subject to mandatory restrictions on entry and visa cancellation.

Feel free to download the Written pledge from here: https://reurl.cc/KxD3On

(3) Download the designated app beforehand

It will take at least 3 hours to enter Japan if you did not download the App beforehand.
If you cannot set it up or download it with a smartphone, you need to rent one at the airport. After renting one, you must also download the designated app and set it up. before you leave the airport.

From March 18, all airport arrivals will be subject to a mandatory inspection of the app.

You will receive a paper after entering the country, so be sure to complete all the steps early. Make sure the email address is the same as the one on the Written pledge, and try to see if you can receive it beforehand. (The contents may vary, but they are generally the same)

You can check here for the Apps settings from here: https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000755137.pdf

(4)Respond to the questionnaire

Open this link to check the details before entering the country and follow the steps to fill out the form. https://arqs-qa.followup.mhlw.go.jp/#/

Click “Japanese” in the Language section to switch to other languages.

There will be a QR code after filling out the form, so please take a screenshot (recommended) or print and save it beforehand.

It is recommended that you fill out the form before the flight!

For the next article, we will be giving you detailed immigration procedures at the airport, please stay tuned. We hope to see everyone arrive in Japan safe and sound!

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＜Program Review＞ An island where you can meet living dinosaurs !? Virtual Local Trip in Indonesia!

Hello! I am Daijiro!

I usually work as a photographer in Tokyo, but sometimes I participate in Borderless House events as a language exchange facilitator. This is my first time participating in “Virtual Local Trip”, so I will tell you about it!

“Virtual Local Trip” is an online event where the host introduces his/her hometown with various topics. This event is held in English and Japanese, and it is a great way to enjoy unique local stories! I will recommend this event not only to those who are interested in foreign cultures and international exchanges, but also to those who like traveling and eating, and those who are thinking of traveling after the Corona pandemic is over!

This time, a former resident of Borderless House from Indonesia told us many stories about cultures such as local tourist spots, popular dishes, and traditional costumes. If I tell you all of them, it will be more than 10,000 characters (lol), so I will introduce some impressive episodes!

Living dinosaurs!? Komodo island where you can meet Komodo dragons

Participants are from various countries, mainly current residents of Borderless House, and even the host’s friends who live in Indonesia participated at the last minute! It was a gathering of multicultural people.

A relaxed atmosphere from beginning to end with surprises and laughter during the event.
The host told us the charms of the local areas with an introduction video of Indonesia and lots of photos. We could ask questions anytime during the event, so you can feel free to ask any questions you may have. By the way, I asked a lot of questions. (Lol)

When it came to the topic of Komodo Island, everyone was asking a lot about “Komodo Dragon”. It’s really famous! They say that if you go there, you’ll almost certainly see them up close! First-hand information you can get from the natives is very interesting!

Indonesian traditional costume “Batik” 

At the event, they introduced us to Indonesian tourist destinations, history, traditional food, etc., but what impressed me the most was their traditional costumes.
A specialty of Indonesia is a fabric with a beautiful pattern called “batik”. “Batik” is used in many clothing items such as shirts and dresses, and those clothes are also popular as formal wear.

Patterns range from geometric to flower motifs. On the day of the event, the presenters actually wore shirts made of “batik”. They showed us the batik clothes and told us what kind of pattern it is, which was very interesting!
This is also the information the host gave me, but it seems that there are traditional patterns and colors of “Batik” and those for young people! In that respect, it’s similar to Japanese “furisode” and “hakama”, which is interesting!

He told me that “Batik” had collaborated with Japanese kimono at international events. When a kimono fashion show with themes from all over the world was held, it seems that one kimono was made using the dyeing of Kyoto called “Kyoyuzen” and the technique of “batik”. He actually showed me the photo, and it was very impressive to see the flower pattern of “Batik” shining on the cloth dyed in red and white unique to Japan.

Cultural exchanges that connect countries take place in various places and we just don’t know about them. I think it is one of the great things about the event to know these kinds of stories.

Am I able to talk with people I meet for the first time at an online event?

Under the current pandemic situation, I talk to people online more often, but I’m still not used to it.
Moreover, this was my first time participating in this kind of event. Just between us, I felt nervous until I participated.

However, as I said earlier, the event had a relaxed atmosphere from beginning to end, and when I noticed, I was leaning forward and enjoying myself.
I cannot fully understand English, but I could still enjoy the presentation because it was explained also in Japanese!

During the event, I often wondered “How can I ask this in English?”, and found it annoying that I couldn’t say it well in English. But, it is a good learning opportunity, and it also motivates me to learn English every day like “I will definitely be able to ask questions in English by the next time!” I was relieved that all the participants were willing to listen to the questions.

If I think about it, all the participants are those who have learned a second language and they know how difficult it is to learn a new language. I think that is why we could have such considerate communication beyond words.

What makes VLT so appealing? The fun of getting to know new places through the host!

It was exciting to feel the culture of a new land I have never been to, especially when it is difficult to go out due to the Corona pandemic.
Virtual Local Trip will be held in other countries/regions in the future !!!

“Where should we go when the pandemic is over?”
This event made me feel such excitement! I will definitely participate again!

Also, please visit the website below for other Borderless House original programs such as Language Exchange I mentioned at the beginning.

<Borderless Mates Program>

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How is a share house different from a guest house?

A guest house is similar to a hotel room. Guests check-in and stay for some days then go back to where they were. The guesthouses also do not have all amenities. They will provide you with basic facilities like a bathroom, kitchen, and toilet.

In a share house, a rent agreement is signed between the tenant and the property holder or anyone who is renting the property. Sharehouse comes with amenities that you require to live comfortably. In many cases, there will be a TV, washing machine, toilets, bathroom, and more. In share houses, you also have the freedom to exchange rooms upon request.

A sharehouse provides you with the comfort and warmth of a home. The people you live with are there because they wanted to connect with more people, like you. So you all live like a big group of happy friends.

What sharing space you will be sharing in a share house?

In the share house, you will be sharing almost everything with other tenants except your own room. You will share the living area, toilet, bathroom, kitchen, and other amenities provided to the share house.

So living in a share house will require some teamwork. You will need to divide chores so that one person doesn’t end up doing it all. You need to take care of this place as your home because it is your home for the time till you are there. There will be no one to tell you what to do what not to do. It is up to you to live in harmony and not create problems for other tenants.

*Picture is BORDERLESS HOUSE OMORI2

Why is it better than renting any other place?

Let’s say if you are in Japan for more than a month and you want to rent a place what will you do? You will look for an agency to get you a rental apartment. First, you will have to pay the agency a fee then you will be asked for some advance fee for security then there will be a rental fee and maintenance fee, and service fee. Whereas if you chose a share house you will not have to give so many fees. There will be only a one-time fee before you start living in the house and then a monthly fee depending upon how long you will be staying.

*Picture is BORDERLESS HOUSE OMORI2

Tips to live in a share house

● Socialize: You might not want to jump into the conversation right away after meeting your new share housemates. But do not hesitate or feel awkward everyone there is new to each other and they all are trying to get to know each other better.

● Work together and communicate: sometimes you might have conflicts with your housemates due to different living habits etc but try to remember it is hard for everyone. Do not feel irritated or annoyed try to calm down and talk on easy terms. Try to understand what you both are saying and communicate in a rational way with each other. The best way to avoid conflicts is to always keep yourself open up to talk.

Benefits of Staying at a Share House

● The best advantage of living in a share house is that you get to live in a home-like place on an affordable budget. The share house fee is straightforward and there are no hidden fees.

● Like we said it will be a home-like experience so you will get almost every needful appliance at a share house. There will be no need for you to buy anything to start living at a share house. All of our share houses are fully furnished.

● Living in a shared house gives you a chance to expand your social circle and experience new things. In a diverse environment, you will meet locals and people from all over the world. You can learn languages and culture and immerse yourself in a new culture faster. You will gain deep experiences of living in Japan and understand the values, perspectives, and lifestyle of Japan better.

*Picture is KYOTO-KAMIGAMO HOUSE

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House Sharing Will Be A Good Way Of Living To Save Money

When moving to a new country, people have to start their lives out. They have a new job, must meet new people, make some friends, and they live in different surroundings. As exciting as it sounds, it can also be exhausting to adjust to everything new at once. It will also undoubtedly be expensive.

According to most foreigners that have moved to foreign countries, the biggest challenge that they faced after the move was finding accommodations. Some people end up at expensive studio apartments due to a lack of choice, others have to compromise on the locality of the apartment or pay high rents to enjoy a comfortable stay.

Not every house owner in east Asian countries is willing to rent their place to foreigners, and even then most of them ask for a local cosigner to guarantee on behalf of the tenant. The language and the cultural gap make local people feel that foreigners won’t understand them or get along with them. This is why they make no compromises on security money and ask for higher rents from foreigners.

Making a move can be an extensive and life changing task, which often disheartens people. Without friends and family around, they find it difficult to conduct an apartment search.

The solutions to all of the problems faced during apartment searching are offered by share houses. Share houses are rental houses with multiple rooms available for rent. While people have separate rooms, they also have common areas like the living room and kitchen. Share houses are mostly found in cities where the number of foreigners living in the city is high. The primary goal of a share house is to make sure that foreigners do not find it difficult to adjust to the new country.

Compared to apartments, share houses are a cheaper alternative for a comfortable accommodation. Along with clean rooms and basic amenities, share houses provide an opportunity for foreigners to make friends in the city.

People living at share houses are able to save money and have more flexibility in terms of the contract. If you’re on a small budget and are considering a move to countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan, you might want to go through this article on how house-sharing could be a good way of living to save money.

Avoid Long Contract Periods

Most apartment rental contracts are signed for one year. The tenants have not experienced life in those apartments before signing the agreement. This is why when they experience some challenges living there, they are unable to move as they are bound by the contract. If they have to move by breaking the contract, they might have to pay a penalty.

Moreover, if you are required to move back to your country or some other place due to unexpected circumstances, then you will have to break the contract and will be charged.

Living in a share house is more flexible in situations like these. When living at a share house, if you do not like the place you are at, you can easily move out. Share houses are rented for shorter periods of time, so if you’re moving to a foreign country only for 6 months, staying at a share house could be your best money-saving bet.

Most share houses offer a room for the minimum stay of 1 month. Even if you are asked to sign a yearly contract, it will include a clause that if you give 30-45 days notice before moving out, then you will not be charged a penalty for moving out with less than a month’s notice. This offers relief to tenants who are unsure about the period of their stay in the nation.

Fully-Furnished Rentals

When having moved to a new apartment, you will need to furnish it as soon as possible for normal life to begin. Some of the furniture and appliances that you will need during your stay include a bed, table, cupboard, refrigerator, washing machine, water heater, air conditioning, etc. Buying furniture and appliances is a big investment. These items will likely cost you around one month’s rent.

Share houses are fully-furnished to ensure comfort. Every room has a bed and cupboard, whereas the common rooms, kitchen, and bathrooms are equipped with all the required furniture and appliances.

When someone moves to a share house, they only need to carry their everyday personal belongings. They do not need to spend money on furniture or decor and therefore are able to save money. They are able to use appliances that they might not have purchased themselves if they were to rent a private apartment. For example, a washing machine.

When they move to another country, they do not have to worry about selling or transporting furniture and appliances. This takes a lot of cost load that they are already bearing, off of their shoulders.

 

Free Internet

Whether you are a student, working professional, or tourist, the internet is a necessity for everyone. It helps people stay connected, updated, and entertained. To enjoy seamless internet connectivity, most people have Wi-Fi installed at their apartments.

Setting up the internet at your apartment will be some cost to you. You will also have to pay some extra cost in the beginning. There are not many landlords that will provide free internet to their tenants. However, share houses offer free internet connectivity to all its housemates at no extra cost.

The cost of the internet is already included in the monthly rent. The internet connectivity is strong and the housemates can enjoy smooth surfing. Access to the internet is limited to the housemates to avoid usage by outsiders which would cause poor connectivity.

Less Initial Fees

Share house managers do not expect you to pay a few months’ rent as deposit or downpayment. The initial fee is comparatively much lower than what is charged by apartment landlords. This enables most people to expand their budget and rent a room at a luxury share house. They are even able to spend money on sightseeing around the new country.

The initial fee at the BORDERLESS HOUSES is more reasonable compared to a typical apartment or condominium.

It does not matter which country you move to, the brokerage costs are usually high. While brokers are quite efficient at finding accommodations, they are often working in their best interests rather than yours. When renting a share house, you can eliminate the need for hiring a broker. Share houses are easy to find as they usually have an online presence. When renting a room at a share house, you will not have to hire a broker and can directly contact the manager. This will help you save some money.

Lower Rents

With the increase in the number of foreigners coming to east Asian countries and local people moving to industrial areas, cities are getting crowded. This has led to a hike in rental prices in the city. For example, on average, renting an apartment in a good Taipei locality will cost you somewhere between 18,000NTD to 26,000NTD per month. The rent will depend on the city that you live in, the size of the apartment, proximity to the market or MTR stations, and the amenities offered.

The monthly rent of staying a share house is lower than that of renting an apartment. If you have a low budget, you can also rent a bed in a shared room or dormitory. This way, you will be able to use all the house amenities, without having to pay for a private room.

The deposit is lower at share houses and the maintenance fee is reasonable. What’s more, most share houses are located near train stations and in low-crime localities. They offer easy connectivity to most places in the city and do not empty the tenant’s pockets.

Conclusion

Quite evidently, the process of finding an accommodation in Taiwan for reasonable prices can be an exhausting task. Add to that the expenses that come with moving to a new place, like buying home appliances and paying maintenance costs. However, worry not, because you can always rent a room at a share house and save yourself some money.

BORDERLESS HOUSE is a share house company with many share houses in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. The ratio of local people and foreigners at these share houses is kept equal. The motto of the company is to welcome the people that stay there and ensure their comfort. At BORDERLESS HOUSE, the rooms are rented at affordable prices, and the company offers shared rooms and dorms for people with lower budgets.

If you have recently moved to Taiwan and are looking for accommodation to ensure a comfortable stay, you can reach out to us at BORDERLESS HOUSE.

Share House List: https://reurl.cc/nn1Mpd