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Japan Guide│Japan reopens borders to the world!

This is it! After almost three years, Japan finally fully opened its doors to all visitors, including foreign tourists and other arrivals on October 11th, 2022. Short-term visitors will no longer be required to apply for tourist visas as well as with no need to book tours through travel agencies. It’s exciting news for all Japan lovers who have been waiting for visiting or coming back to Japan! 

In this guide, we will be introducing what you need to know before you visit Japan during the post-pandemic. *Please note, the last update of the following information is on October 13th, 2022. Please be sure to check the latest information through Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website regarding entries of international travelers. 

Entering Japan│What to prepare？

Triple-vaccinated travelers are able to freely visit Japan, without any restrictions and are subject to the same conditions as before the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you have NOT been vaccinated with WHO-approved vaccines at least three times, you will need to submit your negative result from a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure. Check here for the certain testing methods and certain requirements of the vaccination certificate that Japan recognizes.

And this is the only requirement remaining. 

Travel etiquette in Japan during post-pandemic

Even though it is not against the law to take off your mask outdoors while not talking with others, the majority of people in Japan still continue to wear masks in public spaces in order to prevent infections or spreading the disease. It is good to stay cautious and protect everyone, not only just Covid-19 but also flu or other viral diseases, especially during winter times.

Also, most of the public indoor facilities, such as hotels, restaurants, stores, and museums require visitors and customers to sanitize their hands upon entrance, and usually, there will be hand-sanitizing liquid placed at the entrance, so please be cooperative and show consideration toward others by following those rules. 

FAQ of Entry to Japan

Q1. Will I need to book a guided tour?

No, you can travel as an independent traveler. 

Q2. Will I need to be vaccinated to enter?

No. But if you have not received at least three shots of a vaccine recognized by the WHO, you need to obtain a certificate confirming the negative status of a COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours prior to departure for Japan from your country of origin.

Q3. Do I need to quarantine? 

No. Travelers to Japan will no longer be required to quarantine upon arrival.

Q4. Do I need to wear a mask?

Yes. Though the government relaxed its guidance on mask usage, Japanese people still continue to wear masks while going out, especially while riding crowded trains or buses, and entering restaurants and hotels.

Q5. Are there any Apps that I need to download beforehand?

Japanese government recommends using “Fast Track” to speed up the entry procedures at the airport before entering Japan. Also, download the “MySOS” app and register your account and password, and then you can submit your passport, vaccination certificate, and other documents that are required for entry. 

BORDERLESS HOUSE hopes you enjoy your travel experience to the fullest in Japan!

Safe travels!

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Is Living In A Shared Room Right For You? Pros and Cons & Tips of Smooth Living With A Roommate

When you’re looking for new accommodation, one of the first things you’ll have to decide is whether you want to live with roommates or not. While there’s nothing wrong with living alone, it can get lonely sometimes! So, if you like being surrounded by people more than being alone, living with roommates can be a good option for you!

Some people become lifelong friends with their roommates, while some people struggle with getting along with their roommates due to incompatible lifestyles. There are many pros and cons of living with a roommate, so we’ve made this guide for you to help you make your decision. Meanwhile, giving you some tips on living with housemates or roommates to avoid conflicts. 

Social Considerations of Living with Roommates

Roommates can be a great experience as you have someone to share your life with and hang out with. However, as you share a living space with others, it can be tricky when you need some time alone. So here are the pros and cons for you to consider from the social aspect. 

Pro: Opportunity to make new friends & Always have friends around

Since you’ll be living with your roommates, this can lead to an intimate and lasting bond. It doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll become best friends, but when you get lonely or need someone to talk to, having roommates can be very nice. You can also have movie nights, dinners, holiday parties, or just spend a random Thursday night with them!

Con: Lack of privacy & Sacrificing personal space

Though it’s nice to always have someone around you, on the other hand,  it means you need to make some sacrifices on your personal space, because your bed may be the only place you can have your own privacy; or you will need to wait till your roommate is not around, so you can enjoy the space your own. All in all, if you need a lot of privacy or space alone, living with a roommate may not be a suitable option for you.  

Financial Considerations of Living with Roommates

Money is usually one of the main factors for most people deciding where to live. As moving to a new country, rental expenses can be a weight on your shoulders. Here are some financial advantages of living in a share house or share room with roommates : 

Pro: Shared rooms are much cheaper!

Depending on the location you’d like to stay and your circumstances, you may not be able to afford to live on your own where you want. Living with a roommate can help you save money on rent, meanwhile, you can have a better chance to live in a much nicer location with affordable and reasonable rent. Sometimes, you can even save money on food and other expenses too by sharing them with your roommates.

Con: You can’t decorate the entire room however you want
When you live alone, you have total control over everything that goes on in your room. However, when you live with roommates, you can only decorate and keep your personal style within your own spaces. 

Lifestyle Considerations – Tips for Smooth Living with Roommates 

Lifestyle can be the most important and tricky part when you live with roommates, since you may have different standards for cleanliness, different living habits, conflicting schedules, etc. As it’s an unavoidable factor you will face when you living with others, we’ve collected some handy tips for you for a smooth living with roommates.

Roommate Agreements & Share Responsibilities

A mutual agreement can be very helpful when you live with roommates. Keep it in mind that you all share responsibilities around your shared space. Set ground rules that cover the basics together, and talk through each of your expectations, habits, and routines together, such as cleanliness standards and rules, morning and bedtime routines, daily schedules, etc. Establishing standards and common ground that you all agree to will help you avoid difficult confrontations in the future. Here are some essential tips you need to know to enhance your shared living experience.

Communication & Keep an Open Mind

Communication is key when living or spending time with others. Try to open yourself up and communicate anything that your roommate should know about you. When issues arise, try to bring up the issue in person, instead of texting or leaving a note, to avoid leading to miscommunication and frustrations. If something is bothering you, have a conversation with your roommate as soon as possible before it grows into a bigger conflict. You can take time to make a plan and think through how you can express yourself, and when communication happens,  be sure to listen for understanding as well.

Understand the Difference & Be Considerate 

It’s important to understand that everyone is from different backgrounds and was raised differently. Realizing, it can save you a lot of frustration you may have when you live with others. Your roommate’s living habits and lifestyles can not be exactly the same as your own, so try to talk to each other and find a way to meet in the middle, especially if your differences can cause conflicts. At the same time, be considerate and take your roommate’s feelings into consideration before jumping to conclusions or making decisions.

There’s no crystal ball to see whether living with roommates is going to be a positive or negative experience. Be sure to weigh all the pros and cons, get yourself prepared, and use the tips for a better and more successful living experience in a share house or a shared room.

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Borderless House Internship | Internship in Japan

We’re looking for《Business Development》 《Branding》 《Marketing》  interns to help us build brand awareness and spread and share our vision, mission, and values with the world!

If you like our concept of Borderless House or if you want to experience working in Japan, don’t miss this opportunity!

About Borderless House

BORDERLESS HOUSE is an international share house where young people from all around the world gather together under the same roof to share life and exchange different cultures. 

Our vision and mission are to create an open-minded multicultural society that is free of discrimination. So we promote this kind of community that is built on mutual understanding and active participation. We aim to provide our tenants with great experiences that they can not acquire if they live alone, so we focus on the quality of our house community rather than just offering accommodation.

Benefits of doing internships

Job experience

Job listings often describe requirements such as education and minimum job experience. If you are entering the workforce for the first time after college or a vocational training program, you likely do not yet have the required experience. An internship is a perfect way to fill that gap. You can gain valuable exposure to how a business in your chosen field runs, take part in meetings, and perform assigned tasks in a real-world setting.

Access to a variety of tasks and expand your network

You will be assigned to different tasks, some might enable exposure to people in various businesses and corporations. You might have chances to get valuable connections to your future jobs.

Help guide career goals

During your education, you may study a variety of subjects to determine your interests. An internship offers a diverse set of experiences that presents multiple career options. An internship can give you job experience by introducing you to daily rigors and tasks without a firm commitment to that precise career track. It can help you decide if certain jobs fit your personality and your talents.

Build a strong resume

This valuable job experience enables you to fill out your resume with honesty and specificity. Not only will you be able to add the duties and projects from your internship to the experience section of your resume, but you will also be able to more clearly describe your objective for a permanent position.

Build confidence

The internship gives you a chance to help apply the skills and knowledge you have been studying to a practical situation. You may gain excellent time and task management skills as well as learn about valuable collaboration and cooperation skills. If you think of an internship as an extension of your education, you are likely to have a whole range of confidence-building attributes to apply to your future employment.

What you can experience through Borderless House Internship

  • • Chances to gain verbal and written communication skills, both internally and externally in Japanese    
  • • Chances to attend company’s meeting to learn business “KNOW-HOW”
  • • Chances to expand the social connections by meeting people from all over the world
  • • Chances to  participate in all the events, or seminars that are held by Borderless House and Borderless Japan

What you can get after completing the internship

✔Internship Certificate
✔Letter of Recommendation

Borderless House Internship Responsibilities

You will be responsible for developing brand strategies, promoting brand growth and expansion, and conducting market research in your own country/region.

For 《Branding》《Marketing》, you will need to create interesting and engaging content for online marketing to grow our audiences and help convert them into our customers and active fans; for《Business Development》, you will be developing new business partners for Borderless, such as communities, organizations, schools, agencies or other companies.

You should have command of best practices and trends in marketing, enjoy being creative, and do your best to develop our brand’s voice across blog content, social media posts, or any other forms of your choice!

FAQ

Is it a paid internship?
The interns are unpaid. We look for opportunities that allow our interns to gain the best possible experience. The true focus is on immense professional growth! Our goal is to provide our interns with real-world responsibilities and the skills they will need for their future careers. Also, provide a place where you can use your creativity to realize your dream and speak up about your thoughts and vision.

Will I require a visa to do this internship?
You will not require a visa to complete an internship.

Where is the working place?
It’s basically a virtual internship in which you can work remotely from anywhere! We have offices in Tokyo and Kyoto, if you’d like to work at the office, we could also arrange it for you.

Is there a minimum/maximum age requirement?
We welcome young people who’s age is from 18 to 35 from the world to join this internship program.

Are there language level requirements?
The main language we use for communication is English, so we hope you are comfortable communicating in English. Since we are a Japanese company, we hope you can at least have a daily conversation level (N4-N3) in Japanese. (Since sometimes we hope you can participate in our internal meetings which would be mainly in Japanese.)

How long is the internship period and how many hours per week are required?
The internship period is 1~3 monthsflexibly. If there are any personal reasons and you need adjustments, we are flexible to discuss them. Because the internship will be task-based, you can adjust your working hours by yourself. 

What are working hours?
Our business hours are between 9:30 am and 18:30 pm, however, as mentioned above, since the internship will be task-based, so you will have flexible working time. However, communication with staff members and meetings will be conducted within our business hours. 

Can I receive a certificate for a virtual internship?
We will of course give you a certificate once you complete the internship. If you need a recommendation letter, we will also provide it.

Can I start off interning and switch to become a full-time worker later?

We are flexible and open to changes, as long as you are responsible and respectful of the projects and tasks. We may consider hiring you as an official full-time employee.

HOW TO APPLY

The internship hiring period starts today until October 31st.

① Fill out the form 
② Our staff will be in touch  
③ Interview meeting 
④ Internship Starts

Are you interested in Borderless House Internship?

If you would like to know further details about Borderless House Internship or if you are interested in applying for it, please contact us here! 
>> Internship Inquiry Form

Of course, please feel free to ask us via the form if you have any questions too.

We will be in touch soon once we receive your inquiry! Looking forward to hearing from you!

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Towards a Society with Appreciation for Differences ▏A New Base – BORDERLESS STATION is opening!

Hello everyone, I am Seiichi Lee, the representative of BORDERLESS HOUSE Co., Ltd. Our company was founded in 2008, and the goal of our share house business is to create a multicultural society where people can mutually understand each other’s background regardless of race or nationality, and without prejudice or discrimination.

Almost 3 years into the pandemic, our business has been affected by COVID-19 due to the entry restrictions for foreigners to Japan, fortunately, the situation has gradually gotten better. Thus, we’ve started to create a place full of “Cross-cultural Understanding & Multicultural Coexistence”, which also will be a new base for people from around the world can gather together in Japan.

About the New Project


◆The approach to social problems

With the increased number of foreign tourists and foreign employees, the situation of “foreigners not being able to rent a house in Japan” has drastically improved in the past 10 years.

However, originally, the cause of this problem was because of the prejudice of people who think that “foreigners are different from us”, and I kindly ask you to think about it with us.


One of the surest ways to eliminate this kind of prejudice is to create an opportunity that allows everyone to interact with people from different backgrounds. 

We believe that through building relationships among people, we can learn about and embrace each other’s differences in values, in other words, foster mutual understanding.

In order to achieve that goal, BORDERLESS HOUSE has been offering the environment and experience of communal living.

We have also been proactive in building relationships between the residents and the local community, in order to provide local people with opportunities to encounter different cultures.

 “Share house” is our first step, but now, it’s time to take the next step with our new project.

What’s needed to create a multicultural society where people respect each other’s differences is to – not just learn about those differences but also directly interact with them. We believe that experience is necessary.

We have newly established a new center to provide this kind of opportunity to learn about “differences”. At the same time, we will create a community that is involved in different cultures.

This is our new project – BORDERLESS STATION.

The base of this new project is in Asakusabashi, Tokyo

We rented a guesthouse and cafe bar that was closed down due to COVID-19 and used the upper floors as a share house and the first floor as the base of this project.

It was a challenge for us to revive this place from the aftereffects of a pandemic with a new community and our vision.


※2For detailed information on the share house, click here＞＞

The Concept of BORDERLESS STATION

There are two main concepts in our new project.

The first one is to create a broadcasting booth to share a podcast on the theme of “Understanding the differences” and to communicate various topics on diversity.

The second one is to have a lounge space that will be used for various events and workshops that will provide opportunities to learn about different cultures.



①Broadcasting station for sharing information on the theme of diversity 

The theme of the broadcast is “Let’s start by learning!”

We will have a broadcasting channel that will help people get involved in diversity and cross-cultural understanding. We will invite guest speakers from different backgrounds and countries to share their stories.


Also, as the broadcasting booth will be facing the lounge, so it can be used for event broadcasting. We hope that this place can help the community to promote and communicate its vision and values. 

We would also like to provide an opportunity for young people who are struggling with problems of “minorities” and “identity”  to share their experiences in order to develop new values.

② Bar with a theme of Cross-cultural Understanding and Exchange

The bar with a daily theme is where people can gain a deeper understanding of diversity, arouse interest in cultural differences, and induce empathy with different values through “Participation and Discussion”

On Wednesdays and Thursdays, the shared kitchen will be operated by exotic restaurants. They would bring authentic and exotic cuisine home-cooked to BORDERLESS STATION.

So everyone can enjoy learning about the “differences” through “food”. We would like to use this shared kitchen as a gateway to different cultures. 

At the moment, an Argentinian restaurant has been selected to join us, and we are still accepting more partnerships with amazing restaurants!


Friday and Saturday will be a dining bar run by us, BORDERLESS HOUSE!

The dining bar is where you can enjoy food and drinks from various countries while adding diversity and multicultural-themed content to make it much more fun.

For example, on Fridays, we plan to have multicultural organizations and communities join us to share their activities and create a place where people can talk and think about how to make the world a better place together.

And on Saturdays, our multicultural residents of BORDERLESS HOUSE will be the host of the bar. There will be a place where people can encounter new values through workshops and fun activities that expose them to the cultures and values of different countries.

Speaking of the dining bar, it will be supervised by Okaneya-san, who is an explorer of the world’s kitchens, and she will offer “snacks from around the world” that cannot be found anywhere else!



※For more details about Okaneya-san, check here＞＞(Japanese only)

In this project, we wil also be working together with BORDERLESS HOUSE staff, residents, and partners to create a project that will allow us to get close to the local community. 

Based on these contents, we aim to make BORDERLESS STATION a place where anyone can easily have opportunities to learn about “differences” and get involved in the community.

(A community event planned by BORDERLESS HOUSE residents in May 2022)

※For the details of the event that is organized by Borderless House residents, check here.

*The details of the operating hours of BORDERLESS STATION will be announced later.

How to support this project (Sept 2022)

Rather than the relationship between a business owner and customers as a typical restaurant/bar, we would like to work as a community with people who can sympathize and share the same vision and thoughts with us. 

Also, this project is not just a business that expects a return on investment, but a social activity. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, we would have to ask for your help to support this project.

Most important of all, we want to make it a place where everyone can make good use of it. I’ve decided to start with crowdfunding.

Click here for the crowdfunding page ＞＞＞
※We are sorry but since the webpage is only in Japanese, please click the right button on the mouse and translate the webpage to your preferred language if needed.

The support from crowdfunding will be used only for the initial start-up costs and does not cover any subsequent operating costs.

In addition to the existing business of share house approach as a place to nurture mutual understanding, this new community place – BORDERLESS STATION (abbreviated as B station) will be opened soon!

Thank you very much for your support!

Last Message

Our cross-cultural exchange project has had a very difficult time over the past two years due to borders closing. 

At the same time, in our society, we are facing the same problems as in the rest of the world, such as the hate against Asians due to the spread of COVID-19, BLM in the US, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the conflict between China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and the conflicts between countries, cultures, and ideologies.

These are big and serious problems that we cannot seem to confront, and for this reason, I believe that what we can do is foster mutual understanding among citizens, transcending each other’s values. Connecting and building relationships with people of different backgrounds and countries is more important now than ever before.

We at BORDERLESS HOUSE believe that creating such connections will sow the seeds of peace for the future, and we will continue to do so.

We look forward to your support.

 

 

 

 

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We are Social Business – BORDERLESS HOUSE

Do you know that Borderless House is a “Social Business”?

Perhaps I should have asked – Have you heard of Social Business? 

In general, it refers to a company or a business that tries to create value or impact society in a positive way by offering a service or a product that meets the needs or by presenting new solutions to challenges brought on by society.

And there are more and more people talking about it around the world, actually, you can also find some TED TALK videos talking about it too! 

Even though “Social Business” is a term that you should know, it may sound a little complicated. But don’t worry, let me clearly explain it in a simpler way below.

What is Social Business

The phrase ”Social Business” refers to a brand of entrepreneurship rooted in funding or implementing solutions to cultural, social, or environmental problems. 

Image credit: Devon Bunce/Digital Storytellers

Social Business seeks to maximize profits while maximizing benefits to society and the environment, and the profits are principally used to fund social programs.

The key traits and characteristics of Social Business

• The primary aim is to address a social problem
• It is financially self-sufficient
• It does not pay dividends to its owners
• It is guided by how its operations benefit the causes and communities of interest

What’s the difference between social business and regular business

Maximizing profits is not the primary goal of a social business as is with a traditional business – What sets a social business apart from a traditional business is that while the traditional business’s ultimate goal is to create wealth, the social business seeks to create lasting societal change.

What’s the difference between social business and non-profit organization

Unlike a non-profit, a social business is not dependent on donations or on private or public grants to survive, and to operate it is self-sustainable. While non-profit organizations where funds are spent only once on the field, funds in a social business are invested to increase and improve the business operations on the field on an indefinite basis.

Why is Social Business Important

Now, let’s go a little bit in-depth to see why social business is important, especially in our society and globally.

  • Social businesses have the potential to change society and the world.

As social business concentrates on developing, financially backing, and executing ideas that contribute to finding solutions for social, cultural, and environmental concerns, it can make a huge impact on our life, in a positive way – and that’s why social businesses are much-needed, considering the times that we’re living in. The vision of a social business is usually social well-being related and a broader idea to excel as a community.

So social business is also a business that gets everyone in the world involved. People say that change-makers are those who take creative actions to solve social problems for the good of all – and this is who we are.

‘Creator’ of Multicultural Society – BORDERLESS HOUSE

So, for Borderless House, the social problem that we aim to solve with our business is – Prejudice and Discrimination.

We aim to build relationships among people with different backgrounds, such as different nationalities, races, and religions, and gather them together to live under the same roof in our share houses.

There are not only benefits but also conflicts sometimes when living in a mixed-culture environment. However, by sharing thoughts and feelings from time to time with each other, people can build a strong relationship in which we can understand other cultures and perspectives deeply.

Creating such a connection is the greatest value of BORDERLESS HOUSE.

The goal of our business is to create a multicultural society where people can mutually understand each other’s background regardless of race or nationality, and without prejudice or discrimination.

Our Vision

As more and more foreigners are settling in Japan, and it is important that there are places where they can live in peace and harmony. We believe that this solution which gathers people from around the world to live in a share house together is essential in a multicultural society.

As a ‘creator’ of Multicultural Society, we hope to accelerate the creation of an ideal society and to provide more people with opportunities for international living experiences, we aim to keep expanding our business and keep offering and creating opportunities for In-depth international exchange.

Planting the seeds of world peace is our mission and we welcome you to be a part of BORDERLESS HOUSE.

 

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WASEDA x BORDERLESS HOUSE ▏ICC One-Day Share House

On June 17, 2022, BORDERLESS HOUSE was honored to be invited to hold a collaboration event with Intercultural Communication Center (ICC) for Waseda University students. At the event, the students got to have a discussion on some topics with people from different nationalities and backgrounds, which was exactly the same as living at Borderless House!

As when you live with people from various countries, there could be some moments you may have been shocked at some of the differences. And this is when we learn to understand different cultures and to think from a new perspective without holding any discrimination and prejudice.

Before we take you back to this One-Day Share House Experience event, let me give you a brief introduction to ICC!

About the ICC (Intercultural Communication Center)

The ICC is a venue and global community that gathers both local and international Waseda students together for intercultural exchange and interaction.

Since Waseda University has over 5,000 international students enrolled from over 100 countries and regions, the ICC was established to utilize such a diverse international environment, and further enrich on-campus intercultural exchange.  Through such interaction, students develop a new understanding of the world around them, while creating new values and interests.

The purpose of this co-living workshop – ICC share house

As the vision of Borderless House is “to create a truly multicultural society in which people can live together in harmony regardless of race or nationality,” we hope to provide Waseda students with opportunities they could learn and realize the importance of recognizing and accepting each other’s differences by exchanging thoughts and sharing own experiences.

We are very glad that on the day, there were around 30 multinational participants came, so we have many “cultures”, “personalities” and “backgrounds”, which just like our share houses.  

Workshop Agenda

There are a total of 5 main parts of the workshop:
① Icebreaking!
② Presentations by the President and Manager of BORDERLESS HOUSE
③ Workshop1: Is everyone’s life routine different?
④ Workshop2: What is senior/junior culture?
⑤ Workshop3: Share your understanding and learn about

When you move into a new share house, the first thing is to

That’s right! It’s “self-introduction”! Tell others something about you and get to know all your housemates too! Maybe you’d be very lucky to make good friends who share the same interests or like the same animes as you, and you’d create a bond right away!

Presentations by BORDERLESS HOUSE

Next. our President, Seiichi Lee, and Manager of BORDERLESS HOUSE Tokyo Office, Takuya Hosogi had presentations to let the students have a better understanding and idea about what an “international share house” is.

From sharing about the vision and mission of Borderless House.

To show students the special characteristics of our share houses and the values of living at Borderless House. And of course, the photos of real share house life from our tenants!

Workshop1: Is everyone’s life routine different?


 In a communal living share house, everyone has their own lifestyle; everyone is on different schedules. So at the first workshop, we talked about each other’s lifestyles and schedules and figured out how to live under the same roof with minimal conflicts due to the differences.

When you live with someone else, it’s important to show respect for others in your everyday life, you need to be more aware that you share the space with others. So open communication is a key to making everyone live together comfortably!

Workshop2: What is senior / junior culture?

I believe a lot of you may already know about what “Senpai-Kohai culture” is, you can see the senior-junior relationship commonly in organizations, businesses, schools, associations, and clubs in Japan. So at this workshop, we talked about if this kind of culture and relationships also exist in other countries.


Everyone shares their thoughts and opinions about the “sempai-kohai” (senior-junior) system and its pros and cons. Some Japanese students also shared their own experiences, and it seemed to be very shocked for some foreign students who are from countries that don’t have this kind of culture!

Living with people from around the world in a share house, you may find some cultures or value systems that may be totally normal to some people, however, they are quite strange to you. And it’s very interesting to talk about the difference together!

Workshop3: Share your impressions and what you learn about

Lastly, there was a presentative from each group to share what they learn from today’s workshop. And we are so impressed how much the students have learned from today’s workshop:
“I am a university student right now so I have more chances to meet foreigners, but if there’s a wall between us, it would waste such good opportunities, so we should build bridges, not walls”

“I think to be able to respect each other and to try to understand each other’s differences is very important. For example, if you can’t understand well because of language barriers, there are translation tools that you can use. And there are many ways you can use to communicate with each other. But the most important of all, you need to be willing to embrace new cultures and respect them.”

Thank you very much for joining us at the ICC Co-living Event!✨

It was a valuable experience for BORDERLESS HOUSE to have close interactions with Waseda University students, not only just sharing, but also hearing their voices, ideas, and thoughts!

In the future, we hope we can have more opportunities to share our vision with the young generations and let more people experience multicultural and multilingual BORDERLESS HOUSE! If you also like our vision of creating a free of discrimination open-minded multicultural society and would like to cooperate with us for any events, please feel free to contact us HERE.

Let’s promote a wonderful community that is built on mutual understanding and active participation together:) 

 

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Is it a good idea for women to stay at a share house?

If this is your first time living with people you don’t know, and if you are a woman, you might be thinking “ Is it a good idea for me to live in a gender-mixed share house?” But meanwhile, as we all know – it is not so easy for a foreigner to rent a place in Japan, so a share house could be the easiest option.

To ease your concerns and worries about living in a share house as a girl. we would like to share some pros and cons of living in a share house from a women’s perspective!

We hope this article can help you to find a place where you feel safe and comfortable staying in Japan!

Benefits of women living in a share house

Security Side | It’s actually SAFER!

In terms of security, compared to living alone in an apartment, it’s safer to live in a share house with other people. Here are the reasons:
◆ There is a MUST screening process with all the tenants who book the room at BORDERLESS HOUSE, so you don’t need to worry about who your neighbors are and if your current or future neighbors would be nice people or not.
◆ There is clear and transparent information about all of your roommates! You can see their basic info and self-introduction on the webpage before booking the room!
◆ You’d have less possibility to be targeted by stalkers, burglars, or robbers if you are living in the sharehouse.

Make Besties | You can talk about anything with your roommates

If you need someone to give you advice or suggestions on fashion, costume, cosmetics, or even your love life, or if you simply just need someone to talk to, chat, or rant, there will always be girls for you!
◆ If you stay in a shared room. you can have more time to enjoy the conversations with your roommates. It’s easier to build bonds in your relationships, and your friendships would be tighter!
◆ You will never feel bored or lonely because you will always have someone who would be there for you, listen to you, and someone who would study, watch animes and go shopping with you!
◆ If you want to brush up on your Japanese, you have more chances to practice your language skills too!

If you are the kind of person who needs more space and time for yourself, you can keep decent privacy if you live in a private room, and you can enjoy fun social life at the same time in the common areas at a share house!

Things that need to be aware of when women living in a share house

At a gender-mixed share house, 2 things here you may already expect as well as you might need to keep in mind.

1. Men and women use a toilet and bathroom differently, so you can make some rules based on your mutual agreements with your housemates to avoid any issues.
2. It’s important to be considerate of others, so pay attention to what you wear, especially in the shared spaces, such as the kitchen and living room.

So we’d like to give you some tips if you are interested in living in a share house to prevent any stress or trouble:
◇ Establish rules together
◇ Be open to communicating anything with your housemates
◇ Be careful not to interfere much in each other’s private spaces

I hope this article solves your concerns, and if you have any further questions or would like to know more about living in a share house as a girl, please feel free to check our tenants’ interview from BORDERLESS HOUSE OSAKA-TSURUHASHI1 below:

Of course, feel free to CONTACT US, so we can answer all your questions ☺

Check available rooms for girls ▶▶▶
• SANGEN-JAYA1 share house
• ITABASHI-KUYAKUSHOMAE1 share house
• NIHOMBASHI1 share house
• SHINAGAWA-TOGOSHI3 share hose

*Please note, that the rooms might be booked by others at any time.

작성일자

Borderless House Hi! BH CAMP 7기를 모집 합니다 ♥

안녕하세요, 여러분!

어느 덧붙여 2022년도 반이나 흘러, 6월 초를 지나가고 있습니다.

햇빛도 따갑고 비도 자주 내리기 시작하면서 점차 뜨거운 여름의 향기가 짙어지고 있습니다!

올 여름, 여러분에게 새로운 추억을 만들 수 있게 해 줄 BH CAMP 7기를 모집합니다!!!

이번 BH CAMP 7기가 활동하게 될 내용을 간략하게 소개해 드릴게요 🙂

 

 약 6주간의 쉐어하우스 생활을 통한

 다양한 국적의 친구들과의 교류를,

새로운 문화의 경험을!

 

이런 분들을 찾고 있습니다 !!!

– 다양한 국적의 친구들과 교류하고 싶은 분 ! 

– 언어의 장벽을 뛰어 넘고 싶은 분 !

– 단기 어학연수를 한국에서 경험해보고 싶은 분 ! 

* 나이제한 : 만 18 세 ~ 만 35 세까지

* 모집인원 : 3-4 명

 

모집 기간 및 활동 기간은 어떻게 되나요?

▶ 모집기간

– 서류 모집 : 2022/6/10 금 요일 ~ 6/22 수요일

– 참가자 선발 : 2022/6/23 목요일 ~ 6/28 화요일

▶ 활동기간 및 쉐어 하우스 거주 기간

– 2022/7/1 금요일 ~ 8/19 금요일

* 거주자 OT: 2022 / 6/29 수요일 ~ 6/30 목요일

* 입주시작기간 : 2022/7/1 금요일 ~ 7/8 금요일    

 

그리고 쉐어하우스에 입주시, 서울에 위치한 쉐어하우스에서 진행 을 하기 때문에

이 점 참고해주시길 부탁 드리며, 공실 가능 방 위주로 하여 선정 되는 점을 미리 안내해 드립니다 🙂

BM CAMP 7기의 혜택은 무엇이 있나요?!

– 외국인과 생활해 볼 수 있는 환경 제공
– 초기비용 없이 입주 가능
(※단, 하우스 거주비용(공과금 포함 월 45만원) 발생하는 점 참고 부탁 드려요!!!)
– 월세특별할인도 제공
– 이벤트 기획과 진행을 온전히! 도맡아 해볼 수 있는 창의적인 환경 제공
– 이벤트 진행 시 소정의 상품도 드려요 ♡
– 활동 종료 후 수료증 발급

BH CAMP 7기, 어떠한 활동을 하게 되나요?

 

보더리스 하우스에 입주하게 되면 여러 국적의 입주자들과의 언어 교환, 문화 경험 등의 생활을 해볼 수 있습니다!

약 6주간 쉐어하우스에 거주하면서 단기 국내어학연수를 떠나 보는 건 어떠신가요?

 

또한 거주하는 기간 동안 보더리스하우스의 서포터즈가 되어 다양한 방식으로

보더리스 하우스를 소개하는 활동도 하게 됩니다.

함께 만드는 즐거운 추억들, 지인들에게 마구마구 알려주세요 !!!

 

특히나  이번 7기 CAMP의 가장 기대되는 점은 바로!

쉐어 하우스 이벤트 기획 및 참여를 해보실 수 있다는 것입니다.

특히 올해는 COVID19 규제 완화로 오프라인 이벤트를 진행할 수 있다는 거에요!!!

여러 나라의 하우스 메이트들과 즐겁게 추억을 만들 수 있는 이벤트를 여러분들이 주인공이 되어

비용은 보더리스 하우스가 부담할게요, 여러분들은 창의력을 보여주세요 !!!

BH CAMP 7기 신청서 작성은 아래의 링크로!
https://url.kr/c4qzh9

작성일자

ASAKUSABASHI FESTIVAL! An event host by the tenants of Asakusabashi share house and local people from the neighborhood

Hello everyone! This is Picasso, a resident of Asakusabashi.

We held an event (festival!) at BORDERLESS HOUSE Asakusabashi on Sunday, May 29, 2022! This event is a cultural festival-like event where share house residents can enjoy eating, singing, listening, finding, and talking all at once, with the themes of “making things together” and “getting involved with the community”.

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Then, let me take you back to the event!

The event was planned and executed by all of the tenants at Asakusabashi House! 

Fun English Lesson!

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We also have an English lesson on the day that was taught by an American and an English native speakers of our Asakusabashi House residents. They were teaching English in a fun, game-like way!

There were many games that were not so common in Japan, such as games using cards and the body, but the children were very interested in them and had fun playing all of them.

Homemade smoothies

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Freshness is the key to smoothies! Vegetables, bananas, milk, and other ingredients are delivered freshly in the morning! It took some time to prepare all the ingredients, and the blender was even louder than we expected, so we had to reconsider the work area, but we still made it in the end!

We expected to serve 40 cups, and the smoothies’ popularity is beyond our expectations! Almost all of them were drunk by everyone. And after lunch, more smoothies were served.

This smoothie was very tasty, with a hint of greenery from the vegetables while retaining the fragrance of the banana.

Asakusabashi House Flea Market

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Asakusabashi House currently has 16 residents from 5 different countries.
We collected some original and interesting things from these 16 residents. When we looked through the items, we found a collection of DVDs of anime, travel books about other countries, as well as colorful clothing, and more!

We have tags attached to each item to tell you:
– what kind of people produced these items
– who donated them to us?
– what were the thoughts behind the items?

It was interesting to see the thoughts and meanings of each item.

Let’s make our own Watagashi (cotton candy)

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The watagashi machine became a trademark of this festival! This was a hands-on corner where visitors could operate the machine and make their own cotton candy and everyone enjoyed it, especially all the kids!

It was very impressive that children kept coming to the booth saying, “I want to make a cotton ball! One of our residents, Takumi carefully taught the children how to make them, and they all enjoyed making and eating their own unique style of watagashi.

Watagashi is actually difficult to make, even for adults, so I am impressed to see the kids try their best to learn how to make it! Regardless of the shape of the cotton candy they made, the event was very lively because the children seemed to be having fun with this experience.

Compost & Soil Improvers – Eco Sustainable Solutions

In our daily lives, we produce garbage constantly. With the composter, by putting food scraps into the soil with microorganisms, the microorganisms eat and digest the food scraps, then return them to the soil where plants can grow again.

In this event, we tried putting the food scraps from our daily life into the LFC compost box and putting pepper and marigold seeds into the composter. And now, we still continue doing it at Asakusabashi share house.

On the day of the event, small seedlings emerged from the seeds, indicating that the soil had actually been revived. We hope that this event will provide an opportunity for people to think about the waste produced in our daily lives.

Free Lunch!

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The lunch was a keema curry that has sticky rice and crispy edamame beans. The keema curry was super delicious, not too spicy, and very easy and smooth to eat. The lunch was free of charge on the day of the event.

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The lunch was also made by our tenants from Asakusabashi House! The curry was made with soybean meat, which is environmentally friendly. It was a satisfying yet tasty curry that gives people a chance to think about what they eat as well!

Desserts from overseas

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All the desserts were lined up for everyone to enjoy. Each of them is different and none of the sweets were left! All kinds of desserts were so delicious that once I started eating them, I just couldn’t stop.

Live Singing by Mayowa

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It was a hot and warm afternoon on the day of the festival, and the live show started with songs that make you feel relaxed.

Mayowa had performed a solo show two days prior to the festival. So he was already an accomplished MC, he performed a wide range of acts, including looper* to liven things up, and ukulele! He’s so talented! All residents danced together during the final performance called “September”, it was so fun and full of energy! I really like the energetic vibes of the house.

Lastly

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From left to right: Pikaso (reporter), Ryosuke (CM), Yuki (staff & former resident)

Until the festival was held, I wondered how many participants would show up? We were talking about what we would do if no one showed up at all… but when the lid was opened, so many people were there, and we were very grateful and had a lot of fun.

Even though Asakusabashi Share House is still very new, many people and the people of the Yanagibashi area graciously accepted us, making it a day we were much appreciated for.

This festival was the first of many we have planned, and we hope to hold more interesting events on a regular basis with the themes of “making things together” and “getting involved with the community”.

Thank you for reading this to the end!

If you want to see more details about this event, please check HERE! (in Japanese) 
Here are more blog articles that are written by our residents from Asakusabashi Share House!

 

작성일자

Who Can Enter Japan & What’s Required for the Entry to Japan? May 2022

In this blog, we provide information for foreign nationals looking to travel to Japan, including who can travel to Japan now, and the entry requirements.  

Who Can Enter Japan

Japan is currently opening entry to business visitors, international students enrolled at a Japanese institution, and technical interns. As well as Japanese citizens, permanent residents or temporary residents including spouses and children of Japanese citizens who hold long-term visas, and some short-term business travelers.

Most foreign nations are now able to enter the country, however, you will need to be granted a visa allowing you to enter Japan.. As of April 2022, only persons originating from these countries are NOT able to enter Japan:

However, traveling to Japan with a tourist visa remains PROHIBITED. 

What types of vaccines are accepted for overseas visitors to enter Japan? Is quarantine mandatory upon entry?

From March 1, 2022, the following measures are implemented in Japan: 

  1. The quarantine will not be required for those who have a “Certificate of Vaccination issued outside Japan” + “Completion of the third dose” (only for long-term residents, students, and business visitors in Japan, but not for visitors.) 

  2. For those who have not received the vaccination or completed the third dose and do not have a certificate of eligibility, the period of quarantine will be shortened to 7 days. You can also submit a negative report to the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare after PCR or RT-PCR on the third day after the entry into Japan, and the quarantine can be lifted after confirming that the test is negative.

    What kind of foreign-issued vaccination certificate is eligible and approved by Japan?

・The issuing entity is a public entity such as the government of each country.
・Must be in either Japanese or English. 
・Name, date of birth, vaccine name or manufacturer, date of vaccination, and a number of vaccinations must be included.
・Vaccine type: Doses 1 and 2 must meet the following criteria: Pfizer (Pfizer), AZ (AstraZeneca), Moderna, Janssen (Janssen/Johnson & Johnson/J&J; the first dose is considered the second dose of this vaccine). The third dose must be in accordance with Pfizer BNT (Pfizer), Moderna.

Required documents for entering Japan

❶ Proof of negative test for COVID-19 within 72 hours before the departure time
❷A signed copy of a ‘Written Pledge’ document committing to follow all health procedures
❸Japanese visa
❹ Certificate of vaccination issued by a foreign country approved by Japan
❺ Download three apps: Health and Location Monitoring App (MySOS) to report health conditions, report location, verify location, Location Information App
(Google Maps), and COCOA to track close contacts. If you do not have a smartphone, you must rent one at the airport at your own expense.
❻ Show the QR code of the survey with your residence history or health status (a completed online questionnaire)

After arrival in Japan

Upon arrival and before leaving the airport you have to:

  • ◇ Submit the documents listed above
  • ◇ Undergo another PCR test and return a negative result

Within 24 hours of entering Japan, you may travel by public transportation.

Currently, due to quarantine procedures and other border control measures in response to the COVID-19, all passengers arriving in Japan on international flights take a long time to complete the immigration process.

For more information, please refer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan website.

We’d love to help you with starting your new life in Japan! ▶WELCOME TO JAPAN