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Working in Japan ▏What is Shukatsu? Job hunting in Japan

Hi, I am Aisha from jimomin.work! Working abroad might be challenging!
Japan is facing the social issue of an aging population and a low birth rate. Consequently, there is a high demand for skilled workers from both local and international companies in Japan.

Process of Shukatsu for university student

Shukatsu 就活 is a Japanese term, short term for shūshoku katsudō which means job hunting. During this time, university students look for full-time jobs before their graduation. One of the unique characteristics of the Japanese job-hunting process is that companies hire new graduates, therefore, most of the students have a job contract when they graduate.

Typical Process of Shukatsu:
1. Find out what you want to do
2. Research on companies
3. Participate in job fairs/job seminars
4. Send entry sheet and/or resume to companies
5. Take written exams and/or SPI tests
6. Interviews (Groups and/or individuals)
7. Wait for the result

The problem faced by foreigners when looking for a job in Japan

One of the biggest problems faced by foreigners when looking for a job in Japan is the language barrier. Many are unfamiliar with the Japanese recruitment system as company explanations and processes are conducted in Japanese. Alongside the language, people also struggle with manners during their job-hunting period. For instance, it is preferred to wear a black suit when going to a job fair or an interview. Even after entering a company, many struggles with “Keigo” or respectful language and business etiquette.

Advice & Suggestions

This does not mean you should give up. But how can you work in Japan? The first would be improving your Japanese language skills, ideally having above Japanese N3 level.
Another way is by consulting with recruiters, preferably those who will guide foreigners. Jimomin.work is one of the employment support services (就職支援サービス). We support foreigners looking for jobs in Japan, matching them to a suitable company for free. For instance:
● Jimomin.work has a FREE Japanese Business Course which will help in becoming familiar with terms used in business
● Help in preparing resumes and interviews
● SNS accounts that share shukatsu information
● Host matching events where job-seekers can find companies who are looking to recruit foreigners. Our previous event had a matching rate of 100%!
● Lastly, one of the obstacles, is SPI tests, and frequent interviews are not required when applying through jimomin.work!

Conclusion

Job hunting can be long and tiring, especially when there is a language barrier. However, you are not alone! There is always help via consulting your career center in your university, recruitment companies and even asking your senpais! You can also talk freely to jimomin.work as well!

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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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Language Exchange｜How should I prepare for Language Exchange and practice speaking?

Do you want to practice your speaking skills for free through “Language Exchange” and meet new foreign friends, but don’t know where to start preparing? Or have you tried “Language Exchange” before, but after encountering some difficulties in the process, and you just left it at that?

Then this article on language exchange prep will help you a lot!

What is Language Exchange?

Language Exchange is a reciprocal activity in which you practice the language that you are learning by chatting with a native speaker or someone who is fluent in that language. In addition, to quickly improve your speaking skills, you can also learn cultural knowledge not found in textbooks and make new friends, which is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.

Am I a good candidate for language exchange?

When you want to practice a language through Language Exchange, here are some tips you can check to see if you are a good candidate.

1) What is your purpose? Do you really want to practice the language? Or do you just want to meet foreign friends?

Because Language Exchange is not mandatory, there must be a strong motivation to learn each other’s language in order to be sustainable.

2) How is your language ability?

Usually, I suggest that it is better to have at least a daily conversation level, so that you can correct and improve your speech step by step during the conversation. Otherwise, it is easy to keep speaking only one language with each other.

3) Do you like to interact with people?

In fact, Language Exchange is also a kind of meeting internet friend activity, whether online or face-to-face, the first meeting will inevitably be awkward. So before participating in Language Exchange, you can ask yourself, do you want to meet a new stranger? Will you be curious about your partner?

What to prepare before Language Exchange?

The preparation content will vary depending on the length of time you work with your language partner, and is divided into early and late stages：

Early-stage：

1) Confirm meeting time and language appointment (1 hour of full Chinese conversation, 1 hour of full foreign language conversation). And set an alarm before you start so that you don’t forget to change the language when you’re having too much fun conversation.

2) Usually, the first meeting is just about introducing yourself, why are you learning this language? What are your hobbies? Where have you traveled to? What kind of music do you prefer? Basically, it’s the same as a blind date, in the process of talking to each other to find out what you have in common and whether we have a mutual connection because this part will also affect the subsequent contact.

Late-stage：

When you get to know your partner better, you will gradually start to run out of topics to talk about, so it is very important to prepare some beforehand.

1) Note down any problems of language learning that you have, such as being unsure how to translate a sentence or whether there is a more authentic way to say it. You can also bring your own textbooks or assignments and discuss your questions together.

2) If you have a grammatical problem, try not to ask a native speaker, because they usually don’t know how to explain it, either. Unless the partner major in linguistics, otherwise a lot of time will be wasted trying to explain grammar.

3) Share something interesting that happened recently, or any interesting articles, news, videos, cultural differences or interesting topics to discuss. It is better to have questions with a little depth, such as environmental protection or social issues, so that you can practice expressing your own ideas, and hear the results of your partner’s opinions from different perspectives.

4) Write an exchange diary! Language Exchange is not only to practice speaking, writing is also a very important part of it. You can write a short article about your reading experience or a movie afterthought. Gradually your writing skills will be greatly improved without you even realizing it!

5) Let’s hang out together! Hiking, movies, museums, whatever you and your friends like to do, invite your language partner to go with you as well! Since you’re going out together, you don’t have to be too strict about which language you speak for how long, so just switch between them! Be flexible!

6) Register for the language test and get certified! You can practice for the content of the exam, with specific topics and sentence patterns. When you are under pressure, you will be more prepared for each Language Exchange!

What should I pay attention to during Language Exchange?

1) When introducing to each other, observe the language level of your partner and adjust your speaking speed according to the language level, pronouncing your words as clearly and standardly as possible.

2) When practicing the language, instead of expressing yourself in your native language, ask more questions so that your partner can answer his/her thoughts more often. For example: Why? What do you think? What would you do?…etc. Try to use these questions often.

3) Use the cloud notepad to record words or sentences during the meeting, so that you can easily re-read them afterward.

Where can I find a Language Exchange partner?

Nowadays there are many ways to find language exchange partners, through mobile apps, websites, or by staying in a multicultural share house.

APP& Website recommendation：

1) Hello Talk: You can send texts, voice messages, voice calling, and video calling, and you can also help each other fix sentences, translate, and other auxiliary functions. You can also upload pictures and short articles. The overall function is very similar to Instagram.

2) Tandem: It is very similar to the function of HelloTalk, except that this app will actively send the notification about the info of other members to increase the chance of matching.

3) HiNative: It is a Q&A platform where you can ask questions about grammar, wording differences, or articles, and there are usually enthusiastic answers from native speakers.

4) BORDERLESS HOUSE: It is a multicultural share house with locals and they also organize a variety of events and provide free Language Exchange opportunities from time to time.

BORDERLESS HOUSE is an international, multicultural share house with locals. There are 17 houses in Taipei City and overseas branches in Tokyo, Osaka(Japan), and Seoul(South Korea).

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Tokyo City Guide ▏Shinjuku・Nakano・Kichijoji Area

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

Shinjuku

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

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

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

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

International Share Houses in Shinjuku Area

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE SHINJUKU-CHUO1

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

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE SHIN-OKUBO1

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

Nakano

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

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

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

International Share Houses in Nakano Area

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE SHINJUKU-NAKANO1

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

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE SHINJUKU-NAKANO3

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

Kichijoji

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

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

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

International Share Houses in Kichijoji Area

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE KICHIJOJI1

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

Trial Stay at Borderless House with RENT-FREE!!

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

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

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

 

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【Go! Go! Nihon】Learn Japanese Online! Courses are offered by Japanese language schools in Japan!

Hello, this is Ting from Borderless House.

To help more people prepare for a language school or start their self-learning Japanese journey as easily as possible, in this article, we’ll be introducing online Japanese courses that are easy, fun, and effective!

Regardless of whether you are in Japan or not, you can take Japanese courses offered by Japanese language schools because the courses are all online!!

The courses are designed for students of all levels! You can choose from the beginner course, business Japanese, JLPT preparation course, and even the Kansai-Ben course! These courses are offered by the biggest foreigner support agent – Go! Go! Nihon, collaborating with top-tier Japanese Language schools in Japan.

Go! Go! Nihon has been helping students achieve their dreams to live & study in Japan since 2009. As Covid-19 had a real impact on the thousands of students, in this regard, Go! Go! Nihon started to work with famous Japanese Language schools, teachers, or language specialists in Japan and created the paid online Japanese courses that would help you learn as effectively as possible!

Let’s find out more for the detailed  【Course Introduction】 below.

Beginner – Pre-intermediate ▏AKAMONKAI

AKAMONKAI BEGINNER COURSE

Created with the largest Japanese Language school in Tokyo, this 12-week Beginner course is designed to help you understand the basics of Japanese and cover all the material for JLPT N5. When you complete the 150 hours of study, you will also get an official school certificate that you can use in your visa application! Find out more here.

AKAMONKAI PRE-INTERMEDIATE COURSE

This pre-intermediate 12-week course will help you become more confident and accomplished in communicating in Japanese and cover the material for JLPT N4. Learn how to read and write 180 kanji, study over 1,000 vocabulary words, read and understand basic Japanese written text and learn to express yourself using different Japanese speech styles, and complete 180 hours of study. You will learn useful Japanese that is not usually taught in textbooks and also learn the basics of honorific speech, with lessons on both sonkeigo and kenjougo. Before starting this intensive course, you should already have completed the beginner course or be at JLPT N5 level. Find out more here.

AKAMONKAI BEGINNER & PRE-INTERMEDIATE BUNDLE

You can go from 0 to JLPT N4 level with our Akamonkai Beginner & Pre-Intermediate Bundle for less! The bundle which includes both the Akamonkai Japanese 12 Week Beginner Course and the Akamonkai Japanese 12 Week Pre-Intermediate Course saves you 20,000 yen compared to purchasing the courses individually. Learn hiragana, katakana, 250 kanji, more than 2000 vocabulary words and all grammar points needed for everyday life conversations. If you’re serious about learning Japanese this bundle is perfect for you. Find out more here.

Business Japanese ▏Intercultural institute of Japan

INTERCULTURAL BUSINESS JAPANESE COURSE BUNDLE

Improve your Japanese Language skills and get ready for a job in Japan with these online Business Japanese Course from Intercultural institute of Japan. Beyond simply teaching language, this course will also help you understand the unspoken Japanese business culture rules, with lessons that will improve your Japanese for the workplace and teach you important etiquette. You can take part 1 and 2 separately or buy them in a bundle and save. Due to the level of the course it is best for those who are already comfortable with Japanese at approximately JLPT N3 level. Find out more here.

JLPT N3 EXAM PREP ▏TOKYO GALAXY

TOKYO GALAXY JLPT N3 EXAM PREP ONLINE COURSE

Created to help students who have already studied up to the N3 level, their JLPT N3 Exam prep online course is designed to help you practice the JLPT N3 exam. Designed to mimic sections of the JLPT N3 exam and familiarise you with how it works, as well as give tips and explanations about the different sections of the exam. This course is perfect for anyone who has already self-studied or taken a JLPT N3 course, who now wants to prepare to take the JLPT N3 exam. Find out more here.

Kansai-Ben ▏COMMUNICA INSTITUTE

COMMUNICA INSTITUTE KANSAI-BEN COURSE
This course teaches you about Kansai-Ben, the regional dialect spoken in the Kansai area. The course is perfect for those who want to live or travel in the Kansai region and introduces you to the dialect, grammar, and pronunciation differences compared to standard Japanese. Find out more here.

Japanese Onomatopoeia ▏Kinotoriko

JAPANESE ONOMATOPOEIA
Onomatopoeia is one of the Japanese language’s most intriguing features, it really helps you to build your Japanese language fluency and understand more about the culture. Improve your Japanese and learn all about this fascinating topic in this online course created with noted illustrator and author Toriko Kino! Find out more here.

Learn Japanese anytime, anywhere. Recommended Online Japanese Courses for you

Japanese language has become very popular among language learners in recent years, not to mention that if you are planning to study or work in Japan, you’ll eventually need to know the language.

During the pandemic, your language learning process shouldn’t be slowed down!

We hope the courses that we introduced would be helpful for you on self-study and get ready for your future visiting Japan! We believe that with these Go! Go! Nihon courses, you can build a solid foundation for your Japanese language studies for school, work, or travel.

If you are interested in learning Japanese and understanding Japanese culture better, don’t miss this opportunity!

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Tokyo City Guide ▏Akasaka･Roppongi･Iidabashi Area

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

Akasaka･Roppongi･Iidabashi Area

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

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

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

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

International Share Houses in Akasaka ･ Roppongi ･ Iidabashi Area

BORDERLESS HOUSE ROPPONGI1

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

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

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

BORDERLESS HOUSE KASUGA1

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

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

BORDERLESS HOUSE IIDABASHI1

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

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

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

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

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

작성일자

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

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

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

Osaka

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

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

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

【Borderless House in Osaka】

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

Kyoto

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

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

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

【Borderless House in Kyoto】

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

Kobe

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

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

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

【Borderless House in Kobe】

➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KOBE-MOTOMACHI1

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

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

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

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

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

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

작성일자

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.

 

작성일자

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