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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/

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

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

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

Osaka

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

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

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

【Borderless House in Osaka】

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

Kyoto

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

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

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

【Borderless House in Kyoto】

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

Kobe

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

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

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

【Borderless House in Kobe】

➤BORDERLESS HOUSE KOBE-MOTOMACHI1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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BORDERLESS HOUSE ▏Rooms, Locations, and Reservation Steps

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

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

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

Locations of BORDERLESS HOUSE

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

Tokyo Locations

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kansai Locations

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

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

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

SUMMER TRIAL STAY at BORDERLESS HOUSE★Enjoy Free Accommodation

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

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

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

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

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

How to Reserve Your Seat at BORDERLESS HOUSE

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

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

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

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

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

 

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★活動★【房租0元! 試住體驗國際交流Share House!】 ▏ 免費住宿BORDERLESS HOUSE

在日本試住體驗國際交流Share House! 不須支付房租費用! 嘗試不一樣的日本生活!

人生中有些最好的事情是免費的! 入住東京、大阪、京都的國際交流share house和日本當地人交朋友、向日本朋友學習和練習日語!

東京、大阪及京都總共超過25間Share House供您選擇! 

2個月免費房租

無須擔心預算問題，因為BORDERLESS HOUSE提供您兩個月完全免費的房租，讓您可以不用顧慮經濟問題，安心體驗全新的國際村環境！

和日本人交朋友▏ Build Strong & Lasting Friendships

因為疫情關係，社交生活及交到新朋友變得不再像以前一樣容易。因此我們提供您一個安全的環境，讓您在疫情之下也能夠持續認識新朋友，拓展自己的生活圈及國際觀！

每天都能練習日語▏Learn Japanese from Native Speakers

因為線上授課減少了您與同學或朋友面對面練習說日文的機會嗎？在BORDERLESS HOUSE，因為有一半的室友都是日本人，讓您每天都有機會可以開口說日文，快速增進您的日語能力，並學到課本上學不到的道地用語！

試住體驗國際交流Share House，無須支付房租費用！

➤於2021年10月31日前入住★ 最高可享兩個月房租0元

◆條件及規則◆
● 僅需要支付水電光熱費及網路費 (總費用約在 ¥7000 – ¥12000 )
● 訂房時需支付押金 ¥20,000 (退房時押金會部分退還)
● 最短必須入住一個月
● 可以延長租約 (第2個月延長需支付禮金30000日圓)
●只有住在日本的外國人可以申請

 

【新宿・中野・吉祥寺地區】

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 高円寺1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 新中野1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 新宿中野1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 新宿中野3
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 新大久保1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 明大前1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 新宿中野2

【品川・目黑・惠比壽地區】

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 大森1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE久が原1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE品川戶越3
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE鵜之木3
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE三軒茶屋1

【上野・淺草・秋葉原地區】

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 北千住2
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 門前仲町
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 菊川2
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 菊川3
▶BORDERLESS HOUS町屋1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 北千住1

【赤坂･ 六本木 ･ 飯田橋地區】

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 飯田橋
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 春日

【Shibuya・Harajuku・Shimokitazawa Area】

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 原宿北參道
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 西下北澤
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 武藏小山
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 表參道1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 三軒茶屋1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 三軒茶屋2

【池袋地區】

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 板橋區役所前

【大阪・京都・神戶】

▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 大阪鶴橋1
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 大阪豐中
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE大阪弁天町
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 京都花園
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 京都西陣
▶BORDERLESS HOUSE 京都鞍馬口

 

 ※歡迎預約實地或是線上看房!

Summer FREE Trial Stay campaign

對於試住體驗國際交流Share House有興趣嗎？ 歡迎透過官網的諮詢表、 LINE或是Facebook Messenger和我們聯絡吧！

★☆★點擊以下方式和我們聯絡！☆★☆

還有更多好處!

★舒適的環境★
免費WIFI和寬闊的共用空間，提供給房客們最舒適的交流空間!

★更能深度體驗日本文化及生活★
只有與日本室友住在一起才能體驗到的在地生活體驗！無論是參加大小慶典、品嚐日本家常菜、去日本人才知道的私房景點或餐廳！

★多語言的生活環境★
免費學外語! 能夠從來自世界各地的室友們身上學習到多種語言！

★免費的線上語言交換活動★
和日本、韓國及台灣共超過90間Share House的房客們進行語言交換! 住在這裡的房客都是因為喜歡日本文化、國際交流、熱衷學習語言，和對於異國文化有熱忱的人！能交到有相同興趣、來自世界各地的好朋友！

交日本朋友、精進日文能力以及創造美好的日本回憶！在能與來自世界各地的人同住的國際交流Share House

• TENANT STORIES • Check our tenants’ life during COVID-19 

➔Greater Connections with Housemates during COVID19
➔Surviving Coronavirus in a Tokyo Sharehouse
➔Sharing times together as a big “family” is the best cure for loneliness during quarantine

“免費試住期間”, “第一個月” 及  “第二個月” 的定義

<例> 入住日: 8/5
①只住一個月
免費試住期間為8/5~9/4

② 只住兩個月
免費試住期間為8/5~10/4
第一個月: 8/5~9/4
第二個月: 9/5~10/4

③ 入住3個月以上
免費試住期間於10/4結束
10/5須開始支付房租

關於其他費用及契約期間

※ 假如您需要額外租借寢具組，寢具組租借費用為9,000日圓，一次性費用。(寢具組包含: 枕頭、枕頭套、床單、保潔墊、棉被、被套、毯子)

※最短一個月以上即可入住。基本上契約為一年一簽，要退房時請務必提出退房申請。因此，入住簽約時不需要事先決定好退房的日期。如果您已經決定好退房日期也沒有問題，您可事先提出退房申請給我們。

認識來自世界各地的朋友及學習各國語言文化的最佳機會

體驗不一樣的日本生活！就在日本第一的國際交流 BORDERLESS HOUSE!

來自世界各地的年輕人藉由住在同一個屋簷下，孕育出了多國籍國際交流Share House，在BORDERLESS HOUSE可以遇到來自各國的室友、有機會接觸到新的價值觀以及異國文化，這是我們BORDERLESS HOUSE想提供給大家環境。

享受最高兩個月免房租!　只希望體驗一個月也沒有問題!

我們歡迎每一位想在充滿國際觀的新環境下生活、想認識外國朋友、還有想提升語言能力的房客們加入我們!

 

 

 

 

 

發表於

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

 

發表於

Cultural Exchange ▏ There is More Power in Unity than Division

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exciting Ways to Experience Local Culture

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

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

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

Start to experience different cultures!!

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

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

Stay safe everyone 🙂

發表於

【Reasonable Quarantine】 Staying in Korea through quarantine with reasonable price and easy way!

Hello, this is Borderless House Seoul.

Currently (July 8th, 2020) in Korea, it is required to be quarantined for 2 weeks for all people landed from other countries as a countermeasure against COVID-19. People from other countries have to be quarantined at their home or the place which government prepared for 2 weeks and it is not allowed to use a common facility like Goshiwon or students ‘dormitory (with certain exceptions).

Borderless House is a share house and tenants share living room and bathroom so we also ask our new tenants to move in after 2-weeks quarantine.

Arranging the quarantine place and every meal for 2 weeks cost a lot and it is a big burden.

So, we decided to launch a new special service which you can reserve an accommodation for quarantine and our share house at the same time!

Detail of the New Service

You can reserve the place for quarantine together when you reserved a room in Borderless House. We try to find a room which has full options. We help you from the arrangement of the one room for quarantine and moving in to our share house in total!

Supports for Quarantine

We support some food like instant noddles and also some water before you do quarantine. Commission fee includes this support and help all before you do quarantine.

The support includes …

-Quarantine room rent and utility fee
-Preparing basic food in the room in advance
-Explanation how to move to quarantine room
-Support of the shopping during the quarantine

* What is “Preparing basic food in the room in advance”?
Before your arrival, our staff can prepare some basic food like some bottle of water and instant noodles in the room . 

* What is “Support of the move in to the quarantine room “?
When you move in to a room for quarantine , our staffs can not meet you so we will provide a information book which helps you to move in by yourself .

* What is “Support of the shopping during the quarantine”?
Korean government had been providing food or daily needs for the people who are quarantined for free but now they do not . Therefore, people need to bring food by themselves or purchase online or ask someone to go buy and deliver. We provide the manual how to use “emart Mall”(Korean internet shopping site) and support your purchase by online. You can make payment directly on the web page by using your credit card .

Some types of Rooms

Amount of room for 2 weeks depends on the type of rooms and location .
Our partner company will tell us what they have based on your arrival date .

<Basic facilities>
Microwave, IH stove, Fridge, Pot, Plates, Cups, Chopsticks, Detergent, TV, Double bed, Toilet, Towel * 4, Wi-Fi, AC One-time laundry service
※ some rooms does not have a kitchen washing space or washing machine but the room itself has large space and some rooms have the washing service .

* These photos are for images, so the actual furniture arrangement and the floor plan might be changed.

* These are located in Sinchon or Ehwa Women ‘s University area (Seoul metro Line.2)

How to Reserve

1. Reserve a room in Borderless House
2. Confirm the details with a staff through Skype talk
3. Transfer deposit, management fee and quarantine fee by wire transfer
4.  If the quarantine room is not available, we suggest different type of the room
5 . Receive the self check in manual for the quarantine room
6. Check in to the quarantine room
7. After 2 weeks, meet a staff and move in to Borderless House

* If you cancel after No.4, cancellation fee 200,000 won will be charged.

Check in & out

Borderless House staff can not see you face to face when you arrive since all people from other countries have to be quarantined. We will send you the instructions about check in and out in advance, so please read it and check in by yourself.

If you have any trouble when you check in , please contact to us through Kakao Talk.
Kakaotalk ID : borderlesshouse

Time of the Check in & out

Please move in after 2 pm and move out after 12 pm.

Cancellation

* When you cancel your reservation for the quarantine room
The cancellation fee 200,000 won will be charged. We will deduct 200,000 won from the quarantine fee you paid and refund the rest .

* When you cancel your reservation for the room in Borderless House
If you cancel the reservation from the day you receive the confirmation mail to 8 days prior to your move-in day, cancellation fee 300,000 won will be charged and we will refund the rest of money you paid. If you cancel the reservation from 7 days to your planned move-in date, deposit, management fee, first month ‘s rent and utilities will not be refunded .

(Please burden bank transfer fee at your expense)

FAQ about the room

How much do I need to pay for this service?

For the quarantine and commission fee,
-Quarantine fee is different and it depends on a type of rooms . When you share the date to arrive in Korea , we start finding a room for your quarantine and inform of the amount of a room as soon as we find.

-Commission fee for Borderless tenants is 150,000 KRW. This includes the support of some water and instant noodles before you arrive for a few days.

-Commission fee for those who just need a room for their quarantine is 300,000 KRW. This includes the support of some water and instant noodles before you arrive for a few days.

For the rest of days,
We share how to order the groceries or the others by online and they are usually delivered in front of the door within 3 days.

-About the way to transfer,
We always suggest ‘Transferwise‘ as it is the fastest and easiest system.
Please check the link below.

Do you prepare a contract?

We prepare the contract and send it to you by PDF file. We will leave the real one in the room.

How should I answer when I ‘m asked about the quarantine room when I enter Korea?

We will give you a contact information of Borderless House Staff or the owner of the quarantine house. When you are asked about the quarantine place, please call to us.

FAQ about quarantine

Can not I really go out even one step from the room while quarantine?

It is strictly prohibited to go out except for having the test at the health center .
There were some cases that some people continuously went out from the quarantine room and got restrained and deported (Not only by the information from GPS application but CCTV or credit card record also can tell where you are.) Please do not go out during the quarantine period for sure .

How should I go to the quarantine room?

There are buses and taxis only for people from other countries at Inchon Airport so please use them. We will tell you the details.

Is it possible to use delivery service?

You can use the delivery service at the quarantine place but please receive stuff without meeting with the delivery person face to face.

FAQ about the shopping support

How much budget would be enough?

It depends on the person but most of people prepare 200,000 won for it. If your original budget was not enough, you can add and pay later.

If you have any question, please feel free to contact us! → HERE

發表於

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Where Do You Want to Study?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How Do You Want to Study?

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

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

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

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

Where Do You Want to Live?

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

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

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

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

What’s keeping You From Planning?

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

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