At language schools and workplaces, it can be difficult to build deep relationships due to cultural and language barriers. But in a sharehouse, the environment of living together on a daily basis makes it easy to build connections! Eating meals in the same living room, going out together on weekends. Friendships are naturally formed in the everyday space you share together. Another great attraction is that you will be exposed to “real Japanese” and “Japanese values” that you cannot learn from textbooks.

The photo shows daily life in the sharehouse, cooking together in the kitchen.

Even if you have difficulty using the Japanese you have studied, or want to improve your Japanese through conversation, a sharehouse is a place where you can put your Japanese into practice in your daily life! Whether it’s shopping, taking out the trash, or discussing the rules of the house, there are plenty of opportunities to use “real-life Japanese” in your daily life.

It’s not uncommon to see foreign residents who couldn’t speak a word of Japanese when they first moved into a sharehouse, but by the time they leave and return home, they’re fluent in Japanese.

The more members who enjoy socializing with each other, the more quickly they improve their Japanese. You may even have a chance to use your English skills to teach English to Japanese people and enjoy language exchange!

International exchange sharehouses attract not only Japanese people, but also residents from all over the world, including Korea, the U.S., Taiwan, France, and Brazil. Many residents say they’ve made friends from all over the world while living in Japan!

Especially with the large-scale international exchange sharehouses with 50, 80, and 100 rooms, there are many opportunities to meet people!

You can make many friends just by living in the house, making it the perfect environment to make friends for those who are not good with outside events or have a shy personality. Here are the large-scale international exchange sharehouses run by Kizunaya Sharehouse.

Sharehouse Hearth 

Close to Ikebukuro, an international exchange sharehouse with 80 private rooms

Sharehouse HASH196

International exchange sharehouse where 100 people, including families, live together

tabicco Sharehouse

International exchange sharehouse in Osaka for travel enthusiasts

In a sharehouse, you will naturally come into contact with different cultures in your daily life. For example, you will be exposed to the norms of other people, such as differences in religious customs, food culture, and lifestyle rhythms. Living in such an environment fosters an attitude of thinking from the other person’s point of view and the ability to accept differences and engage in dialogue.

As a result, residents will broaden their own perspectives and naturally acquire a global mindset that will be useful when interacting with people from any country or culture in the future. It is a rare opportunity to reconsider your own culture as well as that of Japan, and to learn about the cultures of other residents from all over the world. This is an environment that can only be found in a sharehouse.

It is easy to feel lonely when living alone in a foreign country. However, in a sharehouse, there is always someone there to welcome you home when you get home. When you feel sick, or before an exam, or when you just want to share your feelings, there is always someone by your side. There are many moments when you experience such a “family-like” sense of security.

Relaxing in front of the TV. Many members say they have found a place where they can be themselves.

When renting an apartment in Japan, it may be very difficult to take care of the deposit, key money, guarantor, and other formalities and costs. It can also be difficult to purchase all the home appliances you need.

However, most international exchange sharehouses are furnished with furniture and appliances, and contracts can be made on a monthly basis. Even if this is your first time living in Japan, you can start with peace of mind. At Kizunaya sharehouses, there is no need to pay a deposit or key money. You can preview the rooms online and complete all procedures online, so you can secure a room well in advance of your arrival in Japan.

Setsubun bean-throwing, hanami (cherry blossom viewing), Tanabata (Star Festival), New Year’s Eve soba (buckwheat noodles), visiting shrines – these are all opportunities to experience Japanese culture with other sharehouse members. You’ll often see such scenes in your daily life.

The photo shows a trip to Kyoto with sharehouse members wearing yukata! It was a fun trip, and even the overseas members were delighted to wear yukata for the first time.

A sharehouse is a place where you live and learn with others. Whether it is learning how to cook, sharing stories from your home country, or giving support during someone’s job search or heartbreak, there are things you can learn here that you cannot get at a language school or at work. It is no wonder that many people say, “It has changed my outlook on life.”

A hidden benefit of living in a sharehouse is that you will not only improve your Japanese language skills, but also develop cross-cultural awareness, communication skills, and flexibility in your relationships. These are skills that will surely be useful in your future career.

As companies continue to internationalize their operations, the ability to adapt to diverse values is a great advantage. In fact, many current and former sharehouse residents have said that their cross-cultural communication skills and flexible interpersonal skills were highly valued during their job search in Japan.

In addition, the empathy and adjustment skills gained from living with people of different nationalities and backgrounds are the foundation for building trust not only in international work, but in all kinds of relationships. In addition, you will gain a deeper understanding of your own strengths and challenges, an experience that will broaden your life options.

Living in an international exchange sharehouse fosters a relationship that goes beyond mere “roommates.” As you sit around the dinner table together, marvel at the cultural differences, and sometimes share your concerns, you will develop a deep relationship of trust that transcends nationality and language.

Even after graduation, many house members keep in touch with each other, visiting each other’s countries or encouraging each other with work or life milestones. A sharehouse is a “life school” and a place to make friends for life. The encounters that begin here may very well become something you treasure for life.

An international exchange sharehouse is not only a safe place to stay for foreigners living in Japan for the first time, but also a “small door to the world”.

If you are looking to enhance your life in Japan, meet various people, and experience the culture, then a sharehouse is the perfect choice for you.

Don’t worry if you feel uneasy. Whether you speak only a few words of Japanese or have a shy personality, it all starts with taking the plunge. Please feel free to contact us!