What makes shared house life so interesting… 3) Improving language skills!

There are many restrictions in Japan on foreigners wanting to rent places to live. Subsequently there are many foreigners living in shared housing due to the relative ease of getting a contract. Some have come to Japan for business, some are working for foreign companies within Japan, others are foreign students and some are spending a short time in Japan sight-seeing. By spending time alongside these people, you will be able to learn “real” English at home and for free!

You might feel a little insecure about living with people of different nationalities, but all prospective residents are thoroughly checked by the corporate management company and anyone who is deemed suspicious, whether they are Japanese or a foreign national, would not be accepted into shared housing. Not all people are native English speakers, but most are normally able to communicate in either broken English or Japanese – so you don’t have to worry too much if you can’t speak any English.

Some language schools advertise learning “communicative” English from native English speakers. This kind of English comes naturally through daily conversation in a shared house. You’ll not only be learning a language, but also differences in culture and customs – so it’s almost like a home-based study trip! Although, to begin with, you might mix with foreign residents viewing them only as “foreigners”, the more time you spend with them and get to know them as people, the closer you’ll become, probably developing close relationships with them.

As has been discussed above, living in a shared house is a very good way to improve your foreign language skills. However, there are some shared houses that will only allow Japanese residents or?residents are mainly foreigners, they came from no-English speaking country. So it is important to do your research beforehand so as to establish which shared houses have your desired nationalities living in them.

What makes shared house life so interesting… 2) Warm companionship!

Many residents living in shared houses when asked about what the merits of living there are will answer, “Warmth.” Though you are living with strangers, you still feel the security of knowing that there will always be others around in the house ? something that can’t be said when living alone. ?

Despite the initial excitement, it can be more than a little lonely when we are separated from our nagging parents. Coming home to a dark room after a tiring day at work can feel a little daunting. But in a shared house there will always be a light on in somebody’s room or somebody to give you a warm welcome home. There will also be many opportunities to feel comforted – whether it be eating meals together or helping each other through illness or even coping with natural disasters.

You may also find heart-warming shared houses where some residents who, having just moved to Tokyo from their home town, have the good fortune to meet others originally from the same area as themselves, or where residents share food they have been sent by their family or have meals cooked for them by other residents who enjoy doing so. Celebrating each other’s birthdays, swapping tips on how to get by…the list of positive things about living in a shared house is endless! Not surprising then that there are so many stories of people not wanting to leave them!

You can build “more than friend less than family” relationships with others in a shared house through your everyday life. You’ll always be looking forward to going home!

What makes shared houses so interesting… 1) Discovering a whole new world!

There are all kinds of people living in shared houses. They can differ in both age and employment backgrounds. They can have very different pasts, therefore their sense of values and culture are also varied. Shared houses offer you a chance to spend a small, but important part of your life, alongside such people under the same roof. By mixing with people who you might not normally get the chance to mix with in everyday life, you’ll live a life fresh with surprises and make new discoveries.

The advantage of living in shared house is that you’ll naturally mix with other residents in common areas, the kitchen, the shower room, etcetera…By mixing with these people, little by little every day, you will gradually build up a bond of trust with them. You’ll be able to form friendships with others in the house in a homely environment where you can relax and be yourself. Yet another plus of life in a shared house!

If you open your mind to experience these differing values in your everyday life, there exist so many chances to broaden your horizons. There will also be stimulating moments when you’ll discuss past experiences and future dreams together. Full of fresh discoveries, you might encounter new ideas yet unthought-of. The bonds you build with others through these meaningful moments may help to create strong connections with others connections which may prove useful in the future.

Why not try life in a shared house where each day you will get the chance to broaden your horizons in a relaxing environment?

People who live in shared houses are all weirdoes, right..? 

Wrong! Most residents are ordinary, working, single people.

When you tell people that you are going to live in a shared house, there are still many who will protest, “What! Why?” This just goes to show that an overriding image of living in a shared house is one of “person doing something different = weirdo”. Actually, this isn’t the case. Almost all of the residents are working, single people.?

Some of the residents may have just moved to Tokyo, and as such have no family or friends living nearby. Others may have experienced the loneliness of living alone and so are seeking the company of others. And, (you might be surprised to know), 50% – 60% of the residents are female, many of whom are looking for a sense of security. And thanks to the ease of moving in, there are also many foreign tourists and foreign students. And some, wanting improve their language skills by socialising with these foreign people, are moving in as well. And most recently, there are an increasing number of freelancers who want to socialise and mix with people of different ages and working backgrounds in order to come up with new and fresh ideas.

Thus, the residents of shared houses live their lives with specific goals and so choose to live in shared houses in order to help realize these. We all have our own goals. If there is something you want to achieve, why not consider this kind of life style for yourself as a way of helping you to achieve it? You might gain a lot more than you ever thought possible!

So what is life like in a shared house..?
Intelligently put, “It’s a way of life which will help broaden your horizons”.

In simple, layman’s terms a shared house is, “A building which has private rooms and a common area. It is a rented property where many residents share a kitchen, shower room, and other areas together.” Viewed differently, a shared house can be said to be a mixed style of living, where as well as having the freedom and space to relax in your own room, you also have the stimulation that comes from mixing with others in the house the minute you set foot outside of it.

The collective residents of a shared house vary in age, working backgrounds and nationality. It is luck, rather than personal choice, that decides who lives together under one roof. By getting together and chatting about your daily lives you will encounter a new sense of value and learn many new things. You may even have the chance to encounter brand-new ideas and concepts that you couldn’t possibly have thought of by yourself. In this way you are able to broaden your horizons and increase your potential as an individual. This is the real essence of a shared life.

Sometimes living in a shared house is compared with room sharing. Room sharing normally comes about through personal contacts. On the other hand, a shared house is commonly arranged through corporate management. Thanks to this type of management, it is possible to live more comfortably, with greater safety and avoid any trouble before it occurs. I will go into more depth about these advantages a little later.

If you want to add a little extra excitement to your everyday life, why not take up the challenge of living in a shared house?? You will have a chance to encounter a new you!