For more information, please click here. 

Living along side of Nambu line, with “Musashi-Kosugi”, the city with on-going development as your neighbor Every time visiting Musashi-Kosugi, the scenery has changed. That’s how exceedingly the town is developing. Newly built high tower apartments and large scaled shopping malls are being constructed. It is one of the most notable redeveloping towns in Japan. Share Residence MUSACO is one station away from this place. You can never avoid using the Musashi-Kosugi station since it’s where you transfer lines going to cities like Shinjuku, Shibuya, or Shinagawa. You can take either Tokyu-Toyoko line or JR Shonan-Shinjuku line to Shinjuku, Shibuya, and Yokohama. If going to the Shinagawa area, take JR Yokosuka-line. Keep in mind though, that the station is overly crowded on the grounds of convenience.
Sight changing dramatically, this is the nearest station of the share house, the Musashi-Nakahara station. Except for the big ones like Musashi-Kosugi, towns along the Nambu line are mostly nice and quiet.   It takes about 10 minutes’ walk to the house. The roads are flat so you may ride a bicycle. About 5 minutes, I would say.Found “MARUETSU”, the supermarket! Spot to shop on your way home.
Here we are! This is what the Share Residence MUSACO looks like. It used to be IT company’s dormitory. No wonder the apartment-like appearance. Entering the automatic locking door, broad entrance spreads in front of you. Making steps further into the building through the aisle, there’s lounge space, one of the main feature of the house.
Complete work of the “Share Residence “, squeezing the idea all together.　 Share Design Inc. has been running more than 20 properties mainly in Tokyo, opening new one every year. CEO of the company produces its’ interior decorations, getting inspirations from his hobby, and that’s what makes the share houses special and unique compared to others. Share Residence MUSACO may be the culmination of the uniqueness piled up together with lots of entertainment aspects.
Above is the L-shaped authentic bar counter. Displayed bottles of liquors brings up the rock spirit. Most times, people are surprised to find beer server in the house. Of course, it is for free use.

Coffee machine is at your service in the busy morning.

You probably have never seen this before at any other share house. Opening the retro refrigerator, you will find plenty of wines. Wish I had these for free…

Pleasant sunlight and ventilation. Main living room connecting inside and outside. Big window from the floor to the ceiling is giving spaciousness to the room. Outside the window, you will find wooden floor terrace. Feel free to enjoy relaxing at the terrace on sunny days. At night, sit inside and share excitement with your house mates watching World cup or Olympic games! The living room creates lots of connections and memories among residents.

View from the living room sofa. The room is lit very bright with ample of sunlight pouring in!

Everything is custom-made, from cushions to teddy bears.

 

Enough space to set hammock and large-sized tents.

See the stump on the corner? That’s the tree cut at the vacation house of the CEO himself. Surprisingly heavy since it’s a real tree.

Enormous tent resembles the ones at the Glamping sites. No matter how old you are, crawling into it will take you back to the days when you were just a little kid.

Kitchen with professional equipments. Kitchen room next to the lounge is quiet professional. Great environment for cooking lovers. Share houses ran by Share Designs Inc. throws parties and events regularly. It is highly convenient to cook together with your share mates on those occasions with wide table and enough space to move around.

Spices and cooking equipment of individuals’ are able to be kept in the locker at other room in the back.

Standard kitchen goods and tableware are well supplied as you can see in the picture, so no need to buy one when moving in.

Look at the power of the fire!

Here’s one fine oven. You can even cook turkey with this for Thanksgiving Day.

There’s two gas stoves and 3 IH stoves.

 

Opening the commercial use sized refrigerator, containers for each resident are lined up.

Each container may be a bit small for frequent cookers. Those should consider purchasing their own refrigerator.

Wow! There’s a soft cream maker hiding at the corner. I can easily imagine residents scrambling for use…

No excuses to make! Keep fit with latest exercising machines. You haven’t seen everything yet. Don’t be surprise to find more great facilities the Share Residence MUSACO have. At one side of the lounge, treadmill, cross trainer, and a machine which seems like a fitness bike is equipped. Once you start, you can never go back since the eyes of the other residents. Seeing other share mates working out will definitely motivates you to keep up the good work.

Now, this really looks like a fitness bike, but it’s not. This is a game machine called “Zwift”. It enables you to connect with cyclists all over the world online.

 

Zwift had been first introduced to Share Residence AOBADAI which opened last year. This is how you play. Weight of the pedal changes in proportion to the level of courses’ inclination. It will make you absorbed in the world shown on the monitor.

Screen shows the speed, distance, and your avatar. For those who cannot bear the eyes of other residents, don’t worry! There’s fitness room besides the ones at the lounge. Is the machine in above picture familiar to you? Yes, it’s O2 capsule. It will improve your blood flow, which is said to be effective to recover from exhaustion and keeping healthy skin. Residents are free to use at anytime! Here’s good news for music lovers. There’s a music studio where you can play electric drums and pianos. Wait, is it a barber shop!? Carbonate shower is at your service. This is way more than you can probably imagine. Now this is where it gets interesting. Take a close and careful look behind the mirror. There’s a secret door…

Residents Only! Enter the mysterious Club Lounge. I personally was shocked with this kind of surprise. I have never seen anything like this before at other share houses. Entering the secret door, there was a room filled with heavy bass sound and mirror ball hanging from the ceiling. Projector shows music videos on the wall and at the counter is DJ performing. This is the party room only the residents can use. Enjoy karaoke anytime. It is away from living district so you don’t need to worry about making noises and just have fun.

DJ in the picture is the owner of this share house! He has been working as professional DJ in the US.   Isn’t it fun to imagine Friday night here at the house? You don’t need to worry at all about taking the last train home.

16㎡ private rooms you can décor. The share house once was a dormitory of the company. Wallpapers and flooring are in several different types, so you may have a choice if the rooms are available. Some rooms have great amount of sunlight, which may be too much in the summer time without air conditioning. You cannot see in the picture, but bed, desk, and a chair are equipped, so don’t bother buying big sized furniture.

The building is 3 stories high, 13 rooms on the 1st, 26 rooms each at 2nd and 3rd floor, which makes 65 rooms in total. The closet and storage space should be enough for most people. There is a closet you can see in the picture above and a storage box at the right wall. In addition, shoes boxes are in every room. Shower booth and laundries are on the 1st floor. Water basin, bathroom, and laundry are all together in one space on the 2nd and 3rd floor. Picture on the left is the bathroom on 2nd and 3rd. Picture on the right is the 1st’s. There are more bathrooms on the 2nd and the 3rd, but 1st’s was cleaner compared to them since it’s recently constructed. 8 shower booths and two bathtubs + showers are available. At this time of the season, shower booth may be enough, but when it gets chilly, you might want to soak yourself in a nice warm bath.

/Author:kubota

Details for ‘Share-residence Aobadai’ Here　/  Promotional Video for ‘Share-residence Aobadai’ here  

Comfortable living without trying too hard Share-residence Aobadai, housing a total of 92 households, looks more like your average Japanese apartment complex than a sharehouse. From the station to the actual house, there’s a single road that boasts various stores, from a Tokyuu store to an Ion supermarket, and even a large pharmacy right next door to the sharehouse. You’re pretty likely to buy your food supplies near the front of the station, and your day to day supplies from the pharmacy.
Here we have the front of Aobadai station. There are multiple universities nearby so there are plenty of young people in the area.   Well then! We’ve come to visit the sharehouse with the Share Ambassador Miss Rin! Rin is a top blogger in Taiwan.
Mr. Fujii of the management staff came to greet us at the front door. The front entrance is decorated with a really awesome logo. We walked through the auto-lock double doors inside.
Take a full-scale training lounge and make it your everyday There’s no doubt about it that the lounge where innumerable training bikes are installed for training and display surprises guests who’ve stepped in. Since the lounge is just outside the entrance, you’re likely to see somebody training on one of the bikes everyday, and who knows! Maybe something will stir up inside of you, inspiring you saying ‘I should try it too!’! It’s definitely a space worthy of being the main face of a sharehouse based on the concept of triathlons.
The dim lighting gives off fancy, refined feelings in the room. There’s a road bike sat in the middle of the other bikes, but there’s something different about it…

Challenge the World’s Cyclists with the newest item popular overseas! You have the opportunity to train with the ‘ZWIFT’, a road bike that’s currently really popular overseas. When you actually try out the bike, you’ll see that an avatar on the display screen that, from the training room, makes it feel like your cycling outside in the real world. Distance and speed are, of course, monitored on the screen as well, and internet connection allows you to race other ZWIST players online in real time. Technology like this could be really useful in snowy regions where outdoor racing is difficult.

We had them give ZWIFT a try for us.

The display above the handles showed your current speed, distance and even current incline levels very realistically.

The rear wheel has been remodeled to ZWIFT specifications, and the required force needed to push the pedals forward changes based on the inclination displayed on the screen.

Rest after a training session is also important, so give a massage chair a try when you’re finished to relax.

There’s nothing like this oxygen capsule! On top of helping with fatigue, it also aids in anti-aging and is recommended for post-workout recovery.

Cycling exercises to music! It’s common knowledge that the New York based cycling exercises have found their way to inner-cities and even studios in recent years, but in this day in age who could have imagined it being accessible at home… “I don’t feel like going all the way to the gym!” Is now no longer an excuse! (haha)

Pedalling on your own is fine, but working out with everyone adds another level of excitement!

The photo is of the opening event. The trainers came out and completed a jam-packed lesson lasting forty-five minutes. It’s really tough, but the feeling of achievement after you’re finished makes it all worth it.

People who can DJ may have an environment to practice at home.

After introducing USEN, there’s always some kind of background music.

Next up is the living room of Share-residence Aobadai where the residents all hang out.

A calming and warm wooden living room From the floors to the wall and even the furniture, the living room mainly utilizes wooden material, giving off a warm atmosphere. While some may feel that the living room is too small to fit 92 people, the reality is everybody has their own lifestyles and schedules, so it’s very uncommon for the living room to be filled to the brim.

The living room is set with a music room as well, and because there’s a bit of distance between the two rooms you can practice as much as you want.

A kitchen to be proud of can be found here. The silver kitchen is like one you’d see in a restaurant. 

The firepower is great! With such professional facilities at hand, you might end up wanting to try out new dishes that you’d never thought to before. Next, let’s take a look at this suspicious neon sign we found that connects the lounge and the rooms. ‘Karaoke snack-bar’ is displayed on the sign, but this is a sharehouse; definitely not a bar… right?

Snack “Limelight” We stand corrected! In the sharehouse sits a snack-bar of the same quality as a real one.

Who could be standing on the other side of the counter? It’d be funny if one of the residents was the ‘bar mama’. When you think of snack-bars, you think of karaoke! By inserting coins, you can enjoy some karaoke using Live DAM.

A good idea of what residents want This sharehouse was originally renovated from a company dorm. When you think of your average sharehouse, you think of a place where the rooms are private, but the bathrooms, kitchen and the so on are all shared, placing a wall in front of many people who may be nervous about moving in. However, Share-residence Aobadai boasts a bathroom, bathtub and kitchen in each private room, giving you a partial single-living experience.

For each room, you walk down the outdoor walkway. Now, let’s check out the rooms! Each room is set up like this. The appearance isn’t much different from a one-room apartment. Every room has a balcony like this. Near the entrance is a mini-kitchen, and simple recipes can be easily made in your room. The toilet/bathtub mix is highly reviewed amongst the ladies in the sharehouse.

/Author:Inamine

The Discovery series is one of the most famous sharehouse brands in Fukuoka.

The Discovery series specializes in concept sharehouses, and is a strong prospect for those looking to live a new life in Fukuoka city. It’s actually also designated as “Fukuoka City Private Sector Establishment Support Project” by Fukuoka City. There are currently three Discovery series in Fukuoka city, and here we’d like to introduce 【3】- ‘The Entrepreneur sharehouse’ (referred to as “DMW”).

【1】 English Sharehouse → Discovery Hakata South (DHS)　→　Discovery Hakata South（DHS）
【2】 International Exchange Sharehouse→ Discovery Meinohama South (DMS)→　Discovery Meinohama South（DMS）
【3】 Entrepreneur Sharehouse → Discovery Meinohama West (DMW)　→　Discovery Meinohama West（DMW）

Through conversations with the residents and the management company who we met at our event, I felt that this Entrepreneur Sharehouse DMW was “a house where you could think seriously about work and living”.

When you hear the words “Entrepreneur Sharehouse”, you may feel that eligible tenants are few and far between.
However, this house isn’t limited only to people that have to have superb management skills or a high work ethic! So, what kind of person is the target candidate of this property?

①Having interest in starting a business as a student
②Having interest in sideline business and entrepreneurial work
③Preparation stage of entrepreneurship
④Freelance
⑤Venture business manager / staff
⑥Company manager
⑦I want to do something, but I haven’t decided

To put it simply, people of all stages in life are welcome. The important thing is to have a self-improving mindset and the mentality to change one’s life in a higher-reaching environment. While each resident has their own differing interests, environments that ‘aspire to improve’ will become a great asset in society.

In addition, the Kyushu Rep. Shirasuna, who manages this sharehouse, is also in the process of challenging multiple ventures, including sharehouses, hotels and even businesses in southeast Asia. It’s a pretty luxurious environment to be in with business senior’s in such close proximity. Simply living on your own will naturally create encounters that you couldn’t have imagined.

Social Gatherings ＆ Resident Interviews

We participated in a social gathering held once a month, and got to talk with the residents!

What kind of people are actually living here?
While there are many residents who actively participate in various ventures such as IT, real estate and even overseas import and exports of drones, many of the residents still aren’t completely sure what their goals are regarding entrepreneurship. The sharehouse may feel a bit stiff, but it is truly a place that you can relax in. From freelancers to individuals wanting to start a sideline business; we feel that there are plenty of people eligible for this sharehouse. At any rate, we believe that this is a place where you can really crack down and focus on your work. The concept of ‘how to work’ has changed more into an idea of ‘how to live’, and we feel this sharehouse is to thank for that.

By the way: are there a lot of residents here with sharehouse experience?
While there are people who have experience with dorms and sharehouses, there are also those with no experience whatsoever.It’s really not a big deal. The rooms are private and the washroom and kitchen are large, essentially feeling like an extension of a one-room apartment. A common pattern we’ve noticed with many of the residents is Kyushu natives who, after leaving Kyushu for some time, came back to Fukuoka and stumbled up on this DMW while looking for a new and interesting environment. Recently there’s even been an influx of residents who have no connections to Fukuoka whatsoever. All we can say is that everyone is positive and there are many people who are striving to do something from here on out.That type of ambitious feeling is especially necessary in a sharehouse.

What are your recommendations of this sharehouse?
You’re getting a really good deal with this house, that’s for sure! A small house usually wouldn’t have a seminar room and small office. It’s really helpful to have such useful facilities open for use while also having your own room to protect your privacy. The kitchen is a really great, fulfilling area, and the living room is very fancy. To put it simply, just thinking of the facilities is enough to realize how much of a deal this sharehouse is.

The seminar room and the like are really great and all, but what about the cleaning?
There are multiple shared areas, and if it were up to the residents to clean up according to assigned schedules then it could honestly get pretty tough. However, a cleaning contractor actually comes in three times a week and handles all of the cleaning duties! From the living room, kitchen, shower and other rooms, each room (aside from your own private room) is cleaned up. We’re sure this is more than likely much easier than living on your own!

Is it true that there are free English lessons?
Yes, there are. At the moment, an English teacher from Australia will come twice a week on Sunday and Monday to give free English lessons. Therefore, this is also an environment where you can study English. The difference between this sharehouse and an International Exchange sharehouse in the vicinity is that their DMS is frequented by many foreign residents. However, the Entrepreneur House is frequented more by people with experience in foreign travels, or internationally minded people, so there are plenty of opportunities to have deep conversations and gain lots of information! On top of that, the Discovery series sharehouses are planning on increasing their number of gatherings, so we think it’ll be even easier to create environments where it’s easy to learn English.

Are there any other recommended services?

One very useful service is a Facebook group for residents that include tax accountants, creating a mechanism for residents to have discussions with said accountants. As entrepreneurs and sideliners bring in more sales and profits, naturally tax-related troubles also come into play. However, this environment is set in place to help you discuss those troubles at leisure, and not just for tax-accountants; this environment is set up to help you with anything you need to discuss. From overseas to legal discussions, you can talk to your fellow housemates about all sorts of things, and you’ll feel so fulfilled that you’ll think there weren’t enough hours in a day! It may sound like we’re talking up this sharehouse too much, but we’re really grateful for this Entrepreneur Sharehouse DMW!

Well then, what’s the main trait of the Entrepreneur Sharehouse？
Compared to the other two sharehouses (English Sharehouse DHS and International Exchange Sharehouse DMS), this sharehouse really gives you the opportunity to think about your work and ‘how to live’, and therefore is a place to develop you work skills, we feel. Of course this doesn’t mean that the other two houses don’t focus on ‘work’! They both play to their theme, one focusing on ‘increasing your English ability’ and the other focused on ‘international exchange’. This Entrepreneur House focuses very heavily on the concept of ‘Work = way of life’. These type of conversations take place amongst the residents quite often. The residents often come together with their individual skills and mix them, all betting on a new, sudden ‘eureka’ moment. This is one example of fun time well spent here.

Do these ‘eureka moments’ ever really happen?
They really do! A lot of the ideas discussed in this house actually happen! Many people leave the nest of the DMW as they come closer to their work or goals. Besides having a core business, there are also those are say that they’re doing so well with their moonlighting that they’re booked for more than six months. There are even cases where a totally new business has been born from the connections of two residents. Also, there are even residents who participated in the San Francisco Silicon Valley dispatch training program sponsored by Fukuoka City, and some residents are currently moving forward concretely with their overseas businesses.（Pictured above: Mr. Matsuo）

Mr. Matsuo! Please tell us about your current situation and initiatives!
As a professional psychology counselor, my jobs consist of counseling and corporate training, among other things. While there are many current SNS’s out there like Facebook, I felt that there were none out there that could be used to post a problem and and solve it with confidence. I then sent a message to the Heimo representative in Finland and told him what I was thinking, and after hitting it off, plans to work as the Japan Partner of Heimo are certainly steadily proceeding, and we’re now in talks of how to introduce Heimo into Japan. This has all happened in just one month, so I’m very surprised. The reason why I was able to participate in the dispatch program was that the Entrepreneur Sharehouse was officially recognized by Fukuoka City, and the staff in charge of the dispatch program came to participate in the DMW exchange meeting, allowing me to become aware of the program.
（ Heimo：An online platform to safely and securely talk about your personal problems　https://heimo.co/  )

Just around a month is some amazing speed！By the way, did you ever think about starting the service from scratch?
The service that I planned to spend years creating already existed in Finland. I thought about all of the people who, at this very moment, are suffering with problems that they can’t talk to others about and wanted to speed up the process even just a little bit to help those in need. Instead of creating the service from scratch, my desire to expand the service was insurmountable, so I didn’t hesitate in my decisions one bit. By the way, the other day we received a pitch to show up at Slush Tokyo 2017, a start-up event with an audience of over 5000, the start-ups of 200 people, 200 investors and even media!
（ Slush Tokyo 2017：The world’s largest start-up event　http://tokyo.slush.org/ ) 

Entrepreneur Sharehouse: Facilities and Services

From just a living standpoint; a fulfilling environment

Even as an entrepreneur, your living conditions are very important. The face of the house, the living room, is very stylish. The large windows in the room are a very noticeable trait, and keep the room nice and bright at all times. The basic facilities such as the rooms, showers and toilets are absolutely flawless, so there should really be no concerns with the facilities after moving in. At the monthly exchange meetings, you can do things like have discussions with managers, or improve your English with free English lessons. People in charge can also talk to you about overseas internships or trips in Asia. Furthermore, you can go check out the other Entrepreneur Sharehouses like the ones in Tokyo or Kyoto and join pitch events. This sharehouse has really become the type of place to allow you to really maximize your potential, what with all of the various services provided.

The full living room. The table is big, long and noticeable, and the room is filled with a warm, wooden vibe.   In the living room are individual wooden boxes. It’s helpful to have them on the first floor.   Over 200 books are in the living room. Books you’re interested in and not so much can both add to your overall study.

The kitchen is really big, almost like a restaraunt’s kitchen. This is a really useful facility.   There are plenty of cooking supplies. There are tons of tools that you probably wouldn’t buy living alone.   The kiln pizza oven used often during exchange parties. You can eat authentic and delicious pizza right at home ♪

A terrace is situated right by the living room. Treat yourself to a BBQ on nice, sunny days off.     A post box sits right inside the house! You can receive your packages without worrying about timing.   A real laundromat is right inside of the house. For large loads or those rushing, feel free to use these dryers.

The shower room. Being a booth-type shower, it’s not cold in the winter.    There’s also a bathtub! The bathtub is on the first floor, so feel free to take a bath from time to time.   From the second to fourth floor, every floor is fitted with wash basins and washing machines!

A small office. Unnecessary travel time is eliminated when your ‘home’ and ‘work’ are in the same place, right!?   A wonderful multifunction copy machine. It seems that it’s currently free to use, but please use it while thinking of others.   The seminar room. ‘Is this really a house?’ is what you might be saying after seeing the authentic acoustic setup, screen and photography equipment.

A private room (furniture included). The fridge, drawer and bed are all great items.    The more economic dormitory room. If you join with other entrepreneur friends then you can have 24 hour strategy meetings!   Every room has a large storage space. Even if you have a lot with you, there shouldn’t be a problem.

What are the merits to starting a business in Fukuoka?!

Even throughout Japan, Fukuoka is a start-up city that’s kind to entrepreneurs (photo provided by Fukuoka City)

Fukuoka city has been named as “Global Entrepreneurship and Employment Creation Special Zone” since May 1, 2014. It’s actually also very active in its exchanges as a start-up city with places like Finland, Estonia, Taiwan and others. When you ask about Fukuoka, we’re sure the impression of it just being an island on the western end of Japan is very strong, but Fukuoka is one of the closest cities to overseas destinations in Japan, and is becoming a city open to the world. Even when thinking of this Entrepreneur Sharehouse’s resident Mr. Matsuo, one can only feel that his start-up example came to be because it was from Fukuoka city.
Fukuoka City has a start-up cafe and many shared offices that are involved in the operation of Fukuoka City itself, in order to create a city that is easy to start a business in Japan. Since some kind of event is constantly held in these facilities, anyone can come and blend in to Fukuoka. Lastly, I’d like to introduce some easy-to-use shared offices in Fukuoka. For those planning on moving to Fukuoka, please use them as a reference.

BASES FUKUOKA Right in front of Hakata Station Chikushi-guchi. There’s everything, from JR, buses, subways and even airplanes; domestic, inner-city and prefectural travel access is the best around.   Co-work&Share.H Opened February 2017. The area is a large cultural and fashion area in Fukuoka. A new way of working seems to be peering out from here.   HOOD TENJIN Settled in smack dab in the middle of Tenjin, Nakasu is also nearby. Many exchange events take place here. Consultation for migrating to Fukuoka are also possible.

OnRamp OnRamp is managed by DOGAN, a company who supports ventures. It’s situated right above the subway station Akasaka, and with the city hall nearby it’s a really nice and convenient area.   Salt The sea in front of the office in Nishi Ward gives you the best view you could ask for; it’s a place where the charms of life in Fukuoka are put together. Consultation for migrating to Fukuoka are also possible.    START UP CAFE A place for information and exchange for businesses and start-ups for everyone.

/Author: TAKAHSHI

「ARDEN MOTOAZABU」House Detail

’Share Ambassador’ Mai will be taking us through the property. Mai is a university student who also does modelling on the side.

The slope that leads to the house. The main shopping district soon turns into a quiet, low-key residential area dotted with temples.

A stately property fit for Azabu. Arden Motoazabu is an impressive 3-storey building that stands modestly at the bottom of the slope. The combination of its dark oak wall panels and red brick detailing exude a retro-chic ambience.

Inside the interior delivers what the exterior promises and its indirect lighting accents the entrance. A low-lit entrance creates a luxurious space. We’ll leave the living room for later and first head upstairs to check out the rooms!   Private rooms provide maximum comfort. All rooms conveniently have a toilet, sink and refrigerator. Having a place of your own amidst a shared lifestyle ensures residents can maintain a sense of privacy. However, we can’t ignore the fact that the shared living areas of a house are where communication takes place. This sharehouse has taken the best of both worlds and by separating the two domains has created a property that allows residents to breathe. The 2F hallway looks like one you would find in a hotel, and the 3F is much the same. There are more rooms on the 1F. These rooms are fitted with soundproof doors due to their proximity to the living area. The door on left is the shower room. There is also a separate bathroom in the house. The back door opens out to the smoking area. All rooms are bright and cheerful, however those on the 3F have the added benefit of great views out the window. While each room comes with a toilet, sink and refrigerator, showers are located on each floor for everyone to share. Designed for relaxation and communication Let’s move onto the living room. Residents can use the low-lit area in the back to relax or enjoy a book, or engage in spontaneous conversation beneath the hanging lights at the dinner table. Residents can’t watch TV from the table, and that might be because the area is designed to create and maximise communication among housemates. A wide pillar supports four beams that reach out across the ceiling in all four directions. This design helps to divide the one room into separate areas. You can’t forget even the smallest detail when creating the perfect interior. This classic clock mounted on the wall fits perfectly with the house interior. This map of the local area can also be used as a communication tool. Let everyone know about new shops and restaurants that open up nearby. Soft light filtering through stained glass creates vivid color. Generously-sized storage boxes boxes are provided for each resident. Let’s have a closer look at the kitchen, located by the dining area. Simple yet functional open kitchen. A kitchen island is only possible when you have space to work with, and the Japanese often associate them with the rich and famous. This style differs from regular kitchen interiors by its 360 degree access to bench space, allowing family and friends to enjoy cooking a meal together. A kitchen island is the perfect addition to a sharehouse. The kitchen in this house has a kitchen island as well as extra bench space with more facilities along the wall. You can whip up something quick and easy for yourself here. Relax in class in this classic European-style interior. The living area is located through the door on the right in the entrance. It’s a great place for watching movies on the big screen TV or even for surfing the net. Whatever you are doing, you can be sure to spend your time in luxury here. The somber brown hues of the furniture works with the warm lighting coming from the small chandelier to create a retro-like ambience. Rock gently back and forth on the chair in front as you bury yourself in your favorite book. The door in the back slides open and leads to the toilet and laundry room. The oriental-style carpet matches the interior perfectly. I wonder where it was made? Residents working freelance can use this space as a place to work. The sliding door from before leads to the toilet on the left and a sunny laundry room on the right. The 4 washing machines are free to use but the dryer is coin-operated. The laundry room exits out to the back of the property where residents can hang their washing. ☆Ambassador Review☆ Looking at the property from the outside I had imagined the interior to be narrow and cramped, but that wasn’t the case at all. Inside the house is quite spacious! The house has a relaxed, mature feel that fits perfectly with the Motoazabu area. I can imagine capable workers and businessmen from other countries living here. Sharehouses have a reputation for being one big party, but this house seems more subdued and a place where one can indulge their hobbies and interact with their sharemates in an cool, elegant fashion. The soft lighting in the hallways upstairs exude a lovely, hotel-esque vibe. When I shared this fabulous property on social media the reaction from everyone was amazing! Make sure to check out other properties in the ARDEN series, too! ARDEN Koiwa ARDEN Sakuradai ARDEN Chofu ARDEN MOTOAZABU is run by a Share Smile.   The ARDEN series was developed under the concept of living in luxury. One feature prevalent in all of Share Smile’s properties is the English Community English lessons conducted periodically within the house. Residents of Sharehouses in the ARDEN series can spend their time meaningfully as they learn while living in the house.   The personality of a given sharehouse changes depending on its location, property and group of residents. If it is quality you are looking for, then this house is worth the investment considering the experiences and benefits you will receive as a resident. The sharehouse you live in comes alive as you interact and exchange thoughts and ideas with like minded housemates, and that perhaps is the best return of all. /Author:Inamine Share Ambassador / Mai Moved from Kumamoto to Tokyo for university. Was chosen as a MissCC Finalist in the Campus Collection 2016 student event in Tokyo. Currently working as a model as well as a Share Ambassador for Tokyo Sharehouse reporting on her unusual experiences. Twitter handle: @0525_9

「Share residence Tama Plaza」House detail page

Conveniently located atop a hill overlooking Azamino 7-minutes walk from Tama Plaza station. The house sits exactly halfway downhill between Tama Plaza station and Azumino station. With almost equal distance between the house and these two stations you can catch a train into the city from Azumino station, and get off at Tama Plaza station on your way back to make for an easier commute.
Foreign cars can be seen driving down this tree-lined street every now and then. The road to the house from Tama Plaza passes a luscious park, and the cheerful shouts of the children playing there give the area a tranquil atmosphere.
The entrance has a sign painted with the logo of the managing company, Share Design. Let’s go inside! The first thing you see when you step inside is this spacious multi-purpose room. Residents can take dance lessons in here, and much more. Sunlight streams into the building from the south, giving the room just the right amount of light. Try spreading out an exercise mat and doing some yoga in the mornings.
An unrefined yet elegant living room with a mature frankness about This open lounge allows residents the comfort to relax without sparing any fun. The wooden floorboards have been aged, and there is a large coffee table in front of the massive sofa residents no doubt use all of the time. The rough interior is decorated with house plants and flowers to create an overall elegant atmosphere.
The real charm of the room are the countless spotlights fixed to the naked ceiling shining brilliantly down on the space below. There is a bar set up in the living room. Behind the counter is an espresso machine and beer tap residents can use as they please, which is something everyone can be thankful for!
The western movie-esque unrefined style gives way to a more European look here. The large sofa is long and wide, allowing many residents to relax here at the same time. Hard washed jeans are incorporated into the interior for a vintage feel. This soldier in camouflage might frighten people coming into the living room. (Laughs) Laser tag equipment and skateboards hang on the wall here. Anyone up for a game? This version works by targeting your opponent’s helmet for a hit. Get together with your housemates and have hours of fun playing this game. This stylish television stand was created to look like a wood stove. This kind of thing wouldn’t be out of place in traditional Scandinavian house. This beer tap gets a workout during parties! New barrels are provided twice a month. This deer head is a favorite of Share Design’s boss. It fits right in!
Asobi Estate!　A fusion between lifestyle and play A house that becomes one’s own personal playground is a dream to many, and one that has been realised in this property. With its own camping van and pool, this place is its own holiday house. Living here is definitely something to brag about.
The skate ramp. Pick up a board and begin your skateboard career here. The small basketball ring is perfect for a game of 3 on 3.
After working up a sweat, sit down and relax on the 2F terrace. There’s a nice breeze up there and sitting out in the sun is just divine. These outdoor recliners wouldn’t be out of place at a beach resort. Try an afternoon siesta out on one of these. Have a BBQ with your housemates here on sunny days. Along the hallway leading to the living room is a strange room waiting to be discovered. Open the door to find two monitors in the back as well as a uniquely-shaped chair.. Yep, you guessed it! This room houses a genuine flight simulator! One of the Share Design staff members is a commercial pilot and even comes in to give lectures on how to fly! The controllers look so genuine they might even be the real thing?! In the same room there is also an electronic drum set residents can play whenever they like. If you’ve never touched a drum before, now is your chance! There is a sound system in the multi-purpose room. Turn up your favorite tunes while you exercise!
The professional-grade kitchen Professional-grade appliances makes this kitchen feel like a galley in a restaurant. There are no inconveniences in here, and it will definitely come in handy when preparing food for large numbers of people and parties.
The large preparation area in the centre of the kitchen can be used to set out all your ingredients ready to cook. A cooking class or two could even be held in here. The stainless steel stove top with its 4 gas burners will help you turn out top-notch dishes. Residents can experiment with all kinds of recipes with the oven, a rarity in Japanese households.
Calming private rooms shine with individuality Among the rooms available are a few that come with their own showers. Each room also differs in wallpaper, curtain and flooring design. Find one that suits your personality.
The view from a room on the 5th floor. Looking down on the sprawling neighbourhood of Azamino gives one a sense of liberation. In stark contrast to the last room, this one offers warmth with its wooden interior. There is plenty of storage space for people with a lot of baggage.

The brains behind this project, Share Design, specialise in large scale sharehouses and interior design. Each one of their houses is unique in concept and design. Share Residence Tama Plaza is dedicated to fun, a concept which is incorporated throughout the house and it’s design. The idea is for communication to grow through residents having fun and enjoying themselves in the house.

The staff at this company all have skills in different areas. With a former pilot, musician and jazz dancer on board, you may be lucky enough to sit in on a lecture on these topics and more using the facilities in the house.

Teach others what you know, and learn from them what you don’t. With this kind of reciprocal environment in the house, everyday is bound to be full of exciting times. Would you fit in here?

/Author:Inamine

「Amanatsu-Minka」House details page 

A shared office/house in a rare location surrounded by cultural heritages.  Although it is located in the middle of a popular tourist destination, it stands on a smaller street back from the main road and the environment is vary quiet and calm.
The house has fences around like blinds that protect your privacy. This is the entrance. This splendid gate has a nameplate a designer has specially made, which perfectly matches the style of the house.
Out in the garden stands a sweet watson pomelo tree, which is the origin of the house’s name “amanatsu-minka”. In the entrance area after going through the gate, instead of a sign, there is art there.   When you go inside, imported vintage furniture is set, and you can see the owner’s taste.
Wood flooring and well chosen cloth brighten the resident-only lounge. The common space for residents include the cafe space projected to finish by the end of November, and resident-only living room shown in the picture above. The beautiful cloth creates a space that is warm and good relaxing.
Furnished the electricity. Here too a big vintage table, chair and rack will be settled. The air conditioner will be the large size for shop.   The kitchen is a user friendly built-in kitchen. Behind the living room, surfboards and the shower facilities will be set so that the surfers can live in comfort.
The lightening will make the house more attractive. The vintage storage box looks so cool. The sign is also nice. Let’s take a look at the kitchen and bathroom! This is the rest room and power room separately built.It is very spacious and clean inside.   The room has three shower booths, including Ladies-only area.  In addition, there are two washing machines and drying machines. The gas-type dryers enable washing to get dried quickly.
Private rooms with outstanding wooden texture equipped with a separate washing sink. In 9 individual rooms with sink where you can feel quality of the tree, there is a sink. As it has no space for accommodating items, it has a shelf for accommodating the items where it has a high space for living.
This is E room. It has a sufficient sunlight and a open space. There is a stand alone sink which is useful, because you can get ready without leaving your room.
The light coming into the window even gives a lyrical impresson. The lighting is from France. Charming lights decorate the house here and there.  This is room F.
This is room H. Instead of having storage space, there is a Danish made desk by the wall that works as a shelf as well.  All the products are of good quality, with great design and durability.

The share house introduced here is managed by Safari B Company. Mr. Yokoyama, the representative, is also famous for being ‘a master who travels’, having devoted himself for traveling and motorbikes since he was 19 and travelled around the world for nearly 5 years. He still continues traveling in and outside Japan while managing the real estate business. His travel experiences makes what he is and has a significant influence on his business; his motto is to “create apartments and condominiums where people gather and talk to each other regardless of race”.

The sharehouse we introduced this time is exactly where that kind of feeling is condensed.
I was wondering if it might change to the place where new culture is born while taking over the history and climate of Kamakura.

I imagine that many people dream leading life by working and enjoying leisure here.
Why don’t you consider it to be not a dream and ideal but a place where you set your main life style here?
You can set it by expecting that it is a place where many people voluntarily come as a place where information of new Kamakura culture is issued. 

/Author:Kagawa 

「OziHouse South Yarra」House details page

Great mix of nationalities to rival the most diverse language school campuses OziHouse properties generally have a great mix of nationalities from all over the world, making home the best place for new encounters.

Housemates are involved in many activities, and there is even a free English conversation club held once a week. Participating in activities is an easy way to make friends and quickly grow accustomed to your new home.

The safe and secure front door. The reception. Residents are free from worry with a house manager on hand! The English Only policy. Residents who break this rule must complete an assignment in English…

Try bonding with your housemates in the dining room next to the kitchen! There is individual storage space for each resident in the kitchen. The laundry room. There is also a disabled-friendly toilet here.

「OziHouse Richmond」House detalis page

The Richmond house kitchen. The relaxing living area. Spend time out on the terrace when the sun is shining!

「OziHouse Collingwood」House details page

Collingwood house exterior. The stylish living area. Challenge your housemates to a game of billiards!

The kitchen and dining area. Clean toilet and sink area. The laundry. You can even iron your clothes here!

Reserve the type of room that meets your taste and budget With single rooms and rooms sleeping from 2 to 6 people applicants can choose one that suits their budget. Many long-term residents who start off in a single room eventually change to a shared room during their stay. While in a single you a likely to hole yourself up in your room, the minute you move to a shared room the chatter never stops. It could also be fun to try out all of the different types of rooms! Above is a photo of a twin room with a bunk bed.

Single room. Twin room. Triple room.

Quadruple room ① Quadruple room ② 6-person sleeper

All properties a located conveniently close to public transport within 15-20 minutes of the city. This is the first time I’ve personally come across an ‘English Only’ sharehouse! It’s a great opportunity to meet all kinds of people with exchange students, backpackers and visitors to Melbourne living under one roof. This is the perfect sharehouse for people who seriously want to learn English and make a whole lot of new friends. I wish there had been a house like this when I first came to Australia!

OziHouse Group provide a great service around three concepts. MEET housemates from around the world, LEARN and enjoy English in a fun environment with local friends, and LIVE in Melbourne, the most livable city in the world. With international staff working for this company these three concepts are firmly reflected among their team as well.

What are you waiting for? Head on over to OziHouse and start living in a reasonably priced sharehouse full of encounters and frequent organized events today!

/Author: Kaori

Cats and sharehouses are a match made in heaven!

It’s often mistakenly believed that sharehouses are loud and exciting every single day, however this is not the case.

A sharehouse is a place where people can easily create genuine relationships in their lives with other sharemates who are never too far away when one wants to have fun or need a helping hand. Residents can seclude themselves in their rooms when they want to be alone, or head to the living room when they are feeling lonely to spend time with others, returning to their rooms when they want to be alone again. Sharehouses are places where one can do this without any problems.

This kind of sounds like the nature of cats, don’t you agree?

As cats and sharemates share the same behavioural patterns, they are likely to get along well. As outstanding sharemates themselves, cats are the glue that hold the entire house together. For this reason residents in this house must be people who want to enjoy life with cats as well as holding them in high esteem. All the costs associated with keeping cats, such as feed and cat litter, are all included in the administration costs, meaning there is no extra payment to be made.

The house itself is a large 36-year old, 495m2 one-storey building that has been stylishly renovated to keep its traditional Japanese charm and at the same time transition into a comfortable place to live in for both residents and cats. It is also a safe and secure property as it has been converted into boarding-house style.

Let’s waste no more time and check out the house!

「Fukuoka Q House」House Details Page

A large Japanese-style garden connects the house with nature and allows residents to experience the four seasons.

You’ll end up basking in the sun on the traditional Japanese verandah, an essential part of any genuine Japanese residence.

The entrance has a sliding door and a Show-era style exterior.

Inside there is a lattice to prevent the cats from escaping. Made from wood, it adds a soft accent to the interior.

The tearoom.

There is access to water in the rear garden. Something like this is very convenient and useful.

The main man of this cat sharehouse is always the center of attention. Having this guy around will always make you feel better.

The Japanese-style living room is the place to be among residents at a spacious 14.5m2 Wooden flooring has become a popular choice for living rooms in Japan recently, but the Japanese will always want to relax out on tatami mats like the ones in this room. A another shot of the living room taken from a different angle. You can see one of the cats relaxing languidly atop the extravagant cat tower. The room is made perfectly bright just by opening the paper sliding doors. The full kitchen. This style of kitchen is the most convenient for life in a sharehouse. Let’s have a look around the entire house, starting with the hallway to the left of the front entrance. This is the hallway behind the kitchen. The verandah hallway. You can see the living room and kitchen on the right. The hallway behind the living room. These four hallways encircle the living room and kitchen, which are in the middle of the house. There are two washbasins along the hallways. This is what the shower looks like. The shower room is not affected by the cold at all. With a bathroom that has a tub as well as the two showers, there won’t be any waiting your turn to shower. The houses is equipped with two washing machines. This room is easy to use with shelves installed above the machines. This is the place for people who want to soak in a hot bath. Everybody loves relaxing in the bath, don’t they?

Room #8. All rooms at Fukuoka Q House are bright and cheerful These rooms may only be 7.81m2 but they actually feel much bigger. The large windows might have something to do with creating that spaciousness. Room #1 is the house’s most Japanese-esque room. This traditional tea room-type room has a nijiriguchi (a small entrance to crawl through) which is quite rare in this day and age. Room #5. This is a wooden floorboard-type room. It has a storage cupboard (not pictured) and is a comfortable, easy to use room.

This sharehouse is operated by Fukuoka Renobase, a company who create order made rental properties, an industry that is still quite new in Fukuoka.

The company order make homes with a thorough service that satisfies both the property owners and the residents as they pursue a new form of rental housing that aims the people within them to live in their own style.

The Fukuoka Q House cat sharehouse is Fukuoka Renobase’s second property.
（See their first property, M.O.C Yakuin, here）
This house is a safe and sound home that is the sum of the company’s previous renovation and sharehouse experience. Also, the unique thing and also drawing point about this house is that as there aren’t as many sharehouses in Fukuoka compared to the Kanto region, there are connections between the share properties here. Fukuoka Q House is also situated in a great location, in a place where major areas of Fukuoka city, including shopping area Tenjin, Daimyo and Nakasu, are accessible by bike.

There’s no mistaking that with its great location and connection with other sharehouses that this place is perfect for people wanting to move out on their own or move to Fukuoka from other areas. That said, Fukuoka Q House is first and foremost a place for people who can live in harmony with the cats.

Those of you who want to live with some friendly felines in friendly Fukuoka should definitely make their way to Q House. We hope the house becomes a home that connects cat lovers together freely as they grow to love the animals even more.

/Author: Takahashi

「ARDEN Shinjuku」House Details Page

3-storey sharehouse with 25 rooms in quiet residential area newly constructed in 2015 Nearby a train station in the middle of the city, the white sharehouse Arden Shinjuku sits in a quiet residential area off the main street.
The front entrance is reminiscent of a mansion estate with its double doors, accessible by pinpad. Inside, the front hallway is spacious with a ventilation fan in place to ward off the smell of shoes.
Mailboxes for each resident line the wall beside the door. There is also a sign properly in place. Nearby a friendly cat who will surely become the house unexpectedly makes an appearance.
Polished interior design has a Brooklyn N.Y cafe/library vibe. The shared living room is on the third floor, with a high ceiling and window facing south creating the perfect atmosphere. Lower the blinds for the warm lighting and wooden furniture together to heighten the mood instantly.
While having a high ceiling creates space, it gets cold during winter. This house is fitted with floored heating, however, warming your body up from your toes to your fingers. The open kitchen design also works to create space in the house.
With the warm lighting in this room residents can really sit down and relax on the provided sofa. The ceiling is lower here than the dining area, creating a relaxed mood. Indirect lighting placed around here and there accent the room nicely. The dining room is just the right size, without being too big or too spacious, perfect for residents to interact and mingle in. There is window space above the installed blind-style curtains… …from which residents can enjoy the beautiful night sky and see all the way to Shinjuku’s famous buildings without anything obstructing the view. The kitchen has two gas stoves and sinks and plenty of room to cook in. An oven is a rare find in Japanese households, and the non-Japanese residents get a lot of use out of this one. All the kitchen appliances you could need are available to use whenever you please.
Bath and toilet possess both design and function It goes without saying that the design of the bathrooms and washbasins around the house are of excellent quality, and so is the functionality. The nozzles on the freestanding washbasins are actually showerheads, which can be pulled out and lengthened as one desires.
This is the powder room. This kind of room and its design will certainly please the ladies. Getting ready here in the morning will no doubt get you excited for the day.
There is a laundry room on the third floor with washing machines and dryers free to use. A balcony with some outdoor furniture is accessible from the laundry room. Residents can hang their washing to dry out here on sunny days.
Comfortable and fully furnished private rooms Rooms come furnished with a bed, desk, chair and storage cupboard so you can pack up and move in with nothing but a suitcase in your hand.
All the rooms are same mostly for layout and the size. Sharehouses aren’t all about having fun with your sharemates — you can have your private time, too.

Operating ARDEN Shinjuku is Sharestyle. This company is the forerunner in English conversation concept sharehouses, and with their experience gained from many trials and tribulations in the industry they provide not just a beautifully designed space, but a home away from home to support their residents.

Should any trouble occur in the house a staff member will be their for support on all levels until the situation is resolved, and continue to look in on everything for three months afterwards in a very thorough way.

The English conversation concept does not involve sitting down in a classroom, but is realized in a fun and enjoyable way through bi-monthly activities such as parties and other events. The hosts of these events are usually non-Japanese people living in other houses, so not only will you be able to interact with those living in your house, but with people from other houses as well.

The best thing about sharehouses is they have everything you could possibly want, which is impossible to find in a regular rental property.

Living in a great place is the first big step towards creating a better lifestyle for yourself. ARDEN Shinjuku is just the place to do that, and will surely enrich the lives of everyone calling this sharehouse home.

/Author:Kagawa

Guests have brought their favorite alcoholic beverages for the feast.

People start to gather in the dining hall one after another. Here’s a shot of some guests with their drink of choice.

Meanwhile, the food is ready! The table has been laid out in decadence without anyone noticing.

The table is garnished with paella, sauteed meat and more. This is genuine party food!

This dish looks as though it could be served at a French restaurant. Being able to enjoy such fine food at home is one of the unique things about living in a sharehouse.

With all of the dishes served, the party officially begins with a greeting from the 2nd housemate to move into the house. Everybody toasts.

Cheers! The sound of reverberating glass echoes the room. It’s a moment of supreme bliss.

Previous housemates also show their faces at the party, glad to be reunited with everyone once more.

The room is filled with smiles and laughter. Only in a sharehouse will you find musicians, company workers and even students all living together.

It’s exciting just to watch the scene unfolding before me. After devouring the main course, it’s time for what everyone has been waiting for.

You guessed it, it’s dessert time! Heaven for sweet tooths male and female alike. This guy is trying to remove hardened chocolate from a balloon. A few faces in the audience are covering their ears in preparation for the inevitable burst. What a charming sight.

There are smiles all around. Even though everyone is full from the delicious dinner had, there is always room for dessert.

Here’s a group shot in commemoration of the anniversary with everyone signing the ‘S’ from ‘STYLIO WITH KAMIIKEDAI’ with their hands. Personalities come out in this photo! Haha.

Everybody helps clean up. Laughing and bantering with housemates turns the most mundane of chores into fun-filled times.

At the end of the party we have the honor of watching a performance by a housemate with a beautiful voice.

The singer improvised when requests were shouted out by the crowd, met with cheers of joy, and also scattered laughter when lyrics were mistakenly sung. The whole performance was enjoyed in harmony.

After the party time was spent chilling out before the event drew to a close. Housemates lulled to sleep by the music wandered sleepily up to their rooms and those who still wanted to talk stayed down drinking and talking together. I would like to thank everyone who made this event possible today for all of their efforts!

The Japanese character for food is ‘食’, which is made up of the characters for person (人) and good (良) to mean ‘making a person better’. Food makes people better!

I good a good sense of the vibe of the house by my visit to STYLIO WITH KAMIIKEDAI.

Of course, not all days will be like this one, but I believe that the best thing about sharehouses is being able to talk to someone when you feel like talking and sharing what you are good at with the others in the house.

The house is currently running a free-rent campaign for new residents signing their contracts before the end of June and moving in before the end of July, offering one month of free rent. Feel free to contact the house and find out more if you’re interested in living here.

I will continue in my efforts to show the real world of sharehouses to our readers by covering more sharehouse events and sharehouse lifestyle articles in the future.

/Author: Watanabe