what is the definition of a Share House

A Share House is a type of accommodation that typically has a shared space and your own PRIVATE room.

What are the main characteristics

1. Since a Share House has shared spaces such as, the kitchen, the lounge room, study room etc, you get to meet and socialize with other people. Having a space to allow social interaction, allows you to connect with people who may give you great tips on how to get by, allows you to practise your language skills, make meals together and in some cases you may even discover your future partner !

2. If you would like to have your own privacy, you have your own private room with a door lock of course.

3. You don't have to buy your own electric appliances, cutlery or basic furniture. Share houses have fully-furnished spaces providing a cost-effective option.

4. Male and female showers room and toilets are separated

5. Compared to a private apartment, rent is way cheaper !

6. Lots of fun! Throughout the year, many local events and welcome/farewell parties happen.

Why do most foreigners choose to live in a Share House ?

From my personal experience, when moving to a new country, most people need to keep to a specific budget and save as much money as they can before they can settle down fully.

Choosing a Share House over a private apartment in the beginning, honestly saves you a lot of money and helps you avoid many issues. These days, a typical Share House is normally fully furnished with the basic items, the monthly bills for electricity, gas, internet costs are included in the rent !

In an apartment, usually all the points mentioned above would have to be handled by yourself or you would have to communicate back and forth with the management company to settle in comfortably. Can you see now why most chose a Share House in the beginning ?

When is the right timing time to move into my own private apartment ?

Based on my personal experience and having lived in Japan for the past 12 years, I would recommend you to consider looking for a private apartment when,
1. You are confident with your basic spoken Japanese and able to make a phone call using Japanese.
2. You have made a good network of friends because, if you move into an apartment right away without creating a network of friends, life can get really lonely.

How do I know if a Share House matches my personality

To be honest with you, the only way to truly find out if the Share House lifestyle matches your personality is to actually try and live in one. However, here are some markers that could give you an idea whether or not a Share House lifestyle would suit you.
1. If you are willing to make friends.
Regardless if you are a shy person or not, in order to get by in the new country you are in, you most often need some local friends or other foreigner friends. People that live in a Share House totally understand your feeling of being shy because those that were living there before you, were at some point in your same position !
2. If you have or want to have an open mind.
Since a Share House has a communal area, you’ll share your space with your housemates who are most likely from a different country and have a different background. Everyone has their own different backgrounds, personalities and experiences, so, having an open mind set is actually an opportunity for both parties to know more about each other and discover more about yourselves.

I hope this blog gives you a clearer idea of what a Share House is like.
Based on my personal experience, when you move to another country, there are some things that happen unexpectedly and you come across things that you did not plan for. For example, the food culture, the lifestyle, the language barrier and the culture can be shocking. While some people find it easy to adapt into new spaces, others might have trouble interacting with people and making friends. Living together in a Share House allows you to be part of a community of friends and a great supportive environment.
When living at a Share House, you can benefit from the advice and knowledge of how to get by in Japan from your housemates. Trust me, once you become friends, those are the same people that will help you through thick and thin while you live in a new country.
Share House companies usually have a house management staff that are responsible for the maintenance of the Share House. For example, if items need to be fixed or repaired, if you need help registering or opening accounts in Japan or if you need help retrieving a package from the Post office.
Finally, you will have one of your best memories living in a Share House. Throughout the year, you will come across many events organized for the tenants . This will allow you to relax and most importantly, allow you to have a wider networking platform, and you can meet new local people.
If you are considering looking for a Share House or living in one, you can contact Global Trust Networks and our multilingual staff can assist you in your native language. As of now we have staff that can speak, Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Mongolian.