Share Life in Tokyo

Posted on 12/14/2021 Last updated on 02/02/2022

Top Image: PhotoMIX-Company via Pixabay

All good adventures in Tokyo requires 3 essential ingredients to become memorable life-changing experiences: fun, getting lost, and friendship. And all of these can easily be found by living with other hodophiles in share houses.

“Having fun” is subjective, but one thing we can all agree on is that there are plenty of activities that most of us will find entertaining in Tokyo. The key is finding the right house mate/s to enjoy these activities with. When I first moved into a share house, I was totally clueless about living with total strangers. I was a little nervous and apprehensive about sharing a bathroom with others. Still, I was full of optimism that I`d meet many interesting people from all around the world. I wasn’t wrong!

In the Beginning

The first few days will be a “feeling-out process” between yourself and your new surroundings. By the time you move in, you’ll find others who went through the same thing, be it as students, workers, or just fellow travelers. It`s quite possible that there is already an established “order” in the house which you initially have to try and navigate by yourself. Befriending other tenants quickly is key to figuring out this order and being part of the fish bowl. This could be the difference between being able to comfortably hang out in the lounge room with others or ending up a recluse in your bedroom. Scared yet? Don’t be!

The best thing about being the newbie is that everyone wants to get to know you better. You’ll be asked the same questions repeatedly for days. These are your moments “to shine” as it were. Answer questions with positivity and enthusiasm, even though you were just asked the very same questions during breakfast. Share funny stories about where you’re from and avoid participating in conversations related to criticisms about life in Japan or any other negative talk. Undoubtedly, you will come across individuals who have feelings of resentment or disenfranchisement for whatever reason, but don’t give them the opportunity to influence your impression this country. Remember, you just arrived!

Another possibility upon moving in is that cliques had already formed based on nationality / ethnicity, common language, religion, or gender. Don’t fret if you do not readily identify with any particular group in the house. You will hopefully find people with the same common interests as you, wanting to seek the same experiences. If you`re unlucky enough not to, there are many share houses in metropolitan Tokyo so you can just relocate. I did! Always keep your accommodation plans flexible, and in the meantime try not to sign a contract longer than a month. If there is one invaluable piece of advice I`d give to anyone wanting to live in a share house, that would be it.

When selecting a share house to live in, we all tend to have the same criteria before making that final decision. Considering rent cost, location, and room type makes perfect sense when information about the city is limited to what’s online or recommendations by others. Learning along the way and making mistakes is part and parcel of adventures in a new environment. Take it all in stride, knowing that you will make better decisions as you become more familiarized with the labyrinth that is Tokyo.

Moving Out & Moving On

Now that you’ve been here for a few weeks and have eaten at the same restaurants several times, it’s time to find that new discount grocery store for all your weekly essentials. It’s also time to make new friends, find better places to kill time, and walk home from the last train after passing by your new favorite convenience store for matcha ice-cream.

By now, you will have realized that this city isn’t a monolith and is actually quite diverse in culture, demography, and landscape. Choose a ward that best suits your personality, needs, and budget. Then pick a house only after you’ve visited it first, asking many questions about the current tenants. This process is essential to evade those rookie mistakes we might have committed when we first arrived bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

With some luck, you just met some really cool cats at your new share house and can’t wait to explore your new hunting ground with them. As you accept invitations to check out this place and that place, make a sincere effort to organize outings yourself. Recommend places that you’ve never been to and don’t shy away from taking those spontaneous weekend trips to Yamanashi, Kanagawa, Chiba or Shizuoka. Having an international driver’s license is a great key to unforgettable exploits.

Getting lost in this city or anywhere else for that matter could be one of the best things to happen to us. It’s natural to feel frustrated and angry when this happens, but it shouldn’t. Learn to accept that you will get lost countless times, but keep in mind that many awesome stories starts this way. Random occasions can be seen as being more memorable than planned events.

In Conclusion

Tokyo is a city where you can do many things solo or part of a marauding wolf pack. I’ve always enjoyed my own company, but prefer the latter when seeing new places for the first time. I value shared experiences with people, using it as the foundation for meaningful friendships. I have been here for many years now and have accumulated numerous stories worth retelling over and over again with those I had created them with. In fact, I still do when the opportunity arises during long overdue catch-ups around town.

I encourage all to visit this amazing city. Whether for the short or long term, go out on a limb and spend some time living in a share house for foreigners. It’s the perfect place to practice your Japanese so that you can have the confidence to actually use it at the HUB, Hobgoblin, or 300 Bar. You will also meet foreigners with amazing life stories from as far as Suriname to East Turkestan and many other lands in between.

Growing up in multi-cultural Australia gave me the chance to learn, appreciate and respect diverse peoples, religions, and traditions. A share house is a microcosm of the home I left behind and in some ways longed for as I make an effort to assimilate and acquaint myself in my new realm.

“Some people feel the rain, others just get wet”, is a quote that best describes life in a Tokyo share house for foreigners. Staying at a hotel will just get you wet when it rains, but a share house will allow you to feel the rain.

Photo Credits:

Top Image: PhotoMIX-Company via Pixabay

Additional photos provided by Shariff Hael