Q. Can I use the internet right after moving in?

A. Yes. Both the common areas and private rooms are equipped with fiber-optic internet and Wi-Fi, so you can connect right away.

Q. Is there a bathroom with a bathtub?

A. Yes, all of our houses have one.

Q. Do you offer any houses with meals included?

A. Basically, each resident prepares their own meals, but the following services are also available for those who are interested:

• Catering service: You can order an assortment of side dishes from Hana-san, our cook. (Orders from ¥3,000 and up)
• Monthly dinner party: Once a month, we hold a dinner gathering for residents. Participation is free, and you can enjoy plenty of vegetable-rich dishes!

Q. Can single mothers move in?

A. This is decided on a case-by-case basis. Since sound may carry to neighboring rooms, we first consult with the current sharemates, and then arrange a viewing and trial stay to see whether living together will work well. Also, at our partner sharehouse “honey,” located just a 1-minute walk from the Grandblue and Arch houses in the Maiko area, the manager lives with her child. In the past, they have shared the house with single mothers and even accepted pets, so please feel free to consult with us.

Q. Do you have private rooms?

A. Yes. All of our houses consist of private rooms only — there are no dormitory-style rooms — so your privacy is assured. We have both Japanese-style and Western-style rooms, ranging from 3 to 10 tatami mats in size, so you can choose the room you like. Rent starts from the ¥30,000s. Depending on the layout and structure, some rooms offer higher sound insulation.

Please also see this article (written in Japanese only for now).
女性専用の個室で探すなら【神戸シェアハウス和楽居】へ〜 防音は？ 安い？〜

Q. Can I stay for a short period?

A. Yes. The type of stay and charges depend on the length of your stay.

• Less than one month: Trial stays are available only at the Organic house. Please contact us to discuss your stay.
• At least one month and less than three months: Rent is 10% higher.

The ¥20,000 deposit is refunded in full when you move out. If the room has damage or stains that cannot be covered by fire insurance, repair costs will be deducted and the remaining balance will be refunded.

During your stay, we may ask for your cooperation when showing the room to a prospective resident. We will always contact you in advance and will never enter your room without notice.

Please see our “Current Rooms and Rent” page for trial-stay charges, short-stay costs, and other detailed terms.

View detailed short-stay terms

Q. What are the initial costs when moving in?

A. Initial cost = (rent + ¥10,000) prorated daily + deposit ¥30,000 + fire insurance. *We also run seasonal discount campaigns. Please feel free to contact us.

Q. What is included in the common service fee?

A. We do not charge a common service fee. Costs other than rent include: ◆ Shared items purchased together by residents: varies by house and members, approx. ¥200–300/month ◆ Neighborhood association fee: ¥200/month

Q. Please give me a breakdown of the initial costs.

A. Initial cost = (rent + ¥10,000) prorated daily + deposit ¥30,000 + fire insurance.

Breakdown of the ¥10,000 (utilities: ¥8,000/month, internet: ¥2,000/month)

• Utilities are settled based on actual costs at least once a year and reflected in the following month’s rent.
• Fire insurance: approx. ¥8,000/year. You will contract directly with the insurance agency.

Deposit for stays of 6 months or longer:

• If there are no problems with your room when you move out, ¥20,000 will be returned after deducting ¥10,000.
• If you allow room viewings during the period before your move-out date, ¥1,000 per viewing will be added to your settlement when you move out.

*We also run seasonal discount campaigns. Please feel free to contact us.

Q. What is the procedure and process for moving in?

A. ◆ After the viewing, confirm the room you will move into

◆ Transfer of the reservation deposit
If your move-in date is within 30 days: ¥10,000. If 31–60 days: ¥20,000. From the 61st day onward, rent will be charged.
The reservation deposit will be deducted from the total when settling the initial costs.

◆ Payment of initial costs
Please transfer the initial costs no later than 7 days before your planned move-in date.

[Before the move-in date: paperwork and fire insurance]

• We will mail you two copies of the contract along with a return envelope.
• Please return the two copies of the contract (signed and sealed by both you and your guarantor, with all required fields completed) together with copies of ID for both you and your guarantor.
• Once your move-in date is confirmed, we will email you the initial cost details, and you will make the bank transfer.
• Please complete the fire insurance enrollment by your move-in date (including the day itself). We will introduce you to an agency of Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance.

[On the move-in day: what to bring and the flow]

• Please bring your personal seal (inkan).
• On the day of move-in, we will read through the contract together and stamp it → then hand over your keys.

Q. What does the tenant screening involve?

A. During phone calls and viewings, we consider whether we can communicate smoothly and comfortably with you, and whether your expectations and direction are a good fit for the house. We have no restrictions on age, gender, or nationality. Our residents are diverse — Japanese and international, ranging from their 20s to their 50s.

Q. What documents or certificates are required to move in?

A. The following are required from both you and your guarantor: signatures on the contract, personal seals, and copies of ID.

Q. How do I pay the rent?

A. Please transfer the following month’s rent to our bank account between the 20th and the end of each month.

Q. Can I apply without viewing the room first?

A. Yes. You can reserve a room by transferring the ¥10,000 reservation deposit. Online viewings are also available, so we recommend viewing the room before applying.

Q. I am a freelancer. Can I move in?

A. Yes. Freelancers currently live with us. Regarding remote meetings:
[When other residents are out at work, etc.] You are free to use both your own room and the common areas.
[When other residents are at home]

• Check with your sharemates whether the sound of your meetings (your voice, meeting audio) bothers them. If not, work from home.
• If you yourself are bothered by the everyday sounds of your sharemates:
  • If a vacant property nearby (a sharehouse or a property we manage) is available, work from there
  • Work from a café or library

Residents work remotely with creative arrangements like these.

Q. Can I stay for a short period, such as one month?

A. Short-term residents are very welcome. Basically, we don’t set rules and decide things through discussion, but we ask short-term residents (less than one month) to follow the lifestyle, garbage disposal practices, and agreements of the medium- and long-term residents. Stays from one night are limited to those considering moving into the sharehouse for a medium to long term (one month or more), or friends and friends of friends. (We will confirm who introduced you.) We can respond flexibly depending on room availability, so please feel free to consult with us.

Q. Is there bicycle parking or car parking?

A. Bicycle and car parking for each house is as follows:

• Tarumi Area
  [Organic] Bicycle parking and car parking available.
• Maiko Area
  [Grandblue] Bicycle parking space available. Monthly car parking is a 3-minute walk away.
  [Arch] Bicycle parking space available. Monthly car parking is a 3-minute walk away.
• Kasumigaoka Area
  [Ocean] Bicycle parking space available. No car parking; please use nearby paid parking.
  [Garden] No bicycle parking. No car parking; please use nearby paid parking.

Q. Are there any facilities or spaces that can be used for an additional fee?

A. When using the living room as an event space for non-residents, we ask for a portion of the participation fee as a common service contribution.

Q. Is there anything else to keep in mind when using the shared spaces?

A. Please feel free to use them while communicating with your sharemates.

Q. Can I change rooms after moving in?

A. Yes. Within the same house, you can move at any time free of charge. If you move to another one of our houses, a fee of ¥3,000 applies.

Q. Is there a sharehouse where couples can move in?

A. It depends on the size and layout of the room, so please feel free to consult with us first.

Q. Can I keep a pet such as a dog or cat?

• As a rule, pets are not allowed.
• However, if all current residents are willing to welcome the pet as part of the family and live together with it, pets are welcome.
• In principle, pets must be kept inside the owner’s room. In common areas, they must be held in your arms or kept in a cage.
• Small animals that fit in one hand (squirrels, hamsters, small birds, etc.): additional ¥1,000/month. Animals of a size you would hold in your arms (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.): additional ¥3,000/month.

Please also see this article (written in Japanese only for now).
ペットと暮らせるシェアハウス。メリットは？おすすめ物件と【神戸シェアハウス和楽居】のご案内

Q. Are there any house rules I should know about?

A. ● We ask everyone to participate in “Sharing” (a meeting with all sharemates and the management members).

A Sharing session is always held when a new sharemate moves in, and also whenever someone wants to have a discussion.

It is a valued opportunity for communication — a time for introductions and for openly discussing anything on your mind, such as how to use the common areas or concerns about noise.

Rather than following rules and regulations, we value communication, trust, and the feelings of each individual resident.

● [Dinner party exclusively for current residents of the five WARAI houses + visitors]

Every month, WARAI members gather around a meal to chat warmly about daily life and plans for fun activities. Aiming for relationships where anything can be discussed with peace of mind, we also hold “dialogue sessions based on listening to one another.”

*Participation in Sharing is required; the dinner parties and dialogue sessions are optional.

Q. Are there rules for using the facilities and shared spaces?

A. As long as you communicate well with the sharemates in your house, you are basically free to use them as you like.

Q. Are there rules about residents sharing cleaning duties for common areas?

A. Basically, we don’t set rules. However, when many residents are living together, a rotating duty system by day or cycle is often adopted. Some people want to set a cleaning rota, some find it easier when cleaning comes around regularly, some prefer no fixed duties, and some are bothered by dirt building up between turns and want to clean more often (and love cleaning). With all kinds of people, rules are created and dissolved as residents share ideas — things keep evolving.
[Sharing sessions] Whenever a new sharemate moves in, we always hold a meeting with all sharemates and management members, so please rest assured. For details about Sharing, please see the other FAQ items:
‘Are there any house rules I should know about?‘
and ‘I’m worried about whether I can get along with the other residents…‘

Please also see this article (written in Japanese only for now).
シェアハウスの「ルールは？」掃除・音・お風呂の時間について

Q. Please tell me about the move-out procedure.

A. Please notify us at least 30 days before your move-out date. If you give notice less than 30 days before moving out, you will need to pay rent for 30 days from the date of notice, but you may move out immediately.

Q. Is it mandatory to be present at the move-out inspection?

A. Yes. As a rule, we conduct the move-out inspection together with you, check the condition of the room, and then complete the final settlement.

Q. Do you eat meals together or separately? How do you share the refrigerator?

A. ● About meals:
Everyone is free to do as they like. Some prefer to eat alone in their room, others love gathering together — there are all kinds of people. Residents with similar schedules sometimes share dishes and eat together spontaneously, and at times everyone gathers by calling out in the LINE group. Since we’d love to see more shared meals, we may support members who organize dinner gatherings by covering ingredients and drinks.
● How the refrigerator is shared:
Basically, everyone is considerate so that each person can use about the same amount of space. However, since how people use the freezer, the drink pockets in the door, and the vegetable drawer differs from person to person, things settle naturally through discussion so that everyone is comfortable. Writing your name on ziplock bags or baskets and sorting your items into them is also a recommended method.

Please also see this article (written in Japanese only for now).
シェアハウスQ & A その２「ご飯はみんなで食べるの？」「当番制？」

Q. Can I invite friends or family to the house?

A. Yes, they are very welcome. There is a LINE group for each sharehouse, so please let your sharemates know in advance.

Q. Can friends or family stay overnight?

A. After consulting with your sharemates, if there is no problem, they are very welcome. Voices can easily carry to other sharemates, so please be considerate.

[Fees]

• We ask for ¥500 per night as a common service contribution.
• For stays of one month or longer, the fee is ¥10,000 (per month).

[If our staff prepares a futon set]
An additional fee of ¥2,000 applies.

Q. I’d like to know the age range and gender ratio of the residents.

A.

• Gender ratio: 30% male, 70% female
• Age range: 30% in their 20s, 40% in their 30s, 20% in their 40s, 10% in their 50s and above
• Nationality: 90% Japanese (60% from Kansai, 40% from other regions — many from Kyushu, San’in, Shikoku, Chubu, Kanto, and Hokkaido), 10% international
• International residents: from the UK, the Philippines, Switzerland, the USA, Australia, and more.
  Aiming to be “a sharehouse where you can learn English through daily life,” we hope to welcome more international residents. We always keep one of the 10 rooms in the Maiko area (Grandblue & Arch combined) open for a foreign resident.
• There is no age limit. As long as you can live independently, everyone is welcome regardless of age, gender, or nationality!

Please also see this article (written in Japanese only for now).
住人インタビュー動画★英語 & 日本語字幕付き（神戸シェアハウス和楽居）

Please note that each resident interview reflects that resident’s personal perspective. We hope it helps you get a feel for the atmosphere at Warai.
Is everyday noise in a share house a problem? Kentaro on living through conversation

Q. I do not speak Japanese. Is that OK?

A. Yes. For English and Chinese, the owner and staff will support you. More than language skills, what matters is the desire to communicate.

Q. My English is not very good. Is that OK?

A. Yes, no problem at all. Most of the residents are Japanese, and daily communication happens in a mix of Japanese and simple English. As long as you have the desire to communicate, you will fit right in.

Q. I’m worried about whether I can get along with the other residents…

A. We place great importance on opportunities for communication. As mutual understanding deepens, you naturally start to be considerate of your “close sharemates,” and relationships develop where you can openly tell each other what’s on your mind — creating a comfortable living environment.

Specifically, we hold “Sharing” sessions. When a new sharemate moves in, a Sharing session is held with the residents and management members. It is a valued time for openly discussing anything — how the common areas are used, concerns about noise, and anything you’d like others to know. We value “communication, trust, and each person’s feelings over rules.”

[Dinner party exclusively for current residents of the five WARAI houses + visitors] Every month, WARAI members gather around a meal to chat warmly about daily life and plans for fun activities. Aiming for relationships where anything can be discussed with peace of mind, we also hold “dialogue sessions based on listening to one another.”

*Participation in Sharing is required; the dinner parties and dialogue sessions are optional.

Please also see this article (written in Japanese only for now).
住人インタビュー動画★英語 & 日本語字幕付き（神戸シェアハウス和楽居）

Please note that each resident interview reflects that resident’s personal perspective. We hope it helps you get a feel for the atmosphere at Warai.
Is everyday noise in a share house a problem? Kentaro on living through conversation

Q. What kind of people would you like to have as residents?

• Those who are natural and don’t force themselves
• Those who are easygoing and open-minded
• Those who are interested in ideas, values, and lifestyles different from their own
  • Not fixated on their own way of thinking
• Those who value communication
  • Able to express what they themselves want
  • Able to listen to what others want
  • Enjoy gathering with others, or happy to see others gathering even without joining
  • Enjoy both giving and receiving
• Those who are emotionally independent

Q. What kind of people do you think are not a good fit?

• Those who tend to believe they are right (and others are wrong)
  • Those who blame others when things don’t go as expected
  • Those who try to control things
  • Those who are unwilling to listen to others’ opinions
• Those who struggle to find a good balance between distance from others and their own feelings
  • Excessively suppress their own feelings or over-adapt to others
  • Don’t know what they themselves want
• Those who are overly concerned about others
• Those who have difficulty living independently

Q. Can I invite friends to events?

A. Yes. Please feel free to invite your friends.

Q. What kind of events do you have in the house?

A. For sharemates

• House tour & residents’ dinner party (once a month)
• Farm work in Miki (once a month)
• Miso making (once a year)
• Seasonal events (cherry blossom viewing, BBQ, beach outings, Christmas party)

Open events — anyone can join!

• One-Coin English Conversation Café (once a month)
• Handmade market “Tarumi Tanoshikaru” (once a month, except winter)
• Listening & dialogue session — exploring the heart (once a month)
• Film screening & Zero Yen Diner (once a month)
• Mochi pounding event (once a year, in winter)
• Talk sessions with invited guests (irregular)
• Booth at Earth Day Kobe (once a year, in May)
• Other resident-organized events

Q. Can I organize my own events after moving in?

A. The living rooms of the Organic and Arch houses can be used freely by anyone as event spaces. For events in the Grandblue living room or in your own room, please consult with your sharemates first. Anything that makes your sharemates happy is very welcome.

Q. Is participation in events mandatory?

A. No. All events are optional.

Q. Are there events held jointly with the other sharehouses?

A. Yes. [Monthly] A dinner party exclusively for residents of the five sharehouses. [Seasonal] Cherry blossom viewing, BBQ, Christmas party, and more. We hold a variety of events.

Q. I’d like to know what kind of events have been held in the past.

A. Please see the other FAQ item: ‘What kind of events do you have in the house?‘

For the event list and upcoming schedule, please see the Event Calendar & List.

Q. How often are events held?

A. It varies — some are held monthly, others seasonally or on an irregular basis.

Q. Do you take any special measures against infectious diseases?

A. We promote a comfortable lifestyle that strengthens natural immunity.

• Renovations with natural materials (lime plaster walls, solid wood flooring, tatami mats made with Japanese rush grass)
• Annual fermentation projects (miso, mirin-style seasoning, and more — prepared every February)
• Farm work

In addition, to help everyone stay healthy in body and mind:

• Monthly dinner parties exclusively for sharemates
• Yoga, sand bathing, outdoor activities (slacklining, tidepooling), and other activities held freely whenever and however people like.