"Today's story is based on the real-life experience of Tomomi, an employee at U Share."

Doesn’t finding a home in Japan feel like a huge hurdle?

The Japanese language itself is difficult.
It’s not easy to go to view properties in person.
And when you look at a contract, you can’t even tell what’s written.

You might be thinking,
“Finding a place to live in Japan seems really difficult,” and hesitating to take that first step.

Because I’ve lived abroad myself, I understand that anxiety very well.

Finding a Home in the UK: A Time Full of Uncertainty

When I first started living in the UK, I could barely speak English.
Rather than excitement, what I felt more strongly was anxiety—“Will I really be able to live here?”

The thing I struggled with the most was finding a place to live.

People who had already moved to the UK told me things like:
“Finding housing in the UK is really difficult.”
“If you can’t speak English, it’s very hard to secure a place.”

Hearing that only made my anxiety grow.

An unfamiliar country, unfamiliar systems, and a language barrier.
“What if I can’t find a place to live?”
That fear often outweighed everything else.

The Relief of Being Supported in a Language I Could Understand

In the end, I turned to a real estate agency in the UK that was run by Japanese staff.
From searching for a property to signing the contract, everything was handled in Japanese, and I was able to secure a home before even arriving in the UK.

What I strongly felt at that time was how reassuring it is to have everything explained clearly in a language you understand.

When living abroad, more than language ability itself, what truly matters is whether you can start your new life feeling secure.

Knowing that I had a place to return to upon arrival allowed me to finally face my new life with a positive mindset.

The People Who Supported Me in a Multinational Shared House

After arriving in the UK, I lived in a shared house with five people:
two British roommates, one Taiwanese roommate, one Japanese roommate, and myself.

Among people from many different countries,
the ones who supported me the most were a Taiwanese woman and a Japanese woman.

The first person I met was the Taiwanese woman.
When she saw that I could hardly speak English, she was probably surprised.

Still, she kindly told me,
“I couldn’t speak English at first either,”
and patiently communicated with me.

She taught me everything—house rules, life in the UK, and work-related matters.
To me, she felt almost like a dormitory manager.
Having someone who could explain things properly and whom I could ask questions truly saved me.

Another indispensable presence was the Japanese woman.

She explained house rules to me in Japanese when I couldn’t fully understand them in English,
helped me practice for job interviews in English,
and listened to all my worries about life and work in the UK.

Before I knew it, she had become one of my closest friends.

In an environment with a language barrier, having someone you can talk to in your own language makes an incredible difference.
Things I could never have overcome alone became possible because I wasn’t alone.

That is what I learned through shared living.

Why “A Safe Place to Call Home” Matters So Much

Through these experiences, I came to strongly believe that whether a home feels safe and secure greatly affects not only daily life, but also one’s ability to take on new challenges.

When you’re already anxious about language and culture,an unstable living situation makes it extremely difficult to move forward positively.

That’s why having a place where you can feel safe from the very beginning is so important.

At U Share, while residents can communicate in English in their daily lives,even complicated rental contracts—which can be difficult for Japanese people as well—are explained carefully and clearly.
Multiple payment options are also available, making the process easier for students who have just arrived in Japan.

Based on my own experience, I truly believe this support is a great help for students coming to Japan.

Additionally, U Share has an RA (Resident Assistant) system,which provides support even after move-in.
Having someone you can turn to when something goes wrong, and knowing you’re not alone, is a huge source of comfort.

Why I Chose to Work at U Share

My experiences in the UK became a major reason for choosing my current career path.
Because I once started my life in a foreign country without knowing anything,
I wanted to become someone who supports others taking their first steps in a new place.

I strongly believe that the most important part of daily life is the living environment.
Whether you have a place where you can feel safe returning home makes a huge difference in how easily you can challenge yourself and grow.

Because I once experienced being “the one who was supported,”
I now want to be on the side of those who support others—at U Share.

I would like to write more about my experiences in another article in the future.
For everyone who will live at U Share,
I hope this can be a place where you feel safe and truly yourself, and I would be happy if I can help make that possible in any small way.