What Is A Share House? My Experience With Shared Living
I spend a lot of time hopping between places and traveling — especially living in Japan. So one logistical question mark is always figuring out my accommodations.
The best, cheapest and most convenient solution I’ve found is coliving.
So, what is a share house? This post dives deep into that question, my experiences and some of my top picks for shared living spaces.
So with that, let’s get into it!
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What Is A Share House?
A share house is a coliving space where residents have a private (or semi-private) room but share the kitchen, bathrooms and other common areas.
It’s a great way to save money by splitting costs with other people. Plus, coliving contracts are usually much more flexible (one of my favorite perks).
Shared living is perfect for travelers, digital nomads, students or anyone looking to meet new people, explore a new city or save some loot on living expenses.
Types of Coliving
Co-working spaces that rent out rooms
Semi-private rooms (dorm-style)
Private rooms in a house
Social residence stays (think private rooms, but in a hotel-style building)
Subletting or room rentals
Live-in landlords
Hostels
Pros + Cons of Shared Living Spaces
For me, the benefits of staying at a shared house totally outweigh the cons.
Still, here are some things to keep in mind.
Pros of Staying At A Share House
It’s cheaper than renting a hotel or private apartment
Instant community of friends (great for solo travelers)
More flexible (no long-term contracts)
Access to amenities or complimentary cleaning services
Cons of Staying At A Share House
Less privacy
You can’t choose your house mates
Less flexibility in location (depends on the city and company inventory)
Potential for conflict situations
7 Share House Companies Worth Checking Out
Ready to start searching for a share house? Epic.
Here are my top picks (based on either personal experience or research and reviews).
1. Coliving (global)
Coliving is a platform that focuses on community and building an inclusive and diverse modern way of living.
To get started, just use their simple search function that will take you through a series of questions (like your intended city, room type and planned move-in date).
If you’re not sure though, don’t worry. The questions are flexible and there’s a filter on the listings page to change stuff around at any time.
While you can search any city to look for rooms, it seems you get more results when you choose from their list of the most popular cities.
It’s pretty intuitive and has a clean interface too.
I just wish they had more options in more cities.
2. Borderless House (Japan, Korea + Taiwan)
Borderless House is a popular and reputable share house company that strives to create a strong sense of community in their houses. They operate in Japan mostly but also have rooms in Korea and Taiwan.
They were actually my first experience with shared houses, so there’s definitely some nostalgia there for me.
You can search through their inventory based on your preferences, house location or just as a simple list format. They also run different specials throughout the year for certain houses, so keep an eye out for those.
You can reserve a room (or a room viewing) all online. And the process is pretty simple.
After going through the online reservation, you’ll also set up a time for a short video call (no more than 20 minutes). This is super low stress and their staff is incredibly nice.
My experience with Borderless House has always been great. I’ve met some of my closest friends while staying with them.
3. Oakhouse (Japan)
Besides Borderless House, Oakhouse is my second go-to share house to use in Japan.
Oakhouse is a large share house company in Japan with a large inventory and more price flexibility.
They also have more rental options than just coliving. For example, you rent short-term apartments from them too!
Check in is a breeze also. If the house manager can’t meet you on the day, they’ll just send you detailed instructions and a PIN code to get into the house (at least, that’s what they did for me).
Otherwise, the only major caveat is they only operate in Japan.
So if you’re planning a long-term trip to Tokyo, the Osaka area or Fukuoka, Oakhouse is definitely worth checking out.
4. Common (U.S.)
Common is a share house company offering private rooms in modern and well-designed spaces.
They offer cleaning services, simple move-in options, on-site laundry and easy transfer between buildings.
They only operate in U.S. cities though, so if you’re a traveler looking to explore internationally, you may need to keep looking.
But if you’re looking to save a few coins in popular places like NYC or LA, then give Common a try.
5. Outpost Club (NY)
Outpost Club is a share house company offering coliving services, full apartment living and corporate or student housing options.
I only recently discovered this company, but I’m into their branding and approach to share houses.
They have spaces exclusively in New York, so if you’re heading to The Big Apple and need a longer-term space to rent, they may be worth checking out.
6. PodShare (California)
PodShare is a coliving company that provides people with an affordable way to rent short-term housing in otherwise super expensive areas.
I found this company a little while back and they definitely seem to prioritize tenants and their happiness.
They offer super flexible terms (no minimum or maximum stays), various payment options, unlimited transfer to different pods, basic toiletries and no security deposit or proof of income.
I especially love that they cater to mental health and travel.
PodShare knows the value of exploring new places and they help make that happen with cheaper costs and flexible coliving options.
7. Shared Homies (Seoul)
Shared Homies is a coliving option in South Korea. They have a collection of clean and move-in ready share houses in Seoul.
I’ve never actually stayed here, but I was in contact with the owner briefly. I was planning a trip to Korea and was going to rent through them.
While I ended house sitting for friends instead, he was extremely nice and responsive. I definitely got a good vibe.
So if you’re heading to Seoul and need a longer-term place to stay, this may be a good choice for you.
Later ✌️
Share houses are an awesome way to save money and find flexibility in your accommodations.
Most companies offer private room options with shared kitchens and facilities. But a common theme for most coliving spaces is community.
Shared living spaces are a great way to meet new people and explore new cities (without committing to long-term contracts or expensive hotel bills).
While this list isn’t exhaustive, it does highlight some of my personal favorite choices and other popular options out there.
But if you’re not seeing what you need here, I’d recommend searching for shared houses in the specific country or region you’re traveling to.
Every city and country will have different share house options.
Want More? Okay. Here’s More.
