Some young Japanese are rejecting single-living and opting to share spaces with others, usually strangers, as they search for a sense of community. Guest houses (rental residences with private bedrooms and communal kitchens and bathrooms) are enjoying a surge in popularity, especially among Japanese women.

The number of guest houses in Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures was less than 100 in 2003. Today there are over 600. A website, Guest House Hitsuji (“Guest House Sheep”) provides a directory of guest houses around Japan as well as advice for choosing a guest house. In the past, guest houses were used mainly by foreigners staying in Japan for a short time, but non-Japanese now make up less than 30% of residents. According to a recent survey by Guest House Hitsuji, around 70% of guest house residence are single Japanese women, mostly in their twenties.

One such guest house is “Bauhaus” in Minami Senju, a commuting hub, which boasts a stylish interior, luxury amenities such as jacuzzis and fireplaces, relaxing communal spaces and comfortable private rooms. Prices for a single room range 65,000-82,000 yen, which is slightly more than a small studio apartment.

Living with others offers a feeling of security, space and community, especially when compared with the tiny, often uniform apartment. It’s part of a growing shift – powered especially by the mobile Internet – of young Japanese creating new communities beyond the traditional realms of work and family.

communities, japan, women