This time, we interviewed a resident living in a share house located in Kariya City, Aichi Prefecture, about 30 minutes by train from Nagoya. Aichi Prefecture, home to Nagoya City—one of Japan's three major cities—is located in the center of Japan. It is an attractive place where urban life harmonizes with nature, offering opportunities to experience history and culture. In this interview, we will hear more about life in Aichi and what brought them to Japan.

First, could you introduce yourself?

I'm Cynthia from Hong Kong. I've been in Japan on a working holiday visa for almost a year. I've done two resort jobs and worked part-time at Uniqlo.

Resort jobs are quite unique! How did you find out about them?

I was searching online for jobs where I could experience snow, and I happened to come across resort jobs. It doesn't snow in Hong Kong, so I really wanted to work in a place where I could be around snow.

That makes sense—coming from a warm country, it's only natural to want to experience snow! Where did you work for your resort jobs?

In Hokkaido and Ishikawa. In Hokkaido, I worked at a hotel's ski rental shop, and in Ishikawa, I worked at a kaiseki restaurant. Especially in Hokkaido, I had a great time snowboarding every day after work.

That sounds like so much fun! How long did you work at Uniqlo, and what kind of work did you do?

I worked at Uniqlo for about two months, which was a short period. My job was mainly preparing items by taking clothes out of cardboard boxes.

What made you decide to come to Japan?

The reason I wanted to come to Japan was because I watched Japanese anime. There was a one-year exchange program to Japan at my university in Hong Kong, but it was canceled due to COVID-19. However, I couldn't give up, so I came to Japan on a working holiday visa after graduation.

Many people choose Tokyo, so why did you choose Aichi?

I had friends in Aichi whom I met during my resort job.

Your Japanese is very good! How did you study it?

I watched TV shows and anime I was interested in every day, and somehow I became able to speak. I especially listened to the radio.

What kind of radio shows did you listen to?

I listened to DGS Radio, which is a radio show hosted by voice actors.

Do you have any memorable experiences at the share house?

I have so many! Playing games with everyone, going to festivals—it was so much fun! The happiest memory is when everyone celebrated my birthday.

What are your plans next?

I'm going back to Hokkaido to work at a ski resort while enjoying skiing again! (laughs)

What is a typical day like for a resort job?
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM: Work
5:00 PM – 8:00 PM: Snowboarding
9:00 PM: Go back home and sleep

That sounds amazing!By the way, are there any requirements to get hired for resort jobs?

For customer service jobs, many places require at least JLPT N3 or higher.

Lastly, do you have a message for those considering moving into Appartement Aichi?
My first share house experience was much more fun than I expected. I made so many memories here. I would love to live in other share houses by different companies, but I still want to come back to Oakhouse. Here, they hold various events, and I really felt the strong connections between people. Also, the house manager here is kind, and welcoming—everyone, come to Aichi soon!

Cynthia, thank you very much for sharing your story with us today!

Cynthia's story of challenges and encounters in Japan shows us the importance of taking that first step forward. Watching her enjoy her working holiday while finding her own lifestyle has given us a lot of positive energy.

In a share house, people from diverse backgrounds come together, and simply listening to their stories can broaden your horizons and lead to new discoveries. For those who may feel uneasy about living in a share house for the first time, Appartement Aichi offers an apartment-style share house with a safe and comfortable environment.

If you're interested, please feel free to reach out to us!
We hope that new encounters and experiences in the share house will become wonderful memories for everyone!
（Interviewer,Writer / Yuri）

The house where this resident stayed is here!