STUDENT LIFE IN JAPAN
Housing
While Tokyo has a reputation as being an expensive place to live, there are actually
quite a large number of possibilities open for foreigners coming to study in Japan.
A large percentage of Japanese university students study in the Tokyo area so there's a wide
variety of student housing available, from dormitories to private apartments.
While Yoshida does not provide any sort of housing for students, we can
definitely help you with your housing search.
When you arrive in Japan, there are a number of hotels and inns that are a short commute away from the school, especially near big train stations such as Ikebukuro, Shinjuku and Ueno. Several are listed on our housing options page.
For short stays in Japan, a guest house is often the easiest option. Students live together with other foreigners and Japanese. The monthly rent includes the use of a furnished room, a shared kitchen and often all utilities also. Some are quite large with up to fifty people living in one building but others are small with only five or six people living together. When you arrive you can investigate the possibilities and see what works best for you.
Immigration matters
After finding housing, students who come to Japan on a student visa will need to register at the local civic center within 90 days after arrival in Japan. You will need to bring your passport, two passport-style photographs and a certificate of student status that we will prepare for you. Once you've registered you'll receive an alien registration card (gaikokujin torokusho), which can be used as a means of identification in lieu of your passport. If you plan to travel outside of Japan during the time that you're a student, you must obtain a re-entry permit from the immigration bureau before leaving.
Health Insurance
Students generally enroll in the National Health Insurance system once they
arrive in Japan. Under this system, you must
pay monthly premiums. You will be issued an insurance card, which allows you to receive
medical treatment at only 30% of the cost by showing the card at a medical facility.
You enroll at the civic center of the ward where you reside in Tokyo. The cost varies
depending upon the ward where you live but the cost for one year is usually around ¥26,000.
On top of this, the insurance students with student visas obtain from Yoshida
covers the 30% not paid for by National Health Insurance in the case of sickness
or accidents, so a student who crashes their bicycle is 100% covered in cases of injury!
(Wounded pride is not covered.)
Part-time Work
With a student visa you are permitted to work up to four hours a day at a paid position, after obtaining permission from the Immigration department. Permission is usually granted once you have a command of basic Japanese. As the economy in lukewarm in Japan currently, finding a job will typically require a certain amount of effort on the part of the student. Many students work in restaurants and shops and this often requires a mastery of basic Japanese, so beginning students may not be able to find work until their command of daily Japanese has improved. However, students often find that jobs help their Japanese as they use it in everyday work situations and not just in the classroom. English speakers frequently find work teaching English. When you arrive at Yoshida, we'll be happy to talk more with you about the procedures for getting approval to work and any job possibilities we're aware of at the time.
