Japan Study Abroad Guide
Qualification
Graduated from high school or are planning to graduate
Completed 12 years worth of education
Student’s Documents
*Japanese translations are required for foreign language documents (English documents can be submitted as is)
Application form (each school provides this form)
A copy of your passport (ID page and Japan immigration stamp page)
4 portrait photos (3cm x 4cm) taken within the last 6 months
Final education certificate
Current undergraduate / Graduate Student: High School Graduation Certificate and Certificate of Enrollment
Birth certificate (official document regarding birth record)
Family relations certificate (official family documents, resident card, etc.)
If Applicable:
Certificate of employment / employment history
Japanese classes attendance confirmation form or Japanese language test results
*If there is a blank period of one year or more in your student or job history, it is necessary to submit documents or proof of reason that proves what you were doing during that period.
Guarantor’s Documents
Guarantor’s Certificate of Employment
Guarantor's income certificate (last 2 years)
Guarantor's bank balance certificate
¥3,000,000 or more
Required to display the amount converted to Japanese yen if it is not Japanese yen
*A parent with income is preferred as a guarantor.
Enrollment Time
Four times a year (January, April, July, October) *Some schools only offer April and October
Application Time
January enrollment: 4/1~9/15, April enrollment: 6/1~11/15, July enrollment: 9/1~2/15, October enrollment: 12/1~5/15
*Only documents issued within the application period are valid
Visa Announcement (by semester)
January enrollment: 11/15~11/30, April enrollment: 2/15~2/28, July enrollment: 5/15~5/31, October enrollment: 8/15~8/31
Classes at a Japanese-Language School
Classes are held 5 days a week (weekdays), and most of the classes are divided into morning and afternoon classes, but depending on the school, there are also full-time classes (6 hours a day).
Example of two-part class time) Morning class: 09:00am - 12:50pm / Afternoon class: 1:00pm - 4:50pm
*Class hours vary depending on the school, so please refer to the school website for more information.
Japanese Language Level Test: After admission, students will be divided into classes based on their Japanese language level and morning and afternoon classes.
Entry to Japan
You can enter Japan 2 weeks before the first date of school. Please plan your travel based on the dormitory move-in date. The dormitory move-in date is usually the 26th day of the month prior to the month of the start of the school. For example, we recommend that international students in the April term enter Japan on March 26th or later. However, depending on the circumstances of the dormitory, there may be cases where it will be a little longer.
After the Entry to Japan
Your very first destination is your dormitory. Please make a note of the your dormitory address in advance and print out guides that show how to get there from the airport. However, when requested by the school, there are cases where you need to go to the school first.
Notify Your Entry to Japan
When you arrive at the airport, first call the school or your dormitory and let them know that you have arrived in Japan. Make a note of the telephone number of your school or dormitory representative in advance.
From the Airport to Your First Destination
Train or bus is recommended for transportation from the airport to the school or the dormitory. Please make a note of your destination in Japanese and bring it with you. Find the train or bus information boards and confirm with the staff before buying the ticket to the nearest location from your destination.
Smartphone and Wi-Fi
You can use your existing smartphone with a SIM card purchased at the airport or a shop in Japan. You can also sign a contract for a new smartphone in Japan. To sign a contract for a smartphone in Japan, you need an alien registration card, passport, and credit card or bank account in Japan. Schools usually have free Wi-Fi.
Opening Banking Account in Japan
You can open a bank account in Japan only at the post office for the first 6 months. You can open a bank account at ordinary banks after 6 months.
In addition, international money transfers from foreign countries cannot be made to the post office account, so please prepare your own living expenses for 6 months in Japanese Yen or bring your own credit card. In general, one month's living expenses (excluding tuition and dormitory fees) for international students are about ¥50,000 or more per month.
Currency Exchange
Only Japanese Yen is used in Japan, so please exchange currency into Japanese Yen before boarding an airplane in your own country. The amount of currency exchange should be about ¥100,000 or more. However, if you have a credit card, it can be as low as ¥50,000. Especially if you arrive in Japan late at night, the exchange center at the airport may be closed, so be sure to bring some Japanese Yen. Transportation fees from Japanese airports to schools or dormitories in Tokyo are around ¥2,000~3,500.
Immigration at the Airport
When you undergo immigration at the airport, you will be asked to present your immigration card (write your personal information, and the address of your stay in Japan, school name, etc.), passport and residence certificate, admission permit, and portrait photo and to answer the questions of the immigration officer. Most of the questions are about the purpose of entry and your stay. After passing the immigration, a residence card will be issued. In this case the photo must have been taken within 6 months. For example, if you issued your passport a year ago, but you submit the same photo as your passport, they’ll know it was taken a year ago.
Alien Registration and Health Insurance
When you arrive in Japan, you must visit the alien registration desk at the ward office to register as an alien. This requires a passport, residence card and address. Also, please visit the National Health Insurance reception desk in the same building to apply for National Health Insurance.