Life in Japan

Where to go	Local municipal office
Business hours	Weekdays 9:00-17:00 (make sure to be there before 16:00)
Closed	Saturdays, Sundays, National holidays and Dec. 29-Jan. 3rd
What to bring	Passport Two current passport size photos (3.5cm x 4.5cm) A copy of your passport including the pages of Landing Permission, embarkation Card for Foreigner, your photograph and passport number.
Application forms	Applications for Alien Registration (外国人登録申請書） A Certificate of Registered Matters（登録原票記載事項証明書)* *The handling fee for this certificate is 200-300 yen per copy. This form can be used as an alternative form for Alien Registration card until an official card is issued.
Will be issued in	A couple of weeks

You need to notify Change-of-Residence Registration (転入届) to the local municipal office where you reside in. Refer to “Appendix (ii) The Process of Japanese Passport Holders’ Registration”.

Those who have established residence in Japan, regardless of nationality, are under the obligation to register for Japanese National Health Insurance (by National Health Insurance Law). It covers 70% of your medical costs. You are provided with a health insurance card which is issued for each person as proof of insurance by the National Health Insurance system. This card is required to receive medical treatment from medical organization. Present this card when you go to see a doctor. Otherwise they can refuse a medical examination or you have to pay the full amount. You need to complete Alien Registration before you apply for National Health Insurance at the local municipal office where you reside in. You can apply both on the same day.

Note: National Health Insurance system covers medical treatments including dental treatment and care of the eye, but does not cover the treatments such as health checkup, vaccination, cosmetic surgery, orthodontics (e.g. bleaching), normal pregnancy and delivery, minor body odor and freckles, abortion due to financial reasons, spectacles and contact lenses fees. It is also strictly limited for injuries and diseases caused by committing crimes/suicides, addiction to drugs, actual flight, and alcohol drinking.

About a month later, the bills are sent to your mailing address in Japan. You must pay a premium according to your previous year's income and the number of your dependents. Therefore, the fist year of coverage is relatively cheap. If you do not make a payment or fall behind in your payment of the premium, it derives you of your right of receiving medical treatment covered by the National Health Insurance system. The notice announcing the insurance premiums for the year is mailed once a year in/after June. Insurance premiums are divided into about 8-10 installments paid during the year from June to the following March. The cost varies from one city to another. Payments can be made at financial institutions such as banks or post offices.

We very strongly encourage you to register at the Embassy or local consulate of your country of citizenship. Embassy/Consulates are maintained in various cities in Japan to serve Residents and Travelers in Japan. You are advised to register yourself and your family at the Embassy/Consulate of the area that you reside in. If you are a U.S. citizen, you can register on-line at the American Embassy in Japan’s web page.

Types	Single – one trip only (3,000 Yen) Multiple – unlimited trips (6,000 Yen)
Where to go	Regional Immigration Office (refer to Immigration Bureaus of Japan below)
Business hours	Weekdays 9:00-12:00 & 13:00-16:00
Closed	Saturdays, Sundays, National holidays and Dec. 29-Jan 3rd
Information Center	Tokyo: 03-5796-7112 Osaka: 06-4703-2150 Sendai: 022-298-9014
What to bring	Passport Alien Registration Card Student ID of your Host University 3,000 or 6,000 yen cash
Application form	Application for Re-entry Permit
Will be issued in	On the day of application submission
Timing	Please do this well before you plan to leave. Including the train & bus rides allow at least a half-day for this. Tachikawa branch office is less crowded compared to Tokyo Regional Immigration Bureau in Minato-ku.

Those foreign nationals who have the status of residence of “college student” are not permitted to engage in activities of running income-generating business or activities for receiving remuneration, so that you may naturally not be employed in principle. Therefore, when those intend to start work, you need to obtain permission to engage in extra status-of-residence activities beforehand at the local immigration office (by Immigration Control Act). This will be permitted only if the amount and scope of such activities are approved as appropriate so as not to hinder your original activities belonging to your status of residence. In principle, those having the status of “college student” may take on a part-time job after obtaining comprehensive permission to engage in extra status-of-residence activities within the time limits: 14-28 hours or shorter a week (or 8 hours or shorter a day during long vacation of the educational institute) and are not allowed to engage in adult entertainment business. Please be aware that the immigration office is serious about enforcement and penalties for violations may include criminal punishment and deportation.

And also each host University has different policies about part-time employment for international students. Tsukuba and Tsuru University prohibit UCEAP students from engaging in activities related to the management of business involving income or activities for which he or she receives remuneration.

NOTE: YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK DURING/AFTER SUMMER ICU/ILP AND IIJ, BEFORE YOUR HOST UNIVERSITY TERM OFFICIALLY STARTS IN FALL.

Where to go	Regional Immigration Office (refer to Immigration Bureaus of Japan below)
What to bring	Passport Alien Registration Card Student ID from your Host University 副申書 (Fukushinsho) from your host university
Fee	Free
Application form	Application for Permission to Engage in Activity other than that Permitted under the Status of Residence Previously Granted
Will be issued in	Two weeks to two months

*1: If you are not sure where to visit, contact a campus clinic or Tokyo Study Center. We will refer you to appropriate English speaking doctors near your campus/dorm. And also refer to "5. MEDICAL INFORMATION".

*2: ACE does not cover dental care. (unless injured)

A campus clinic and consultation by physician at your host universities are available. When it is necessary, they will refer you to appropriate English speaking doctors near campus. When your host university term officially starts, it is a good idea to check the location of the campus clinic with the Student Affairs Office or Foreign Students Office at your host institution.

ICU Campus Clinic (Honkan-310)
Hours Daily 9:30-16:30 (Lunch time 12:00-13:00)
1st and 3rd Saturdays 9:30-12:30
Consultation by physicians: Wednesdays 13:30-15:30 and alternate Thursday 14:00-16:00

There are several ways to get cash:

• You can use your U.S. bank ATM cards to get local currency from your primary account in participating networks. Depending on the U.S. card, it may work in independent ATM machines in some of the more popular areas. ATMs in Japan do not have the same set of features that you find at ATMs in the U.S. If you have trouble using an ATM in Japan, it might be because the ATM is not in their participating network. Withdrawal limits and fees for ATM cash withdrawals made outside the U.S. may vary. Please inquire with your home bank, if any special provisions must be made before using your card in Japan. For example, some banks must be notified if the user has moved, or there may be a new four-digit PIN number for international use.

  

  Making it much easier for you to obtain cash in Japan, if your ATM cards are on the Plus or Cirrus Systems. The Visa/Plus and MasterCard/Cirrus network each have ATMs world wide. Additionally it also works at the post office and Seven Banks ATMs for fees in Japan.

  

We recommend you to have at least two of the above means of getting cash. The best way to handle finances is to check whether or not you can use your U.S. bank ATM cards with little expanse in Japan and also open an account at a Japanese bank to save daily withdrawal from your U.S. bank account.

The requirements for opening an account vary from bank to bank. In Japan, most widely used accounts in Japan are saving/ordinary accounts (普通預金口座―Futsuyoking koza) stated as “フ” in katakana. Individuals are not allowed to open checking/current accounts (当座預金口座―Tozayoking koza) unless you run a business. What you need to bring with you will include some or all of the followings:

• Passport

• Alien Registration Card or Certificate of Registered Matters (you may try to open an account by a Certificate of Registered Matters. However, more banks accept only an Alien Registration Card.)

• Hanko (personal seal) or Signature.
  *Some banks may accept your handwriting signature. However, you will be required to have your own Hanko nowadays, esp. if you are from the country that have a Hanko culture.

• School and Guarantor Information

• Mailing address and contact phone number in Japan

• Minimum initial deposit (e.g. 1,000 yen)

Note: what we know so far is that each branch office applies different interpretations on the rules and regulations dealing with non-Japanese passport holders. Once they refuse your application, you had better try another bank or another branch office of the same bank rather than trying to negotiate (they are never convinced). The banks located in the center of Tokyo are likely more stringent while ones outskirts of Tokyo are more lenient to those rules and regulations.

• Most bills (cell phone, apartment utilities, etc) can be paid at financial institutions including banks, post offices and convenience stores by cash.
• Some bills (cell phone) can be paid automatically by charging your credit card.
• Some bills (apartment rent, selected dormitory fees) may be paid by bank transfer either automatically or on a month-by-month basis at financial institutions.
• Telephone and online banking in bilingual are getting popular in Japan.

To make international calls, "Skype" allows users to make telephone calls over the internet to other Skype users free of charge, or to landlines and cell phones for a fee.

Prepaid international calling cards are also available. “Brastel” lets you keep your access number and add credit magnetically to your card at convenience stores such as CircleK, Family Mart, Lawson, MINISTOP, Sunkus, and ThreeF.

Suica card is an IC card issued by JR East. It is a rechargeable contactless smart card used as a fare card on train, subway and bus lines in the Kanto region, Sendai and Niigata areas, and also interchangeable with JR Hokkaido's Kitaca, JR Tokai's TOICA, JR West's ICOCA, JR Kyushu's SUGOCA, Nishitetsu's nomica, and Hayakaken area.

Q1. Where to buy?
You can buy it at ticket vending machines or Midori no Madoguchi (Ticket windows) of the JR train stations.

A new card costs 2,000 yen, which includes a 500 yen deposit that will be refunded when the card is returned. The remaining 1,500 yen is immediately available for train rides, and more money can be charged on to the card up to a card maximum of 10,000 yen, at similar ticket vending machines or fare adjustment machines displaying the Suica logo at each station. It works as the standard prepaid Suica card which can be used to ride trains in the place of paper tickets. You will here that people say “charge suru”. It means that their Suica card needs to be charged.

Q2. How to use?
Usage of the card involves passing it over a card reader. (1) The technology allows for the card to be read at some distance from the reader, so contact is not required. Many people leave the card in their wallet and just pass the wallet over the reader as they enter the ticket gate. The minimum fare is needed on the card when entering the train system, which is not deducted at that time.

(3) The balance on the card is displayed when you enter the ticket gate. On exit, the card is again passed over the card reader. At this time the fare is deducted from the remaining balance from the card and the new balance is displayed. On occasion, when traveling to a station where Suica is not supported, the card must be handed over to the staff at the exiting station, so that they can calculate the remaining fare and return a slip of paper which must be given to the staff at the next station where Suica is used. Since the system keeps track when a card enters and leaves a station, if the records show that the card had entered a station but not left due to the situation such as described above or technical malfunctions, the station staff can reset the card.

Q3. Whatelse to use?
It is increasingly being accepted as a form of electronic money for purchases at convenient stores, restaurants, first food outlets, vending machines and kiosks in addition to railways. If you see those marks below, you can pay by Suica.

Q4. Only one type of Suica card?

No. There are three different types of Suica cards.
1. Only Suica
2. My Suica (Suica card with your name)
3. My Suica card with commuter pass for unlimited traveling between two destinations for school or work.

Q5. What is the difference with PASMO?

PASMO card also has the similar function. However, the Pasmo can not be used outside of Tokyo area.

Q6. What is mobile Suica?

The Mobile Suica Service (membership required) employing mobile phones are also available. This service combines the communications and screen display functions of mobile phones with the Suica system. Mobile Suica can be used at all JR East stations within the Suica service area including the Sendai and Niigata regions.
As with a Suica card, you can “touch and go” using your Mobile Suica compatible mobile phone. Just hold your mobile phone near the sensor of the automatic fare gate and be on your way. It also can be used as electronic money at any business that currently accepts payment by Suica card, including drink vending machines and coin operated lockers. There is no need to line up at the ticket machines in the station. Using the communications function of your mobile phone, you can add stored fare (SF) value wherever you may be. You can even use your mobile phone to purchase a Suica commuter pass or Suica Green Car (First-class car) Tickets. You can check your current SF balance and usage log or view information on Suica commuter pass or Suica Green Car Ticket purchases on the screen of your mobile phone. If your mobile phone is lost or stolen, it may be necessary to use a new mobile phone handset in some cases, you can have your Suica commuter pass and SF balance reissued.

If you would like to purchase a student pass through Mobile Suica, you need to call the newly established the Mobile Suica Center which provides customer support at 048-645-7007 (only Japanese).

For regular commuting to and from school, a commuter’s pass (定期券―teikiken) is very convenient and cheaper than buying single tickets. The teikiken is available for bus, train, and subway. Within the period of validity (1, 3 or 6 months), you may ride as frequently as you wish to the destination or to any other places on the route, including Sundays and holidays. For less frequent commuting, coupon tickets (回数券―kaisuken) are convenient and a little cheaper.

Note: During the ICU/ILP or JWU program, you are not regular University students so that you cannot buy student passes, but buy general commuter passes.

It is different from one locality to another. Garbage is often separated into three categories, Combustible trash (燃えるゴミ―moeru gomi): kitchen garbage, cloth, paper products, Non-Combustible trash (燃えないゴミ― moenai gomi): plastics, metals, and china ware, Recyclable trash (資源ゴミ―shigen gomi): PET bottles, newspapers and batteries.

*Prepare yourself for the long commuting time (more than an hour) and transfering of public transportation (more than a couple of times) to get to your school/destination in Tokyo. That is about normal and not confined to International students.

Internet access is available at your host Universities (e.g. at libraries, laboratories, study rooms, dorms etc.). Wire-less Internet access on campus is not yet available in Japanese Universities.

If you would like to access the Internet from your home, you need to become a member of one of the Internet providers to surf websites and use e-mail on your computer. Services and rates vary between providers; do your own research on the plans offered by each provider and choose the one that best meets your needs.

Post offices (Yubin-kyoku) are located throughout Japan, and they offer similar kinds of domestic and international mailing services as the US Postal Service. Post boxes, which are red and usually square or cylindrical in shape in Japan, are also available for letters and post cards with stamps affixed to its surface. The "〒" mark is a symbol of postal service. It can be found anywhere that relates to postal service including post offices and convenience stores. The shops located in front of post boxes are most likely sell basic stamps and post cards.

Takkyubin (Parcel Delivery Service)

There are a number of companies offering door-to-door delivery services, both in Japan and overseas. Most privately used delivery service in Japan is Kuroneko Yamato (クロネコヤマト) by Yamato Transport. These services, known as takkyubin, are very efficient, quick and relatively inexpensive (about 700 yen-1,500 yen per package for domestic delivery). Packages are usually delivered within a day or two in Japan. To use these services, inquire at convenience stores or a neighborhood liquor store. Many takkyubin companies have offices or forwarding affiliates in the United States.

Bicycles are required to follow the same traffic rules as cars such as ridden on the left side of the road and in a line along the left edge of the road. They are allowed on same sidewalks where appropriate signs exist and also on bicycle-only path ways. Ride safely and always follow the rules.

Helpful Tips for a Less-troubled Life