HomeLiving in Japan

Living in Japan

Essential information and guidance for international students living in Japan.

Important Procedures

Resident Registration

After getting Resident Card at the airport, you must register your address within 14 days at the municipal office in your neighborhood. If you move, you should notify the municipal office of the change of your address.

National Health Insurance

Please follow procedures for the National Health Insurance Service in the city where you registered. As foreigner, every student is required to apply for health insurance in order to receive the same medical treatment as Japanese.
All students must be enrolled in the national health insurance service. If one has a national health insurance card, he or she need to pay only 30% of the medical fee. Even though the insurance contribution varies according to city one lives, new comers pay about 1,500 Yen per a month.

Tourist Attractions & Popular Spots

Tourist Attractions & Popular Spots Near Tokyo

Kamakura & Enoshima

A popular route combining temple hopping in the ancient capital of Kamakura with the beach resort of Enoshima. Stylish cafes and fresh seafood are also highlights.

Yokohama

Packed with attractions including Chinatown, Red Brick Warehouse, and the Cup Noodles Museum. Easily accessible from Tokyo in about 30 minutes.

Hakone, Mt. Fuji & Lake Kawaguchi Area

Enjoy hot springs, the Hakone Tozan Railway, Lake Ashi, and stunning views of Mt. Fuji.

Nikko

A UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring Nikko Toshogu Shrine and Kegon Falls — where nature and history harmonize beautifully.

Tokyo Skytree

A panoramic view of Tokyo from a 634m observation deck

Senso-ji Temple

Tokyo's oldest temple, also great for strolling along Nakamise-dori shopping street

Shibuya Scramble Crossing

One of the world's most famous pedestrian crossings

teamLab Planets

Experience cutting-edge digital art

Tsukiji & Toyosu Market

The place to enjoy fresh seafood and sushi

Transit IC Cards & Electronic Money

Suica / PASMO

Both Suica and PASMO can be used on trains, buses, and subways throughout the Kanto region and across Japan (excluding some companies and routes). They can also be used as prepaid e-money cards for shopping.

PayPay

PayPay is a widely used smartphone payment app in Japan. It's a convenient service that lets you shop and pay using only your smartphone without cash.

Smoking Rules

In Japan, smoking is not allowed in many places. In Tokyo especially, smoking on the street is prohibited. Smoking in areas without designated rules may result in a fine. Please follow Japanese manners so everyone can enjoy a comfortable environment!

Notes on Smoking

Please smoke only in designated areas
Always dispose of cigarette butts in an ashtray
Smoking while walking is prohibited

Tokyo's Climate

Annual temperature and precipitation (reference)

Period	Average Temperature	Precipitation (Characteristics)
April–June (Spring to Early Summer)	Approx. 13–25°C (Warm)	Relatively stable, but June has heavy rain due to the rainy season
July–September (Summer)	Approx. 25–35°C (Hot and humid)	July and August are drier; September has frequent typhoons
October–December (Autumn)	Approx. 10–20°C (Pleasant)	Relatively dry. October sees some autumn rains
January–March (Winter)	Approx. 5–10°C (Cold)	Dry and mostly sunny, but snow is possible in February

How to Dispose of Garbage

Basic Garbage Sorting Methods in Tokyo

(May vary by location)

Burnable garbage (combustible waste)
Non-burnable garbage (non-combustible waste)
Recyclable garbage
Oversized garbage (large items)

Multilingual Guide (For Tokyo's 23 Wards)

Tokyo's 23 wards provide a multilingual 'Garbage Sorting Guide' to support proper sorting and disposal methods. It is available in over 14 languages so that foreign residents can live comfortably.

Important Notes

Put out garbage by 8:00 AM on collection day (do not put it out late the night before)
Some wards require designated bags (available at supermarkets and convenience stores)
Follow local rules (check your apartment regulations or your city hall's guide)

Postal Service

One of the main delivery services is Japan Post's delivery service. The total of length, width, and height must be within 1.7m. Maximum weight is 20kg.
About Cash on Delivery (COD)

Recipient: Enter the recipient's address
Sender: Enter your address
Delivery notification: You will receive a confirmation message when the package arrives. If you need this service, circle the required section
Preferred delivery date: If you don't need this service, you don't need to do anything
Enter your preferred delivery time
Item: Write generally rather than in detail. Depending on the type of item, check the fragile section if applicable

Changing Address

From July 9th of 2012, the system of Basic Resident Registration Card applies to foreigners. All foreigners must fill the form of the residence record at the local office. According to the system of resident registration, all residents including all foreigners should notify address change and new address to the local government office.

Precaution

When you notify the local government office of the address change you will have certification of moving out When you move to different district, you should do the local government office of the a moving-in notification within 14days with the certification of the moving out.
When you move within the same district, you should notify address change at the local government office.
When you move to foreign countries, you should notify the local government office of the moving out.
When you notify address change, you should go with one of these, residential card, certificate of alien registration, or certificate of permanent resident.

Embassy for Each Countries

Please refer to the website link below for each country's embassy if one needs some help related to his or her country embassy in Japan.

Visit MOFA's page

Hospitals

If you need to visit a hospital for health issues, you must present your health insurance card and residence card. The following hospitals are located near the school.