In order that you can enjoy living and studying in Japan for a
lengthy period, it is important to secure a base by finding a
good-quality apartment or other accommodation. For this purpose,
it is recommended that you consult with your guarantor
Since rental apartments are usually unfurnished, you will have
to purchase or lease your own necessary furniture.
(1)Renting accommondation
To find accommodation after arriving in Japan, foreigners
usually go to a real estate agent. If there is a suitable
dwelling, you ask the agent to mediate. In this case, since it
is difficult for foreigners to follow the special commercial
customs of Japan, you are recommended to take along a person who
is familiar with the details, such as your guarantor.
Estimated rents
There is a large difference in rents between large citis and
provincial cities. In addition, even in large cities rents
differ according to such factors as distance from the center and
size of accommodation.
As a guideline, the rent for an apartment with a simple
kitchenette (about 10 sq. meters in total), situated about 30
minutes by train from the city center, would be around \50,000-
\60,000 in a large city and around \40,000 in a provincial city.
The rent for an apartment consisting of one room with a kitchen
and toilet (about 20 sq. meters in total) would be about double
these figures.
When renting an apartment, you must pay various fees, such as a
deposit and key money. The expence differs according to region
and apartment, but in general, as a rough estimate, you should
think in terms of needing the equivalent of six or seven months'
rent in the first month.
Signing the contract and caution
If the landloed and the prospective tenant reach an agreement,
the real estate agent will draw up a contract. You will neddd a
seal (or your signature) for the contract. You are advised to
sign the contract only after reading the contents carefully.
Usually you will also be required to have a guarantor for the
contract. You are advised to have a qualified person as your
guarantor, such as the guarantor for your study
Since most contracts are written in Japanese, you are also
recommended to be accompanied by your guarantor or another
Japanese person when signing the contact.
(2)Points to note regarding residential customs
Since cultural and living customs in Japan differ from those in
other countries, you might face some unexpected problems with
your landlord or neighbors. To avoid such trouble, you are
advised to take note of residential customs in Japan.
Keeping your apartment in good care
If you damage or drty your room or any equipment, you must pay
for the repairs out of your own pocket. Inaddition, when you
leave an apartment, the custom in Japn is that you pay for
restoring it to the condition that it was in when you moved in
before handing it over.
Common facilities and nise
In Japn generally one person rents one apartment. Neither the
contract nor custom allow more than one person to share an
apartment without the permission of the lasndload. Furthermore
residents, are not prohibited from making too much noise and
using common facilities, such as corridors, for private
purposes, such as cooking.
Daily Life (1)Caution regarding use of seal
In many cases in Japan a seal is used instead of a person's
signature. A seal impression has the same effect as a signature.
You are advised to take special care in the safekeeping of seals
registered at banks.
Medical treatment
(2)Medical system in Japan
If you need to see a doctor to obtain treatment for an illness
or injury, you must go to a medical institution. In Japan their
are various medical institutions, such as general hospitals,
special hospitals, and private hospitals. What type of hospital
you should go to will depend on the type and degree of your
illness or injury. You are recommended to consult with people
who have lived in your neighborhood for a long time.
Most medical institutions do not give treatment without
reservations. You are advised to make prior confirmation
Medical consultation in foreign languages
Althouh most doctors can understand at least a little English,
the reception desk at hospitals uses only Japanese. If you
cannot speak much Japanese, you are advised to take along a
Japanese acquaintance to asist in communication.
National health insurance scheme The national health insurance
scheme is a mutual-aid system in which participants ease the
burden of medical expenses by paying monthly premiums and then
using the fund to cover medical fees for illness or injuries.
Foreigners are eligible to join the scheme if they have
completed alien registration and have received permission to
stay in Japan for more than one year.
If you join the national health insurance scheme, you are
obliged to pay monthly insurance premiums. These premiums differ
according to municipality and your income in the previous year.
For foreign students, premiums will amount to around \20,000 a
year.
In the case of an illness or injury, by submitting your national
health insurance certificate to the medical institution, you
will be charged only 30% of the medical bill for any treatment.
So after completing alien registration at your local municipal
office, you are advised to immediately go to the national health
insurance counter and submit the necessary form.
Part-time work
As explained in the above section on "Permission to Engage in
Activities Other than Those Permitted Under the Status of
Residence Previously Granted", foreign students at Japanese
language institutes can engage in part-time work up to only four
hours a day, as long as they receive permission.Therefore, in
view of prices in Japan and other factors, it would be
impossible for a foreibn student to cover all the necessary
expenses for living and study in Japan through part-time work.
If a foreign student works for more than the permitted time, he
or she could be punished and, in the worst case, could be
deported.
