Types of Student Housing:

1. University Dormitories

• Most affordable option (¥20,000-50,000/month)
• Limited availability - apply early
• Shared facilities (kitchen, bathroom)
• Great for making friends
• Close to campus
• Usually includes utilities

2. Share Houses (Guesthouse)

• Popular among international students
• ¥40,000-80,000/month
• Private room, shared common areas
• Multicultural environment
• Furniture included
• Flexible contracts (3-12 months)
• No key money/deposit required

3. Private Apartment (1K/1R)

• Most privacy and independence
• ¥60,000-120,000/month (depending on area)
• Requires: Key money (1-2 months), Deposit (1-2 months), Agency fee (1 month), First month's rent
• Total move-in cost: 4-6 months' rent
• 2-year lease contract
• Need Japanese guarantor

Best Areas for Students:

Affordable & Convenient:

• Nakano - Great local atmosphere, 15 min to Shinjuku
• Koenji - Artsy, affordable, vintage shops
• Nishi-Ogikubo - Quiet residential, good transport
• Kichijoji - Student-friendly, parks, shopping

Near Major Universities:

• Waseda/Takadanobaba - For Waseda University
• Hongo/Nezu - For University of Tokyo
• Komaba - For UTokyo Komaba Campus
• Ookayama - For Tokyo Tech

Tips for Finding Accommodation:

• Start searching 2-3 months before arrival
• Use websites: Sakura House, Oakhouse, Borderless House
• Join Facebook groups for international students
• Consider proximity to train stations
• Visit properties in person if possible
• Understand all contract terms before signing

Train/Subway System:

Tokyo has one of the world's most efficient public transportation systems.

Main Operators:

• JR (Japan Railways) - Yamanote Line circles central Tokyo
• Tokyo Metro - 9 subway lines
• Toei Subway - 4 lines
• Private railways (Keio, Odakyu, Tokyu, etc.)

Student Transportation Costs:

• Average monthly pass: ¥10,000-15,000
• Commuter pass (teikiken): Discount for regular routes
• Student discount: 20% off on JR lines
• IC Card (Suica/Pasmo): ¥2,000 initial (¥500 deposit + ¥1,500 balance)

Cycling:

• Very popular among students
• Second-hand bikes: ¥5,000-15,000
• Must register your bike (¥500)
• Designated parking areas at stations
• Can save ¥8,000-10,000/month on transport

Navigation Apps:

• Google Maps (English available)
• Japan Transit Planner
• Navitime
• Tokyo Metro App

Pro Tips:

• Avoid peak hours (7:30-9:30 AM, 5:30-7:30 PM)
• Last trains run around midnight
• Download offline maps
• Keep IC card always charged
• Consider cycling for short distances

Average Monthly Budget for Students:

Accommodation: ¥50,000-80,000

• Dormitory: ¥20,000-40,000
• Share house: ¥40,000-70,000
• Private apartment: ¥60,000-100,000

Food: ¥30,000-50,000

• Cooking at home: ¥25,000-35,000
• Eating out occasionally: ¥35,000-50,000
• Frequent dining out: ¥50,000+

Transportation: ¥8,000-15,000

• Commuter pass: ¥10,000-12,000
• Bicycle: ¥0 (after purchase)
• Occasional taxi: +¥3,000-5,000

Utilities (if not included): ¥8,000-12,000

• Electricity: ¥3,000-5,000
• Gas: ¥2,000-3,000
• Water: ¥2,000-3,000
• Internet: ¥3,000-4,000

Phone: ¥2,000-5,000

• Budget plans: ¥2,000-3,000
• Major carriers: ¥4,000-8,000

Health Insurance: ¥2,000-3,000

• National Health Insurance (mandatory)
• Covers 70% of medical costs

Entertainment/Miscellaneous: ¥10,000-20,000

• Books/supplies: ¥3,000-5,000
• Social activities: ¥5,000-10,000
• Shopping: ¥5,000-10,000

TOTAL: ¥110,000-185,000/month

Money-Saving Tips:

• Cook at home using supermarket discounts (evening)
• Use 100-yen shops (Daiso, Seria)
• Student discounts at museums, cinemas
• Free events at universities and cultural centers
• Buy second-hand textbooks
• Use municipal facilities (gyms, libraries)

Where to Eat on a Student Budget:

Super Affordable (¥300-600):

• Convenience stores (konbini) - Onigiri, bento, sandwiches
• University cafeterias - Full meals ¥350-500
• Yoshinoya/Sukiya - Gyudon (beef bowl) ¥400-600
• Saizeriya - Italian family restaurant ¥500-800

Budget-Friendly (¥600-1,000):

• Teishoku (set meal) restaurants
• Ramen shops - ¥700-900
• Udon/Soba shops - ¥400-700
• Conveyor belt sushi - ¥100-200 per plate

Grocery Shopping:

Supermarkets:

• OK Store - Cheapest option
• Life, Ito Yokado - Mid-range
• Evening discounts: 30-50% off (after 7 PM)

100-Yen Shops:

• Daiso, Seria, Can Do
• Kitchenware, snacks, daily necessities

Discount Stores:

• Don Quijote (24/7)
• Gyomu Super (業務スーパー)
• OK Store

Farmers Markets:

• Tsukiji Outer Market
• Ameyoko (Ueno)
• Fresh produce at better prices

Cooking Staples Budget:

• Rice (5kg): ¥2,000 (lasts 1 month)
• Vegetables: ¥1,500-2,500/week
• Meat/Fish: ¥2,000-3,000/week
• Seasonings/condiments: ¥1,000/month

Must-Try Tokyo Foods:

• Ramen (各種ラーメン)
• Sushi (寿司)
• Tempura (天ぷら)
• Tonkatsu (とんかつ)
• Monjayaki (もんじゃ焼き) - Tokyo specialty
• Chanko nabe (ちゃんこ鍋)

Work Regulations for Students:

• Maximum 28 hours/week during semester
• Maximum 40 hours/week during breaks
• Need work permission stamp on residence card
• Apply at immigration immediately after arrival

Popular Student Jobs:

1. Convenience Store Staff (¥1,100-1,300/hour)

• Flexible shifts
• Good Japanese practice
• Near home locations
• Various tasks (cashier, stocking, cleaning)

2. Restaurant/Cafe Staff (¥1,100-1,500/hour)

• Kitchen helper
• Hall staff
• Dishwashing
• Some include free meals

3. English Teacher (¥1,500-3,000/hour)

• Private tutoring
• Eikaiwa (English conversation schools)
• Online teaching
• Flexible schedule

4. Translator/Interpreter (¥2,000-5,000/hour)

• Requires high Japanese proficiency
• Freelance opportunities
• Event interpretation
• Document translation

5. IT/Programming (¥1,500-3,000/hour)

• Web development
• App development
• Remote work available
• Good for tech students

Where to Find Jobs:

• Baitoru (バイトル)
• TownWork (タウンワーク)
• Indeed Japan
• University job boards
• Gaijinpot Jobs
• Facebook groups

Interview Tips:

• Prepare Japanese resume (rirekisho)
• Practice basic Japanese greetings
• Arrive 10 minutes early
• Dress conservatively
• Bring residence card and student ID
• Be honest about Japanese level

Cultural Differences to Expect:

Social Etiquette:

• Bow when greeting (depth varies by formality)
• Remove shoes indoors
• Don't eat while walking
• Speak quietly on trains
• Stand on left on escalators (right in Osaka)
• No tipping at restaurants

Communication Style:

• Indirect communication preferred
• Reading the air (空気を読む - kuuki wo yomu)
• Avoid direct confrontation
• Group harmony (和 - wa) valued
• Formality levels in language (keigo)

University Culture:

• Join clubs/circles (サークル) - great for friends
• Respect senpai-kohai (senior-junior) relationships
• Group study sessions common
• Nomikai (drinking parties) for socializing
• Festival participation (学園祭)

Making Friends:

Where to Meet People:

• University clubs and circles
• International exchange events
• Language exchange meetups
• Hobby classes (tea ceremony, calligraphy)
• Volunteer activities
• Sports teams
• Part-time job

Social Apps:

• Meetup Japan
• HelloTalk (language exchange)
• Facebook groups
• Instagram communities

Dating Culture:

• Group dates (合コン - gokon) common
• Dating apps: Pairs, Omiai, Tinder
• More reserved than Western cultures
• Clear confession (告白 - kokuhaku) expected

Dealing with Homesickness:

• Join your country's student association
• Video calls with family
• Find ethnic restaurants
• Create new routines
• Explore Tokyo gradually
• Keep a journal
• Join expat communities

National Health Insurance:

• Mandatory for all residents
• Cost: ¥2,000-3,000/month for students
• Covers 70% of medical costs
• Apply at city ward office within 14 days

Finding Medical Care:

English-Speaking Clinics:

• Tokyo Medical & Surgical Clinic (Shiba)
• International Clinic (Roppongi)
• Tokyo Midtown Clinic
• St. Luke's International Hospital

For Common Issues:

• Internal medicine clinics (内科)
• Dental clinics (歯科)
• Dermatology (皮膚科)
• Ophthalmology (眼科)

Pharmacies:

• Matsumoto Kiyoshi (マツキヨ)
• Sundrug
• Cocokara Fine
• Over-the-counter medicines available

Emergency Numbers:

• Ambulance/Fire: 119
• Police: 110
• Tokyo English Lifeline: 03-5774-0992
• TELL Counseling: 03-5774-0992

Mental Health:

• University counseling services (free)
• Tokyo Mental Health (English)
• TELL (Tokyo English Life Line)
• Online counseling services

Staying Healthy:

• Regular exercise
• Balanced diet
• Adequate sleep
• Join sports clubs
• Use university gym facilities
• Take advantage of free health checkups

Free/Cheap Activities:

Parks and Gardens:

• Yoyogi Park - Free, great for picnics
• Shinjuku Gyoen - ¥500, beautiful gardens
• Ueno Park - Free, museums nearby
• Imperial Palace East Gardens - Free

Museums (Student Discount):

• Tokyo National Museum - ¥620 → ¥410
• Mori Art Museum - ¥1,800 → ¥1,200
• teamLab Borderless - ¥3,200 → ¥2,000
• Many free on specific days

Seasonal Events:

• Cherry Blossom Viewing (Spring)
• Summer Festivals (Fireworks)
• Autumn Foliage (November)
• Winter Illuminations

Student Nightlife:

• Shibuya - Young, energetic
• Shinjuku - Diverse options
• Roppongi - International crowd
• Shimokitazawa - Alternative, indie

Budget Entertainment:

• Karaoke: ¥300-500/hour (noon rates)
• Manga cafes: ¥1,000-1,500 overnight
• Game centers (arcade)
• Secondhand bookstores
• Free concerts at universities

Day Trips from Tokyo:

• Kamakura (1 hour) - Beach, temples
• Nikko (2 hours) - UNESCO sites
• Hakone (1.5 hours) - Hot springs, Mt. Fuji views
• Yokohama (30 min) - Chinatown, waterfront

Transportation:

• Google Maps - Navigation
• Navitime - Train schedules
• Japan Transit Planner
• Suica/Pasmo apps

Food & Shopping:

• Tabelog - Restaurant reviews
• Gurunavi - Restaurant finder
• Mercari - Second-hand marketplace
• Rakuten - Online shopping
• Amazon Japan

Language & Communication:

• LINE - Main messaging app (essential!)
• Google Translate - Camera feature useful
• Yomiwa - Kanji reader
• HelloTalk - Language exchange

Banking & Money:

• PayPay - Mobile payment (widely accepted)
• Seven Bank - ATM locator
• Wise - International transfers
• Kyash - Digital wallet

Lifestyle:

• Meetup Japan - Events
• Gusto/Saizeriya apps - Restaurant coupons
• Tenki.jp - Weather
• Tokyo Subway Navigation

Job Hunting:

• Indeed Japan
• Baitoru
• TownWork
• Gaijinpot

Academic Success:

• Attend all classes - Attendance matters
• Form study groups early
• Use university resources (library, tutoring)
• Meet professors during office hours
• Join academic circles
• Start assignments early

Language Improvement:

• Take free Japanese classes at city offices
• Practice with part-time job colleagues
• Join language exchange meetups
• Watch Japanese TV with subtitles
• Read manga in Japanese
• Make Japanese friends

Financial Management:

• Open Japan Post Bank account (easy for foreigners)
• Track expenses with app
• Use student discounts everywhere
• Shop during sales periods
• Cook at home most days
• Save emergency fund (2-3 months expenses)

Building Your Network:

• Attend university events
• Join professional organizations
• Volunteer in community
• Connect on LinkedIn
• Attend industry seminars
• Maintain relationships with professors

Dealing with Challenges:

• Don't hesitate to ask for help
• Use university international office
• Join support groups
• Learn from mistakes
• Stay positive and patient
• Remember culture shock is temporary

Making the Most of Tokyo:

• Explore different neighborhoods
• Try new foods regularly
• Attend cultural events
• Learn about Japanese history
• Document your experiences
• Step out of comfort zone
• Create lasting memories