Getting the acceptance letter from your host university in Japan is the easy part. What follows — the Certificate of Eligibility, the student visa, packing, and getting connected in your first week — is where most exchange students lose time. This guide walks through the timeline from three months before departure to your first weeks on the ground, so you can arrive and get straight to settling in.
1. Before you fly: the 1–3 month checklist
1.1 Certificate of Eligibility and student visa
Your host university applies to the Immigration Services Agency for your Certificate of Eligibility (COE). Once it reaches you, take it with your passport, photos and the university's letter of acceptance to the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country to have the student visa issued. Carry paper copies of everything in your hand luggage:
- Certificate of Eligibility — original plus a copy
- Letter of acceptance from your host university — original plus a copy
- Several passport photos in the Japanese format (4.5 × 3.5 cm) — you will need them for a bank account, a commuter pass and campus paperwork
- Your host university contact details and dormitory confirmation
1.2 Work permission: get it at the airport
If you plan to take a part-time job, fill in the Application for Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted before you leave and hand it in together with your passport at immigration when you land. Officers stamp the approval on the back of your residence card on the spot. Apply later at a regional immigration bureau instead and the same approval usually takes two to four weeks.
- Student visa holders may work up to 28 hours a week
- During long university vacations the limit rises to 8 hours a day, up to 40 hours a week
- Work in or for adult-entertainment venues is not permitted, whatever the role
1.3 Health check and insurance cover
Complete the medical form your host university sends you at a clinic at home. After you arrive, every student staying more than three months enrols in National Health Insurance at the city or ward office, which brings your share of medical costs down to 30%. Enrolment takes a few days to process, so short-term travel medical insurance covering your first two weeks is a sensible bridge.
1.4 Course planning and credit transfer
- Confirm transfer rules first. Download the host university's syllabus and get written confirmation from your home department on which courses will count.
- Know which track you are on. Regular faculty courses are taught in Japanese and often expect JLPT N2 or above; exchange programmes and language tracks are taught in English or built around Japanese study. Prepare a few backup courses in case of clashes or full classes.
- Keep your home enrolment active. Most home universities require you to register for the semester while you are away.
1.5 Money: cash, cards and ATMs
Japan is increasingly card and QR friendly, but the first month still involves cash: dormitory deposits, coin laundry, ward office fees and some campus cafeterias. Budget for a cash cushion that covers your deposit, first month of rent and basic furnishings, and keep these three things in place:
- Declare large sums. Bringing in the equivalent of more than ¥1,000,000 in cash requires a customs declaration.
- Two cards, two networks. A JCB card alongside a Visa or Mastercard covers almost every terminal. Prefer cards with no foreign transaction fee.
- Enable international withdrawals. Switch on Cirrus or Plus withdrawals and set a four-digit PIN before you leave; 7-Bank ATMs in 7-Eleven stores accept foreign cards around the clock.
2. Staying online in your first month
2.1 Why the first weeks need a reliable connection
The first two weeks are the busiest: resident registration at the ward office, opening a bank account, buying furniture, finding your way around campus. Maps, translation and university notices all depend on having data from the moment you land.
There is also a sequencing problem worth planning around: a Japanese monthly SIM contract usually asks for a Japanese bank account, while the bank asks for a Japanese phone number and a residence card with your registered address — and dormitory internet often takes a week or two to activate.
2.2 The simple bridge: a 30-day eSIM
The easiest way through is to buy a Japanese eSIM before you fly and use it for your first month, then choose a local carrier plan (LINEMO, ahamo and similar) once your bank account and address are registered.
- No SIM swap. Your home number stays in the phone and keeps receiving verification codes from your bank back home.
- Online on landing. Install the profile before departure and switch it on when the plane lands, with no airport queue.
- Room to decide. Choose your long-term Japanese carrier when the paperwork is done, not on day one.
Japan eSIM — SoftBank network, no SIM swap
SoftBank native line with nationwide coverage including Okinawa. Choose 1 to 30 days and the data you need. The QR code reaches your inbox about 10 minutes after payment, so you can install it before you fly. If the signal is unstable or the eSIM is unused, we refund it in full.
On Android we recommend the KDDI native eSIM — high-speed unlimited data, and it works on Android and iPhone alike.
3. What an exchange semester in Japan costs
Costs vary most by city. Tokyo and the surrounding prefectures sit at the top of each range; regional cities in Kansai, Tohoku or Kyushu sit at the bottom.
| Item | Tokyo area | Regional cities | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setting up (one-off) | ¥80,000–150,000 | ¥50,000–100,000 | Bedding, basic appliances, a bicycle, transport card |
| Rent per month | ¥50,000–90,000 | ¥30,000–50,000 | University dormitories vary widely; private rentals add key money and deposit |
| Living costs per month | ¥60,000–90,000 | ¥40,000–60,000 | Cooking at home is the single biggest saving |
| National Health Insurance | ¥1,500–2,500 | ¥1,200–2,000 | With no income in Japan the previous year, a reduction is usually available |
4. After you arrive
4.1 Attendance counts more than you expect
A student residence status assumes you are studying. Universities set minimum weekly contact hours and attendance thresholds, and attendance records matter when you extend your status of residence. Give yourself the first month or two to settle into the academic rhythm before adding a part-time job.
4.2 Pack for the first three days, buy the rest locally
- Hand luggage: passport, COE, letter of acceptance, cash, a personal seal if you have one, charger and power bank.
- Checked luggage: three to five days of clothes, any prescription medicine, travel-size toiletries, and a hairdryer rated for 100V.
- Buy after arrival: bedding, kitchenware and storage are cheap at Daiso, Seria and Don Quijote near campus — no need to pay excess baggage for them.
5. Frequently asked questions
How much cash should I bring for the first weeks?
Enough to cover your dormitory deposit, one to two months of rent, second-hand furniture and bedding, and ward office fees — these often have to be paid in cash before your Japanese bank account is open.
I forgot to hand in the work permission form at the airport. Can I still apply?
Yes. You apply in person at the regional immigration bureau for your area, and processing usually takes two to four weeks. That is why it is worth printing the form in advance and submitting it at the immigration counter when you land.
Can I use my home credit card in Japan?
Yes. Supermarkets, convenience stores and large retailers such as Bic Camera and Yodobashi accept credit cards and Apple Pay. A JCB card plus a Visa or Mastercard covers the widest range of terminals, and cards without a foreign transaction fee save the most.
Should I buy a Japanese SIM at the airport instead?
You can, but an eSIM installed before departure means you are online the moment you land, with your home number still active for bank verification codes. See our comparison of the three Japan eSIM lines to choose between them.
Further reading
- Japan eSIM compared: SoftBank native, KDDI native and dual-network — which line suits your phone and your data habits.
- Tokyo eSIM guide — coverage on the metro, in the suburbs and on day trips.
- How to install an eSIM — step-by-step for iPhone and Android.
Arriving in Japan? Have your connection sorted before you land.
SoftBank network · QR code delivered in about 10 minutes · full refund if the signal is unstable or unused · LINE @peanutmo / WhatsApp +886-921-963-203 (10:00–17:00, Taiwan time)
