About to head off to Japan for your first year of school? Not quite sure what to expect, and what might come of the great unknown? Then worry not because the Student’s Guide to Life in Japan is here to save you. The SSAJ Executive Committee has prepared the 4th Edition of this guide, and we aim to tackle all the frequently asked questions and worries that you have.

The SSAJ primarily consists of students doing their tertiary education in Japan, and we often organise events as well as publicise job opportunities for Singaporean students. We partner with the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO), the Japanese University Graduate Association of Singapore (JUGAS), the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Tokyo, and the Singapore Global Network (SGN). So sign up for our mailing list, get your friends to sign up too, and join us for fun times and free food here.

The “must know” stuff runs from Stage 0-3, and contains all the key application procedures. Stage 4 contains all you need to know about daily life in Japan and how it differs from Singapore. It is lengthy but comprehensive, so feel free to use it as a reference if you don’t want to read it all at once. It contains all sorts of lobangs and lifehacks so do read it. Lastly, be sure to check out our site for our guide to the best Singaporean food that you can get in Japan.

Important Note: We have compiled the information in this document based on our own understanding and experience, and are by no means specialists or professionals in any of the aforementioned fields. Please be informed that the Singapore Students’ Association (Japan) (SSAJ) will not be liable for any loss or damage that you may suffer as a result of using the information herein.

Stage 0: Visa Application

Singapore has the world’s second most powerful passport, and you may not have applied for a visa before. A visa gives you permission to enter a country for a specific period of time. For most countries, including Japan, Singaporeans get an automatic tourist visa of 1-3 months simply by crossing into the country with our passports - without having to apply for a visa!

However, as someone who is going to study in Japan, you will need a long-term student visa for your stay here. Part of the visa application process will be handled by your school, and the other part will be legwork by you.

Applying for the Certificate of Eligibility

Image Credit: Tsunagu Local

The key document needed for your visa is the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) issued by the Japanese government, and this document is usually applied for through your educational institution. To get the COE, your school is likely to request the following documents:

Application Form for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
Financial Documents
(Bank Account Balance or Financial Letter from your Scholarship Organisation)
Copy of Your Passport
Passport Photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm)

After submitting the relevant documents to your school and getting them approved, it will typically take another 1 to 3 months for the COE to be processed. Your school will eventually mail the COE (a small postcard sized document) directly to you.

Applying for the Visa

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Next, head down to the Japanese Embassy to send in your visa application. Typically, walk-ins are allowed for visa applications however, during the COVID pandemic, the entry system has become appointment-only. Do check the embassy website for the latest details here.

Embassy of Japan in Singapore
16 Nassim Road, Singapore 258390
Tel: 62358855
Email: japan-visa@sn.mofa.go.jp
Opening Hours: 8:30AM - 12:00PM, Mon-Fri except Embassy Holidays
Nearest MRT: Orchard (15 minutes walk)

You will need the following documents to apply. Please note that you need to make a photocopy of the COE yourself as there is no photocopying service at the embassy. Also do make sure to bring the visa application fee (exact cash amount only).

Visa Application Document Checklist (Full Details and Forms here)

NRIC (Original and Photocopy - Front and Back)
Passport (Original)
Visa Application Form
Passport Photo (3.5 x 4.5 cm, affixed onto Visa Application Form by glue only)
Certificate of Eligibility (Original and Photocopy)
Application Fee of SGD$38 Exact Cash (Check here for latest amount)

The application process is very straightforward. First, inform the security guard that you are there to submit a visa application and show your NRIC. Then, enter the building and follow the signs to the consular services area. Grab a queue number for visa application and wait for your turn. If you have not glued your passport photo, there is usually glue available at the side counters. Once your number is called, pass all the above documents, except for your original NRIC, to the counter staff. They will look through all the documents, confirm them, then pass you a collection slip. Return to the embassy on the stated date and time to pick up your passport with the visa affixed. If you need to change the collection time, you can email the embassy here. Note that all collection time slots are between 1:30PM - 4:00PM from Monday to Friday. The processing time usually takes 3 working days, and during this time you will not have your passport.

Image Credit: Tin

When you pick up your passport from the embassy, check the visa page for a printed sticker. Do ensure that the dates and your name are printed correctly. There have been instances of typos of the name, if there are, tell the counter staff immediately. The visa type should say “Single Entry”; don’t worry, this still allows you to exit the country as many times as you want to. If you want to leave Japan and come back, check out this section of the document. With this, you have your passport and visa, and are now administratively set for entering Japan.

Stage 1: Pre-Departure

Flights to Japan

Image Credit: Marcus Ng

When choosing your flight to Japan, other than price, there are two main things to look at: Destination Airport and Baggage Allowance.

Some Japanese cities, like Tokyo and Osaka, have more than one international airport, so do make sure to check which one you are supposed to fly to. It is important to consider the distance of the airport from the city, and the arrival time, to ensure that there are still trains running. For Tokyo, Haneda Airport is a more convenient option, being only 30 minutes away from downtown Tokyo. In contrast, Narita airport is around 1 hour 30 minutes away from downtown Tokyo. Try to choose the most convenient route, as you don’t want to find yourself struggling with huge pieces of baggage while trying to navigate through Japan’s complicated train system. (Some train stations are also not baggage friendly - with minimal elevators around - as a word of caution).

Make sure your flight includes enough baggage allowance to move to Japan (don’t underestimate how much you need!) Singapore Airlines (SIA) provides for 30kg checked baggage, regardless of how many pieces. They are also generally flexible with exceeding 30kg, as long as it is not too substantial, but this may differ according to the staff member at the check-in counter. LPT: as students, we also can get the student fare for SIA, with 40kg checked baggage. You need to sign up as a student, and then log in to your KrisFlyer student account AND use the student booking page. Info here, and search for Fares here (you need to be logged in to view the Search Fares page, else it’ll yield an error.)

Other airlines like Japan Airlines (JAL) and All Nippon Airways (ANA) both allow for two pieces of baggage, up to 23kg each for a total of 46kg. Do note that JAL is known to be very strict with its baggage policy, so do not exceed the given amount.

Other than that, try to avoid the rush hours in Japan after you land. If needed, you can consider getting some coffee at the airport and waiting out the rush hours. Trust us, it is not fun to squeeze on trains with your luggage, or to struggle up staircases with the crowds bumping into you.

(For note: Japanese train stations may not always come with elevators, or if they do, they may be located at the far end of a station...)

Money

Image Credit: Eduardo Soares

It is advisable to bring a sizable lump sum of Japanese yen with you at the start. Some seniors have recommended at least 230,000 yen in cash to be safe. Making a bank account takes at least a few weeks (See: Bank Account in Japan), and you don’t want to be stuck without money. Do not carry more than 1 million yen as you would have to declare it at customs. It is advisable to bring about a month’s worth of cash (with top ups through ATM withdrawals if necessary).

After you open a bank account in Japan, you can transfer money from your DBS or OCBC account to your Japanese account. Note that while your Singapore bank might not charge fees, your Japanese bank may charge an administrative fee to receive the transfer.

Image Credit: whatcard.sg

We would recommend setting up a Youtrip, Revolut, or Wise account in Singapore before heading to Japan. They are all free prepaid Mastercard debit cards with no application or subscription fees. We recommend these over the DBS Multi-Currency Account or the UOB One Account with MightyFX, because they are easier to set up, have no strings attached, and generally offer better benefits. There is also the GrabPay Card - however, it does not offer any benefits topping the three options listed here.

	Youtrip	Revolut	Wise	Regular Debit Card
Overseas Transaction Fee	None	None	None	3.25%
Mobile Payment	No	Apple/Google Pay	Apple/Google Pay	Depends
Overseas Bank Transfer	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Adding Value for Free	Credit/Debit Card	PayNow	PayNow	N/A
Exchange Rates Ranking	Best	2nd Best	3rd Best	Last
Overseas ATM Withdrawal Fee	$5 Flat for Any Amount	First $700 Free, 2% Subsequent Withdrawals	2x Withdrawals of up to $350 Free, 1.5% Subsequent Withdrawals	Usually $5 Flat for Any Amount

There is no harm in applying for more than one service, since these are free services. Note that the cards can only be used at ATMs that accept Mastercard, i.e. all convenience store ATMs and ATMs at certain major banks. These ATMs may charge a small convenience fee of around 110 yen* for withdrawals. (*The ATM withdrawal fee will change depending on the day/time you withdraw the cash. Withdrawal fees are typically higher during weekends/holidays.)

Initial Housing

Image Credit: Nippon.com

Getting housing in Japan is a long and tiresome process (See: Housing in Japan) and it is generally not possible to secure private housing from Singapore. You will likely have three main choices:

Staying in your school’s dormitory
Staying in a share house
Staying in a hostel for a few weeks

The most painless approach might be to stay in your school’s hostel, for which you can usually get your placement before school starts. You can then stay in the dorm for the initial occupancy period, and then decide if you want to continue staying or if you want to move out. Note that dormitories, unlike in Singapore, are typically not on-campus and may require a long commute, depending on location. Also, dormitory placings can be competitive, so a spot is not guaranteed.

The next option is to stay in a share house. Share houses are sort of like public hostels - you can stay in a private or a shared room with shared living facilities. These are usually occupied by foreigners and foreign students. Some share house companies, like Oak House and Sakura House, also offer fully furnished apartments. These are good options for those who want simplicity and convenience as they typically come with utilities bundled in, and allow online reservations from Singapore. Due to their popularity, it might be difficult to find a central location at a good price. Additionally, communal living may not be for everyone, as some people have roommate horror stories to share, unfortunately.

If you are dead set on getting private accommodation from the get-go, then you can get a hostel via a travel website like booking.com or Airbnb for the first few weeks. Then as you stay there, you can navigate through the Japanese housing system. You would likely have to deal with the inconvenience of having all your barang-barang in the hostel, and there will be a lot of uncertainty as to whether or not you can secure your housing before your hostel stay ends.

Things to Bring

Remember to bring your original academic transcripts and certificates, as well as a set of photocopies. Your educational institution will likely require them.

In terms of electronics, things like your laptop, mobile phone, etc. are usually fine. These are designed to work around the world, and support a wide variety of electricity sources. Just remember to bring your universal adapter(s), which are actually cheaper to purchase in Singapore than in Japan. If you don’t have the appropriate adapter, you can usually purchase them from the convenience stores (combinis), e.g., 7-Eleven, Family Mart, or places like Donki, or online via Amazon/Rakuten.

Image Credit: Japan Visitor

In Japan, apart from having a different plug, the voltage is vastly lower, and may have different frequencies. Thus, things like household electronics made in Singapore are unlikely to work in Japan. Japan’s plug is a Type A socket ( | | ), the same as the US, and uses 100V at 50 Hz (East Japan - Tokyo) and 60 Hz (West Japan - Osaka). Unless you are sure your appliance meets this standard, do not be tempted to just whack and plug it in, you will likely spoil your appliance.

You may want to bring some warm clothing, but you may not want to bring over too many of your clothes from Singapore. Fashion in Japan is quite different from Singapore, although Uniqlo styles work well. Other than Uniqlo, there are plenty of shopping places with reasonable prices, as well as outlet shopping where you can get branded goods for cheap prices. (Gap hoodies at 1000yen anyone?) Also, T-shirts, shorts, and slippers likely won’t cut it in the city, only at the beach. Muji’s items (including clothes) are also cheaper in Japan than they are in Singapore!

If you are worried about ingredients, there are Asian supermarkets and international supermarkets in Tokyo. Your standard set of Asian condiments (oyster sauce etc.) are pretty easy to find. You can even get Prima Taste products, though of course at a premium. If you want to find out where to get your Indomie fix, read more below. (See: Groceries in Japan)

Important Note: Do not bring meat products, as well as fresh meat or vegetables as you have to declare it at customs. While commercially processed and sealed items may escape detection (for Eg. Bee Cheng Hiang Mini Ez Pork Bak Kwa), just be aware it is a risk.

Image Credit: Klook

For drivers: you should also get an International Driving Permit (IDP) made in Singapore before you fly. It costs $25 and is valid for one year, allowing you to drive in Japan. You can apply for it online, or at any of the Automobile Association of Singapore outlets at Redhill, Geylang Bahru or Ang Mo Kio. You can only apply for this in Singapore, do bring your Singapore driving license.

Do note that you are only allowed to use the IDP up to 1 year from the point at which you entered Japan (even if you renew your IDP). In order to drive in Japan after 1 year from the date of entry in Japan (in the case where you have not returned to Singapore for a period of 3 months or more before re-entering), you will need to either apply for a conversion to the Japanese driving licence or return to Singapore for a minimum period of 3 months before re-entering Japan. However, if you have returned to Singapore for a period of 3 months or longer within the 1 year time frame from the date which you first entered Japan, your IDP’s validity for use in Japan will be ‘resetted’.

Personal Medication & Medical Devices:

For those intending to bring pharmaceuticals/medical devices into Japan, note the import rules.

If you are bringing more than one/two month(s) of (personal) supply, then you will have to submit a kind of “import certificate”, the "Yunyu Kakunin-sho" application to the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare closest to your airport of arrival in Japan. You will receive the “Yakkan Shoumei” certificate upon approval (in PDF if you submitted via email). You will also have to declare your customs import on arrival (do bring the approved document with you on your flight).

From anecdotes of people who submitted this form via email: it can take around 1-3 days for your application to be processed & approved, so do account for this in your flights/administrative procedures. If your application is incomplete, they will email back to ask for more information (e.g., additional certificates).

The application form & more information, including a sample of how to fill in the “import certificate” form can be found in the MHLW FAQ here (English version).

For the full wording of the MHLW instructions, you can check the webpage here.

In addition:

Narcotics: In the case that your medication is a type of narcotics, you are required to obtain an advance permission from the Narcotics Control Department at the Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare closest to your airport of arrival in Japan.
“Pharmaceuticals and cerebral functions”: No product containing the designated pharmaceutical ingredients, which is sold in foreign countries/regions with advertisement on enhancing cerebral function and other mental effects, shall be brought into Japan, unless use of such a product is complying with doctor’s prescription or instruction (MHLW Table on the list of products).

Also, do note that medical devices, including disposable contact lenses, are restricted to a 2 month supply.

Contact List:

Contact for Drugs, Quasi drugs, Cosmetics and Medical devices No. 1: Kanto-Shin’etsu Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare

(Place of arrival: Narita International Airport, Tokyo International Airport, etc.) - Kanto Arrival

TEL: +81-48-740-0800

Email: yakkan@mhlw.go.jp

Contact for Drugs, Quasi drugs, Cosmetics and Medical devices No. 2: Kinki Regional Bureau of Health and Welfare

(Place of arrival: Kansai International Airport, Chubu Centrair, Naha Airport, etc.) - Non-Kanto Arrival, incl. Okinawa, Kyushu

TEL: +81-6-6942-4096

Email: kiyakuji@mhlw.go.jp

Contact for Narcotics and Psychotropics:

Compliance and Narcotics Division, Pharmaceutical Safety and Environmental Health Bureau, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Place of arrival: All)

FAX: +81-3-3501-0034

Stage 2: Upon Arrival

At the Customs Counter

When you arrive at the customs area, don’t go to the usual foreigner counter for tourists. Look for the one for Long-Term Residents (that’s now you!), and show the staff your COE and visa. There may be some additional forms that you may need to fill before going to the counter, and the staff there will guide you through it. When you’re at the counter, the staff will help to process your COE and visa, then create your Residence Card or Zairyuu Kādo (在留カード) on the spot. The Residence Card is more or less your Japanese NRIC for foreigners, but there is also a MyNumber Card that you can read about later on. (See: MyNumber Card).

Image Credit: Immigration Services Agency of Japan

Important Note: If you are a Singaporean Chinese (if not see the next important note below), and your name is something like “Alan Tan Jun Jie”, the immigration staff will likely look at your passport in confusion and ask which is your surname. Japan operates largely on the Family Name, Given Name system, so having your surname in the middle will be a headache. While it is possible to leave it as “Alan Tan Jun Jie”, it is advisable to have it written as “Tan Alan Jun Jie”. The immigration officer might suggest the latter to you too. While it might seem like a small thing now, it will save you a great deal of headaches and explanations when you do administrative procedures elsewhere in the country. Digital systems are also likely to reject applications when your name is in an unrecognised format.

Another Important Note: Be sure to also settle on a single katakana interpretation of your name, and use this universally to avoid confusion. For example, some banks are very particular that you use the exact same katakana. If you are unsure, ask your friend who speaks Japanese for help, or you can even email SSAJ for help. For example, “Alan Tan Jun Jie” would likely become “アランタンジュンジェー” (Aran Tan Jyun Jē). It is best to choose the katakana interpretation based on the pronunciation as opposed to how it is written in English.

Image Credit: Immigration Services Agency of Japan

Yet Another Important Note: Even if you are unsure if you will do part-time work (including Teaching Assistant work at your school) in Japan, you should still ask for the work permit when making your residence card. It is very administratively troublesome to get it afterwards, and very painless to do it at the customs counter. Better to have it than not to have it, be kiasu a bit. The staff will likely ask you if you plan to do part-time work - if they don’t, you can tell them that you would like a Part-Time Work Permit (資格外活動許可 shikakugai katsudou kyoka). With the permit, you will be allowed to work up to a maximum of 28 hours a week during the school semester (during school holidays, this is extended to up to 8 hours a day, with a maximum of 40 hours a week). You will need to fill up the form to pass it to the officer, you can find the form and print it out from here.

Getting from Airport to Accommodation

Image Credit: AccesRail

The cheapest way from the airport into the city is actually via limousine buses. These are convenient as they are a direct ride from the airport straight into the city.

For Tokyo, there are a number of routes from Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) to neighbourhoods like Shinjuku, which will likely get you closer to your destination than the regular train. They typically cost around 1250yen, and you can check the full listing of routes and book a bus here.

For Kansai, there are even direct bus routes from Kansai International Airport (KIX) to not only Osaka, but Kyoto, Kobe, Nara, and even Shikoku. These range from 1200yen to 2600yen. You can check the two providers, Osaka Airport Transport and Kansai Airport Transportation Enterprise (the former is cheaper than the latter).

If you want a more hands-free experience, you can also choose to send your luggage from the airport to your accommodation by Yamato Transport (called Kuroneko in Japan, or Ta-Q-Bin in Singapore). They can usually do same day delivery for around 3000yen per piece of luggage.

If you’re going to take the train, you may be wondering whether to get a one-time ticket or to buy a card. (See: Cashless Systems in Japan)

You can also take private hire cars from airports to your preferred destination, though this is the pricier route. Some of our SSAJ 2020/2022 EXCO members have used this route during the pandemic, and we booked via Klook. (Link: Klook Private Airport Transfers: just plug your airport and destination into the search bar).

Administrative Procedures

The main urgent administrative procedure you need to settle is registering your new address with your local ward office. The ward office is sort of the administrative paperwork hub for each neighbourhood. You will need to search online to figure out which is the ward office for your neighbourhood. For example, if you stay in Shinjuku City (according to your address), you need to go to the Shinjuku Ward Office (also known as the Shinjuku City Office) to carry out your administrative procedures. (See: Moving In Procedures)

This administrative registration has to be done within 14 days of your arrival in Japan, and without it you cannot get access to things such as a phone line. Even if you are temporarily staying in a hostel, you need to register that first, then make a change later.

Register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Singapore Global Network

Image Credit: Newschannel.sg

It is also good to eRegister with the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is meant to keep track of Singaporeans in Japan, so that the ministry can follow-up in case of any emergencies. They also host events periodically, including the National Day event that typically comes with a hearty Singaporean buffet, so don’t miss out. You should also note the location of the Singapore Embassy in Tokyo, in case you require their services (for example, if you lose your passport).

Embassy of the Republic of Singapore in Tokyo
5-12-3- Roppongi
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0032
Mon - Fri: 9.00 am to 12.00 pm, 2.00 pm to 5.00 pm
Phone: +81-3-3586-9111
(After Hours Emergencies: +81-90-3208-4122)
Email: singemb_tyo@mfa.sg
Website

Also register with the Singapore Global Network (SGN), an initiative under the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), which looks after Singaporeans around the world. SGN was formerly known as the Overseas Singaporean Unit. They send out regular newsletters and also organise both social and professional events for Singaporeans living overseas.

Stage 3: Settling In

Ward Office Procedures

Image Credit: Real Estate Japan

Note: If you are living in a hostel, the hostel usually arranges these procedures as a group. In that case, you do not need to do the procedures below by yourself. It is probably better to do it as a group because there will usually be someone who speaks Japanese to guide you.

This set of procedures have to be done not just when you move to Japan, but every time you change your address. You need to go to your local ward office to get your address registered and register your National Health Insurance Card. Bring your Residence Card and an Inkan (Seal) if you have one. (If you don't have a seal, a signature usually suffices)

Finding Your Ward Office
“6-chōme-12 Toyotamakita, Nerima City, Tokyo 176-0012”
“Nerima City” => Nerima Ward Office
(Make sure you go to the main ward office, and not the smaller local admin offices)

In major cities like Tokyo or Osaka, or in greater Tokyo like Kanagawa and Saitama, there is a decent chance that there is some level of English guidance at the ward office. Try to go early in the morning as these places get crowded in the afternoon. Without a long queue, it takes around an hour to complete the procedures.

Resident Registration, National Health Insurance, and Pension

Image Credit: Plaza Homes

There is always a guiding staff at the ward office, so tell the person you are moving in and you need to do Resident Registration (住民登録 Jyūmin Touroku). Most ward offices have the form in English, or the form in Japanese with an English translation guide. Remember to ask your guide for the English version (英語でお願いします Eigo De Onegaishimasu).

Image Credit: Tanki Visa

Important Note: The staff may ask you if you want to get a Certificate of Resident Registration (住民票 Jyūmin Hyou). Each copy costs around 300-500yen depending on your ward office. Make sure you get at least one or two copies, as your school may require this document, and your cellphone provider will ask for it too. If you don't get it now you will need to go back to the ward office again later. They might ask you whether or not you need your Personal Identification Number on it, and it is better to have it on than without.

After that, they will probably give you a folder or a waiting number. Just hold onto it and sit back down at the waiting area until your new number is called. When you’re called, they will pass your Residence Card back to you, so check that the address printed behind the card is correct. You should also get your Certificate of Resident Registrations. Make the payment for the documents, then you are good to go.

National Health Insurance

The staff will also ask you to fill up the form for the National Health Insurance (国民健康保険 Kokumin Kenko Hoken), a compulsory national insurance system that covers 70% of medical fees in Japan.

You will be asked to take a queue number, so take a seat and wait for your number to be called. If you are not good in Japanese, please look up the Japanese reading of your queue number. At the counter, pass your documents over to the counter staff including your Residence Card. You will be asked some simple questions, then asked to sign or stamp some documents.

Another Important Note: Make sure to tell the staff that you are a student, and get the Student Discount (学生割引 Gakusei Waribiki) for the National Health Insurance. (Some ward offices will require you to go to a separate counter to complete this step). Students only pay about 30% of the original cost for the National Health Insurance (do note that in Minato City, there is no specific student discount – instead, you declare your income as 0 yen, and they will give you the appropriate discount). If you don’t do this now, you will get a bill shock when it is mailed to you, and you will have to go back to the ward office to get a discount. This amount differs from ward to ward, but for example, in Shinjuku City it is 1,500yen a month. The staff may also ask you if you want to pay in a yearly lump sum or by monthly payments, either way the bill will be sent to your address a few weeks later. For additional details, see the section below on “National Health Insurance Card”.

Pension

Everyone in Japan aged 20 to 59 has to be enrolled in the National Pension System (国民年金 Kokumin Nenkin). However, students are eligible for an exemption (支払い免除 Shiharai Menjo), which will save you 14,980 yen a month. You don’t have to do anything during your first visit, until you receive something from the ward office later on telling you to enroll in the National Pension System. So just sit tight and wait. Once you’ve gotten the letter about pension, bring it to the ward office and make sure to tell the staff that you are a student at the counter to apply for an exemption. You should receive a small card in the mail, a few weeks or months later stating the period that you have been exempt from paying pension.

Changing Address

Image Credit: Origami

If you find yourself moving to a different apartment in a different ward, note that you have to go down to the ward office and complete the Moving Out Notice (転出届 Tenshutsu Todoke). Doing that procedure will give you a Certificate of Change of Address. When you move into your next address, bring this Certificate of Change of Address, your Residence Card, your National Health Insurance Card, and your MyNumber Card to the new ward office. The other procedures remain the same, including needing to ask for a student discount for the National Health Insurance.

If it is in the same ward, just go down to the ward office and fill up a Change in Address form.

Yearly Renewable Procedures

The discounts for the National Health Insurance and the exemption for the Pension system typically last until April. In April of each year, regardless of whichever month (April or November) you arrived, you have to return to the ward office to renew your application for the discounts and exemption.

Note that for Language School students, the Pension Year lasts till July instead of April, so you have to apply for your exemption in July.

MyNumber Card & National Health Insurance Card

After your registration at the ward office, you will receive two things via mail. Your Individual Number Notice, and your National Health Insurance Card.

MyNumber Card

Image Credit: Kita City Office

The Individual Number Notice (個人番号通知書 Kojin Bangō Tsūchi Sho) contains a QR code and your Individual Number (think of it as your IC Number). While your Residence Card is sort of like your NRIC, it is not as formal as the MyNumber Card which is the NRIC for all Japanese Residents. For example, when applying for a phone line, you need both a Residence Card and a Certificate of Resident Registration, whereas if you have a MyNumber Card, that is all that you need. Additionally, all online government systems use the MyNumber Card for log-in. While not exactly compulsory, it is good to get it. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, you could use the MyNumber Card to register for the government handouts online instead of having to mail in a form. Additionally you can register for a MyNumber Points account to get cashback and rebates on spending.

Scan the QR Code and fill up the form online. You should receive a letter from your ward office a few weeks later confirming that your card is ready for pick-up. Just follow the instructions on the letter, which is likely another QR Code with appointment instructions, and head down to your ward office. At the ward office, they will likely ask you to create a password for your MyNumber account as well as a PIN code for the card. Once you are done, you get your shiny new MyNumber card.

National Health Insurance Card

Image Credit: Plaza Homes

In your mail, you will also get the National Health Insurance card - a flimsy piece of paper. Some wards give you a plastic cover to go with the card. Always carry this card with you as you need it for subsidies at medical establishments. You will periodically receive bills for the National Health Insurance. Just bring your bills to any convenience store and pay for it at the counter using cash only. (Note that you cannot pay for National Health Insurance card using QR code payment apps)

Missed Letter Notifications

Image Credit: Plaza Homes

If you get this in your mail, it means that you’ve missed a registered package or letter delivery. The National Health Insurance Card is a registered delivery that you have to be present and sign for. On this slip of paper, there is usually a QR code that you can scan and use the online website to reschedule a delivery. They usually hold onto registered items for around 7 days before sending it back.

Getting a Phone Line

Important Note: Avoid buying phones in Japan. Primarily because all phones (iPhones and Androids) in Japan come with a camera shutter sound that cannot be disabled, even on silent mode.

There are two things you need to consider when choosing a line:

Coverage/Speed
Capabilities & Data Limit

The telco scene in Japan is somewhat similar to Singapore - Singapore has the major telcos (e.g. Singtel, Starhub, M1), and then there are Mobile Virtual Network Operators, MVNO (e.g. Circles.Life and GOMO). There are currently 4 primary MVNOs that are now dominating the market.

We do not recommend getting a Data-only plan, or even a phone without calls, because it becomes very difficult to receive OTP for things like banks. You will also be unable to transfer your number later on.

MVNOs		(Formerly Line Mobile)
Network (See Below)	NTT Docomo	Softbank	Rakuten	NTT Docomo	NTT Docomo
Price & Data (Inclusive of Tax)	3GB \| ¥850 5GB \| ¥990 9GB \| ¥1500 16GB \| ¥1800 21GB \| ¥2000	3GB \| ¥990 20GB \| ¥2728	1GB \| Free 3GB \| ¥1078 20GB \| ¥2178 Unlimited \| ¥3278	20GB \| ¥2970	Lite (4G Only) 3GB \| ¥1628 10GB \| ¥2728 Advanced 5G 3GB \| ¥2178 10GB \| ¥3278 17GB \| ¥4378
Sign-Up Promotion (as of April 2022)	5,000 Bic Camera Points (Equivalent to 5000yen)	10,000 PayPay bonus (Equivalent to 10000yen)	3 Months Free (Worth up to 9900yen)	7,000 dPoints (Equivalent to 7000yen)	550yen off for 3 months if you watch a Youtube Ad
Data Top Up	550yen/GB	550yen/GB	N/A	550yen/GB	550yen/500MB
Sign Up Fee	¥1	¥0	¥0	¥0	¥0
Calls (Incoming & Outgoing)	¥11 / 30sec Unlimited Calls Under 5 Mins \| ¥500yen Unlimited Calls Under 10 Mins \| ¥700yen Unlimited \| ¥1400	¥22 / 30sec Unlimited Calls Under 5 Mins \| ¥550 (Free For 1st Year) Unlimited \| ¥1650 (1100yen For 1st Year)	Unlimited \| Free (Using Rakuten Link app to call any other number)	Calls Under 5 Mins \| Free (After 5 mins, ¥22 / 30 sec) Unlimited \| ¥1100	Lite ¥22 / 30sec Advanced 5G Unlimited Calls Under 10 Mins \| Free (After 10 mins, 25yen / 30 sec)
Outgoing SMS (< 70 characters)	¥3.3/SMS	¥3.3/SMS	Android \| Free iOS \| ¥3.3/SMS	¥3.3/SMS	¥3.3/SMS
5G Support	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Depends
eSim Support (See Below)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Application	Online & At Stores	Online	Online & At Stores	Online	Online
Takes SG Cards	Yes (Youtrip & DBS)	Yes (Youtrip)	At Stores		Yes
Documents Required	Residence Card	Residence Card Passport	Residence Card (Minimum 2 Years residence)
More Details	Here	Here	Here	Here	Here

Our Recommendation

In terms of value-for-money, coverage, and ease of application, we recommend students get BicSIM (under IIJMio). Application can be done at any Bic Camera (Japan's largest electronics chain), and can be done on the spot. (Branches in Shinjuku might have English/Chinese support depending on the staff). At ¥1800 for 16GB, including Call + SMS ability, it is lower than the average cost of getting a phone plan, including from Linemo. They accept monthly payment via Singaporean cards like Youtrip or DBS as well. It also uses NTT Docomo's network, which makes its connection one of the strongest (especially when compared to Rakuten). Also unlike Rakuten there is no minimum stay required on your visa, and no cancellation fee either. So this is definitely the most hassle-free plan for new students.

If you need an unlimited plan then Rakuten Mobile offers the best deal, with 3,278yen including unlimited calls & unlimited SMS (for Android). Their main downside is that their coverage is not as strong as the other three networks, and this means that there are many blindspots even throughout Tokyo.

If you want an English option, you can use GTN Mobile or Sakura Mobile. They offer full English (or some other foreign languages, including Chinese) support, as well as payment via foreign credit cards or at convenience stores. The trade-off is that their services cost more than their Japanese counterparts

Note: There are many other smaller providers that are popular like UQ Mobile, however there are few reasons to recommend these over the newer MVNOs launched by the Telcos themselves. We’ve thus removed them from the guide.

Coverage/Speed

In Japan there are four major telcos, NTT Docomo, Softbank, Au, and Rakuten. If you were to compare with Singapore: NTT Docomo = Singtel, Softbank = Starhub, Au = M1, Rakuten = TPG Mobile. MVNOs are then sort of mini-telcos who also sell plans, but they use a network of a major telco. For example, in Singapore Circles.Life uses M1’s Network and GOMO uses Singtel’s Network.

Since 2020, all major telcos have each set up their own MVNO (think Singtel owning GOMO), and have been listed above. There is no firm consensus on which network has better coverage, but trends suggest that using Softbank’s network has more reliable service than the other providers. Additionally, NTT Docomo and Softbank also have wider coverage than Au. Rakuten, being the newest network, has spottier coverage, but they partner with the other telcos to cover blank spots. If you’re interested in the nitty gritty, there are Japanese sites that conduct speed comparison across different scenarios for the various MVNOs. You can take a look at one such comparison here.

eSim and MNP

If you are using an iPhone (XS/XR or later), your phone will likely have an eSim function. Think of eSims as digital SIM cards, this means you can activate your digital SIM card simply by scanning a QR code. This allows you to have a dual SIM function, a digital SIM for your Japanese phone line, and still keep your Singapore physical SIM card active if you want to. All of the listed MVNOs except ahamo offer eSim functions. In Singapore, only M1 and Circles Life offer eSim functionality.

MNP or Mobile Number Portability, allows you to port over your number from your old Japanese provider to your new one. Essentially you can carry your number over to your new company (like you can in Singapore if you swap from Singtel to Starhub). This typically involves generating a code from your old provider, and then pasting the code into your new provider when you sign up for the contract. You will also have to do an activation process when you receive your new SIM. Note that some providers may void your old SIM card once the MNP application goes through, leaving you without a SIM card till your new one arrives.

Creating an Inkan/Hanko (Personal Stamp)

Image Credit: Tokyo Cheapo

While getting and using a stamp in this day and age may seem unusual, that is still very much the mainstream in Japan. There has been a bit of hoo-hah in the news about Japan wanting to phase out its hanko system, but that’s likely still far off in the future. Although it may be possible to get by without a hanko, life is definitely easier with one. Hankos are thankfully one of the easiest things to settle in Japanese bureaucracy.

You can either get your hanko at a chain shop in-person, or purchase it online. One of the easiest chains to use is Hanko21 (the site is in Japanese, but you can find locations on Google Maps as well), where you can get a basic hanko with your Katakana name for around 1000yen within a single day. If you are wondering why there are so many different types and prices, it is mainly due to the different materials the hanko is made from, as well as some hankos being for special purposes. A basic one suffices for your needs.

If you would prefer not to interact with people, you can get a hanko at a vending machine from most Don Quijote (Donki) shops. There is an easy guide you can follow here. It can cost as little as 500yen, and it is made on the spot. If you’re worried about your Japanese, this will save you from the awkwardness.

Lastly, there is the online option. Hankoya is the biggest online store for Hankos, and the cheapest one is around 1500yen, with delivery in around 2 days. It’s a relatively hassle free option, just that it takes a bit of time and you have to make sure not to miss the delivery.

You can also get a hanko case to bring your hanko around, to keep it safe and clean. Some hanko cases also come with a small inkpad for added convenience. Hanko cases are relatively easy to find, especially at stationery and lifestyle shops like Tokyu Hands or Loft.

Bank Account in Japan

You will definitely need a bank account (銀行口座 Ginkō Kouza) in Japan, whether it be to pay for your dormitory rental, school fees, or to receive your scholarship allowance. Some universities offer guidance sessions for foreign students to create a bank account - do check to see if these are available because this is the easiest way to create a bank account. These guidance sessions usually have English translations, as the tie-up with school makes it easy to get approval from the bank.

Image Credit: Japan Times

Most banks in Japan still use a combination of an ATM Card (called a Cash Card) and a Bank Book. (Remember Passbooks? You get to use a relic that you don’t see much in Singapore any more. ).

You typically don’t get to apply for online banking, or debit cards until you have resided in Japan for at least 6 months. So you would most likely have to go back to the bank in 6 months to apply for those. There is also a fee attached to opening an online banking account, in our experience.

If you don’t know how a bank book works, you insert it into the ATM machine and it prints out your recent transaction history on the book.

There are also usually transaction fees if you want to transfer money from one bank to another, including any payments by bank transfer.

Our Recommendation

Image Credit: Apts.jp

If you have resided in Japan for more than 6 months, our recommended bank is SMBC Bank (株式会社三井住友銀行 Kabushiki Gaisha Mitsui Sumitomo Ginkō), which is one of the two largest banks in Japan. They are more foreigner friendly than their main competitor, MUFG Bank (株式会社三菱UFJ銀, Kabushiki Gaisha Mitsubishi Yūefujē Ginkō), as MUFG seems to be more particular about your Japanese Language ability when you open an account with them. . They are both megabanks in Japan and you can find their ATMs across most major cities; for the rural areas they often have tie-ups with smaller regional banks. Currently MUFG and SMBC have a tie-up that allows you to withdraw money at most of each other’s ATMs. It is also worth noting that while a minority of our members have been able to set up SMBC/MUFG bank accounts in Japan despite residing in Japan for less than 6 months, this does not seem to be the case in general.

If you are new to Japan or have resided in Japan for less than 6 months, it may be easier for you to open a bank account with Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行 Yūcho Ginkō). In addition, iIf you are receiving a MEXT/JASSO allowance, you will be asked to create a Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ銀行 Yūcho Ginkō) account. Japan Post Bank is probably the easiest to create and has nationwide coverage and all post-offices throughout Japan, however it cannot receive transfers from Singapore or internationally outside a few exceptions in USD and from the US.

All three banks offer Debit Cards and Online Banking after 6 months, although the user experience differs for each. Some Debit Cards use Visa and some use JCB (Japan’s version of Visa). While there generally isn’t too much difference in day to day use, only JCB cards can be used on Apple Pay while Visa and JCB can be used on Google Pay. Also note that for SMBC, their Debit Card has both ATM and Visa functions while for MUFG the ATM card and Visa card are separate. For more info on debit cards in Japan, see: Cashless Payments in Japan.

Applying for a Bank Account

You will need to prepare the following items:

Residence Card
Minimum Sum of 1yen
Hanko (A signature can be used in its place at some banks)
A guardian (For those below the age of 20)
Someone who is fluent in Japanese
*Student ID card or a letter from your school (in the case of language school) - Certain Japan Post Bank branches require this

After choosing your bank, go to the branch that is nearest to your place of residence. Note that unlike Singapore, most banks in Japan close at around 3pm and only open on weekdays. Thus the time window for application is small, and you should try to do it early so you do not have to skip classes.

For Japan Post Bank, you can drop by any major post office and create your account on the spot.

There are some online guides for each bank on how to open accounts with them. (Japan Post Bank, MUFG, SMBC)

Process and things to note when setting up bank account with SMBC

Before you head down to SMBC to set up a bank account, do ensure that you have your address registered at the ward office, your personal Hanko (rubber stamps are not allowed), and a Japanese phone number. After ensuring that you have the above mentioned items, book an appointment slot at the SMBC outlet nearest to your place of residence. Depending on the branch, walk-ins may be allowed but customers with reservations will be prioritised first. Appointment slots get taken up very quickly so it would be advisable to book 2-3 weeks in advance.

On the day of the appointment, proceed to the respective SMBC outlet with the following items – (1) Passport, (2) Residence Card, (3) Hanko. Do note that it is not necessary to get your Hanko registered at the ward office for the purpose of setting up this bank account. Upon entering the bank, a customer service staff will ask you to fill in all your particulars on an online form, before proceeding to set up your bank account. The whole process should take about 1h 30 min if you have a reservation.

Do take note that during your first 6 months in Japan, you can only set up a 非居住者 (‘Non-resident’) account with SMBC. As with any other bank, you will not be able to apply for Credit/Debit card as well as internet banking. You will only receive your bank book (on the spot) and your cash card (a few weeks later by post) for ATM withdrawals. This also means that you will not be able to link your bank account to e-payment apps like PayPay for the time being. Do also note that this account only allows you to receive and remit money internationally (for example from your Singapore bank account) but not domestically. After 6 months from the date which you entered Japan, you will need to go back to the bank to apply for a 居住者 (‘Resident’) account as well as your debit card and internet banking services.

We also recommend you to get someone who is able to converse in Japanese to accompany you to the bank. In addition, different branches seem to have different rules, so some will not allow you to set up an account as long as you are in Japan for less than 6 months.

Transferring Money from Singapore

The easiest way to transfer money from Singapore to Japan would be via DBS. DBS now has a Multi-Currency Account called My Account that has no minimum sum, and can transfer money to your Japanese account with no transfer fees. The main downside of this is that DBS' rates tend to be lower than other systems such as Wise and Youtrip.

The next alternative would be to use Wise or Revolut, both of which are pre-paid Multi-Currency cards that you can transfer money into from your Singapore account, exchange currency within the app, and then transfer from the app to your Japanese bank account. Do note that these apps have transfer fees when sending money to the Japanese bank account, so you should check whether it's cheaper to send via DBS or using these apps.

The method that would give you the best rates would be via Youtrip. You can withdraw up to JPY100,000 from any 7/11 ATM in Japan, at Youtrip rates, only paying a withdrawal fee of around 500yen. If you are planning to only receive small amounts, this is the most "worth" solution. When it comes to JPY100,000 it would be cheaper to change money on Youtrip and pay the withdrawal fee, than to take the free transfer via DBS due to exchange rate differences.

ATM Usage in Japan

Image Credit: Question Japan

You may wonder, “Why is there a need for a section on ATMs?”. In Singapore, ATMs are simple, they are free, work 24/7, and all you need to do is use the ATM for the bank your account is under. The only complication may be that you can use UOB Cards at OCBC ATMs and vice-versa.

Well, in Japan, it’s way more complicated. For starters, there are operating hours for ATMs. Most ATMs do not operate 24/7 - some might close around midnight while others might close on weekends. Some might charge you for withdrawing after office hours, while others might charge you convenience fees, so it is a rather complicated system. Note that ATMs attached to banks are likely to be closed during public holidays (e.g. New Year’s).

A withdrawal charge chart may look like this.
Image Credit: Real Estate Japan

Basically, withdrawing money from your own bank’s ATM usually should not incur any withdrawal fees during office hours. However, you may be charged if you withdraw after office hours. You will always be prompted to confirm at an ATM if any withdrawal fees are going to be charged. These fees range from 110yen to 220yen. Fees usually come when withdrawing from partner ATMs. For example, an MUFG card can withdraw from an SMBC ATM for free during office hours, but would cost 110yen afterwards. If you’re travelling to Kanazawa for example, there may be tie ups between MUFG and the local Ishikawa Bank for withdrawals, but this might also be free only during office hours.

If you are ever desperate for cash, almost every major convenience store has an ATM. If you are in rural Japan, then look for the nearest post office for an ATM. These ATMs usually operate 24/7 and work with almost every bank as well as overseas cards. The catch is that you’ll have to pay a convenience fee of around 110yen. However, at least there is a safety net when you need it.

Stage 4: Living In Japan

Cashless Systems

While you may have gotten used to the cashless lifestyle in Singapore, Japan is still very much in its transition from cash-oriented to cashless payments. While many smaller stalls still only take cash, there has been a rising trend of shops accepting QR code payments.

Credit and Debit Cards

Image Credit: SMBC Bank

As a student, you will likely want to go for a Debit Card that directly charges your bank account. Just note that you can’t get a card until you have spent at least 6 months in Japan. Currently, almost all banks offer a debit card for free. When you ask for a debit card, you may want to check if the card supports Apple Pay or Google Pay. Some banks offer more than one type of debit card, including Visa or JCB. It is quite difficult to get a credit card in Japan without any sort of consistent income.

Image Credit: Line Pay

Your best bet as a new student is to sign up for a Line Pay account through the Line Messaging App. Line Pay is probably most similar to Grab Pay, as it is a prepaid wallet that supports both card payments and QR code payments. (See: QR Code Payments in Japan). Creating a Line Pay account is free, and you can get a free JCB Digital Debit Card instantly that you can add into your Apple Pay. To top up your Line Pay account, you can just go to any 7/11 ATM, scan the QR Code, and deposit cash straight into the account. It’s a quick and easy way to get a card in Japan, and also open up the world of online shopping.

Transit IC Cards

Image Credit: Japan Station

While Singapore has a single ez-link card system, Japan used to have different cards for different regions and train companies. This is why you see so many different brands like Suica and PASMO. Since the early 2010s, all of these have been folded into one single unified IC Card system nationwide. So while they have different branding, they work interchangeably. Do note however, that certain bus routes and train lines in some parts of Japan do not accept IC cards (ie. cash only), or they may only accept their regional version of the IC card (for example, ICa in Kanazawa)

IC Cards can be topped up at any train station, and 7/11 ATMs. Unlike Singapore, many popular shops and chains accept IC Cards as a payment method. You can just tell the cashier that you want to pay by IC Card and then tap your card. IC Cards also offer a slight discount on your train fares.

You can purchase an IC Card at any major station, and they are usually dispensed by the ticketing machine. Most of these machines in Tokyo offer an English option. You can also choose to write your name on the card, along with your phone number. This is important in case you lose your card and need to ask for a replacement. It is free to add your name to the card.

IMPORTANT NOTE: With effect from June 2023, due to global shortage of semiconductors, PASMO and Suica are temporarily suspending sale of non-personalised transport cards. It is still possible to purchase personalised cards, meaning that you will have to type in your name and phone number into the machine to purchase the card.

Image Credit: DIME

You can add the Suica or PASMO IC Cards to your iPhone or Android phone. (PASMO works on Android, but does not support Google Pay). Unlike Singapore’s account-based payment for public transit, these cards still need to be topped up like a normal ez-link card. You can top up on your phone using credit cards. If you don’t already own a card, you can also create a new card virtually via the app and use it to start paying straight away.

Paywave and Mobile Payments

Image Credit: Japan Daily, Visa

Japan is far behind the trend when it comes to cashless credit card payments. Most places do not take Visa Paywave or Mastercard Paypass. Instead they use local versions called iD and QuicPay, and so when you see the Apple Pay logo, it refers to those systems. They essentially function in the same way as PayWave, except they are only for Japanese cards. More recently, more shops have begun to accept Visa Paywave, so if you see the right-most logo, you can use Paywave at the shop. In Japan, they call Paywave, Visaでタッチ (Visa De Tachi), but since it’s relatively new, you may get looks of confusion from the staff when you ask for it.

QR Code Payment Systems

QR Code payment systems in Japan are thankfully really easy to use. They work almost exactly like DBS Paylah!, where you have a digital wallet and you just top up money into the account.

The two most popular systems are PayPay and Line Pay, and both require a Japanese number. PayPay is run by Yahoo Japan and Softbank, while Line Pay is run by Line Corporation. PayPay has a wider coverage of shops than Line Pay, and there are many shops that accept cash or PayPay only (including Daiso).

Image Credit: PayPay

To top up money into these apps, you can simply go to any 7/11 ATMs (called Seven Bank) or Lawson ATMs and select the QR Code function. Then you scan the onscreen QR code with the app, and key in the appropriate PIN Code shown on your app. Then you can simply deposit money into the ATM, and it will be credited to your virtual wallet. Alternatively, if you have a Japanese debit card or internet banking, you could link those accounts directly (this requires you to be in Japan for at least 6 months).

Image Credit: Go Go Nihon

Payment at a shop is equally simple, you just tell the cashier that you want to use Line Pay or PayPay (ラインペイで line pay de, OR ペイペイで paypay de). Shops will either show you a QR Code (either a fixed sign at the cashier, or printed out on a receipt), whereby you scan the QR code with the app, key in the amount, and pay. Or, you will show your QR Code on the app, and the shop will simply scan it and charge you the amount.

Conveniently, you can also pay your utilities or bills using PayPay or Line Pay. Most of these bills come as charge slips in the mail that you would bring to the convenience store to pay. Simply scan the barcode on these slips with the app, and you can press pay.

While you may find the initial set-up process daunting, using a cashless system is highly recommended given how many coins Japanese tend to use. When you end up paying your nth payment at the convenient store of 117yen, and get back a ton of coins in return, you will be thankful for the ability to use cashless payments.

Everyday Life

Police, Spot Checks, Fire Station & Ambulance

Image Credit: Expat’s Guide to Japan

The number to call for emergencies in Japan is 110 (equivalent to 999 in Singapore), this is when you need to report a crime or any incident requiring immediate attention. If it is not immediately urgent, you can call #9110 to call the police but not on an emergency line (think Singapore’s 1777 but for police).

Image Credit: CNN

If you need to go down in person to report a crime, it is more common to head to a Koban (交番 police box) than a police station. (Fun Fact: Singapore’s Neighbourhood Police Post system is based on Japan’s Koban system.) If you need to report that you lost your wallet, or any other incidents, just head down to the koban and speak to the officer. Do note that it is unlikely you will get any English support, but they may have a helpline on hand to help translate.

Image Credit: Japan Today

Getting stopped by the police for a spot check in Japan is not uncommon. The first experience may be harrowing, but you will get used to it. Police often patrol train stations, sometimes in plain clothes, and may stop you randomly to check your ID. If they are in plain clothes they should show a badge before asking you any questions. These are typically routine checks, and if you look like a foreigner, it is highly likely that you will get stopped. There is often nothing to panic about, and they will ask you typical questions like why are you in Japan, where are you going, etc. They will usually request to check your Residence Card, Student Card and Commuter Pass, so be sure to have this on hand. Most students in Japan are likely to get stopped at least once or twice during their stay here.

Image Credit: Nippon.com

To call an ambulance or the fire station, call 119 (equivalent to our 995, and the number is the reverse of 911). There is also #7119 to call and consult if you need an ambulance (similar to 1777 in Singapore). Unlike Singapore, ambulance services in Japan are free, so don’t worry about getting charged $100 for the ride.

Throwing Away Trash

Image Credit: Pennsylvania State University

Throwing trash in Singapore is easy: open the rubbish chute and dump everything in. If you want to be more environmentally conscious, you throw recyclables into the blue bin. Coming to Japan, you learn to not take things for granted.

Image Credit: Real Estate Japan

The first thing you need to do is to search up the garbage collection schedule for your ward online. Typically, your apartment may have some signs or guides as to when it is, but if you can’t find it, you probably have to Google it. The general trash that we dump out in Singapore mainly comes under Burnable/Combustible trash, so this includes food waste and your usual daily trash. This is collected twice a week. Next most common is recyclables. Do try to separate cans, PET bottles, paper, etc. into different plastic bags when you dispose of them. Recyclables are typically collected once a week. The exact rules for waste separation differs by the location you live in.

Since Japan is less humid than Singapore, food waste doesn’t rot and stink as easily. However, if you cook, the suggestion is to buy a pack of disposable food waste plastic bags. Then, throw your food waste into these plastic bags whenever you cook and tie them up. If you want to be safer, buy an airtight container or ziplock from Daiso and keep the food waste plastic bag inside those containers. This ensures that the smell doesn’t get out, and also that it’s easy to just take the plastic bag out and dump it.

Image Credit: Gaijinpot

Lastly, how do you actually throw garbage? Some apartment blocks or hostels have a centralized waste disposal location with huge bins. For these places, you just have to place the appropriate waste in the appropriate bins. If you live in a small apartment by yourself, you probably have to dump your garbage by the street. There is typically a blue netting by the road, under which you can place your garbage. You should only throw out your waste the night before or the morning of the collection day. For example, if garbage collection is on Thursday, bring it out on Wednesday, and do not leave it out from Monday.

If you need bulk disposal, you have to call the town hall and go down to pay for a bulk disposal sticker. This is usually called Sodai Gomi (粗大ごみ), and on the allocated day, you would leave your stuff outside with the payment sticker. For example, disposal of a fridge would cost you around 2000-3000yen depending on your ward.

Paying Bills

Image Credit: Plaza Homes

When you get bills in the mail for utilities, National Health Insurance, or any other purpose, they typically come in a standard format. There is a “due by” date, the amount, and a barcode. Just bring it to a convenience store - they will scan the barcode, charge you the amount, then stamp the bill as proof of payment. An easier method would be to scan the bill via PayPay or Line Pay and pay using the app from the comfort of your home.

Printing & Photocopying

Some universities offer print quotas for their students to print in school, so do search online first to check if your university provides it. Otherwise, if you need to print, you will have to head to the convenience store. 7/11 uses Netprint, while FamilyMart and Lawson use PrintSmash.

Image Credit: Japan Today

For Netprint, simply create an account and upload your documents online. You should receive a reservation code in your email. Head to a 7/11, and go to the copier. Press the menu for print, and netprint, then key in your code. Insert the chargeable amount, and the machine will start printing.

For PrintSmash, download the documents to your phone and into the PrintSmash app. Then at the machine, press the PrintSmash button. It should display a Wi-Fi network name on screen, and you can connect to that Wi-Fi network. Then, using the app, select what you want to print and upload it to the machine. From the machine, select your documents and the print options, then pay the indicated amount.

Note that printing in convenience stores is rather expensive at around 10yen per page for a black and white A4 document. You can photocopy items at the same machine as well.

Image Credit: Fujifilm

If you need to print photos, you can usually find a Fujifilm Instant Photo Print Kiosk at most Loft outlets. Download the “FUJIFILM WPS Photo Transfer” app for your phone beforehand. Then at the machine, select iPhone/Android. Connect to the Wi-Fi on screen, upload your photos via the app, and select the photos you want to print. The cheapest photo print is around 30yen a piece.

Sending Mail

Image Credit: Travelience

If you want to send letters in Japan, just bring it down to your nearest post office. You can find envelopes and letter paper at Loft, Tokyu Hands or Daiso. When at the counter, the staff will usually ask you where you want to mail it to. If you are mailing domestically within Japan, give them the city, If it’s to Singapore, then just tell them Singapore (シンガポール shingapōru). Regular letters or postcards should cost less than a 100yen even if you are mailing to Singapore.

If you want to send registered mail you need to use EMS. It’s faster, has a tracking number and requires a signature by the recipient. It costs 1500yen for EMS back to Singapore, for an envelope somewhere between A4 and A3 size. As long as you can fit everything within the EMS envelope (around 60yen), it will be covered under the 1500yen.

Natural Disasters

Earthquakes aren’t uncommon in Japan, so while the first experience may be somewhat harrowing, you will get used to it. You can feel an earthquake when it feels like the ground or building is wobbling slightly. Most earthquakes are rather small in scale, and feel like a small vibration for around 30 seconds.

Japan doesn’t use the Richter Scale for measuring earthquakes, and instead uses its own Shindo (震度) scale. The Richter Scale measures the energy of the earthquake, while the Shindo Scale measures what people actually feel at a location.

Image Credit: Robin Lewis

Typhoons (also called Hurricanes) are also common in Japan especially in the late summer/early autumn months. Shops and supermarkets will likely close early in anticipation of hurricanes, especially major ones. Unlike earthquakes, typhoons are largely predictable and you will hear about it on the news a few days before. It feels like a massive storm with strong winds, somewhat similar to the monsoon rains that you might experience in Singapore. Trains will also likely be closed early, so do take note.

Image Credit: JAXA

It is good to keep a few non-perishable dry food items like snacks and large bottles of mineral water in your home in case of an emergency. Having a torchlight and a first aid kit prepared would also be ideal.

For an English weather map (if you would like to track a hurricane’s movement), you can check out windy.com.

Image Credit: Real Estate Japan

Be sure to check the Evacuation Area (避難区域 Hinan Kuiki) in your neighbourhood, just in case of emergencies. It tends to be a local school or open field. There is no fixed method for finding your evacuation area, so you have to Google search it yourself.

You can usually get weather and earthquake advisories through the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA). Also be sure to eRegister with MFA to receive disaster alerts, and so that someone knows where you live.

In the event of a natural disaster, your Emergency Alert on your phones will ring containing the info, which may sometimes include instructions to evacuate. Keep on the lookout for the words like “Advisory注意報” VS “Warning 警報” (“Warning” is of greater severity.) You can read up more about JMA’s Emergency Notification System.

For iPhones, check that your Emergency Alert notification is on. If an Emergency Alert is issued by the government, your phone would automatically blare a loud siren even if it is set to silent mode. This alert is only issued for serious emergencies, such as major earthquakes, (or even possible attacks by North Korea).

There are also various apps available on the App Store and Google PlayStore if you want to download emergency/disaster tracking apps, e.g., International SOS, NERV Disaster Prevention App, the aforementioned Windy app…

More information on emergency advisories and evacuations here.

Accommodation

Image Credit: Real Estate Japan

Take note that in Japan, there is some specialized jargon to describe apartments. However, they are actually quite simple to understand.

“1R” means one room, where your bedroom and kitchen are rolled into one. “1K” means one bedroom with a separate kitchen. “1DK” means one bedroom with a separate room for dining and the kitchen. “1LDK” means one bedroom with a separate room as the living room, dining room and the kitchen. “2LDK” means two bedrooms with a separate room for the living room, dining room and the kitchen. You get the picture. All of these typically come with a separate toilet, although the really old apartments may not. You can read more here.

Also Japan has a unique measurement unit for room area called the jo (畳), which is basically the area of one tatami mat (around 1.6 square meters or 16.5 square feet). So one bedroom could be 4.5 jo, the size of 4.5 tatami mats. Additionally, an apartment may be a loft, which means that within your room, there’ll be a small second floor above, typically for your mattress or futon. This is one of the easy ways to increase the space in your apartment. Note that most apartments in Japan comprise of a single room.

Getting a Private Apartment

Real estate companies typically require you to be personally in Japan in order to sign the contract, making attaining an apartment beforehand troublesome. Additionally, amongst the many houses available, many of them reject foreign students, and that substantially reduces the pool. Following that, there are a large number of initial administrative fees, such as contract fee, key money (cost to replace the lock), fire insurance fee, guarantor fee (to pay a guarantor company, which is required for your rental), etc. Check if your university offers a guarantor system for students (e.g. University of Tokyo). However many landlords prefer to use their own chosen guarantor company.

Image Credit: Google Play

There are a number of app options to help with your selection such as at Home and Lifull Homes, that will get you in contact with the real estate company to give you a better idea of things. Do note that many of these companies only deal in Japanese.

Most of our students stay in Student Dormitories provided by their respective universities. It is worth noting that dormitory fees of Private Universities can be significantly more expensive than those of Public Universities. In such cases, you may consider sourcing for a private apartment or Share House.

Furnishings

Image Credit: Nitori

After securing your apartment, you typically have to furnish it yourself. This includes all the appliances as well. For new goods, popular sources would be Nitori (a major local house goods chain), Rakuten, Amazon, and Kakaku. Nitori offers most household products at a reasonable price, and is often located in more convenient locations than IKEA outlets. For second hand goods, the most popular option would be using Tokyo Sayonara, a Facebook group where people leaving Japan sell their stuff for cheap. You can sometimes even get appliances like washing machines or fridges for 2000yen or less. However, they typically require you to transport it yourself, meaning you either have to pay a company to do so (for around 10000yen) or to rent a car and get it yourself. Alternatively, you can use secondhand chains such as Hard Off or Treasure Factory.

Utilities

For hostels and share houses, your utility cost is likely a monthly fixed cost that you pay on top of your rental. This allows you to use electricity, water and gas, up to a reasonable amount as stated in the contract. Internet access is also typically bundled within the package.

For private apartments, you usually have to start your own contracts with the appropriate water, electricity and gas companies. When signing the contract, they will probably tell you which company your apartment is tied to. Most of the major companies currently offer interpreting services, so when you call them you can request for an English interpreter to help you out. You can establish your contract over the phone with most companies, although some will need to do a physical follow-up (especially for gas) at your apartment. If you are under a student apartment (such as Unilife or Nasic), you can always ask the company to help you with your utilities before you move in. If you have a guarantor company, it would be possible to email in to ask them to help with utilities in the new apartment as well. Do not be afraid to ask!!

Electricity and Gas bills typically come every month, while Water and Sewage bills come every two months. They usually come in the form of a thin folded piece of paper with your customer ID, price, and a barcode. You can either pay via a QR Code Payment app (PayPay or Line Pay) or you can just bring it down to a convenience store. For some utility companies, you can receive electronic bills via PayPay (such as the Tokyo Bureau of Waterworks). At a convenience store, just pass the bill to the cashier, who will scan the barcode and then you can pay in cash.

Getting Internet is slightly more complicated. New apartments may come with built-in Wi-Fi, for which there is nothing to worry about. However, some apartments may require you to subscribe to a contract with an Internet provider which may be quite expensive (around 7000yen per month). An alternative would be to use a mobile wifi service, whereby a portable router is placed in your house, and you use that as your primary Internet source. The downside is that these routers typically have an upper data cap, and you would have to use it at a lower data speed once you exceed the daily cap. This may quickly start becoming a major hassle, so it is advisable to find an apartment that has a good Internet connection.

Transportation

Image Credit: Tokyo Metro

In Singapore, public transport is easy - you pay a single unified fare across bus and MRT based on the shortest distance it takes you to get from point A to B. The charge is purely distance-based and it doesn’t matter if you took a train, bus, SBS or SMRT.

In Japan, public transport is mostly privatised and thus you have to pay each provider that you take. For example, if I stay in Asakusa, Tokyo and I want to go to Haneda Airport, I would take Tokyo Metro to Ueno, JR East to Shinagawa, and Keikyu to Haneda Airport. This means that I would be paying 3 full fares to each operator, and there is no transit discount. So as far as possible, you want to minimize the number of operators that you have to take. Of course you don’t have to do this by hand. Use the Navigation apps recommended below (see: “Navigation”).

Taxis

If you go out drinking or clubbing, note that taxi fares in Japan are exorbitant. For example, a ten minute ride from Shibuya Station to Shinjuku Station would cost you 1800yen. So if you miss the last train, there is no cheap Grab ride you can take back. Most people would choose to spend the night at a Manga Cafe or a Karaoke till the first train. If you really have to take a taxi, you can use the Japan Taxi app or you can use the Singapore Grab app (note that it’s a tie-up with Japan Taxi, so even though you use Grab it just sends the request to Japan Taxi).

Buses

You’ll probably have an IC card anyway – but just in case you end up on a bus without one (or if you’re travelling in an area that uses a different IC card which you don’t want to buy), here’s a quick explanation of how bus tickets work. (If you have an IC card, it’s basically the same as taking the bus in Singapore; tap in and out.)

Image Credits: Live Japan and Tourist In Japan

Unlike in Singapore, the entrance to most buses in Japan is typically the back door, and the exit the front door. There’s usually a small ticket machine (see above left) on the side of the back door which dispenses numbered tickets; take one as you’re boarding. Right at the front of the bus, there’ll be a screen that displays ticket numbers in order (see above right), and the current fare for that ticket below; it’ll update automatically as the bus moves on. When alighting, you put your fare and the ticket in a box next to the driver. If you don’t have coins or exact change, don’t fret – there’s usually a change maker that accepts 1000 yen notes or 500 yen coins, and changes them into an assortment of small change for you to pay your fare with.

There are exceptions to this, however – on some smaller city buses (e.g. the Hachiko bus in Tokyo), you enter through the front door and pay a flat fee when entering. You usually can kind of tell what kind of bus it is based on where the bus driver stops (i.e. with the back door or the front door nearer to you), and sometimes there might be signs at the bus stop with the flat fees listed (if the bus is of that sort), but when in doubt, just follow the people around you!

Bus stops also usually have bus timetables listed which are pretty helpful (the buses are also generally all quite on time), and you can often find these online too.

Navigation

Google Maps is also reliable as always in Japan, but does not offer options for choosing routes like the Japanese apps. Apple Maps actually features rather robust public transportation results in Japan, better than Google Maps, and is possibly easier to use as it builds in exit information as well as accurate branding for train lines.

Image Credit: Navitime

Locally the two most popular apps would be Navitime and Yahoo Transit. The benefit of these apps is that they are built for the Japanese commuting experience. For example, you can choose between the Cheapest, Fastest, and Most Convenient options. Cheapest would try to minimize changing between operators to give you the cheapest fare. Fastest will of course choose the quickest option. Most Convenient would minimise the number of transits needed to get to your destination. Additionally, they often allow you to select one train earlier, or one train later, so that you can plan what happens if you miss a train. Sometimes, you can even squeeze transfer timings shorter so that you can arrive at your destination quicker. They also typically include platform numbers, as well as which part of the train you should stand at to be closer to your transfer or exit destination.

All these apps include first and last train timings, so make sure to check them so that you don’t end up stranded outside with no way home.

Student Commuter Pass

Unlike Singapore, there’s no concession ticket that gives you unlimited train and bus rides across the entire network for a single price. Instead in Japan, there is the Commuter Pass (定期券 teikiken) that gives you unlimited rides in between the station nearest to your house and school. You can get off at any station in between for free, but if you go off the route, you will be charged from the last station on the commuter pass to your destination.

Image Credit: PASMO

Commuter passes come in 1-month, 3-month and 6-month options. The longer you purchase the pass for, the cheaper it is per month on average. If your commuter pass route extends across multiple operators, it will become substantially more expensive.

To apply for a commuter pass, you usually need your student pass (学生証 gakuseisho) and a certificate from your school office for the commuter pass. Make sure to have both documents before heading down to a station with a commuter pass office, and check the operator’s website for which stations offer those services. You need to find the ticket office at the station in order to purchase your commuter pass, and you will likely have to fill up a second form at the station as well. Both cash and credit cards are accepted options for paying for the pass. You can also get a refund for the train ticket from school to the station where you purchase the commuter pass if it is on the route.

If you need to move, or change your commuter pass details, you can head back to any ticket offices that handle Commuter Passes. You can also refund the balance of the ticket pass if needed, although the amount depends on how much has already been used.

Standard Commuter Pass (For some language school students)

Japanese Language School students may not be eligible to purchase a student commuter pass as some Japanese Language Schools may not issue the certificate needed (通学証明書). Should that be the case, you can consider getting the regular commuter pass instead, which would still save you some money but not as much as getting the student commuter pass.

Things to take note when purchasing commuter passes

The good thing is that even if your commute requires transferring between 2 or more lines by different operators, you are able to purchase the commuter pass for your whole journey using the same IC card (SUICA or PASMO), in 1 transaction. For example, if you’re commuting to school via the KEIO line (KEIO issues PASMO cards) and JR line (JR East issues SUICA cards), you are able to purchase the commuter pass using whichever card you have (SUICA or PASMO).

Do take note that if you have a SUICA card, you can only purchase the commuter passes from any ticketing machine or ticketing counters by the train operators that issue SUICA cards (eg. JR East). Vice versa, if you are using a PASMO card, you can only purchase commuter passes from any ticketing machine or ticketing counters by the train operators that issue PASMO cards (eg. KEIO). Student commuter passes have to be purchased via ticketing counters and not machines.

Cycling

Cycling is also a popular mode of transport to get around Tokyo, or from your apartment to the station. Cycling on sidewalks is generally only for elderly, children or parents with children, but many people still cycle on them (especially if they’re empty). There are also often bicycle lanes at the sides of roads which are quite good, but do be careful because there might be cars stopping along the side of the road (which you then have to avoid).

Image Credit: Guidable

One thing to note is parking - whether or not your residence offers a bicycle parking space is important. If it doesn’t then you will be unable to keep a bike. Another thing to take note of is whether or not your destination has parking. If it’s the train station, you need to check the public bicycle parking spaces around the station. Outside each of these lots, there is usually a sign that shows where the management office is, and when it opens. Bicycle parking applications typically only open 3-4 days a month, and you have to go down to the office to make the application. If there aren’t any slots, you may be asked to park somewhere further away, or stay on the waiting list. Some bicycle lots also offer discounts for students, so you would pay around 1500yen a month. Typically, whole-day bicycle parking at normal lots will cost you at least 150yen. Check with your university about how to secure bicycle parking in school, and how to apply for it. You will usually get a sticker to certify that you have paid for the parking, and you need to stick it on a visible area on your bike.

Parking Note: It is generally illegal to just park your bike anywhere, especially near stations or signs that indicate no parking. Most places offer some sort of third-party parking area, usually at a paid rate. If you aren’t entirely sure of whether or not it’s safe to park there, then look out for whether or not a large number of other people have also left their bikes there. For example, it’s generally fine to just park your bike right outside a convenience store.

Purchasing a bike is easier than finding a parking space. There are multiple bike shops around Tokyo, and people also regularly sell bikes on the Tokyo Sayonara Facebook group, but more popularly, second-hand bikes are on sale at Suginami Green Cycle from 7000yen for 2 or 3 days every month. You will likely have to ride your bike all the way back to your apartment from wherever you are purchasing it from.

Image Credit: Japan Experience

There is also other paperwork to complete, such as registration for the bike. Most shops will help you to settle the registration paperwork on site, but if you buy it second-hand from someone directly , you need to go down to a local koban to settle the paperwork with the seller. It may also be advisable to purchase cycling insurance in case any accidents may occur, given that many alleys in Japan are rather narrow. If you are purchasing a new bike with an old bike registration, most of the time, the bike shop will be able to help you settle it automatically.

Cycling Etiquette: Laws in Japan prohibit cyclists from cycling with earphones plugged into both ears, while using a mobile phone, while carrying an umbrella or riding with two people. These laws are enforced differently from area to area, and so you may see Japanese people breaking them, but take note just to be safe.

If you don’t want to commit to buying a bicycle, want to try out cycling in Japan before committing to one, or want to borrow a bike to cycle around with friends, rental bicycles are a great option! There are two main rental bicycle providers – Hello Cycling and Docomo Bikeshare, which have quite a decent coverage (though surprisingly sparse in areas). Unlike in Singapore, these are electric-assist bicycles, meaning that they have batteries and adjustable levels of assistance while you’re cycling – very useful for hills (of which there are a surprising amount) – but they’re also heavier (think 20-30kg). Personally, I think that Hello Cycling bicycles are better (bigger wheels, generally better condition, cheaper for short rides), but what you use will likely depend on coverage and where bicycle rental stations are located (and where you’re going). Here’s a list of the current rates for rental in Tokyo (all the rates for different prefectures can be found on the websites) – they’re not necessarily cheaper than the train/bus, but cycling can be faster sometimes!

Provider

Price (first 30 min)

Subsequent

Day/monthly passes

Hello Cycling

165 yen

165 yen per 30 min

12h pass (same bicycle): 1800 yen

Docomo

130 yen

100 yen per 15 min

Day pass (same bicycle until 2359): 1650 yen

Monthly pass (unlimited 30 min rides): 2200 yen

To use one of these rental bicycles, you’ll have to download the relevant providers’ mobile application, sign up there and add a valid payment method. The apps will let you view rental station locations, the number of bicycles at the station, battery levels (very important because of the aforementioned weight – even on flat areas, cycling without any assistance with a 23kg bicycle is not great; not to mention hills), and allow you to reserve bicycles for an amount of time (e.g. for Docomo you can reserve bicycles for up to 20 minutes). Alternatively, you can connect your IC card to your bicycle rental account directly, so you can bypass the apps and just touch and go. Unlike in Singapore, you can’t just park your rental bicycle anywhere – there are specific stations to return bicycles to and pick them up from; they look like normal bicycle parking lots but you’ll be able to tell because all the bicycles there look the same.

There’s usually an electric number lock on the bicycles; you key in the bicycle’s serial number onto your phone and it’ll tell you the password to input to unlock the bicycle. Do note that sometimes the apps might tell you “this bicycle is not at the station” even though it is right in front of you – I haven’t figured this out that well, sometimes it’s a glitch but sometimes the bicycle might have been reserved by someone else. But anyway – once you’ve got it unlocked, test the bicycle out a little first (check the brakes, adjust the saddle height, make sure it isn’t moving weirdly) before cycling off – there’s generally a grace period to return the bicycle to the same station if there’s an issue (for Docomo it’s 5 minutes).

Finally, to return the bicycle, lock the wheel lock located on the back wheel and press return (返却) on the bicycle’s keypad (and if you’re using an IC card, tap it). Be sure that you’ve got a notification on your app before you walk off, just to ensure your bike’s been properly returned (if not you’ll have to pay more).

Medicine and Healthcare

Pharmacies

Image Credit: Indo Pulse Japan

You know how in Singapore, whenever you feel unwell you take Panadol? Well, Panadol doesn’t exist in Japan. Instead Eve or Bufferin would be an equivalent painkiller. You can even get Vicks if you want to. In general, do your research before you go down to the shop, given that the names of the medication may come in unfamiliar brands, and descriptions are typically Japanese-only. Otherwise you can describe your symptoms to the shop clerk and they will recommend something to you. There are plenty of guides to Japanese medicine such as this and this.

Japan has an obsession with branded drugs and local pharmaceutical companies. What this also means is that you can get pretty cool medicine that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to find. For example, in Singapore when you get a sore throat, you’re probably just stuck with Strepsils. In Japan, there is Ryukakusan, a dry powder to soothe the throat, or Nodo Nuru, a spray to reduce inflammation in the throat.

The biggest chains would likely be Matsumoto Kiyoshi or Tsuruha Drug. There is also Welcia, which you might recognize from the BHG-Welcia shops in Singapore.

Most importantly, if you have a prescription, you should go to see a doctor in Japan to get an equivalent drug for you here. Japanese pharmacies do not take overseas prescriptions, and it is not likely that the exact drug will be carried in the pharmacy either.

Clinic, Hospital & Dentist

Image Credit: Expat’s Guide to Japan

While clinics take walk-ins, hospitals and dentists are usually by appointment only. Clinics in Japan are generally grouped by specializations, rather than a General Practitioner (GP) system we find in Singapore. So check the clinic type - for example for flu you would go to Internal Medicine (内科 Naika), while for skin-related issues, you would go to Dermatology (皮膚科). There is a useful guide that you can refer to here.

Also make sure to also check online beforehand if the place takes the National Health Insurance. This insurance also covers dental appointments, so it may be cheaper to do dental surgeries in Japan than back in Singapore.

Alternatively, most universities have their own university health centers that you most likely would have had to visit when you first arrived for a full-body health checkup. You can go down to those health centers for regular health consultations (like you would a GP in Singapore) if you have to. They tend to offer dental services as well. The downside is that it is unlikely that there will be any consultation services in English.

Visiting a Doctor

Not sure what are the steps to seeking healthcare services in Japan? Fear not! This is the perfect guide for those who are planning to start your life here in Japan, and also for those of you already in Japan! In general, seeking healthcare in Japan is vastly different from that of Singapore, and to make things worse, healthcare related Japanese is complicated as well. In this guide, we will be showing you the steps to take when deciding to seek medical treatment in Japan, and also common words that would help you greatly during your visit to clinics and hospitals.

Medical Health Insurance (国民保険証）

To start off, we would like to stress the importance of having medical health insurance, which is something you should apply for at the ward office. In case you are wondering what this is about, do refer to the section above on Health Insurance. Regarding the premiums for the medical health insurance, that will depend on the ward that you are living in. The premium is calculated by overall population as well as the ratio of elderly in that ward using a certain equation.

As for the coverage, for students, the insurance system will typically cover 70% of the medical fees. For Japanese clinics, you typically will have to pay a fee if you are visiting that clinic for the first time (so that they can have you in the system etc). This is called the shoshinryō (初診料). For subsequent visits, you will have to pay a fee as well but it would be much lower than the fee paid before. This is called the sai shinryō (再診療). In general, the price for the 初診料 is 2,880 yen. However, with the health insurance, you will only have to pay 30% of that!

Similarly, the usual price of the 再診療 is 730 yen, but with the health insurance only 30% is needed.

Caution!: If you visit the clinic at certain timings (late night, rest days or overtime), an additional charge has to be added. Take a look at the table for the full price.

Remember that you will only have to pay 30% of any amount shown!!

FIRST VISIT

Time of visit	First Visit Fee (初診料)	Additional Fee Due To Time Of Visit	Total
Overtime	2,880 Yen	850 yen	3,730 Yen
Rest Day		2,500 Yen	5,380 Yen
Late Night ( 2200-0600)		4,800 Yen	7,680 Yen

SUBSEQUENT VISITS

Time of visit	Re-Visit Fee (初診料)	Additional Fee Due To Time Of Visit	Total
Overtime	730 Yen	650 yen	1,380 Yen
Rest Day		1,900 Yen	2,630 Yen
Late Night ( 2200-0600)		4,200 Yen	4,930 Yen

In general, each ward should have a brochure regarding the medical health insurance. Please take a look at the brochure provided to you by the ward office or find it online to get a clearer idea on what the medical health insurance is about.

Shinjuku Ward :

https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/content/000339876.pdf

Nerima Ward:

https://www.city.nerima.tokyo.jp/kurashi/nenkinhoken/kokuminkenkohoken/hoken_gaiyo/gaikokugo_guide2021.files/guidebook2022_english.pdf

Nakano Ward:

https://www.city.tokyo-nakano.lg.jp/96572b3e-eec1-4290-8696-a40f3c3a23ad

Finding The Right Clinic (診療科）

Unlike Singapore, Japan does not have a General Practitioner (GP) system. Instead, you will have to know what kind of treatment you would want to receive and go to the right clinic with the right specialisation. Here are some examples of common specialisations in Japan :

眼科（がんか）	Ophthalmology
耳鼻咽喉科（じびいんこうか）	Otorhinolaryngology
消化器科 (しょうかきか）	Gastroenterology
内科（ないか）	Internal Medicine
外科（げか）	Surgery
脳神経外科（のうしんけいげか）	Neurosurgery
皮膚科（ひふか）	Dermatology
感染症内科（かんせんしょうないか）	Infectious Disease Department
歯科（しか）	Dentistry

With so many different specialisations, you might be wondering which one you should visit. We have listed some common symptoms and the corresponding specialisation you should be visiting. (Do note that within each specialisations there are further specialisations, but most of the time visiting them should suffice. However, some may be stricter, such as children clinics, so please be careful!)

Fever / Diarrhoea / Vomit / Mild Headache / Urinal Issues	内科 (Internal Medicine)
Burn / Injuries (Sprained ankles, Cuts )	外科 (Surgery)
Eczema / Rash	皮膚科 (Dermatology)
Infectious Diseases	感染症内科 (Infectious Disease Department)
Digestive Issues	消化器科 (Gastroenterology)
Headache / Numbness / Convulsions	脳神経外科 (Neurosurgery)

Hospital System

It is advised to receive a letter of recommendation (紹介状) from clinics before heading to a big hospital. This is because without a letter of recommendation, it will cost you extra money to visit hospitals (around 70 SGD).

There are a total of 8273 hospitals located in Japan. (2021) Here is a list of famous hospitals which you can find in Japan:

The University of Tokyo Hospital
Tokyo Medical University Hospital
Nagoya City University West Medical Center
Akita City Hospital
Kyoto University Hospital

The list is not exhaustive. You can take a look at this website to locate hospitals around Japan.

Consultation Process

Finally! You managed to find a clinic that corresponds to your symptoms. Now comes the difficult part; what exactly should I do over at the clinic or hospital?

At the reception (受付 uketsuke)

「初めてです」(hajimete desu) if you are going there for the first time.

Hand over the medical insurance and fill in the form (受付票 uketsukehyō ) / (問診票 monshinhyō) they hand over to you. The form will most likely be in full Japanese, so if you need help, please do not hesitate to ask the staff! These are the common questions that are on the form for reference:

Name
Address
Sex
Age
Past Conditions
Purpose of visit to clinic

If asked, please do also tell them your symptoms as well. Here is a list of common symptoms (症状・shōjō) that you can use at the clinic.

English	Japanese	Romaji
I have a fever	熱があります	Netsu ga arimasu
It hurts here (just point to where it hurts and say this)	ここが痛い	Koko ga itai
I have a headache	頭痛です	Zutsu desu
I have a stomach ache	腹痛です	Fuku tsuu desu
I feel dizzy	眩暈がします	Memai ga shimasu
I feel nauseous	吐き気がします	Haki ke ga shimasu
I have a sore throat	喉が痛い	Nodo ga itai
I am coughing	咳が出ます	Seki ga demasu
I have a running nose	鼻水が出ます	Hana mizu ga demasu
I have a blocked nose	鼻が詰まります	Hana ga tsumari masu
I have a rash	発疹が出ます	Hashin ga demasu
I have diarrhoea	下痢です	ge ri desu
I have constipation	便秘です	Benpi desu

Pass over the form that you have filled in. The counter will hand over your ticket number. Simply wait for your ticket number to be called. More often than not, there will be an electronic display to show the numbers being called.

After being called, the process is similar to that of Singapore! Simply go into the room, tell the doctor what your symptoms are (you can always use the list provided above!) and the doctor will give you the necessary prescription.

After the consultation, please proceed back over to the counter again to receive a medical prescription (処方箋 shohōsen ) as well as a detailed explanation of your symptoms (明細 meisai). MEDICINE WILL NOT BE PROVIDED AT THE COUNTER!

For payment, there are usually machines (in bigger hospitals) or you will have to pay at the counter. This will depend on the clinic you are at.

To get your medication, please bring the medical prescription to a pharmacy, which will be discussed further in the next chapter.

Medication

After receiving the prescription from the doctor, head over to a pharmacy to receive your medication. To emphasise once again, unlike in Singapore, medicine will not be given at the clinic! The good news is that pharmacies are abundant in Japan. Chain drug stores typically have counters where you can hand in your prescription to receive your medicine. Some examples include tsuruha (ツルハドラッグ) , welcia and many more. You can click on this link to find one closest to you!

In general, if drug stores offer such services, “処方せん受付ます'' should be writte at the front of the drug store. ( or something similar should be written )

At the drugstore, all you have to do is to hand over the prescription to the reception and say the usual “onegaishimasu” お願いします, and they will know what to do. If you have a medicine booklet (薬手帳) kusuri techō, please do bring it along with you. Some pharmacies might have a 40 yen discount for the medicine if you have a medicine booklet. Recently, they are pushing for an e-medicine booklet! If you have trouble reading the medication, here are some common phrases needed for medication.

外用薬

外用薬（がいようやく）	Medicine For External Use
塗る（ぬる）	To apply ointment
貼る（はる）	To paste / compress
巻く（まく）	To wrap / bandage

内服薬

内服薬（ないふくやく）	Medicine for Internal Use (Ingestion)
食前（しょくぜん）	Before Meal
食後（しょくご）	After Meal
食間（しょっかん）	In Between Meals

頓服薬（とんぷくやく）

Please only use these types of medicine only when specific symptoms appear. (Fever, pain etc)

座薬（ざやく）

Suppository, which is another way to deliver drugs into the body, often through the bottom.

Mental Health

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Image Credit: Forbes

Staying overseas by yourself can be a difficult experience, as you are physically separated away from your usual network of friends and family. The process of adapting can be more challenging for some than others, and other sources of stress, such as culture shock and social pressure, can compound your stress.

Before heading to Japan: if you are currently on prescribed medications from a psychiatrist in Singapore, you may want to confirm if the medication you are on is legally or readily available in the country. If you are already medicating, you should bring along a proof of your diagnosis and previous medication history. If you are bringing an existing medication supply into Japan, a copy of prescription or doctor's certificate may be required depending on the amount (see: info sheet on ADHD medication Concerta). Psychiatric services may be covered by Japan’s National Health Insurance (NHI), but counselling services are not.

Japan-Based Counselling Services

The first place you should try to check for counselling services should be your university, if it’s a major one, there is highly likely to be one that is free for its students. If your university has a large foreign student population, there is also a chance that they will offer counselling services in English. You can find some university-based ones here: (non-exhaustive list) University of Tokyo, Waseda University, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Osaka University, Kyoto University, and Tohoku University.

For public-facing services, the largest is TELL Japan that accepts consultations over phone, online chat, or in-person (offices in Tokyo and Okinawa). They offer services and support in English. There are also other paid counselling services, listed in this useful guide from Matcha JP.

Singapore-Based Online Counselling Services

Counselling options can be quite limited in Japan, and they may not also understand your Singaporean context and difficulties. In these cases, getting in touch with a Singaporean counsellor online may be a better option. The eCounselling Centre (or eC2) was founded by Fei Yue Community Services for Singaporean youth and young adults, and they run a free anonymous online chat platform. Their platform is open weekdays from 10AM-12PM and 2PM-5PM, and is free.

Other options (paid) can include Safe Space and Talk Your Heart Out (TYHO), which are both online tele-therapy platforms that matches you with therapists for a video chat. Safe Space’s platform starts from $80 for a consultation session, and is flexible without tying you into plans or commitments down the line. TYHO’s trial starts at $90 (packages go for $330/3 sessions). For other options, you can check out this guide from TheSmartLocal.com.

Other Online Counselling Services

Reputable non-Singapore-based tele-therapy platforms can also be found online, which may be cheaper than usual Singapore-based rates. An example includes the Tangent Mental Health Initiative, which offers online therapy sessions on a pay-what-you-can model (do note that there is a waiting list for Tangent’s services).

LGBTQIA+ Support Services

This sub-section doesn’t intend to be a guide on how to date (fellow) queers in Japan, but instead, we’re hoping to provide some sources on how to seek support for different challenges in being a queer person in Japan. From our experience and understanding [of the 2020-2022 EXCO], being queer in Japan can be difficult sometimes, especially if you’re “new” to it.

Thus, we hope to provide some resources on adjusting to life/seeking help here. Some community/support organisations include:

Pride House Tokyo (Japanese), (Twitter), (website)
Stonewall Japan (website), which includes various resources like a transgender life guide (compiled by Stonewall Japan’s Facebook group)
School-specific resources, e.g., Waseda’s gender & sexuality centre (EN guide)

Religion

Places of Worship

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While Shintoism and Buddhism are Japan’s two largest religions, many Japanese do not visit places of worship regularly. That being said, there are still plenty of places of worship that conduct services in English. You may want to find friends in Japan of the same religion who can introduce you to a place of worship and that can tag along with you. Otherwise, a quick Google search can probably turn up results for places of worship in your city.

In Tokyo for example, you can refer to this list of Churches and Mosques.

Dietary Requirements

Image Credit: Japan Halal TV

While halal restaurants are not common in Tokyo, they are slowly growing in number. The most common would of course be the Turkish restaurants, but there is also a growing number of Japanese food establishments serving halal food (e.g. the Halal Ichiran in Shinjuku). The Singaporean blog, Have Halal Will Travel, has compiled some halal restaurants for Tokyo and Osaka. Online searches will also turn up other platforms such as Japan Halal TV and Halal Gourmet Japan. There’s also a list of Halal supermarkets here.

For those that need a vegetarian option, there are numerous lists of vegetarian restaurants around Japan. One thing to take note is that Dashi, a stock usually made of fish or kelp, is commonly used in all sorts of Japanese sauces as the base. Thus, in a regular restaurant, even if the dish doesn’t explicitly list any meats or seafood, it may still use dashi for its sauces. It is also quite uncommon to request for substitutions, or to leave a key ingredient out, so if you are a strict vegetarian or vegan, it would be better to go to a vegetarian or vegan restaurant. For more information, check out this Tokyo Cheapo article.

A useful phrase to learn is [ingredient] なし・抜き, which translates to “remove [ingredient]”; this could be garlic (ninniku), spring onions (negi), onions (tama-negi) and so on!

Food & Drinks

Useful Phrases & Conversations

Image Credit: Japan Info

Whenever you interact with shop staff, you are usually inundated with a bunch of questions or replies. For someone new to Japan, you may not be used to these conversations, so here are some useful phrases and conversations:

Staff: 何名様ですか？ (Nan mei sama desu ka - For how many people?)
You: 一人です/三人です。(Hitori desu/San-nin desu - One person/Three people)
Staff: 空いてるお席/お好きな席へどうぞ。(Ai te ru o seki/o suki na seki e dozo - Please take a seat at any empty table/any table you like)
Variations: カウンターの一番奥の席へどうぞ。(kaunta no ichiban oku no seki e dozo - Take the counter seat at the very back.)

Staff: 店内でお召し上がりですか?/お持ち帰りですか？(Tennai de o meshi agari desu ka/O mochi kaeri desu ka - Having here/Takeaway?)

Staff: 中の席/外の席/禁煙席/喫煙席 (Naka no seki/Soto no seki/Kinen seki/Kitsuen seki - Inside seating/Outside seating/Non-smoking seating/Smoking seating)

You: 注文お願いします。(Chuumon onegaishimasu - I would like to order)
You: XXを一つ。以上です。(XX wo hitotsu. Iijyou desu. - I would like to order one of XX. That will be all)

You: 味噌ラーメン。もやし抜きで/もやし無しで。(Miso ramen. Moyashi nuki de/moyashi nashi de. - I would like a miso ramen without beansprouts.)

You: お手洗いはどこですか。(otearai wa doko desu ka - Where is the toilet?)

Hopefully this gives you some useful phrases.

Payment

Payment can be at the table, or at the cashier. Usually, if a bill (伝票 Denpyou) is left on your table (a small piece of paper), then you are expected to bring that paper to the cashier to pay. If you’re at a Conveyor Belt Sushi place, you’ll have to call for the bill first, passed the slip of paper, then bring the paper to the cashier.

You: 会計お願いします。(Kaikei onegaishimasu - I would like the bill)
Staff: はい。一千四百二十円です。(Hai. Issen yonhyaku nijyuu en desu. - Yes, that will be 1420yen)

別々で (Betsu betsu de - I would like to split the bill)
カドーで (Kado de - Paying by Credit Card)
ペイペイで (Peipei de - Paying by PayPay)
タッチ (Tacchi de - Paying by Paywave)
現金で (Genkin de - Paying by Cash)

Staff: すみません。現金のみです。(Sumimasen. Genkin nomi desu. - Sorry, we only accept cash)

It is quite normal to request to split the bill in Japan, and they usually split by item. So just tell the staff betsu betsu, and then tell her which is your item.

Dine-In vs Takeout, Tax & Tipping

When at a fast-food or convenience store, they will sometimes ask you if you want to dine-in (店内で Tennaide) or take-out/dabao (持ち帰り Omochikaeri). Additionally, if you need a non-smoking seat, be sure to say “禁煙席” (Kin-en Seki).

Image Credit: Kyodo News

While Singapore has GST + Service Charge at restaurants, Japan only has a consumption tax (the same tax as goods) for F&B. The amount for dine-in is 10% (same as for shopping), but for takeout it is only 8%. There is no tipping in Japan.

Restaurants

Dining out at a restaurant is pretty simple. Just note that some restaurants/izakayas may have an Otoshi policy or a 1 Drink policy.

Image Credit: Gurunavi

“Otoshi” (お通し), or “Tsukidashi” (突き出し) in Kansai, is basically a compulsory table charge in the form of a free appetizer. This can range from a salad, to a proper appetizer. These usually cost 300-500yen per person, and there’s no way around it. The staff also probably won’t mention it till it arrives at your table, so if you get food you didn’t order, now you know why.

“1 Drink” (ワンドリンク制 Wan Dorinku Sei), basically means that you have to order at least one drink each. This can be alcoholic or soft drinks. This usually applies at bars, and some higher-end restaurants. It is also quite common at Karaoke.

Drinking in Japan

Image Credit: All About Japan

All-you-can-drink (飲み放題 Nomihoudai) places are pretty common in Japan, especially in izakayas, and typically cost around 1500yen for a fixed time of an hour to two hours. It is also sometimes an add-on to meals at restaurants. At izakayas, the all-you-can-eat (食べ放題 Tabehoudai) option is also common.

There are also probably plenty of unfamiliar alcohols to you. You can find a more comprehensive guide here. What we call “Sake” in Singapore, is actually called Nihonshu (日本酒) in Japan, since Sake just means alcohol in Japanese. The most popular beverage is probably Nama Biru (生ビル), which is basically fresh beer. Shochu is made from rice, sweet potato and wheat/sugar cane. Highball (alc. 5-10%), originally Whisky Highball, is a carbonated drink of whisky and soda water. Chuhai (alc. 3-8%), originally Shochu Highball, are usually fruit flavoured alcohol drinks made of shochu and soda water. Sour is the name for Chuhai at izakayas, although they tend to be less sweet than the canned variant.

In terms of cocktails, Cassis Orange, Matcha Hai and Calpis Hai are probably some of the more popular one. Cassis Orange is usually rather sweet, made from orange juice and cassis liquor. Matcha Hai and Calpis Hai, are highballs with their respective drinks mixed with shochu and soda water.

Cafes

Cafes get a special mention on this guide because they’ve become an indispensable studying spot for students. For more info on the latest recommendations, check out the SSAJ site.

Image Credit: Shiru Cafe

One interesting thing is that outside many major Japanese universities, there are “free study cafes” that are designed as job hunting venues. In return for registering an account with them and being on their mailing list, you get free access to a cafe that has Wi-Fi, power plugs and free drinks. These cafes are meant as networking spaces for Japanese students and companies, so companies sponsor these cafes. These cafes are open to any student, so you can go to any branch even if it is not near your school. Two such cafe chains are Career Ticket Cafe and Shiru Cafe.

Image Credit: Sarutahiko Coffee

Apart from the Starbucks we are familiar with, Japan has a number of popular domestic coffee chains. Doutor and Excelsior Cafe are probably the largest chains, and all outlets come with free Wi-Fi. If you need power plugs, you can use their Store Finder site that lists outlets with power plugs and their seating capacity. Tully’s is also a large mainstream chain, while Sarutahiko Coffee is a smaller chain with a focus on serving high quality coffee.

Shopping

Reading Price Tags & Consumption Tax

Image Credit: Japan Forward

The consumption tax in Japan (basically GST) is 10% on most items, and this applies to both goods and services. The only goods that are 8% are certain grocery items that are daily necessities, and takeout food. All other forms of shopping including clothing are at 10%.

Image Credit: Japan Tourist Tips

When looking at price tags, there are usually two prices - tax-inclusive (税込 Zeikomi) and excluding tax (税外 Zeigai). Sometimes they also write it as “1200yen + 税“, which means it’s excluding tax. So don’t be surprised if your final bill differs from what is on the price tag. There is no standard practice as to whether shops should display prices inclusive or exclusive of tax, so just look out for the kanji on the side.

Image Credit: Tokyo Cheapo

When it comes to discounts, Japan has the tendency to give it in fixed amounts rather than a percentage off. So if you see “80円引” (Hachijyu En Biki) it means 80 yen off the original price. “半額” (Hangaku) means half the original price and “1/4額” (Yon Bun no Ichi Gaku) means at a quarter of the original price. These labels usually show the original price (表示価格 Hyōji Kakaku) on the side.

Shopping Bags

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Since 2020, almost all retailers now charge for plastic bags (レジ袋 Rejibukuro) and these range from 2yen to 5yen depending on size; they can go up to 10-20 yen too. The cashier will usually ask you “Would you like a paid plastic bag?” (レジ袋はご利用になりますか rejibukuro wa go riyou ni narimasu ka), and if you want one you can say “Yes, M size please.” (はい、エムサイズで hai, emu saizu de) or “It’s fine” (大丈夫 daijoubu).

Supermarkets

Image Credit: Gaijin Pot

Rule #1, do not go to convenience stores to do your regular grocery shopping. As amazing as the variety is, prices are substantially higher than a regular supermarket. Huge chains (equivalent to Fairprice level) like Maruetsu, Aeon, and Life typically do all-round general Japanese groceries. In contrast, Meidi-ya (yes, that Meidi-ya in Singapore) and Seijo-Ishii specialize in Western imported groups (equivalent to Cold Storage/Jason’s Marketplace level). Despite the name, Kaldi Coffee Farm’s stores don’t just sell coffee (they do - beans, grounds…), but they also sell other groceries, e.g., plain oatmeal, halal asian products, etc.)

As linked above, there’s also a list of Halal supermarkets here. There are also specialty Asian products stores scattered across urban areas, so if you need halal products those (the ones that are Indonesian/Malaysian/Thai “Asian” stores_ will usually carry halal products.

The famous cheaper chains (equivalent to Sheng Siong level) are OK Supermarket, Ozeki Supermarket, Daiei, and Seiyu (owned by Walmart). Niku no Hanamasa is famous for good and cheap meats. Gyomu Super is famous for its frozen goods section and sells items in bulk quantities.

Don Quijote (Don Don Donki) is good for snacks, but in Japan, most branches don’t really sell as much fresh food as Singapore - the bigger branches do offer a pretty wide selection of items. If you’re planning on drinking at home/pre-drinks, Donki is also one of your better bets to buy alcohol at! They offer a surprisingly wide selection of alcohol types, be it whisky, sake, or beer. Of course, if you wanted a specialty sake… then that’s another story.

Many supermarkets offer discounts days (e.g. Meat promotions on Thursdays, or Fruits on Tuesdays) so look out for those in order to save money. There are also clearance sales of bentos and other cooked food items at night, or after lunch hours (sometime around 4-5pm, aka after lunch BUT before dinner restock).

Image Credit: Urala

For a convenient chain that has Asian goods available, Kaldi Coffee Farm (despite its name) sells many Thai, Vietnamese, and Southeast Asian products. They are also an official partner for Prima Taste, so you can get your Instant Prima Taste Laksa, Chicken Rice Paste etc. here. You can also get Indomie here, although one packet costs around 90yen. (And yes, you can buy coffee making products and coffee beans at Kaldi Coffee Farm too.)

Image Credit: Navitime

For a more “traditionally Asian” supermarket, you can go to Shin-Okubo, Ueno, or Ikebukuro.

Shin-Okubo has Korean, Chinese and Thai supermarkets.
Ueno has an actual wet market that will leave you feeling like you entered well, a wet market, with the same smell and Chinese goods.
Ikebukuro also has a few Chinese supermarkets that you can check out.

Generally, you can find Asian ingredients at Japanese supermarkets, at a much more expensive price. For example a 250ml bottle of Lee Kum Kee oyster sauce at a Japanese supermarket can cost you 400yen, but you can get a 500ml bottle at the same price at an Asian supermarket.

If you need a Halal supermarket, check out this list.

Electronics

The cheapest place to get electronics may actually be Amazon Japan. We highly recommend that you price-compare between Amazon and the major electronics chains. We note that student discounts are available for Amazon Prime subscriptions.

Image Credit: Sofmap

If you want to window shop, or find more niche products, the biggest chains are Bic Camera, Yodobashi Camera, and Yamada Denki. (It is actually rather difficult to find Best Denki in Japan).

If you need more specialized computer parts, then you would likely need to head down to an electronics district in your city. For Tokyo it would be Akihabara, which hosts stores that can be likened to a Tokyo-version of Sim Lim Square.

Also if you are looking for major electric appliances like fridges, washing machines, television sets, microwaves, etc. it is way cheaper to get it off Tokyo Sayonara than purchase it yourself. For example, new fridges usually cost at least 10,000yen, whereas you can get one off Tokyo Sayonara for 1000 or 2000yen. There are also multiple versions of Tokyo Sayonara, so it may be good to join a few of them and just keep an eye out. Again, note that you need to arrange transport yourself, so you may need to rent a car. If you are transporting multiple appliances in a day, it would still be worth the savings.

Household Items

Image Credit: Japan Travel

For random household items like bedding, shower holders, kitchen pots and pans etc., we would recommend Nitori as a good value-for-money option. They have a wide range of products, many display items, and they often display helpful grading to figure out what you need from the product. It is sort of the Decathlon for household items in Japan.

There are IKEA stores in Japan, however they are usually far out from the city center. They have recently started opening mini-outlets in the city, like in Harajuku and Shibuya, but these have greatly reduced varieties and food items.

Your next best friend would be the 100yen shops, and in Japan the three major chains are Daiso, Seria and Can Do. Note that unlike in Singapore, the 100yen shops here actually sell items that cost more than 100yen. While 90% of the items are 100yen (before tax), there are often “premium items” like extension cords that can cost up to 500yen. If you are going to use these items for a long time though, you should also put more consideration into the quality vs price dilemma.

Lifestyle & Stationery

Image Credit: Japan Web Magazine

Japan’s two largest lifestyle store chains are Tokyu Hands and Loft. While Singaporeans may already be familiar with Tokyu Hands, Loft is also a good alternative if you are searching for stationery or random household items. Tokyu Hands is more focused towards craft items, especially their mega branch in Shibuya. You can find everything there from moisturizing face masks to soft toys.

Sports

Image Credits: Decathlon

Your best option for cheap sports items would be Decathlon, which has recently expanded into Japan. They sell the same products you get in Singapore, for the same low price. They are mainly an online store, although they have opened two outlets in Japan: Kobe (near Osaka) and Makuhari (near Tokyo).

Don Quijote also offers a wide selection of sports equipment and gymming equipment. You can easily find things like protein powder or yoga mats there.

If you plan to go hiking, Montbell is a really popular Japanese brand for hikers. They sell plenty of hiking equipment including walking sticks, and have sample terrains for you to try out their products.

Online Shopping

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The most popular online shopping site is of course Amazon Japan, followed by Rakuten, and there is also Qoo10 Japan (Qoo10 Japan is much smaller than the Singapore site, although some items do ship from Singapore at exorbitant prices). Japan’s equivalent of Carousell is Mericari and largely functions the same way as Carousell.

Apart from just shipping to your home, some sites like Amazon also allow you to ship to a convenience store. You can then pick up your package anytime at the convenience store for free, without the need to make any extra purchases. The benefit is that you don’t have to be at home to receive the package.

Image Credit: Kuroneko

Returning a package is also really easy. If you purchased using Amazon, after selecting “refund”, they will provide you with a specific page of instructions. From that page simply write down the refund code “SPxxxxxxx” on a piece of paper and put it into your box (you should reuse the same Amazon delivery box for refunds, just tape it up). Write the address that Amazon gave you on the box, and bring it to the post office. Tell the counter staff that you want to send by Chakubarai (着払い), which is pay on delivery. They’ll give you a slip where you fill up the destination address as well as your own contact information. Fill it up, hand it back to the staff, and you’re done.

Tax-Free Rebate

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If you are in Japan with people on a tourist visa (e.g. parents), you can get them to purchase items for you tax-free. This only applies to places that offer tax-free shopping (you can usually see signs at the cashier). These are usually major retailers like household shops, electronics shops, department stores, or outlet shopping. You can get 10% off your purchases via tax rebate. Do note that some shops allow you to get a tax rebate on a student visa as long as you arrived in Japan less than three months ago.

However, technically, whatever items you bought on tax rebate are supposed to be brought out of Japan by the end of the three months.

Entertainment

Movies

Image Credit: The Best Japan

Let’s state the obvious first - Japanese cinemas do not offer English subtitles. So if you’re watching a Japanese movie, it’ll be purely in Japanese audio. What if you’re watching a Hollywood movie - is it also going to be in Japanese audio? Lucky for you, screenings in Japan have a subbed (字幕版) and dubbed version (吹替版). Subbed means the original English audio with Japanese subtitles. Dubbed means Japanese audio only. So make sure you don’t end up watching The Avengers with Japanese audio (or if you want to, by all means go ahead). When buying tickets online for Hollywood movies, sites will indicate subbed or dubbed. The largest chain in Japan is Toho Cinemas.

One thing to note is release dates. While in Singapore most Hollywood movies get same-day releases as the US, this may not be the case in Japan. For example, Avengers and Star Wars movies came out the same day as the US, but Ant-Man and the Wasp came out two months later in Japan after the US premiere.

The standard ticket price in Japan is 1700yen (yes, it is double that of Singapore). University student discounts bring it down to 1500yen. Some cinemas offer late night movie discounts (after 9pm) at 1300yen. There are also Ladies Day discounts on Wednesday at 1200yen, and a variety of other possible discounts that can bring the price down to around 1300yen. One good thing is that there is no online booking fee in Japan, unlike Singapore. IMAX 2D Films are a 600yen surcharge, while IMAX 3D Films are a 1000yen surcharge.

Japan also offers MX4D screenings, meaning that you can watch Hollywood movies with your favourite 4D effects like your chair shaking or water being sprayed in your face. Japan also often re-releases older films in 4D, so if you missed a film, there’s a chance it might come back later as a 4D film. 4D Films come at a 1200yen surcharge.

Concerts

Image Credits: Resonance Media

One benefit of being in Japan is that you can experience all sorts of live concerts. The two terms you may see being thrown around are “Dome” and “Live House”. Dome is basically a huge stadium venue, think the Indoor Stadium in Singapore. Live House is usually a smaller venue within a building, think the *Scape event hall or the Hard Rock Coliseum at Sentosa.

You can purchase tickets via online ticket vendors like Pia or e+. Tickets are usually sold a few months in advance, and have multiple phases. There’s usually an advance sales period, and a general sales period. These sales windows are usually announced in advance. For popular bands, tickets sell out within seconds of those windows opening. So you need to camp, refresh, hopefully get in, and purchase the tickets before they sell out. It’s mainly down to luck.

Image Credit: Family Mart

If you have a Japanese debit card, purchasing tickets is the same as any other online transaction. If you don’t, you can choose to pay at a convenience store. A reservation number will be sent to your email. Head to your convenience store of choice - there is usually a small self-service kiosk at the side. Find anything that says ticket, or has the logo of your ticket provider. Then key in your reservation details. It’ll print out a slip of paper like a receipt. Bring it to the cashier who will scan the barcode on the paper, then you can pay the amount to the cashier.

After your purchase, there is usually an indicated window of time for ticket collection. When that window has opened, on the orders page you should be able to generate a barcode for your order. Show this barcode to the convenience store staff. They will print the ticket out, and ask you to sign for it. Then just bring this ticket to the concert venue on the day.

Some concerts may have a compulsory drink fee at the venue, usually charged at 500 yen. You will have to pay this in addition to the ticket at the concert venue entrance, and this entitles you to a drink either a soft drink or an alcoholic beverage. Also note that some livehouses may not allow for lightsticks like at concerts in Singapore, so it is best to play it by ear.

Karaoke

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As expected, Japan, the home of Karaoke, has plenty of Karaoke chains: Karaoke Kan, Manekineko (the same as Singapore), Karaoke no Tetsujin, and Big Echo to name a few. Many of them require you to either get a drink (around 300-500yen) or the drink bar (unlimited drinks). They usually also often student discounts (学生割引 Gakusei Waribiki).

The first major difference is that unlike places like Teo Heng that charge per room, Japanese karaokes charge per person. They usually offer time package sets (30 mins, 1 hour, 3 hours, etc.) or Free Time (unlimited use over a few hours, typically overnight).

The second major difference is that unlike Singapore, there is no backing vocal track. Meaning it’s true Karaoke (empty orchestra), so if you can’t find the original track button, don’t worry, it doesn’t exist.

Lastly, some karaoke chains like Big Echo offer romaji lyrics for songs. So if you struggle with your kanji, you can swap it all to romaji. Or you could just randomly sing an assortment of syllables that sound vaguely Japanese.

Sports Facilities & Gyms

Image Credit: Expat’s Guide to Japan

Unlike Singaporean universities, gym and pool usage at Japanese universities is usually pay-per-use (around 300-500yen) or you can subscribe for an annual pass. That being said, it is substantially cheaper than what you would pay outside. For example, the University of Tokyo’s annual pass is around 8000yen, while Anytime Fitness’ monthly fee is also around 8000yen.

Other than your school gym and private gyms, there are also plenty of local municipal sports facilities, usually called Sports Centers, run by the local government. Think of it as gyms and pools run by your local CC. These are usually quite cheap as well, coming in around 300-500yen per visit.

Note that many school gyms require you to go through an orientation before you can use the facilities. Also, almost all swimming pools in Japan require you to use a swimming cap, unlike in Singapore, so you may have to buy one at Don Quijote or Decathlon. Some pools will also have explanation guides on the side reserving certain lanes for certain uses. For example, some lanes may be for freestyle only, and some lanes may be for walking warmups.

Note that universities are likely to require students to take health screening tests (which are conducted at the start of the semester) before students can use (1) the gym, and (2) the pool.

Hiking

Image Credit: Japan Guide

Hiking is a popular recreational activity in Japan, and there are plenty of easily accessible hikes near major cities in Japan. There are usually trails up to the peak, sometimes paved, sometimes dirt roads. The peak usually has some sort of commemorative sign that tells you how high above sea level you are. Hiking is a generally accessible activity for newbies, although you may need to climb the routes few times in order to build your stamina. You generally do not need any equipment, although if you are tackling more difficult hikes, you should get a walking stick for safety and stability.

Take note that it is also common courtesy to greet hikers that pass you on the way down with a “Konnichiwa!”. Don’t feel shy about it, people will most likely greet you as well.

Travelling

In Japan

Image Credit: Japan Guide

Travelling as a student in Japan may be more expensive than as a tourist. If you live in the East side of Japan though, JR East has expanded its rail passes to include foreign residents as of April 2021. Other than that, you probably would not have access to most of the JR Rail Passes including the nationwide JR Pass. For private railways, check the fine print of the rail pass to see if they allow foreign residents or only tourists on “Short-Term Visa”. A popular rail pass would be the Seishun 18 Kippu which is a seasonal ticket released three times a year, and is valid for all Japanese residents. It gives five days of unlimited travel on JR Lines, only on Local and Rapid Trains.

Image Credit: Japan Travel

The cheapest way to get around is by overnight bus. For example a one-way ticket from Tokyo to Osaka, or Tokyo to Kanazawa would cost around 5000yen, compared to 12,000yen by Shinkansen. One of the largest bus companies is Willer Express, and they offer English UI on their reservation site.

Image Credit: CH-Aviation

Another way to get around would be via domestic flights on budget airlines such as Jetstar Japan, Peach Airways, and Skymark. Jetstar Japan operates largely the same as its Singapore counterpart. Peach and Skymark both provide great value for money, with Peach offering a wide range of ticket fares that can include free changes, cancellations or baggage add-ons. Peach also offers international flights to South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Accommodation booking is largely the same as usual, using Booking.com or Airbnb, although Airbnb isn’t usually much cheaper than usual prices. Staying in hostels can net you stays of around 2000 to 3000yen per night, and these usually come with modern clean amenities. Rakuten Travel has also been known to put out good discounts on flights, car rentals and accommodation.

Driving in Japan

Image Credit: Times Car Rental

Most major car rental companies in Japan accept the International Driving Permit (IDP) that you have to apply for in Singapore. As long as you have that and your Singapore license, it is legal for you to drive in Japan. Do note that you will also need to have your Singapore passport with you when collecting the keys to your rental car.

You can easily compare car rental prices across companies using Tabirai or Tocoo. Try to get Collision Damage Waiver when renting a car in order to protect yourself from any liability in case of an accident. While it may be an expensive cost, it is worth it to give you peace of mind. You can also rent at one place and return at another, although there is usually a convenience charge.

Image Credit: Car From Japan

If you are driving in winter, you should get snow tires. If you rent from a place that experiences heavy snow, most car rentals would automatically include snow tires for free. You can check each company’s website to find out if tires are included in that region and during which time period. If you are driving from elsewhere into a snowy area, you will likely have to pay for snow tires. It is illegal to drive on snowy roads without snow tires, not to mention incredibly dangerous due to the lack of grip on the roads. When driving on snowy roads or through a storm, beware of skidding, and make sure to control your braking well. If you are not used to driving in these conditions in Singapore, it is better to drive more cautiously. Safety first!

Image Credit: Taking Flights

Driving on a highway in Japan requires you to pay a toll, sort of like ERP back in Singapore. If you already know the route you want to take, you can calculate the toll here. Tolls can cost more than 10,000yen if you are driving a long distance. There are also highway passes available by region, or a national one here. Highway passes allow you to drive on eligible highways for a fixed price over a fixed number of days. Toll Gates have a Regular Lane (Green) and ETC Card Lane (Purple). For regular lanes, you stop and pay tolls in cash. ETC Card Lanes are sort of an ERP system, you need to rent an ETC Card (like a NETS Cashcard) from your car rental company) and it will be automatically charged when you pass through the lane. The car rental company will charge you all the ETC Card fees when you return the car.

Driving conditions are largely the same as Singapore, although you should at least glance at the list of Japanese road signs. However, driving in cities may sometimes result in your having to drive through congested streets of pedestrians in narrow alleys. It is common courtesy to flash your hazard lights two or three times to say thanks in Japan. Don’t be surprised if you see the car in front of you turn on their hazard lights. Drivers in Japan are generally courteous and patient.

Image Credit: Matcha JP

When driving on highways, note that there may sometimes be strong wind that can push your car sideways. Take note of this and drive more slowly. Speed limits on highways range from 80km/h to 110km/h, and there are traffic police along certain stretches that will stop you. There are usually highway rest stops that you can see using signs along the road, with PAs (Parking Areas), small stops with toilets and maybe a convenience shop, and SAs (Service Areas), large stops with restaurants and souvenir shops. SAs, also called Michi no Eki (道の駅), are usually a fun place to stop and window shop.

In terms of navigation, if you have an iPhone, Apple Maps is easier to use than Google Maps. While Apple Maps may not have as much place data, it’s display is a lot clearer than Google Maps. Google Maps shows small alleys and big roads as the same thing on the app, and has the tendency to make you drive through small lanes. If you can understand Japanese, use a Japanese car navigation app like Yahoo, or Line. These usually include highway data on rest stops as well as next exit signs.

When returning your rental car, it is common for the rental company to request that you return the car with a full tank (満タン返し mantangaeshi). At the point of receiving the car keys, the rental car agent will inform you of the petrol kiosks near your car return point that you should use. Do remember to retain the receipt after pumping as you will need it as proof when you return your car.

Back to Singapore, or Out of Japan (Re-entry)

Image Credit: Immigration Bureau of Japan

When you leave Japan, do not take the usual foreigner exit at the airport. Instead, tell the staff that you have a Residence Card, and they will point you to a side counter where you will need to fill out a short form about where you are going and for what duration. Bring this form with your passport and residence card to the customs counter. If you are leaving for less than a year, they will grant you a Special Re-Entry Permit (みなし再入国許可 Minashi Sainyuukoku Kyoka) that will be stamped on your passport. In this case you can just return without doing any additional paperwork, showing your Residence Card when you return to Japan. Note that failing to return within the one year would result in a forfeiting of your residence status.

If you are leaving for more than a year, you have to apply for a Re-Entry Permit (再入国許可Sainyuukoku Kyoka) at the Immigration Bureau before you leave Japan. It costs 3000yen to apply for the permit, and it can last for 3 to 5 years. If there are any issues, you should ask the Embassy of Japan in Singapore for help.

Back to Singapore (not returning to Japan)

If you’re leaving Japan permanently (after graduation for instance), there are a few things to take note of before your departure from Japan. Here is a general checklist (as adapted from the Waseda moving out check-list from July 2022). Further details are as given below the table.

.ESSENTIALS:

1	Return your Residence Card	On Departure (at the airport)
2	Close your bank account Assuming you have no pending transactions	Your bank
3a	Submit your notice of “Change of Address” form	Ward Office
3b	Return your NHI (Health Insurance) Card and complete any payments, where necessary	Ward Office
3c	Return your “My Number Card” at your local city office if you have it. *This is the plastic version of the card. If you only have the paper version you don’t have to do anything with it.	Ward Office

IF RELEVANT TO YOU:

Cancel your contracts E.g., mobile phone contracts You may be required to mail the sim card back, if not using an E-Sim. Check the cancellation email / your local provider’s website or information pamphlets. Your accommodation, utilities Confirm the timeline of your moving out procedures with your landlord/dormitory provider, Remember to collect the deposit Confirm the format they will return your deposit; It’s likely the deposit is returned in cash, but just in case that it is returned via bank transfer, do not close your bank account first. If you’re in a school dormitory, it is likely you have to submit a Notice of Moving Out (not the city office version) to your own school’s international student office	Where relevant (e.g., phone company, gym…) Accommodation Utilities, e.g., Electricity Internet Water Gas
Return your library books	Your school library
Return your student card, if you are requested to	Your faculty/department
Cancel your student co-op membership if you applied for it, withdraw the deposit if necessary	Your school’s co-op office (presumably)
Request for postal forwarding service at the post office if you are expecting to receive postal items to your address in Japan after you leave	Post office
Collect certificates (e.g., your Certificate of Expected Graduation, Transcripts) if they are available	Your school/department
Withdraw money from your e-payment accounts	E.g., Paypay
Transfer the ownership of your bicycle to your friend
Packing, Get rid of bulky items Give away items to people	SSAJ currently has a Tokyo SSAJ x Sayonara chat if you would like to give away/sell items you won’t bring with you when you move out. Check the SSAJ channel for the pinned links.

If you have neglected to complete the “essential items”:

Do contact relevant authorities in the case you have to do any of the items remotely. Details are as follows:

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/applications/procedures/nyuukokukanri10_00020.html (Japanese)

https://www.moj.go.jp/isa/support/portal/m_nyuukokukanri10_00003.html (English)

Closing your Bank Account

Closing your bank account is a straightforward process (in our experience).

Again, do ensure you don’t have any further transactions tied to your bank account (e.g., if your school’s scholarship money is expected to come in, do ensure the money is received first before you close the account.)

Things you will need to bring:

Bank book, bank card

For Yucho bank, they will snap your bank card and retain the fragments. You may keep the bank book. They will also return the money in the account in cash, if there is any money in the account.

Residence card and/or passport
If you used a hanko (seal) to open your account, please bring the hanko with you. Otherwise, a signature will suffice.

When you are at the bank, tell the clerk that you want to close your account (解約：かいやく kaiyaku).

My experience, closing your bank account at Yucho Bank (Xinyi, July 2022):

I didn’t need to make an appointment, I just walked in.
After you tell the clerk you want to アカウントを解約したいん（or whatever is more grammatically correct…), they will hand you a slip of paper to fill in.

You write your name, your registered address, and contact number on the paper.

Then when you are done, hand the paper back to the clerk. They will get you to stamp the hanko on the paper, and write 解約 (in Kanji) on the paper next to your stamp.
After some time (with no queue, it took me ~10 minutes), you can get your money back.

At the Ward/City Office (Items 3a, 3b, 3c):

TLDR, bring your residence card, NHI card, My Number card (the plastic one), and also your passport! There’s a guide here on an external website, if truly confused.

You will need to submit a ”Resident Change Notification”. At the Ward Office, tell the reception/ticket number you want to move out, e.g., by saying you want a 転出届 tenshutsu todoke – Notification of Moving Out). You can initiate this process in the 14 day window before you leave Japan.

You will be required to show your Resident Card as proof, and your passport (just in case). You may be required to show your travel documents (e.g., e-tickets). Do also bring along your National Health Insurance Card and My Number Card to the Ward Office.

If you registered with the National Health Insurance, please complete the cancellation procedures.

At the ward office, Return your "Individual Number Card" (My Number Card). Should you be returning to Singapore with no plans of coming back to Japan, you will return the My Number Card at the Ward/City Office. However, for those who have a plan to return to Japan in the future. your "Individual Number Card" will be returned with a stamp on the front side of your Card. You will be required to show this stamp on your card when you apply for residence registration at your local municipality in the future.

If you paid into the National Pension Plan, do also complete the procedures for withdrawing and for receiving the lump-sum withdrawal payment. Once you receive your payments, however, your coverage periods for the basis of the payments entitlement will no longer be valid to apply for other Japanese benefits. For more details please refer to the Japan Pension Service website. https://www.nenkin.go.jp/international/english/lumpsum/lumpsum.html

At the Immigration Services Bureau

You must submit a Notification of the accepting organisation, such as "Leaving", "Transfer", "Left & Transfer" at the Immigration Bureau's application counter, by postal mail, or online. Please refer to the Immigration Services Agency's e-Notification System for more information.

Residence Card (Airport)

Return your Resident Card to the Immigration Officer at the departure immigration counter.

Others

Do remember to close your bank/postal savings account if you are no longer using it to make payments or receive income.If you will need to pay the final bills for your utility fees, telephone fees or credit card payment, the month after you plan to leave, do not cancel your account.

Do also cancel your mobile phone contract before leaving Japan.

Cancelling your utilities

(Adapted from the Waseda guide), this acts as an example of what you may need to do. Do check with your own provider if you are contracted to individual providers on settling your utilities.

Gas

Tokyo Gas:

(JP): Link, (EN): Link

In the case you are applying via the Internet, a confirmation mail will be sent to you. A few days later, an employee from Tokyo Gas will come to your apartment to discontinue the gas service. You might be asked to be present at this time. This should take approximately 10 minutes.

Water

Bureau of Waterworks, Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Electricity

Tokyo Electric Power Company, TEPCO, Please refer to the below website for ‘Procedures for Moving House’: https://www.tepco.co.jp/en/ep/startstop/moving-e.html

Reference: https://www4.tepco.co.jp/en/customer/online/online01-e.html

A few days after you apply to cancel your service, an employee from Tokyo DENRYOKU (Tokyo Electric Power Company) will come to your apartment to discontinue the electricity service. You may be asked to be present at this time. This should take approximately 10 minutes. ※If you are contracted with other electric companies, please make sure you check how to cancel your electricity in advance.

Transferring your bicycle ownership

If you hand over your bicycle to a friend, do not forget to tell the friend that he or she must register the bicycle at a bicycle shop for theft protection. Please provide your friend with a Transfer of ownership form (Letter of Attorney). The new user needs to bring a Transfer of ownership form (Letter of Attorney), Residence Card, the bicycle itself, and registration fee of 500 yen and register it at a shop. The procedures may vary outside of Tokyo, so please check with the police if necessary. A sample letter of attorney is also given below.

http://www.bouhan-net.com/, https://www.keishicho.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/kurashi/higai/guard/bicycle.html

Regarding Application for Change of Status of Residence

Typically, a 3 months grace (after your graduation date) of VISA validity is given for you to make necessary preparations for your return to Singapore. Should you decide to stay on further than the date of your VISA validity, you will need to change your Status of Residence to one that permits you to remain in Japan under a ‘short-term stay’ status. For details pertaining to the procedure to change VISA status, please refer to the Immigration Services Agency of Japan’s website.

Changing of VISA status from ‘Student’ to ‘Temporary Visitor’ for stay in Japan beyond VISA validity - Do note that as a 3 months grace period has already been given for you to make preparations to return to Singapore, you will not be able to apply for a Temporary Visitor VISA to extend your stay in Japan for this purpose.

Changing of VISA status from ‘Student’ to ‘Designated Activities’ for stay in Japan beyond VISA validity (to continue job hunting in Japan or for those who have been accepted by a company/organisation in Japan and have a gap period until they work) - If you wish to continue job hunting after completing your degree, or should you have a gap period before you officially start working, you will need to change your status to "Designated Activities." See details at the Immmigration Services Agency of Japan’s website.

Regarding International Postage (For shipping parcels back to Singapore)

Should you want to ship some of your belongings back to Singapore, you can consider using postal services by Japan Post.

In general, packages are shipped via EMS, International Parcel Post or Small Packets Post. You will need to take into consideration the size and weight of your parcels when deciding which service to you. However, If you are looking at sending small packets and are considering couriering them via air mail you may want to consider shipping via International e Packet Light (for surface air lift and tracking service) or International e Packet (for air mail and tracking service). As EMS postage fees can be quite expensive, one advice from students who have shipped items to Singapore using Japan post is that depending on the amount, size and weight of your goods, you can consider shipping your goods in multiple e Packets instead of using EMS.

To find out the cost of shipping as well as the time needed for delivery, you may access Japan Post’s webpage here. If you are shipping items to move back to Singapore permanently, the Surface Mail option in International Parcel Post will likely be the most economical. As of Jul 2022, it costs 10,600 JPY to ship 20kg of items from Tokyo to Singapore, using a box with maximum dimensions of:

length < 1.5m AND
length + (height + width) x 2 < 3m

where length is the longest side of the box, while height and width are the sides of the box that are not length.

Shipping will take approximately 1-2 months if choosing the cheaper options, with tracking. Note that your items will be sent by ship, meaning that you should avoid shipping any perishable items susceptible to heat. Should you require your items to be shipped within a shorter time, there are other pricier options available. The longer you can wait, the less you spend. As such, it may be optimal to plan your packing such that essential items are checked in with your flight home, while less essential items are shipped with Japan Post. The table below summarises the options available for sending 20kg of items from Tokyo to Singapore in a single parcel. Maximum dimensions of the parcel for all options are the same as that for Surface Mail, as described above.

Option	Description	Cost (JPY) for 20kg	Approximate time taken
International Parcel Post: Surface Mail	Items will be shipped by sea.	10,600	1-2 months
International Parcel Post: SAL/Economy Air	Delivery depending on the transport available.	14,100	2 weeks
International Parcel Post: Airmail	Items shipped by air.	19,800	4 days
EMS	Items shipped by air.	23,350	2 days

Unless you are looking to ship small and light items, all of these options offered by Japan Post are generally still cheaper than purchasing additional baggage with your airline. For reference, Singapore Airlines charges 18 USD per additional kilogram of checked baggage beyond your allowance if you purchase the additional baggage more than 48h before departure (before applying any available student discounts).

In addition, Japan Post offers free parcel pick-ups from your place of residence in Japan. You may arrange for this home collection service online or via phone. However, do note that you will need to prepare the label (to be pasted on your boxes) beforehand. You can fill in the necessary info on the label template online, after which a QR code will be sent to your email. Use this QR code to print out the label at any Japan Post Office. If you don’t prepare it, you must hand write the label when the post office staff comes.

If you have larger and heavier items, such as furniture, to ship back to Singapore, you may want to consider employing the services of an international movers company, such as Japan Luggage Express. These moving companies are only likely to be more affordable when you need to ship large and heavy items or a very large quantity of items.

When shipping goods back to Singapore, please take note of the list of prohibited items or items that need to be hand-carried back. There may also be circumstances where you will need to declare that your packaged good do not contain certain prohibited items (eg. pasting a label/sticker mentioning that the packaged goods do not contain battery), so please take note of these points when packaging your goods. You may refer to FedEx’s website as a guide on Singapore’s import prohibitions.

TLDR: Step-by-Step Guide: Shipping Parcels via Japan Post

Buy/procure cardboard box, and packing tape
Pack your stuff inside, seal accordingly,

Before packing an item, check if they are OK for shipping based on import restrictions. Make sure the items are non-perishable too.
Record what you are shipping (Type of item in English, quantity)
If you don’t know the weight of the items, that’s ok! Just get the weight (重さomosa checked at the post office)

Fill in the label on either (a) the Japan Post app (b) the Website after creating an account via your email.

Info on how to prepare your label on Japan Post site (phone app OR website)
Key in the items you are packing, provide an approximate value of the goods

You will get something like this:

Select the type of mail you want

Cheapest for big boxes is “International Parcel Post: Surface Mail (Sea)”

If you don’t have the app, then print the labels out (e.g. at a conbini)
Sign the papers you’ve printed, if printing, in the boxes that ask for your signature

Go to the post office and hand the box and papers over, or show your app to be scanned

You may be asked what the Japanese words of what you’re sending back are, as a bit of a heads up

E.g., if sending back “gloves”, the counter staff may confirm if it’s 手袋（てぶくろ）

Each package will take ~5 minutes to process if there’s no further issues with it

Make payment
Done, congrats on clearing luggage space!

Working in Japan

Part-Time Work

Image Credit: FAIR Work in Japan

Most Japanese university students do part-time work (アルバイト arubaito) while studying. It is a good way to get pocket money, but it is also seen as a way to grow as a person and to contribute back to society. You will need the part-time work permit (資格外活動許可) to allow you to work a maximum of 28 hours a week. If you did not apply for it when you arrived in Japan, you need to apply at the immigration office. It may take a few weeks for the immigration office to process your application.

The average hourly pay (時給 Jikyuu) for a regular part-time job in the service industry is around 1000 yen in Tokyo, and less in other prefectures. Many of these shops display their hourly wage and recruitment ads outside their door. Teaching English as a personal tutor can earn you around 1500 yen to 3000 yen and you can advertise through various online portals. You can look at this guide for more information.

Internships

Unlike Singapore, long-term internships are not as common in Japan and are usually not a requirement when searching for a job. Many of the “internships” posted about by universities are actually week-long introduction sessions by companies. Most of these internships do not give you an allowance either.

Startups are often keen to hire international students as long-term interns, but you usually have to rely on personal connections or business events to get the opportunity. SSAJ often posts internship opportunities on our newsletter, so look out for that too.

Other Activities

Volunteering

There are various volunteering opportunities available to students, usually in NPOs and Charities. Some NPOs are student-run such as BizJapan (a student entrepreneurship group) or STeLA (the Science and Technology Leadership Association who run an annual international leadership forum). Many of these organisations accept applications twice a year, and do not require Japanese language abilities.

There are also NPOs such as WWOOF (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) Japan that lets you go off the beaten track and into rural Japan. For gender issues, there is WE Int (WomEnpowered International), a membership association of young, diverse women committed to empowering women and promoting gender equality.

When looking for opportunities, just be careful to check their legitimacy. Cults and strange religious groups are not uncommon in Japan, and you want to be careful to not accidentally end up in one.

Talks

Many students also attend talks by Temple University and United Nations University, both near the Shibuya area. These talks are typically conducted in English, and cover a wide range of topics and disciplines.

General Costs

Monthly Expenditure

The SSAJ conducted a poll on the cost of living in Japan in July 2022, with 65 of our members taking part in it. The graphs containing the results of our survey can be found in the subsequent pages.

Most people typically spend around 60,000yen to 80,000yen a month on a relatively cheap dormitory or apartment. However, dormitory rates at private universities can be higher at around 130,000yen - 140,000 yen. Utilities (water, electricity, gas) cost around another 10,000yen. Living in Kansai will lower your expenditure by 10,000 yen 20,000 yen per month due to rent differences if you’re renting your own accommodation. The difference is even bigger in other areas of Japan.

For transportation (commuting to school), most students spend around 6000yen - 8000yen excluding personal trips. You can calculate Commuter Pass costs using the Navitime site here. You need your starting and ending station’s Japanese name. “出発駅” (Blue) is your starting station, and “到着駅” (Pink) is your ending station. Then click “検索” (Orange), followed by “通学” at the top, and you can see the cost for your commuter pass.

Most of our students spend around 40,000yen to 60,000yen on food monthly. There are plenty of food options available in Japan, and convenience stores (which can be found almost everywhere) sell affordable Bento sets and light snacks too!

This is a rough chart of how much common meals in Tokyo cost:

Onigiri (Rice Ball)	¥100
Sandwich	¥220
Beef Bowl	¥400
Udon/Soba	¥500
Ramen	¥800
Tempura (Meal)	¥900
Sushi (Meal)	¥1500

For total monthly expenditures, most of our members reflected that they spend an average of 110,000yen to 170,000yen. However, there was also a noticeable fraction of students who had monthly expenditures ranging from 200,000yen to 230,000yen. This difference in expenditure may be attributed to University (eg. Private/Public University’s dormitory fees) as well as area/prefecture of residence.

Closing Words

Image Credit: Masaaki Komori

Yay, you’ve made it to the end! This guide has attempted to cover some of the many quirks of living in Japan, as well as the must-know life hacks for transitioning to your new life here. The SSAJ exco is proud to have written this guide, and we hope that it makes your transition to Japan easier. Hopefully, this guide has given you an idea of what to expect, and made the prospect of moving to another country a little less stressful and scary for you. Be sure to sign up with SSAJ and we can assign you a buddy to make your life even easier! Not to mention send you some quirky news and updates every two weeks. We’re waiting to meet you in Japan, and we hope to see you soon!

Best Regards,
SSAJ Executive Committee

Table of Contents

Introduction

Stage 0: Visa Application

Applying for the Certificate of Eligibility

Applying for the Visa

Stage 1: Pre-Departure

Flights to Japan

Money

Initial Housing

Things to Bring

Personal Medication & Medical Devices:

Stage 2: Upon Arrival

At the Customs Counter

Getting from Airport to Accommodation

Administrative Procedures

Register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Singapore Global Network

Stage 3: Settling In

Ward Office Procedures

Resident Registration, National Health Insurance, and Pension

National Health Insurance

Pension

Changing Address

Yearly Renewable Procedures

MyNumber Card & National Health Insurance Card

MyNumber Card

National Health Insurance Card

Missed Letter Notifications

Getting a Phone Line

Our Recommendation

Coverage/Speed

eSim and MNP

Creating an Inkan/Hanko (Personal Stamp)

Bank Account in Japan

Our Recommendation

Applying for a Bank Account

Process and things to note when setting up bank account with SMBC

Transferring Money from Singapore

ATM Usage in Japan

Stage 4: Living In Japan

Cashless Systems

Credit and Debit Cards

Transit IC Cards

Paywave and Mobile Payments

QR Code Payment Systems

Everyday Life

Police, Spot Checks, Fire Station & Ambulance

Throwing Away Trash

Paying Bills

Printing & Photocopying

Sending Mail

Natural Disasters

Accommodation

Getting a Private Apartment

Furnishings

Utilities

Transportation

Taxis

Buses

Navigation

Student Commuter Pass

Standard Commuter Pass (For some language school students)

Things to take note when purchasing commuter passes

Cycling

Medicine and Healthcare

Pharmacies

Clinic, Hospital & Dentist

Visiting a Doctor

Medical Health Insurance (国民保険証）

Finding The Right Clinic (診療科）

Hospital System

Consultation Process

Medication

Mental Health

Japan-Based Counselling Services

Singapore-Based Online Counselling Services

Other Online Counselling Services

LGBTQIA+ Support Services

Religion

Places of Worship

Dietary Requirements