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Japan: Life & Cities

Student Life, Work & Cities in Japan

Living as a student in Japan — the main student cities, accommodation, part-time work, health insurance and settling in.

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Tests this hub covers

IELTS

British Council / IDP IELTS / Cambridge University Press & Assessment · Year-round (test dates and session times vary by test centre)

TOEFL iBT

ETS (Educational Testing Service) · Offered more than 170 times a year at test centres (Home Edition: 24 hours a day, 4 days a week)

What this hub covers

  1. Finding Student Housing in Japan: Dorms, Share Houses and ApartmentsThree ways students find housing in Japan · University and JASSO-linked dormitories · Share houses and guest houses
  2. Finding a Part-Time Job (Arubaito) in Japan as an International StudentArubaito: part-time work as a student · Step 1 — permission to work · Where students find part-time jobs
  3. National Health Insurance and Healthcare for Students in JapanHealth insurance is mandatory · Enrolling in National Health Insurance · How coverage and co-payments work
  4. Settling Into Japan: Residence Card, City Hall, Bank Account and PhoneYour first two weeks: the admin checklist · Your residence card (zairyu card) · City hall: resident registration, My Number and insurance
  5. Living in Tokyo as an International StudentWhy students choose Tokyo · Student areas and university clusters · Getting around: trains and IC cards
  6. Where to Study in Japan: Comparing Tokyo, Osaka and Regional CitiesChoosing your base city · Tokyo — capital, scale and cost · Osaka and Kyoto (Kansai)
  7. Cultural Adjustment and Daily Life for Students in JapanEveryday etiquette and social norms · The language barrier in real situations · Garbage, recycling and apartment rules

Guides for East & Southeast Asia

7 of 7 guides in this hub are for East & Southeast Asia.

Comparison
East & Southeast Asia·9 min read

Where to Study in Japan: Comparing Tokyo, Osaka and Regional Cities

Comparing Japan's main student cities — Tokyo, Osaka/Kyoto, Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo — on cost of living, student life, universities, transport and climate.

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Career
East & Southeast Asia·8 min read

Finding a Part-Time Job (Arubaito) in Japan as an International Student

How international students find part-time work (arubaito) in Japan: getting Immigration's work permission, where to look, the Japanese level and resume basics.

Read guide
Study abroad
East & Southeast Asia·9 min read

Finding Student Housing in Japan: Dorms, Share Houses and Apartments

Student housing in Japan: university and JASSO dormitories, share houses, private apartments, the guarantor system, key money and UR homes.

Read guide
East & Southeast Asia·8 min read

National Health Insurance and Healthcare for Students in Japan

How international students enrol in Japan's National Health Insurance, what it covers and co-pays, and how to visit clinics, pharmacies and health centres.

Read guide
East & Southeast Asia·8 min read

Settling Into Japan: Residence Card, City Hall, Bank Account and Phone

Your first two weeks in Japan: getting your residence card, registering at city hall for My Number and insurance, and opening a bank account and phone.

Read guide
East & Southeast Asia·8 min read

Living in Tokyo as an International Student

Living in Tokyo as an international student: student areas, trains and IC cards, how costs compare with the rest of Japan, and where students live.

Read guide
East & Southeast Asia·9 min read

Cultural Adjustment and Daily Life for Students in Japan

Settling into daily life in Japan: everyday etiquette, the language barrier, garbage rules, food, transport, safety and beating culture shock and homesickness.

Read guide

Studying in East & Southeast Asia

Continue exploring East & Southeast Asia

Universities, entrance tests, costs and visa facts for East & Southeast Asia — all in one place, each linked to its official source.

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