CAMPUS LIFE
- HOME
- CAMPUS LIFE
- Practical Information for Exchange Students
Practical Information for Exchange Students
Public Transportation
It takes about 15 minutes on foot from TUMSAT to Shinagawa Station and Tennoz Isle Station.
Shinagawa Station is an increasingly important transportation hub in central Tokyo (it takes about 11 minutes to Tokyo Station by Yamanote or Keihintohoku Line), with train services to and from Tokyo's two international airports (Haneda and Narita) and Shinkansen Trains to and from Nagoya, Kyoto and Osaka. It is also an important commuter hub connecting Tokyo and neighboring prefectures, as well as the stop of JR Yamanote Loop Line. Keikyu Line Shinagawa station to Haneda Airport (approximately 22 minutes). JR Shinagawa station to Narita Airport (approximately 60 minutes by express). Tennoz Isle Station is served by the Tokyo Monorail (15 minumtes to Haneda Airport) and the Rinkai Line.
Suica/PASMO (e-money)
Suica and PASMO (prepaid e-money cards) are convenient for transportation and shopping in Japan. When boarding a train, there is no need to buy a ticket from a vending machine at the station; simply touch and go at the ticket gate and the fare is automatically deducted from your Suica or PASMO. You can also purchase soft drinks and coffee from vending machines and shop at station kiosk and convenience stores. The difference between Suica and PASMO is that they are issued by different railroad companies. Both Suica and PASMO allow you travel around by not only trains but subways and buses and pay for things when shopping with e-money.
Suica / PASMO can be topped up and used as often as desired. They can be topped up at the station. We recommend adding Suica / PASMO to your smartphone's wallet app and using it as Mobile Suica or Mobile PASMO. You can easily top up your Mobile Suica and Mobile PASMO with your smartphone's mobile wallet. (As of Dec/04/2022, foreign issued VISA credit cards stopped working for Suica and PASMO to top up. The railroad company is now working to update this issue. Use Mastercard or AMEX until this issue gets solved.)
As of September 2023, new sales of unregistered Suica and PASMO remain suspended. It is reported that JR East and the PASMO Council are aiming to resume sales around spring 2024, but it is unclear whether this will happen. Mobile PASMO and Mobile SUICA can be newly issued.
How to Add your Suica/PASMO to Your Smartphone
General Information on Climate of Japan
Japan has four seasons, and the climate varies from subarctic in the north to subtropical in the south. Conditions differ between the Pacific Ocean side and the Sea of Japan side.
Northern Japan has warm summers and very cold winters, with heavy snowfall on the Sea of Japan side and in mountainous areas. Eastern Japan experiences hot and humid summers, cold winters, and heavy snowfall on the Sea of Japan side and in mountainous areas. Western Japan has hot and humid summers with temperatures above 35℃ and moderate cold winters. Okinawa and Amami have a subtropical maritime climate. Summers are hot humid (rarely exceeding 35℃) and winters are mild in these areas.
Climate of Tokyo
The hottest season is early August, and the coldest season is late January. The temperature difference between the hottest and the coldest months is about 20℃. The average summer temperature is 27.1℃ and the average humidity is 78% (Tokyo, August 2016). The average winter temperature is 6.9℃ and the average humidity is 49% (Tokyo, February 2017).
Rainy and humid climate is a characteristic of Japan's climate. The average humidity throughout Japan is 60-70% per year. Hot and humid weather with 75% above continues in summer months.
Language
Official and main language is Japanese. It is divided into a large number of dialects, and Tokyo dialect is considered standard Japanese. Guide signs written both in Japanese and English in public places are increasing. Guidance in Chinese and Korean is getting popular nowadays.
Locations
Student Visa and Residence Permit
Under Japanese Law, foreigners must complete various procedures related to residence at the Immigration Bureau or the municipal office to live in Japan. For more details on these procedures, please refer to the Immigration Bureau website below. We strongly recommend that you check these sites before coming to Japan to see if there are any documents you need to bring at your own responsibility.
Immigration Service Agency of Japan
Residence management system
Please check the relevant website before you come to Japan to determine if there are any documents you need to bring with you from your home country with your own responsibility.
Registration System for Foreign Residents | Minato City(transer.com)
Residence card
Foreigners who stay in Japan for more than three months (mid- to long-term residents) are issued a resident card, and special permanent residents are issued a special permanent resident certificate. A residence card is issued when there is a change in landing permit or status of residence, or when a visa is renewed. If there is any change in the information on the resident card ((1) name, date of birth, nationality / region, (2) renewal of validity period), or if the card is stolen or lost, please follow the prescribed procedures at the Immigration Bureau within 14 days. However, procedures regarding change of address and special permanent certificates must be completed at the municipal office. Please note that the resident card is valid until the expiration date of your visa.
Residence records
The Residence Record includes and certifies the address, the head of household (the person who represents the household and financially supports the household) and family composition (all persons financially supported by the household, not just those living together). Foreign nationals (special permanent residents, resident card holders, etc.) are recorded in the same manner. If there is a change in address or family composition, the applicant or a representative of the household must complete the prescribed notification procedures. If you need a copy of your certificate of residence record or certificate of items stated in your residence record, please bring your resident card, special permanent resident certificate, or other identification to the municipal office, and request it.
Orientation Meeting
Orientation meeting will be held on campus. We will share the detailed information afterwards.
Communication Service
International Telephone Calls
KDDI is the most commonly used for international calls. Alternative companies include SoftBank, NTT Communications etc. As with domestic calls, there is a slight difference in rates among companies. ALL offer discounted nighttime and holiday rates.
The prefix codes and contact numbers for these companies are as follows:
| Main Telephone Companies | Prefix | Contact Numbers(toll-free) |
|---|---|---|
| KDDI | 001 | Tel: 0057 |
| SoftBank | 0061 | Tel: 0120-85-0061 |
| NTT Communications | 0033 | Tel: 0120-506506 |
How to Make an Overseas Call
Dial
Telephone Company Prefix + 010 + Country Code + Area Code (without first 0) + Telephone Number in the correct order.
Cellular Phones, Smart Phones
Major mobile phone companies (as of July 2017)
NTT docomo
- Tel: 0120-005-250
English, Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. - Website
SoftBank
- Tel: 0800-919-0157
press 8 to hear options in English - Website
KDDI (au)
- Tel:
English 0120-959-472 (Toll Free)
Chinese 0120-959-476 (Toll Free)
Korean 0120-959-478 (Toll Free) - Website
Y!mobile
- Tel: 0570-039-151
only Japanese; 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. - Website
UQ Communications
- Tel: 0120-929-818
only Japanese; 9:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. - Website
SIM Card
There are various SIM cards available for foreigners. You can purchase ones at airport or online. However, you must be aware that using purchased SIM card with your smartphone brought from your home country over ninety days after arrival to Japan might be a violation of the Radio Act. Please refer to the following link and confirm with your own responsibility.
The Radio Use Website denpa
Cellular Phone Rental Service
There are many companies providing rental services of cellular phones that can be used in Japan and overseas. The companies above and their group companies also offer such services. Since the fees and application systems differ depending on the company, you should confirm the details with each company. In the arrival hall at airports, some companies rent cellular phones without a reservation.
Public Telephones
Public telephones can be used with 10-yen coins, 100-yen coins or a prepaid telephone card. Telephone cards are available at kiosks or automated vending machines, etc. Some public telephones allow users to make international calls. Emergency calls to police (110) and fire / ambulance services (119) do not require coins or phone cards.
Post-Cargo-Courier Service (Mail and Takkyubin)
Post Offices
Besides handling all types of mail, post offices also provide banking and insurance services. Most post offices are open from 9am to 5pm for mail and from 9am to 4pm for insurance and savings transactions. Although windows are usually closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays, one post office in each district is open on these days as well. Please ask at your local post office for details. In addition to post offices, stamps and postcards are available at convenience stores. For mails that require signature (seal or stamp), such as parcels and registered mail, the mail carrier will take the mail back to the post office and leave a delivery notice instead if you are not at home. You can arrange for re-delivery, but if you wish to receive it from post office, you must bring the delivery notice, your residence card or other identification, and your personal stamp (hanko) to the designated post office.
Overseas Courier Services
In addition to post offices, there are also private courier companies that deliver letters and parcels not only in Japan but also overseas.
Currency
Japanese national currency is Japanese Yen (JPY). There are four kinds of bills (10,000 yen, 5,000 yen, 2,000 yen, 1,000 yen) and six kinds of coins (500 yen, 100 yen, 50 yen, 10 yen, 5 yen, 1 yen) used. Official exchange rates can be obtained from the Bank of Japan.
https://www.boj.or.jp/en/statistics/market/forex/fxdaily/index.htm/
Banking Services and Credit Cards（Life in Japan）
Opening a Bank Account
Opening a bank account makes it convenient to perform various transactions, such as receiving living expenses and paying utility bills. When opening an account, you will be asked to present identification to verify your identity, so please bring your residence card, passport or other forms of identification, as well as your personal seal (hanko). Some banks allow you to open an account with your signature, so it is better to ask in advance.
For your reference, there is a post office with a Japan Post Bank near TUMSAT, so it might be convenient to open account there. (website) Please check the website before coming to Japan to see if there are any documents to bring from your own country.
You can also withdraw cash with your credit card or cash card issued in foreign countries at Japan Post ATMs. (website). This is one of the options before opening your bank account.
Credit card
"VISA" and "Mastercard" are the major credit cards accepted in Japan.
