Now that you've decided to come to Japan as a student you probably feel a bit lost as to when you should start the application process as well as how much everything will cost and what steps you need to take to get there. The application process is the hardest part. You will spend a lot of money and a lot of time organizing, writing and mailing things back and forth but once you're done it will NEVER be this hard to renew or change your visa status if you decide to stay in Japan upon completion of your course or graduation.
I will explain each step that you must take to obtain your visa as well as help you understand where your money will go every month. Since most people who dream of or that plan to study in Japan have their eyes set on Tokyo, then I will only estimate the costs for those who are planning to study in that city.
Please check out my YouTube Channel (CoMic95TheSavior) or use the search bar for more videos and blog posts on studying in Japan.
Commonly Asked Questions About Studying in Japan
When Should You Apply?
I would suggest applying 4-5 months in advance of the start date. Your school will generally require that you apply about 3 months before the first day at the latest. You can find the dates for your specific school on their website.Which School Should You Choose to Study at?
Lakeland University Japan Campus (American (foreign college) and KCP International (language school) are the two best choices fro studying in Japan as they have very high acceptance rates and are very affordable. Both schools accept financial aid and student loans. If you are attending KCP you can get financial aid by going through a sister university of theirs. If you're low on money don't worry I had the same problem. I promise you that they will work with you within reason.If I had to choose one then II’d recommend that you attend Lakeland University Japan Campus (like I did). They’re the cheapest financially, easiest school to get into, gives you an American degree (even Japanese employers and workers prefer it), and it is EXTREMELY conveniently located in Tokyo. You will save a ton of money not only getting to Japan, but on your living expenses once you arrive.
What City Should You Live in?
It depends on where your school is. Shinjuku and Shibuya are the two most convenient areas to live in if you are staying in Tokyo. Most of the schools in Tokyo are in Shinjuku or near it so the city is probably best. I personally enjoyed living in Shibuya but to save money you should choose an area that has your school, work, and shopping all in one place and that would definitely be Shinjuku. Mitaka is also worth mentioning!Should You Get an Apartment, a Share House, or a Homestay?
Share House! Apartments can be very expensive, hard to figure out, and hard to obtain on a student visa as most places won't rent to a foreign student here for obvious reasons ( no job to a stable visa status, no proof of income). Homestay are usually temporary and can either be a nightmare or the best time of your life but they come with restrictions and usually the host family is very frugal as they understandably don't want to spend too much money on you. Homestay are a business not a form of charity.When Should You Book Your Flight?
At least 1 month or more in advance. I wouldn't recommend being cheap with this! Pay the extra money and go through a well known higher rated company. Chinese airlines may offer cheap pricing but you don't want to risk being stuck on a bad flight for 15 hours or having your belongings stolen. They have mostly bad reviews. Your life is being put in the hands of someone else so be weary of extremely low prices and bad reviews. If it seems too good to be true then it probably is!When Should You Book Your Accommodation?
Most places won't allow you to make a reservation earlier than 30 days so I'd recommend securing your place about a month in advance to ensure that you can and will have an affordable home upon arrival.Can You Use Financial Aid?
ONLY if you are an American citizen AND if your you are attending an American University. You cannot use financial aid for foreign universities nor can you use students loans. You would have to apply for a personal loan or for a scholarship to attend a Japanese language school or a Japanese university.How Much Money Will You Need?
The lowest amount of money that you'll need for a year in Japan is about $20,000 USD or roughly $1,500 a month. If you are coming over with credit cards, loans, and you are a native English speaker, native fluent, or if you can speak Japanese then you can of course find a part-time job and even teach your own students to make more money. You can use financial aid and student loans to cover your tuition and living expenses so take advantage of this but do keep in mind that this isn't free money and must be paid back.You don't need to have this all at once in cash but of course it would be ideal. Realistically if you have the will power to find a job and you have loans on the way you can come to Japan with as little as $2,000 cash (spending money NOT including your tuition and housing expenses etc.).
My Personal Experience
I came to Japan in December of 2016 when I was 20 years old and had already completed some college courses at Prairie State College, Chicago State University, and online at both Lakeland University and Grand Canyon University. Everything took me approximately 3 1/2 months total. I started the application process about 4 months before the semester started. I spent about $22,000 for just the first semester. My tuition and books totaled about $14,000 USD and my living expenses, flight, and rent made up the rest. This amount sounds scary, but I started working part-time, I cut back on classes, set up a payment plans, got a larger loan, started a fundraiser, and stopped buying new books. I am currently a student and working on another degree and certification, but I also work full-time as a teacher in Japan.Estimated Total Cost College & Language School Students in Japan
There is no one size fits all cost for moving to Japan for school. the amount of money that you will need entirely depends on you. Different schools cost different amounts (tuition varies greatly) and depending on where you are flying from or what accommodation you choose the amount for these things can vary greatly. This is simply meant to be a general outline of what you can expect to pay to help you with your savings plans for your big move to Japan. Everyone will start from a different place so you may already have a passport and your family might be willing to give up their only luggage set to help you out but if you don't have these things it will become an additional cost and all of these fees can add up to be a pretty large amount of money quite fast.Application Fee: $100-$200 (some schools don't have a fee)
Passport & Visa Sized Photos: $10-$30 (you can print your own from home for less or go to a convenience store)
Passport: $150-$200 (you can pay more like I did for extra pages)
Luggage (optional): $200-$300
Admissions/ Visa Application Fee: $300-$500 ( some schools don't have a fee)
First Semester's Tuition: $6,000-10,000
Airfare (non-stop/1 stop): $1,000-$2,000 (with a good airline & baggage fees included)
Hotel (layover accommodation optional): $150-$300
Transportation From The Airport: $10-$200 (depending on if you take a bus, a train or taxi
Move in Costs/ Reservations/First Month's Rent: $800-$3,000 (depends on if your accommodation requires a security deposit, reservation fees etc.)
Bicycle (optional): $150-$600 (the more you spend the fancier and sturdier the bike just like a car)
You will basically need close to $10,000 in order to move to Japan as a student. The good thing is that unlike your monthly expense these are all one time fees. You can also pay for these things over a long period of time and some of these items you may either already have or you can simply ask your friends, family, or boyfriend/girlfriend to cover the cost for you. For example my brother paid for my flight and suitcase.and my mother paid my application fee. I also had my dad pay for my overweight luggage.
Reoccurring Monthly Expenses
Now that you've found your way to Japan you have to consider your costs for each month. Some of these expenses such as your utility bill will vary or simply be non-existent. This is simply an estimate of your expenses for each month that you're living in Tokyo, Japan.Rent: $900
Utilities: $200
Pocket Wifi: $20
Transportation: $300
Groceries: $500
Toiletries: $100
Cleaning Supplies: $25
Laundry: $50
Entertainment & Clothing: $130
Health Insurance: $20
*Tuition $5,500-$8,000 per a semester (due every 3-4 months)
$2,500 is about how much money you will need to live comfortably in Japan (not including your quarterly tuition fees). As a student you will probably have half of this to live off of because you aren't working full-time so you will have to be much more frugal. This means relying less on trains, eating meals that aren't so fancy, hand wash your clothing, conserving energy and water, and of course not going out for shopping, sight seeing, partying and dates so much especially if you're going to be the one paying.
I went a period of time where I only had $800 or less to spend due to poor planning, being unemployed and behind on my rent so don't freak out! You can most certainly survive here with much less than $2,500 a month. Most of the foreigners that live in Japan are single (at least in my experience they have been) and they only make $2,000-$2,500 a month. If you individualize your budget you'll probably spend more money on some things like your health insurance or laundry and less on groceries and transportation. The point is that you don't want to come to Japan just to survive (I mean do you really want to be poor in a foreign country?). You want to be able to live a quality life. Nothing's worse than having headaches from water fasting and diarrhea from being on an all curry with no rice diet.
Quick Tips
- You need a budget of at least about $1,500 USD a month to survive in Tokyo. Your total costs for needs will probably be about $1,100 if you cut back on things but because you will need to do laundry, go out to eat, purchase clothing or furniture, and enjoy some for of entertainment that isn’t free we can estimate that even with the lowest rent possible in Tokyo you’ll still probably spend an extra $400 USD.
- Purchase a new phone and get an unlimited international plan. If you do then there will be no need for pocket wifi or a new phone in Japan
- GET A JOB! You CAN legally work part time with permission so get a part-time job.Start applying 1-3 days before you arrive in Japan.
- In addition to this job teach your own private English lessons both online and in person for about 2,000 yen (roughly $20USD). Try to aim for at least 5 lessons per a week for 1 hour. That’s 10,000 yen ( or$100) a week which is almost enough to pay your rent each month!
- Opt for living in a share house over a honesty or an apartment.
- Choose a place that is close to your school (1-2 train stops away).
- Stop over eating! Play games, take pictures, read, write, study, exercise enjoy Japan. Eat slowly. Cut back on your meat portions and eat more rice while drinking more tea and water.
- Purchase cheap groceries like rice, curry, ramen, bread, cereal, peanut butter and jelly, onigiri, eggs, salad, spaghetti, and stir fry to stretch your meat while also incorporating vegetables.
- Take advantage of student discounts.
- Bring your own lunch to work and school & eat breakfast at home.
- Ride your bike to work and school.
- Get a discounted monthly train pass ASAP with your student visa and ID.
- Once you have this you can book your flight and reserve an apartment or dorm to rent online. Your school can meet you at the airport and help you get to your place.
10 Steps to Obtaining Your Visa & Moving to Japan on as a Student
Now for the part that you were waiting for! As always the amounts that you pay and the application fees and requirements will vary from school to school.
1.) Fill out an Online application from your selected school’s website. After you have completed and submitted the application you can expect to get a reply with 24-72 business hours. it shouldn't take more than a week to get a reply from the school.
2.) Next you will be asked to write a 1-2 page (or paragraph) essay on why you want to live in Japan and attend the school that you selected. Please don't overthink this step! They simply want to get to know you better and put a personality and story to your name and face (especially if they haven't seen your photos or spoken with your over the phone or in person ye)t. Keep in mind that both the foreign and Japanese staff in the admissions office will have access to these documents so please be careful and avoid directly saying or hinting at any plans to do sketchy or illegal activity such as being an idol, model, or your plans to participate in things that your visa isn't designated for. It's okay to be honest about your love for art, anime, or games, but you shouldn't talk about your racial preferences *cough cough* the fact that you have yellow fever, or your plans to get married or work in Japan. Instead if you must, then talk about how you plan to graduate and THEN do these things and make sure you mention it in that order. Your school has read thousands of essays about people having a love for Japanese traditional and pop culture. Nothing that you say will be embarrassing or hurt your application. The concept of being a weaboo is a western idea. This isn't cringe worthy or comical in Japan to actual Japanese people. However it is of course ultimately up to you to decide how honest you want to be and how much you'd like to share. You won't be graded or judged on your creativity or grammar but I would recommend that you you try your best to use proper English, spell check, and possibly have 2-3 people that you can trust to be honest with you to read your paper and make sure that it doesn't sound weird or questionable. You don't want your school to think that you're ignorant. You writing should be personable yet somewhat professional but typos and errors will have close to no effect on the outcome of their decision. Once again they just want to get to know you so put your best foot forward.
3.) Along with your online application and personal essay you will be asked to pay Pay a $300-$500 USD non-refundable application fee (the amount might be a bit off it changes).
4.) Once you have been accepted into the school you will then have to prepare your student visa application which the Japanese government (aka immigration) will choose whether or not to approve your stay and for how long your visa will be good for. You will need to fill out a visa application and take 4-6 4x3cm visa and passport photos & Get a passport (if you don’t already have one) the remaining photos will be mailed to your school along with your visa application. Depending on what school you go to you might have the option to fax or scan a passport copy and mail 2-3 passport sized photos but generally the entire application including the photos and passport copy must be physically sent to your school by mail.
5.) You will then need to show your school and immigration proof of about $25,000-$30,000 USD through cash, credit cards, student loans, and bank account statements over the past few months. You will need to print scan or fax copies of these recent dated documents to your school along with the visa application.
6.) After you have filled out the visa application, attached copies of your passport, high school transcripts (if it wasn’t already sent along with your school’s enrollment application), passport sized photos, and financial documents that you will then mail your letter to your school. I recommend paying extra for express shipping and requiring a signature so that you will know when they have received it. It will take about 2-3 months for your school to go over your application and submit it along with their own documents to immigration and then for immigration to send you your COE directly by mail in your home country.
7.) Once you have your COE you will need to go to the closest Japanese embassy in your state/city or if you don’t have one it must be sent via mail. You will need your COE, original passport, and 1 passport sized photo. The process takes 2-7 days to be completed. Once ready you will receive a call to come pick up your passport that has your new visa printed inside.
8.) Now you should begin apartment hunting. There are no dorms and your school will more than likely just recommend random Craigslist ads as well as share houses (aka tourist dorms that you could have easily done a quick Google search on for yourself). Note than in Japan it is taboo to search for an apartment months in advance so inquiries will only be taken seriously if you plan to move in within the next 3-5 weeks.
9.) Next prepare to book your flight and accommodation should you have any layovers. Ask your school if there is a set date where they can meet you and pick you up from the airport. Once you have asked you can then choose to purchase your own airfare for about $1,200-$1,700 USD (non-stop flight recommended) around the school pick up schedule or you can choose to travel to your new place alone. I wouldn’t recommend using discount flights. To me it’s not worth it stick. I’d stick with American Airlines or United if they offer flights in your city or whatever major companies are from your country of origin. If you have a lengthy layover or an overnight one you might want to pay for a hotel for the night which can be anywhere from $80-$200 USD for a 1 night stay.
10.) After you arrive you will then show your passport to the staff at the airport who will direct you to a small office where you will wait to receive your new Japanese residence card which is going to be used as your ID in Japan. You will have to take your residence card to your local ward office and have your new address in japan stamped to the back of it.
NOTE: I would not recommend coming to Japan with the intent of getting a student visa later. There is a high chance that your application will get rejected and you will have to return to your home country at your own expense and obtain the visa at your closest Japanese embassy.
My Visa Was Rejected
I made this mistake. My school applied for my visa and I was issued a COE. I then asked my school if it was okay to take the COE with me to Japan and get the actual visa later because I thought that the process would take too long so I stupidly went to Tokyo in a rush. Apparently I wasn't alone. About 6 other students at my school did the same thing that semester. My school ensured me that I could just go to immigration and get my visa that way but instead my application was rejected. The admissions staff went to the office personally and begged them to approve it, but instead they argued that I should have followed the instructions and gotten my visa in Chicago. I had no idea that the process would be so fast in easy. If I had known that then I most certainly would have gotten my visa BEFORE I booked my flight, but in all honesty it all worked out because my school paid for my airfare with the airline, dates and times (there and back) of my choice, and I was able to go back home with 3 empty suitcases that I filled with more clothes, snacks, and personal items from home and some shopping that I did.
My cousin also died while I was back home in Chicago and I ended up staying longer than expected to attend his funeral. It was all strange timing but it worked out perfectly because otherwise there is no way that I could have afforded to go bak to America. I was a full-time student and I didn't have the time or money to travel back and forth.
I hope you found this post helpful. While there seems to be a lot of steps involved to get to Japan there really isn't! It all goes by so fast and it is much easier to save money, build, credit, fundraise and apply for loans than you think.
If you have any questions please send me an email or leave a comment below and I will try my best to help you.
Good luck and I hope you enjoy your study abroad and new life as a student in Japan!
Stay Tuned!
Please Subscribe to my Blog and Follow Me on my other social media pages.
Follow My Miscellaneous Adventures in Japan!
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comic95/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CoMic95/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Comic95?lang=en
Email: comic95thesavior@gmail.com
Blog: http://www.comic95.com
YouTube:
Gaming & Entertainment
PSN/Wii: CoMic95TheSavior
Xbox: CoMic95
Help Support My Channel & Blog by Making a Donation
PayPal
$Cash App
CoMic95
Patreon
https://www.patreon.com/CoMic95
CoMic95TheSavior
