Before Going to Japan#
Prepare necessary items and matters for after arriving in Japan in advance.
Study Abroad Guide#
Japan Study Abroad Guide (studyjapan.org)
Passport and Visa#
Check how to apply for a passport yourself.
Visa: Look for the required application materials on the embassy's website and find an agency designated by the embassy to handle it. The price is about 500 yuan.
Applying for Visa, Mastercard, JCB Credit Card#
Choose one of the three; just getting one will be much more convenient. I applied for a Bank of China Visa card on my phone, and it took about half a month to receive the card.
Seal#
Order a set of round Japanese seals on Taobao; I only used the seal with my full name and did not use the recognition seal.
For convenience, I printed my name in uppercase pinyin. If I used Chinese characters, I would have to register at the city office after coming to Japan, which is quite troublesome, so I simply used an English name to travel around Japan.
I rarely use it, but it is indispensable.
Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ) Card Application App#
Upon arriving in Japan, you can only apply for a ゆうちょ bank card.
iPhone users can borrow Japan - Free Shared Account | AneeoApple to download the app from the Japan region app store.
Chinese version application guide: Link
For students, the required materials include a residence card, student ID, and email address. The residence card must indicate the current address.
Essential Apps to Download in Advance#
Google Maps, etc., specifically search on Xiaohongshu.
It is recommended to download apps for McDonald's and Matsuya, as you can order on your phone without the need for communication. However, the app must be downloaded from the Japan region.
Suica Transportation Card#
iPhone users can apply for a Suica card after binding their domestic UnionPay card in Apple Pay; you can recharge it directly with the UnionPay card and use it in many places in Japan, which is very convenient.
It's less convenient for Android users (especially Huawei). You might consider searching for guides to apply for a physical card after arriving in Japan.
Purchasing a Data Card#
Buy a short-term data card for Japan on Taobao. I bought a 15-day 20G card.
Handling Domestic Phone Cards#
Activate international roaming (free) for the phone card you need to keep, and change the plan to 8 yuan for number retention.
For cards you do not need to keep, just activate international roaming and wait for it to automatically expire due to insufficient balance.
Future Phone Card Choices#
Y.U mobile, IIjmio, povo, linemo, etc.
You can apply for a phone card online after arriving in Japan (discount cards); you need to fill in a friend's Japanese phone number and your own Japanese address during the application.
Most cheap phone cards cost about 1000 yen per month for 3G to 5G data. I originally wanted to choose Y.U mobile because it offers 5G data that can be carried over if unused, with a maximum carryover of 100G permanently valid, but I couldn't apply with a Chinese VISA card, so I finally chose IIjmio, which also offers 5G with carryover to the next month, but it automatically expires in the third month.
Some phone cards may not work on certain Android phones, so be careful.
Accommodation#
After arriving in Japan, I couldn't check into the rented house temporarily, so I booked a hotel for the first day on Ctrip.
I have no experience renting a house, so I searched for it myself.
Search for Key Shops Near the School#
Check for cheap supermarkets, 100 yen shops (like Daiso, for inexpensive daily necessities), and fast food restaurants. Look at the map on Xiaohongshu.
After Arriving in Japan#
Residence Card#
Exchange the COE at border control. It’s better to apply for a permit for activities outside the status of residence (for part-time work) on-site; applying later may be more troublesome.
Rent, Enrollment, City Office Registration, and National Health Insurance, etc.#
I relied on classmates to help translate. If I did it myself, I would be completely lost.
Phone Card, Bank Card#
I had prepared for this in advance, and it can be done online.
My Number Card#
After staying in Japan for a while, I will receive information on how to apply in my mailbox. It can be done online.
Amazon#
Shopping on Amazon (the website starts with jp for Japan) is very convenient; you can search in Chinese, especially for furniture needed at the beginning. It can be linked to a credit card for payment. Since I bought many items initially, signing up for a Prime membership can save some money (600 yen per month). Later, I can pause the Prime membership.
For example, I bought large furniture like mattresses, refrigerators, and vacuum cleaners on Amazon. Although stores like Bic Camera also sell and offer points, overall, it may not be cheaper than Amazon.
With Amazon Prime, you can also apply for an Amazon Mastercard credit card.
Withdrawing Yen#
Generally, you can use Suica, credit cards, WeChat, and Alipay to avoid exchanging for yen. When needed, you can go to a convenience store to withdraw cash with a UnionPay debit card (with an annual limit of about 100,000 yuan); the fee is around 50 RMB. The Great Wall Cross-Border MasterCard has no fee for the first transaction each month, but you need to deposit an additional 2% of yen for temporary freezing. If you want to make international remittances, you can apply for a card at the Bank of China in Japan, which has lower fees (annual limit of 50,000 USD). You can also exchange currency privately.