CALENDAR |
VISA | ARRIVAL | DORMS | COMMUNICATIONS | WEATHER
MONEY | TRANSPORTATION |
JAPANESE | INSURANCE
| OTHER
LOGISTICS
Orientation | Starting the semester | End of semester
CALENDAR
When
do classes begin in Fall semester 2010?
September 20th. Classes end January 25th.
Some exchange students have to return to their home institutions
to begin their next term from the beginning of January.
In this case it is perfectly OK to finish your exchange in
December, taking your last class on Mon. Dec. 23rd (probably
possible to ask your teacher for permission to finish up on
Friday 20th). Seika has a New year break from Dec 24 to Jan
6th).
UPDATE: If you want to stay on after the end of classes, it is possible
to keep your dorm room
through the end of March (paying rent by
the calendar month).
Note though that your visa is for 6 months, so you would
need to leave by early February (depending on your arrival
date), or arrange a short extension.
For arrival on a 6 month visa,
your departure flight reservation must be within six months
of your arrival.
When should I plan to arrive?
After September 1st, when the dorms
open. We advise arriving at least a few days before classes
begin, to get though any jetlag,
and to see some of Kyoto before term begins.
Here are some Kyoto
links to start with.
When
is orientation provided?
We will have orientation on Sept.
15th.
Held at the International
Office, providing an overview of Kyoto
living, a campus
tour,
and assistance in filling out paperwork for student
cards.
We hand out an arrival package with maps, on-campus guide, off-campus
guide, transportation guides, school calendar and other vital information. We
also assist you to register as an alien at the local ward
office, where
you will need to sign up for national
health insurance, which will cost around 1,800 yen per month.
See
also these pages:
Orientation
Starting the semester
End of semester
VISA
What
do I need to do to get a visa?
The
Certificate of Visa Eligibility (CVE) required information form (2 pages)
is included in our acceptance package (can also be downloaded from
our Downloads page).
Please return it promptly to KSU’s International Office.
We need to submit the CVE application to the Kyoto Immigration office more
than one month before your planned arrival date. Immigration is
very busy preceding each semester, so it is best for us to apply early
(for example by late June, for fall semester), so that you can make your
travel
reservations
well in advance, and receive your visa in plenty of time before leaving.
When your CVE is available (this may take more than one month), the Immigration
office will notify us, and we will express-mail it directly to you.
You will need to take the CVE to your nearest Japanese Consulate, to get
the visa stamped into your passport. Processing your visa application at
the consulate may take up to three working days. You must have the visa
stamp in your passport before leaving your country.
If
you expect to travel outside of Japan during your time here, ask about
getting a multiple rentry visa.
See
details on our visa
information page.
ARRIVAL
What's
the nearest international airport? Kansai
International (KIX), in Osaka Bay, about
80km (50 miles) from Kyoto.
Which
airline is best? Difficult
question.One very important consideration is how much baggage
you are allowed. Ask!!! Cheap flights may have a 20kg limit
(seriously!) which means you will find yourself spending
much more on
shipping stuff home at the end of your visit. To learn
more about costs of shipping (surface or air) from Japan,
see our Japan Post page.
How
do I get to the dorm? We
recommend using a shuttle taxi van service
door to door, airport to dorm. It
costs 3,000 yen including student discount. See
our Kyoto
Access page for details.
We can make a reservation for you (essential)
if you let us know your airline, flight
number, and arrival date and time at
least 4 days before your arrival.
What
if my plane is delayed,
or diverted? The
taxi van company monitors incoming flights, so they will know
the situation, and try to find a seat for you on a later shuttle.
If for some reason you can't take the van, there's an express
train, the Haruka, that runs from KIX to Kyoto Station, and
you
can take a subway from there, then a taxi. (See
our Kyoto
Access page for more details.)
If your plane happened to be rerouted to Tokyo (unlikely, but
it has happened in summer typhoon season), you would take the "Bullet
Train" (Shinkansen) to Kyoto, then subway, as above.
Important: Even if you have a shuttle reservation,
please print out and carry our access
instructions, and access
map, just in case of an unexpected change of plan.(The
access map also helps you to find our office after you arrive,
for orientation).
DORMS
Where
will I be staying?
Exchange
students are provided with single-occupancy rooms
in our international dorms. You will be advised of
your
dorm location, room number and address
before you arrive. See links & map on our Accommodation page
for more details. The dorms are close enough to campus
to walk or ride a bicycle to class.
Women students
live in Kino-ryo Minami.
(8-tatami-size rooms)
Due
to a larger number of applications this semester,
some
women students will be allocated single rooms in the Dohokan,
closer to
campus.
Male students live in Kino-ryo
Kita. (6-tatami-size rooms)
How
much does accommodation cost?
Hachijo (8
tatami-mat size) rooms cost 13,000 yen per month (plus 7,000 yen
utilities charge, covering electricity, gas, and water). Total:20,000
yen per month
Rokujo (6 tatami-mat size) rooms cost
10,000 yen per month (plus 6,000 yen utilities charge, covering electricity,
gas, and water). Total: 16,000
yen per month
For all rooms there is an additional once-only charge per semester for
rental futon set: 10,500 yen (as
of fall
2009, paid on arrival at
the Accounts Office).
When
do I need to pay rent?
Please
pay your full semester's rent within the first week after arrival,
or within one month at the latest. Pay in cash
(sorry, no credit card facility), at the Accounts Office, on the
4th floor of the Administration Building.
What
other expenses will I have to pay?
A
comprehensive compulsory insurance cover for damage or accident. It will
cost 4,030 yen per semester for
spring semester [fall
semester is 5,380 yen].
This is paid at the Accounts Office.
How
do I convert yen to my home currency?
Use
the online Universal
Currency Converter
What
is provided in my dorm room?
We
provide a bed and desk in Western-style rooms (Kino-ryo),
and fresh sheets, futons, blanket, pillow, and pillow-case
(rented, as mentioned above),
We don't supply towels, so please bring or buy your own. All
rooms have individual airconditioners for both heating and cooling.
What
other facilities are provided in the dorms?
All dorms have showers, not baths.
Domestic-type washing machines and
dryers are provided for do-it-yourself laundry,
free of charge (please provide washing powder). The kitchens
have refrigerators, stoves, toasters, and micro-waves.
You will need to buy your own utensils. We can recommend
suitable homeware shops (and 100yen stores).
Is
there a meal plan at the dorm?
Sorry,
no. The dorms are self-catered only, with shared kitchens...
Is there a cafeteria on
campus?
Yes. It provides cheap but
good food
Mondays through Saturdays, is closed Sundays.See our Cafeteria page
for more details.There's also a Coffee Lounge that's open longer hours,
in the same building. There's
a small convenience store on campus, and Seika also has a nice restaurant,
Reata, just off campus.
Do
I need to know anything about dorm regulations?
One important, strict rule is about visitors. These dorms are NOT co-ed.
Men are not allowed to visit in the women's dorm (except in the downstairs
lounge, through 10pm) and women visitors are not allowed in the men's
dorm.
Is there a curfew?
No, no curfew. The main doors are kept locked, but you have your own
key.
Can my friend visit and stay with me in the dorm?
Same-gender friends (or family members) may stay in your room with you
for a few days, if you request permission in advance. Rooms may not be
sub-let or loaned to anyone else.
Can
I stay after the end of term?
You are welcome to stay up until the last week
of August in first semester (we need a few days for cleaning before the
next students arrive from Sept. 1st), or until the end of March in second
semester, but if you do stay on, you will need to pay rent for periods
of one full month -- sorry, Seika regulations don't allow us to prorate
rent for a period of less than one month..
COMMUNICATIONS
Is
Internet access available?
Yes! The dorms have Ethernet cable connections in
each room, so
you can go online free of charge. To use
this service, you need to bring your own laptop. Seika also has wireless
access
in
some parts of campus
(password required). Some computers
are available for e-mail/Internet in the International Office, and there
are many more computers for Internet access in the media
center (Johokan). See also
our Computer
access page.
How
about phone access?
As of Fall 2009 we have loaned a prepaid-type mobile phone to each incoming
exchange student, for security and convenience. Students are responsible
for all service costs.
How
do international students make phone calls to their home country?
Mobile
rates are expensive. There is a rechargeable Brastel international
phone card available that gives a good 24 hour rate from public
phones.*
http://www.brastel.com/Pages/eng/SPC/
Kansai Fleamarket has a page detailing other cheap international phone
cards.
*The
most popular and practical alternative is to bring a laptop, set
up to enable free Skype
calls.
WEATHER
What's
the weather like in Kyoto?
Spring begins with spectacular cherry blossom, then there's some rain,
and the hills become green again. Expect humidity to increase in June,
leading to tsuyu, rainy season. By mid-July, it's HOT.
From
September, the heat fades and rice-fields turn from green to gold,
with harvest time around the equinox. Fall color moves down from
the top of Mt Hiei, reaching full brilliance in November, as frosts
begin. By later December, there's a chance of snow. Weather gets
colder in January, with definitely occasionally heavy snow in February.
FYI,
a ten-day
forecast for Kyoto.
MONEY
Can
I use my credit card in Japan?
Yes — if it's listed below.
Japan used to be mainly a cash society, but credit
cards are becoming more widely used now.
KSU has an ATM on campus, but among international cards it accepts only American
Express and Diners Club International.
Japanese banks' ATMs
that accept major international credit cards can be found throughout
Japan, and at branches of Citibank, including
one with 24-hr ATM access in central
downtown Kyoto (map).
Post office branch ATMs accept VISA,
Visa Electron, Mastercard, Maestro, Cirrus, American Express,
Diners Club International,
9am thru 5pm, Monday-Friday; major post offices are also open on Saturdays,
main post offices (eg at Kyoto Station) 24 hour access.
Seven
Eleven Convenience Stores in Japan, as
of July 2007, all offer 24-hour
access to cash with foreign credit or debit cards (VISA/PLUS,
MasterCard/Cirrus, American Express, JCB, China
Union Pay );
PIN # required. Language options for ATM screen and receipts:
English, Korean, Chinese, and Portuguese.There is a 7/11 close by
Seika/dorms, in Hataeda.
Please note that some ATMs limit cash withdrawals to 30,000 yen per day.
It's generally quite safe to carry cash in Japan.
Purse-snatching, mugging, or pocket-picking are pretty-much unheard
of. However, we
do advise
you to keep your dorm room locked.
Where
can I change money?
There's a money exchange booth right beside the arrivals gate at Kansai
International Airport (KIX).Travellers'
checks can be cashed there too, or at the Tokyo-Mitsubishi bank downtown
in Kyoto. Exchange rates are standardized daily in Japan, meaning you
get the same deal anywhere.
Can
I open a bank account in Japan and transfer money to it?
This is not easy.
You have to be a resident here in Japan for 6 months before you can
open a bank account.
There is an alternative – you can open a Post Office Savings
account after applying for your Alien Registration card (Gaikokujin
Torokumeisho).. You can
then transfer money only from a post office account in your home
country, or from an account in a designated bank. This can get complicated,
and involves bank charges for the transfers.
Instead of transferring money, we suggest simply enabling money to
be paid into an account in your home country, which you can access
by using your credit card here in Japan, as described above.
Is
Japan expensive?
Yes and no. Japan has a reputation as
one of the world's most expensive places to live, so expect
to be shocked occasionally by some prices, but on the other
hand Kyoto has a long history as a university town, and therefore
has many restaurants and shops catering to budget-conscious
students. Seika's cafeteria is very economical, too...
What
is my expected cost of living per month?
We
would advise budgeting between 40 and 50 thousand
yen per month for
food, transportation and art materials/museum entrance fees
etc.
That is not including accommodation, since that is paid in
advance for the semester.
TRANSPORTATION
What
transportation is available in Kyoto?
Kyoto has buses, subways, and public and private railway lines. All operate
with renowned Japanese efficiency & reliability, and are clean & safe. KSU
has its own station on the Eiden railway line, about 20 minutes from the
city center (service until nearly midnight), and operates a free Shuttle
Bus to the Kokusai-kaikan subway station Mon-Sat.
How
can
I get a bicycle?
There
are usually some bicycles left by
previous exchange students, or you can find fairly cheap second-hand
ones at bicycle shops in northern Kyoto.
Since the city is mostly flat, bikes are the best way
to explore Kyoto, except during rainy season (June/July).
JAPANESE
LANGUAGE
Can
you recommend any on-line Japanese language resources?
Most of these
cover the basics and some ways to learn hiragana and katakana and
some kanji. (Thanks
to Daniel Goffin from Kassel for some useful links here).
http://www.speedanki.com/ –
Speed Kanji Flashcard System modeled after Japanese Language Proficiency
Test.Free registration.
http://www.sf.airnet.ne.jp/~ts/japanese/cover.html –
basic teach-yourself material. (But beware of its phonetic system: "zi"
for "shi"; "tu" for "tsu" etc...)
http://www.guidetojapanese.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page –
"a resource for those who want to learn Japanese grammar in a rational,
intuitive way that makes sense in Japanese."
http://www.nihongoresources.com/ –
ambitious site still developing
http://www.csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/wwwjdic_g.html -
J-E online dictionary – clunky interface but a useful tool for translating
single words
http://learnjapanesepod.com/ –
a funny and entertaining podcast and website for learning the more casual
Japanese in contrast to the regular textbook
Japanese. (Definitely recommended as it is very helpful to listen to Japanese
if possible).
http://japanesepod101.com/ –
podcast, flashcards, pdfs. Everything is not free though and the most
useful (premium) service is rather expensive
http://japanesejapanese.com/ – a helpful blog
http://www.glpwd.com/jtango/ –
Tango for the Web, another online dictionary
http://japanese.about.com/od/japaneselessons/a/wheredoibegin.htm
http://japanese.about.com/mmore.htm – about.com
resource lists
http://www.rikai.com/perl/Home.pl –
Rikai: Enter a web-address or paste some Japanese text in the box; move
the mouse over any Japanese word to see the reading and definition.Very cool!
See
also the highly impressive Kanji
map page. Also has a good E-J
page.
During
semester, weekly
one-to-one Japanese language classes are available with a tutor in the
International Center. Level-check interview in first week. Scheduled by
the International Office after you find out your studio/lecture schedule.
INSURANCE
Incoming exchange students are required to join Japan's National
Health Insurance scheme (kokumin kenko hoken), which reduces
medical/dental bills* by 70%. You will sign up at the local city ward office.It
costs less than 2,000 yen per month and covers medical treatment, emergencies
and dental care.
*For example, in a case where your medical costs (diagnosis, treatment
and medication) total 10,000 yen, you pay 3,000 yen at the hospital. The insurance
automatically
covers
the remaining
70% – no need to file any claim..
OTHER
LOGISTICS
What
is Japan's electrical system?
110 volt, 60Hz. It's basically compatible
with most US and European 100-volt appliances, though you may need
to find a converter plug. Video camera rechargers and laptops etc are
often compatible with any world voltage. Video cassettes here are NTSC,
the same as the US system. DVDs are mostly Asia specific.
Is
there anything I should consider bringing to Japan?
• Familiar general medications,
health care products etc, as required. Even aspirin and
Vitamin C are outrageously expensive here. If you use alternative
herbal medications like Erinacea etc, bring them -- they are
very hard to find in Japan! Roll-on deodorant if you use it.
Cold treatment, if you think you may need it. If you need prescription
medications, it may be best to bring them with you.
But to avoid possible delay
in Customs on arrival, prescription medications should
be in original packages or properly labelled. (Japan
is extremely cautious about drugs. Sniffer dogs check
all incoming bags). Even herbal tobacco may be suspect
and result in a tense delay.
• Non-lace-up footwear --
such as slip-on, velcro-fastened or zipped shoes/boots
-- makes life much easier, as you often have
to take shoes off & put them on again.
• Kyoto guidebook: Lonely
Planet Guide to Kyoto is highly recommended,
very useful to pre-read too.
• Cheap
snack food: we seriously suggest bringing nuts,
dried fruit, trail mix, health bars, the kind of snack
food that keeps up your energy on field trips. This
stuff is hard to find in Japan and absurdly expensive
in tiny packages!
Where
can I learn more about Kyoto?
Kyoto
Official Travel Guide (Kyoto
Tourism Council Site - has everything)
See also our Kyoto
Links page
And a ten-day weather forecast for Kyoto region
ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE ABOVE??? Please
e-mail to Ken Rodgers, at ksuinted[at]kyoto-seika.ac.jp ([at]
= @), at KSU's International Office.
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