Student guide to Japan

Student visa via Certificate of Eligibility issued to your university. Financial requirement ~JPY 1.6M/year. Post-study: Designated Activities visa for 6-12 months job search.

My Number system universal. Income tax + residence tax = effective 20-30% on typical professional income. Students typically below thresholds.

MEXT (Monbukagakusho) — Japanese government, ~9,000 scholarships globally including ~150 for India, undergraduate to doctoral, full tuition + JPY 117,000-148,000 monthly stipend + travel. JASSO (Japan Student Services) follow-up scholarships.

Mizuho, MUFG, SMBC, Japan Post Bank, plus digital Sony Bank, Rakuten Bank. Foreigner-friendly: Japan Post Bank or Rakuten initially. Hanko (signature seal) sometimes still required.

University dormitories (very cheap, JPY 20,000-50,000/month). Otherwise UR (public housing) or private — agencies, key money (reikin) and deposit can total 4-6 months' rent at signing.

National Health Insurance (NHI) automatic for residents — covers 70% of medical costs. Card valid at all hospitals/clinics.

English-medium programmes growing (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Tohoku, Tsukuba) — IELTS 6.5+/TOEFL iBT 80+. Japanese-medium programmes need JLPT N2 or higher. JLPT N4 sufficient for daily life with A2 spoken.

Indian groceries in Tokyo (Nishi-Kasai, Okachimachi), Osaka, Yokohama. Vegetarian harder than expected — daikon and tofu staples. Cooking: JPY 25,000-40,000/month.

Among top-3 safest countries. Earthquake preparedness essential — register with embassy, follow drills. Drug penalties severe.

Indian community concentrated in Tokyo (Nishi-Kasai is "Little India"), Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya. Indian Embassy in Tokyo + Consulate in Osaka. Cricket Japan growing.