From the 2007 EPA to today's TITP and SSW routes — plus the one guide almost nobody else builds well: how to actually live halal in Japan, day to day.
Three doors into Japan.
Every guide we've written comes back to this. Pick the door that matches your situation — each one leads somewhere different.
Work & study
agreements
EPA, TITP, and SSW — signed dates, requirements, and which one fits your situation.
Verify your
agent first
P3MI licensing, the Rp 1.5 billion deposit rule, and how to spot a fake calo.
Living halal
in Japan
Food sourcing, hidden traps, prayer and Ramadan — the daily-life guide most sites skip.
Study in Japan — 交換留学・大学院留学・語学学校
Work visas dominate the conversation. But Indonesia has one of the most active university exchange networks in all of Southeast Asia — UI, ITB, and UGM alone hold dozens of active Japan MOUs. Three different paths, one outcome.
Exchange
- Your home university sends you via an MOU with a Japanese partner
- Duration: 6–24 months
- Tuition: Usually no extra tuition — you keep paying home-country fees
- Language: JLPT N2–N3 usually required; some programs taught in English
- Start: Ask your international office → verify at jpss.jp
Degree-seeking
- Apply directly to a Japanese university — no home-university MOU needed
- Japanese-taught programs: JLPT N2 + EJU exam
- English-taught programs: IELTS / TOEFL — no JLPT required
- April intake has 80%+ of all seats; October is smaller but growing
- MEXT Scholarship available — Indonesia is a high-quota country
Language school first
- 6–24 months of intensive Japanese → university or work visa
- No JLPT required to enroll — schools test and place you on entry
- Part-time work: 28 hours/week allowed on student visa
- Tuition: ¥600,000–900,000/year; living costs separate
- LPDP scholarship can fund study abroad including Japan
April vs October intake
| Intake | Apply by | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| April (春) | October–January | Dominant — 80%+ of seats. Apply this cycle first. |
| October (秋) | March–May | Fewer seats. Good backup or for graduate programs. |
Deadlines vary by university. Always check the specific institution's website.
Annual cost breakdown
JPY + IDR equivalent. Rate: 1 JPY ≈ IDR 109.50 (July 2026). Admission fee ¥282,000 (one-time, national universities) not included.
| Item | JPY / yr | IDR / yr |
|---|---|---|
| National university tuition | ¥535,800 | ≈ IDR 58.7 juta |
| Private university (average) | ¥1,150,000 | ≈ IDR 125.9 juta |
| Language school tuition | ¥700,000 | ≈ IDR 76.7 juta |
| Living — Tokyo | ¥1,260,000 | ≈ IDR 138.0 juta |
| Living — Regional Japan | ¥1,020,000 | ≈ IDR 111.7 juta |
MEXT Scholarship (文部科学省奨学金)
- Indonesia is a high-quota country — 60–100+ awardees per year
- Categories: Undergraduate, Research Master's, Research PhD, Specialized Training
- Application window: typically April–May each year — contact embassy for exact dates
- Covers 100% tuition, living allowance (¥143,000–145,000/month), airfare, and 6-month Japanese prep course
- Apply through Embassy of Japan, Jakarta (1 embassy + 4 regional consulates-general)
EJU — 日本留学試験 (Jakarta + Surabaya)
- University entrance exam — different from JLPT
- Tests: Japanese language + 1–2 subject areas (Math, Science, or Social Studies)
- Available in Japanese or English only — NOT in Bahasa Indonesia
- Accepted by 900+ universities in Japan
- Held twice yearly: June and November
- Indonesia venues: Pusat Studi Jepang, UI Depok (Jakarta) and Surabaya
How to find your university's Japan partner
No agent needed. This four-step method works for any Indonesian university — evergreen, no annual maintenance.
Search jpss.jp
Filter by field and prefecture. Each listing shows international student programs. jpss.jp ↗
Ask your international office
Bring the Japanese university name. Ask: "Do we have an active MOU?" Active MOUs are updated yearly.
No MOU? Apply directly.
Degree-seeking admission does not require an MOU. Apply as an international student — most programs accept this route.
Contact the Embassy
Embassy of Japan in Jakarta handles MEXT and student visa questions. id.emb-japan.go.jp ↗
Known Indonesia–Japan university partnerships
Universitas Indonesia (UI) ↔ Waseda University + Osaka University
UI maintains confirmed MOUs with Waseda University and Osaka University (among others including Tohoku and the University of Tokyo), documented via UI's International Office. Faculty and student exchange across multiple disciplines. Indonesian students interested in UI's Japan exchanges should contact the UI Directorate of International Relations.
Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB) ↔ Kyoto University
ITB–Kyoto University exchange program with defined application windows: September for April start, February for October start. Primarily for engineering and science students. Contact ITB Bureau of Partnerships for current quota and requirements. ITB also holds active partnerships with University of Tokyo, Tohoku University, Meiji University, and Tokyo Institute of Technology.
ITB ↔ University of Electro-Communications (UEC), Tokyo
JUSST (Japanese University Studies in Science and Technology) program — open to senior undergraduates and graduate students in Informatics, Science, and Engineering. Scholarship available for accepted students. Contact ITB Bureau of Partnerships for current application cycle and quota details.
Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) ↔ Ehime University
UGM and Ehime University are core members of the Six-University Initiative Japan-Indonesia (SUIJI) consortium. Partnership since 2007 — covers education, research, publication, and community service. Joint publications and collaborative research ongoing. UGM also holds active partnerships with Yamaguchi University, Kyushu University, and Chiba University.
UGM ↔ Yamaguchi University
Long-running student and lecturer exchange program across teaching, research, and international studies. One of UGM's more established Japan partnerships, covering multiple faculties. Contact UGM's Directorate of International Affairs for current exchange slots and application windows.
All partnerships verified from official university and government sources, July 2026. MOU status changes annually. LPDP (Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan) scholarships from the Indonesian government fund study abroad programs including Japan — check beasiswaindonesia.or.id for current cycles.
Fake study agents (calo) are active in the Japan education sector
The same calo networks that operate in work placement also target students. Promises like "guaranteed admission," "MEXT for all applicants," or "I can arrange your visa faster" are red flags. Never pay for MEXT application assistance — MEXT applications go directly through the Japanese Embassy at no cost. Using false documents in Japan carries a fine of up to ¥3,000,000 and a 5+ year re-entry ban.
Agency red-flag checker →Study in Japan — FAQ
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