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Obon Holiday Period36 days left
Residence Tax (2nd)54 days left

24H Life Setup

Get bank, sim, and net in 1 day.

Bank

JP Post Bank (Yucho) is easiest.

SIM

GTN or Mobal for no card/bank req.

Internet

Pocket WiFi for instant net.

Get a Hanko (Seal) first!

Bank Account

Yucho Bank is the most foreigner friendly. Apply via App.

1
Download "Yucho Tetsuzuki App"
2
Scan Residence Card (Zairyu Card)
3
Receive Cash Card in Mail (1-2 weeks)
Yucho App

SIM Card

Recommendation

GTN Mobile

  • ✅ Pay at Convenience Store
  • ✅ Multi-lingual Support
  • ✅ 10 min application
Best for Beginners

Mobal

  • ✅ No Contract
  • ✅ Pick up at Airport
  • ✅ English Support

Internet

Pocket WiFi

Portable. Take it to school. Battery lasts 10 hours.

No ContractInstant

Home Hikari

Home Router. Plug into wall outlet. Faster and stable.

UnlimitedFast

Konbini Hacks

Print, pay bills, and get coffee.

NetPrint
Pay Bills
100¥ Coffee
ATM 24/7

Survival Phrases

Click to Speak

Frequently Asked Questions

International students in Japan have access to a range of student discounts: train commuter passes for students (tsugaku teiki) at 40% to 50% off standard fares, museum and cinema entry fees typically 20% to 50% lower with a valid student ID, Amazon Prime Student at ¥300 per month (half the standard price) for 6 months then ¥600, Microsoft Office Education pricing, and many mobile carriers offer student plan discounts. Always carry your student ID card and ask at any venue whether student pricing is available.
Budget-conscious students in Japan can eat well by using these strategies: gyudon chain restaurants (Yoshinoya, Sukiya, Matsuya) offer meals from ¥400, supermarket bento boxes and prepared foods are discounted 30% to 50% after approximately 7 to 8 PM with yellow stickers, university cafeterias (gakushoku) serve subsidized meals for ¥300 to ¥500, and cooking at home using bulk ingredients from Gyomu Super (a discount wholesaler open to the public) is the most economical option at around ¥25,000 per month.
International students who live alone and whose household income falls below a set threshold — generally those receiving government scholarships, JASSO loans, or living only on modest part-time income — may qualify for a full NHK reception fee exemption. Apply at your nearest NHK office or online through NHK's exemption application system with proof of student status, your residence certificate, and income documentation. Exemption is reviewed annually and must be renewed if your circumstances change.
Full-time students enrolled at accredited Japanese educational institutions are entitled to purchase a tsugaku teiki (student commuter pass) at a 40% to 50% discount compared to standard adult commuter pass prices for travel between their registered home and school. The discount applies only on the specific route between those two endpoints and is available only through the railway operator serving your school route upon presentation of a school-issued tsugaku commutation certificate. The discount makes regular commuting significantly more affordable for students.
Yes, annual health checkups (kenko shindan) are mandated by Japan's School Health Safety Act for all enrolled students and are provided free of charge by educational institutions. The standard student health checkup covers height, weight, blood pressure, vision, hearing, dental examination, and basic blood tests. Health checkup results form part of your school health record and may be requested when applying for certain scholarships, sports club activities, or during early job-hunting processes in Japan.

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