Information for International Students（New and Current Students）
日本語版はこちら
1. Access & Campus Maps
| Access to KIT | KIT Map | Lecture Room Locations |
2. GUIDEBOOK for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
This guide contains useful information for living in Japan. If you have questions, check the Guide for International Students first.
| GUIDEBOOK for INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS（ Japanese / English ） |
3. Announcement
KIT shares the latest information and important announcements, so please check regularly.
| Student Information Portal Website (General Information for KIT Campus Life) | Educational Affairs Office Website |
4. Procedures After Arrival in Japan
4-1. Checklist of Things to Do
After arriving in Japan, you must complete several procedures. Follow the checklist to ensure everything is done properly.
Checklist of Things to Do After Arriving in Japan（ Japanese / English ）
4-2. Timeline for Procedures
Please complete the required procedures according to the schedule below.
| Arrival Period | Orientation Attendance※1 | Entrance Ceremony Attendance | Ward Office Procedures※2 |
Japan Post Bank (Yucho) Procedures※3 |
||
| International Office | Educational Office (For Degree Students Only) |
|||||
| undergraduate | graduate | |||||
| April | April 3 (Morning) | April 4 | April 7 (Afternoon) | April 7 (Morning) | April 3 (Afternoon) | After receiving your student ID |
| September | Late September (TBA) |
Late September (TBA) |
Late September (TBA) |
Late September (TBA) |
Late September (TBA) |
After receiving your student ID |
※1 Degree students will receive a “Student ID (Gakuseisho),” and non-degree students will receive an “ID Card (Mibun-shomeisho).”
※2 You cannot complete ward office procedures without a Student ID or ID Card.
※3 You cannot open a Japan Post Bank (Yucho) account until you complete the ward office procedures.
4-3. On-Campus Procedures
Attend Orientation
Please make sure to attend the orientation, as important procedures will be explained, and necessary documents will be distributed.
?Degree students will receive their Student ID (Gakuseisho) at the Educational Affairs Orientation.
?Non-degree students will receive their ID Card (Mibun-shomeisho) at the International Office Orientation.
Notes:
※ If you cannot attend the International Office Orientation, individual arrangements will be made.
Submit Copies of Your Passport & Residence Card
After entering Japan, please bring your “Residence Card” and “Passport” to the office.
?Students attending the International Office Orientation can have copies made during the session.
?After completing the ward office procedures, you must submit your Residence Card again.
Note:
※ If there are any changes to your Residence Card (such as address change or residence period extension), you must submit a new copy.
Join Student Insurance (Gakkensai & Gakkenbai)
All students must join the “Gakkensai” (Personal Accident Insurance for Students Pursuing Education and Research) and “Gakkenbai” (Liability Insurance Coupled with Gakkensai (Futaibaiseki)).
?Degree students who paid the insurance fee during the admission process do not need to pay again.
?Other degree students who have not paid and non-degree students must pay the fee during the orientation.
Gakkensai and Gakkenbai, and Other Related Insurance
Purchasing Insurance
Register Your Commute
All students must register their commuting method and route with KIT. Please check “Registering your Commute” for details on how to register.
Set Up Wi-Fi and Register for Classes
To use various KIT systems and services, such as Wi-Fi and the course registration system, you must complete the necessary procedures.
Please refer to the materials distributed during the orientation for details.
Course Registration
Students who need to register for courses must do so through the course registration system within the designated period.
Please refer to the materials distributed during the orientation for details.
Online course registration
Syllabus search system
Japanese Class (Timetable)
Japanese Class (Video)
4-4. Ward Office Procedures
Three Required Procedures
All international students staying in Japan for more than three months, regardless of their student status (degree or non-degree), must complete the following three procedures:
①Register your residence
②Join National Health Insurance (NHI)
③Join the National Pension Premium
①Register your residence
After deciding where to live, go to the ward (city) office within 14 days with your Residence Card and report your address at the counter.
Note:
?New students should complete their address registration at the ward office after the International Office Orientation and then bring their Residence Card (with the new address on the back) to the International Office.
?If you already live in Japan and move to a new address, you must submit a move-in notification at the ward office.
When completing procedures at the Sakyo Ward Office, please refer to the following website. You can find information on how to fill out application forms and check the current status of the service counters.
Sakyo Ward Office（ English ）
②Join National Health Insurance (NHI)
Japan has a National Health Insurance (NHI) system that helps reduce medical expenses. All international students with a “Student” residence status must join this insurance.
?After completing resident registration, enroll in NHI at the same ward (city) office.
?With NHI, you only pay 30% of medical costs at hospitals.
Important:
?Always bring your “Health Insurance Eligibility Certificate” or “My Number Card” when visiting a hospital and show it at the reception.
?These documents are valid nationwide in Japan.
Kyoto City Official Website（ Japanese ）
③Join the National Pension Premium
All individuals aged 20 or older must join the National Pension System and pay monthly pension premiums.
You can complete this procedure at the same ward (city) office where you register your residence.
?Enrollment provides financial support in case of disability.
Important:
?One month after registration, you will receive a payment slip from the pension office.
?Do not pay—simply keep the document for your records.
For Students:
?Degree students can apply for the Special Payment Exemption for Students to delay payments.
?Non-degree students can apply for the Premium Exemption or Deferral System to waive payments.
My Number System (Individual Number System)
In Japan, all residents with a stay of more than three months receive a 12-digit Individual Number (My Number).
This number is used for social security, taxes, and disaster response.
?After completing resident registration, you will receive a notification letter from the ward (city) office at your registered address.
?Keep this notification letter in a safe place.
?Additionally, if you create a My Number Card and complete the necessary procedures, you can also use it as a health insurance card.
For more details, please visit the website below.
My Number Card Comprehensive Website（ Japanese / English ）
Immigration Services Agency（ Japanese / English ）
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare（ Japanese / English ）
After Completing the Three Procedures
Once you have completed the three required procedures, you will receive documents from the ward office.
Please refer to the materials provided for instructions on what to do with these documents.
The explanation about letters (documents) sent from ward offices
4-5. Opening a Bank Account
In general, you can open a bank account by bringing your passport, residence card, and student ID to the bank where you wish to open an account and complete the necessary procedures.
Opening a Japan Post Bank (Yucho) Account
To receive MEXT scholarships, the JASSO Scholarship, the IGP Scholarship, or other financial support for international students, you must have a Japan Post Bank (Yucho) account.
For details on how to open an account, please refer to ” How to Open a Japan Post Bank (Yucho Bank) Account.”
How to Open a Japan Post Bank (Yucho Bank) Account（ Japanese / English ）
Giving or selling your bank account (cash card or passbook) to others is a crime. Please be careful and never do this. For more details, click here.
4-6. Setting Up Your Life in Japan
Mobile Phone Contract
There are many mobile phone companies in Japan, each offering different devices and pricing plans.
Since services vary by provider, please check their websites carefully before choosing a plan.
Options:
?You can buy a SIM card only and use a phone brought from your home country.
Requirements:
?Before signing a contract, you may need to open a bank account and prepare the following documents:
?Bank passbook
?Personal seal (if required by the provider)
?Residence Card or a copy of your Resident Record
?Passport
Purchasing a Transportation IC Card
If you plan to use buses or trains, it is convenient to buy a prepaid IC card such as ICOCA.
?IC cards can also be used as electronic money at participating stores.
?You can purchase them at ticket machines or service counters at train stations.
Commuting by Bicycle
If you commute by bicycle, you must place a registration sticker on your bike.
?Apply at the KIT Shop and pay 1,000 JPY to receive the sticker.
Registration Sticker Application for Matsugasaki Campus Bicycle Entry
To ride a bicycle, you must have bicycle insurance and be covered by Gakkensai & Gakkenbai Insurance.
?If you do not have bicycle insurance, it is recommended to join the Comprehensive Insurance for Students Lives Coupled with “Gakkensai”, which meets Kyoto City’s legal requirements.
?Always follow bicycle traffic rules.
Comprehensive Insurance for Students Lives Coupled with “Gakkensai”
Tokyo Metropolitan Government（ Japanese / English ）
Kyoto Prefectural Police Website（ Japanese / English ）
5. Information for International Students
5-1. Scholarships
Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students
The Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) offers a scholarship program for self-funded international students enrolled in Japanese universities.
?Both undergraduate and graduate students receive 48,000 JPY per month.
For more details, please refer to the official JASSO website:
Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO)（ Japanese / English ）
Private Organization Scholarships
There are two types of private scholarships:
1. University-recommended scholarships – You apply through KIT.
2. Direct application scholarships – You apply directly to the scholarship provider.
?These scholarships are only available to degree students.
?Some scholarships do not accept applications from students without a “Student” residence status.
For available scholarships, please check the “Scholarship List for International Students” and apply before the deadline.
Scholarship List for International Students
Other Information
For additional resources and support, please refer to the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) website.
Deadline for Scholarship Payment Procedures & Signature
Please refer to the following details regarding the scholarship payment procedures and the deadline for signature.
?Scholarship Payment Procedures (MEXT)
?Scholarship Payment Procedures (JASSO)
?Signature Deadline (MEXT & Honors Scholarship)
? Signature Deadline (JICA, JASSO, IGP)
5-2. Certificate Issuance
If you need to issue a certificate, please refer to the following information.（ Japanese / English ）
5-3. Housing
For details on housing, please check the following information. （ Japanese / English ）
5-4. Useful Information
Information for Living in Japan from the Immigration Services Agency
This page provides valuable information for foreigners to live safely and comfortably in Japan. Please take a look, as it is very helpful.
Immigration Services Agency (External Link) Website
*Click “Multi language” at the top right corner for automatic translation.
For Foreign Nationals Who Have Entered Japan
A Daily Life Support Portal for Foreign Nationals
Guidebook on Living and Worling
Videos for the Daily Life Orientation
Foreign Residents Support Center
Consultation Services
Easy Living in Kyoto
This guide provides helpful information for daily life in Kyoto.
It includes details on consultation services and a list of hospitals that offer medical services in foreign languages.
Please refer to the following resources:
KYOTO CITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION website（ Japanese / English ）
Hospitals with Foreign Language Speaking Doctors (Kyoto City)
Dentists with Foreign Language Spoken Doctors (Kyoto City)
Crime and Fraud
To live safely and securely in Japan, it is important to be aware of information that can help you avoid becoming a victim of crime or fraud.
Please take a look at the following resources:
There have been cases at KIT where international students unknowingly got involved in crimes, causing harm to others or becoming victims themselves. This happened because they exchanged money with strangers.
Even if you have no bad intentions, getting involved in a crime can lead to your bank account being frozen, and it may seriously affect your job hunting and daily life in Japan. Please be very careful.
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department（ Japanese ）
Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Announcements（ Japanese ）
To avoid becoming a victim （ Japanese / English ）
If you become a victim（ Japanese / English ）
Acceptable How to separate and dispose of recyclables and garbage
If you live in Kyoto, you must follow the city’s garbage collection schedule and sorting rules.
Please check the detailed guidelines to ensure proper waste disposal.
KYOTO KOGOMI NET website（ Japanese / English ）
Disaster Preparedness Handbook
This guidebook is a disaster manual for international residents.
It provides information on how to prepare for earthquakes, typhoons, and heavy rain, as well as what to do during a disaster.
It also explains:
?How to find evacuation centers
?Essential emergency supplies
?How to use the disaster message board
Please refer to this guide for your safety.
Kyoto Prefectural International Center website（ Japanese / English ）
Disaster Prevention Information for Foreigners
This website provides disaster preparedness information for international residents.
It explains in multiple languages how to:
?Prepare for earthquakes, typhoons, and other disasters
?Respond during emergencies
?Collect important information
?Find evacuation centers
Please check this resource to stay prepared.
KYOTO CITY INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION website（ Japanese / English ）
Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT) Library
Students with a student ID can use the university library.
(If you do not have a student ID, you need to apply at the library counter.)
For more details, please check the KIT Library website.
Kyoto Institute of Technology (KIT) Library（ Japanese / English ）
Current Students
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