Destination playbook
Japan
Tradition meets neon—ramen runs, study pods, and bullet trains.
Monthly budget: ¥140,000–¥180,000Language: JapaneseVisa: Certificate of Eligibility required pre-arrival; allow 3-4 months.
At a Glance
Living in Japan
Confirm the fundamentals before you book a flight: monthly costs, neighborhoods to live in, academic culture, and weekend escapes.
Monthly budget
¥140,000–¥180,000
Language
Japanese
Visa
Certificate of Eligibility required pre-arrival; allow 3-4 months.
Program lengths
Semester • Year
Neighborhood Vibe Check
Where our contributors actually lived and why it worked for classes, cafés, and late-night snacks.
- • Shimokitazawa
- • Nakameguro
- • Kyoto Gion
Weekend Essentials
48-hour itineraries and day trips that fit between classes.
- • Hakone onsen escape
- • Nikko heritage tour
- • Osaka foodie sprint
Academic Notes
What the syllabi look like, grading culture, and campus resources.
- • Tech, design, and language programs shine with industry partnerships.
Must-do experiences
The moments that made our contributors feel like locals. Drop these into your first-week bucket list.
- • Tokyo izakaya nights
- • Kyoto temple cycling
- • Osaka food crawl
Guides & stories
Dispatches from Japan
IC card top-up
¥5,000/mo
Cafe study hours
24/7