Name: Foreigner-friendly banking in Tokyo
Item: SBI Shinsei Bank
Rating: 4
Author: Claire Dubois

Destination

Kyoto· Kyoto

The best city in Japan for students

Kyoto is calm, beautiful and full of universities, so students are everywhere and the city is built for us. I cycle to class along the Kamo River every morning. Rent is lower than Tokyo: my student apartment is 38,000 yen a month. Temples and gardens are free or cheap on weekdays, and Osaka is only 30 minutes by train when I want a bigger city or job fairs. The downsides are the tourist crowds in central areas, humid summers and cold, damp winters in old buildings. Part-time jobs are easy to find if you speak some Japanese. For a student, I cannot imagine a better place.

University

Kyoto University· Kyoto

World-class research and a surprisingly free academic culture

Kyoto University is famous in Japan for its independent spirit, and I feel it in my lab. Students are encouraged to follow their own questions, and my professor gives real freedom. Tuition for national universities is reasonable, and fee reductions are available for students with good grades and financial need. The international office runs orientation, Japanese classes and tutoring. Labs can be demanding, and many courses are in Japanese, so N2 or higher is very useful even in English programmes. Campus facilities are older than some private universities, but the research quality is outstanding.

Excellent research quality

Academic freedom

Many classes only in Japanese

Intense lab culture

Tran Duc Minh3 months ago5

Housing

Share house via Oakhouse, Tokyo· Tokyo

An easy, sociable first home in Tokyo

I booked a room in an Oakhouse share house from France before I arrived and moved in on my second day in Japan. The English contract and low upfront cost were exactly what I needed. My room was small but clean and furnished, and the common fee included utilities and wifi. Common areas were cleaned twice a week by staff. Housemates were a mix of Japanese and foreign residents, which helped my Japanese. The downsides were thin walls, occasional queues for the shower and a kitchen that depended on everyone's habits. For a first six to twelve months, I would recommend it.

English contracts

Low upfront cost

Thin walls

Shared bathrooms at busy times

Claire Dubois5 months ago5

Foreigner-friendly banking in Tokyo

Pros

Cons

More reviews from Japan

The best city in Japan for students

World-class research and a surprisingly free academic culture

An easy, sociable first home in Tokyo

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