INFO PACK. ~Prearrival/Arrival Guide~

Transcription

1 INFO PACK ~Prearrival/Arrival Guide~ 2015 This guide provides you with information on how to prepare to come to Japan and IUJ, what to expect when you get here and to help you settle in quickly and easily. It is a useful reference for your entire time at IUJ and we encourage you to read it thoroughly now - before you need the information - so that you know where information is when questions arise. International University of Japan Office of Student Services 777 Kokusai-cho, Minami Uonuma-shi, Niigata JAPAN 国 際 大 学 学 生 センター 事 務 室 新 潟 県 南 魚 沼 市 国 際 町 777 番 地 Tel: +81(0) Fax: +81(0) (81 is the country code. Use the "0" if dialing from inside of Japan) oss@iuj.ac.jp URL: Web version is available at

2 Table of Contents: INFO PACK ~Prearrival/Arrival Guide~ 2015 Section I: Coming to IUJ I-1 Preparing to Come to Japan (For International Students) 1 (1) Passport and Student Visa Application Procedures 1 (2) Personal Needs Prescriptions, Toiletries, etc. 2 (3) Bringing Electrical Items from Home 4 (4) International Driver s License 4 (5) Travel Insurance 5 (6) Sending Luggage to IUJ (Customs Considerations) 5 (7) Bringing Money and Setting up a Bank Account 6 (8) Credit Cards 7 (9) Using Your Own Mobile Phone 7 (10) Passport-sized Photos 7 (11) Scholarships After Arrival and Japanese Language Studies 8 I-2 Arrival in Japan 9 (1) Travel Dates and Timing 9 (2) Immigration Procedures as You Enter the Country 9 (3) Residence Card 10 (4) Lost Luggage 11 (5) Customs Inspection 11 (6) Exchanging Money 12 (7) Luggage Transport Service (Narita/Haneda Airport Arrival Lobby) 12 (8) Tell us you have arrived! 13 (9) Leaving Narita/Haneda Airport 13 (10) Directions From Narita Airport to IUJ - Narita Express 13 (11) Another Option from Narita - Keisei Skyliner Express 14 (12) Directions From Haneda Airport to Tokyo Keikyu Airport Limited Express 14 (13) Another Option from Haneda Haneda Express (Monorail) 14 (14) Transferring to the Bullet Train Joetsu Shinkansen Toki or Max Toki 14 (15) Arriving in Urasa 15 (16) Transport Schedule 16 (17) Timetable of Joetsu Shinkansen to Urasa Station 18 (18) Shinkansen Stops 18 (19) Sumimasen - Getting Help Along the Way 18 (20) Alternative Route to IUJ: Using Niigata Airport 19 (21) Getting into Your Dorm Room 20 (22) Settling into the Area 21 (23) Registration for Address and National Health Insurance 21 International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival/Arrival Guide~ Table of Contents - i -

3 Section II: Campus Information II-1 IUJ Administration and Services 22 (1) Office of Student Services (OSS) 22 Career Counseling and Services (CC&S) 22 Alumni Relations 22 Dorm Director & Housekeeper 23 (2) Office of Academic Affairs (OAA) 23 The Language Program 23 (3) Matsushita Library & Information Center (MLIC) 23 (4) Office of General Affairs (OGA) 23 The Accounting Section 24 (5) Office of Student Recruitment (OSR) 24 (6) Office of Top Global University Project 24 (7) President s Office 24 II-2 Campus Facility 26 (1) Computer Services 26 (2) Library Services 27 (3) IUJ School Bus Services 27 (4) Gymnasium and Sport Facilities 27 (5) School Shop (Baiten) 28 (6) Cafeteria (Shokudo) 28 (7) Snack Lounge 28 II-3 Campus Communications & Cards 29 (1) Notice boards 29 (2) 29 (3) Mailboxes Mail Delivery 29 (4) Faxes 30 (5) Telephone 30 (6) Student ID 30 II-4 IUJ Emergency Procedures 31 (1) Fire 31 (2) Earthquakes 32 (3) Lightning Storms 33 (4) Medical Emergency Procedures (5) Automated External Defibrillator (AED) 34 (6) Helping a Victim accident or sickness 34 II-5 Campus Clubs, Organizations and Events 36 (1) Student Body 36 (2) Graduate Student Organization (GSO) and its Executive Council 35 (3) The Mentor Program 36 (4) Flea Market Team 37 (5) GSIR/GSIM Council 37 (6) Dorm Floor Representative 37 (7) Buddy System 37 (8) Sports 37 International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival/Arrival Guide~ Table of Contents - ii -

4 (9) Clubs 38 (10) Major Events 38 (11) Off Campus Events 39 (12) Keep Informed and Active 39 Section III: Dormitory Information (1) Dormitories 40 (2) Single Student Dormitories (SD1, SD2, SD3) 40 (3) Married Student Apartments (MSA) 41 (4) Public Facilities Available in the Dorms 41 (5) Guest Rooms on Campus 42 (6) Dormitory Fees and Program Expenses Payments 42 Section IV: Other IV-1 Health Care 43 (1) Institutional Forms of Health Care 43 (2) Compulsory Health Examinations 43 (3) Hospital, Clinics and Dentists Contact Information 43 (4) The National Health Insurance (NHI) 43 (5) Accident Insurance and Individual Compensation Insurance 44 (6) Travel Insurance 44 (7) Receiving Medical Assistance 45 IV-2 Immigration Matters 47 (1) Resident Registration System 47 (2) The Proxy Visa Transaction 47 1 Re-entry Permit: Sai-Nyukoku 48 2 Work Permit: Shikaku-gai Katsudo (Part-time Work) 49 3 Visa Extension 50 (3) Procedures of Application for Dependent Visa 51 (Spouse and Child/Children ONLY) (4) Immigration Office 55 IV-3 Money and Banking Facilities, Services 56 (1) Opening a Hokuetsu Bank Account 56 (2) Hokuetsu Bank Services and Banking Hours 57 (3) Other Bank Options 57 (4) Using IUJ Services for your Banking 57 (5) Wire Transfer - Furikomi 58 (6) Bank Fees for Transferring Money Overseas To and From Japan 58 (7) Using the Post Office to Send Money to Overseas 58 IV-4 Driving in Japan 59 (1) Owning a Vehicle 59 (2) How to Obtain a Japanese Driver s License 59 (3) Traffic Offenses, Accidents and Fines 60 International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival/Arrival Guide~ Table of Contents - iii -

5 (4) Do Not Drink and Drive 60 (5) Seat-Belts 61 (6) Driving in the Winter 61 (7) Alternative to Driving 61 IV-5 IUJ Life 62 (1) Location 62 (2) Climate 62 (3) Public Holidays and Business Closings 63 (4) Living Expenses (estimated) 63 (5) Part-time Jobs 64 (6) Postal Services 65 (7) Telephone 65 (8) Mobile Phone - Keitai Denwa 65 (9) Public phones/fax 66 (10) Electricity - Voltage 66 (11) Purchasing a TV in Japan 66 (12) Public Transportation 66 Railways 66 Student Discount for travel (Gakuwari) 66 Seishun 18 Pass 67 Buses 67 Taxis 67 (13) Buying Clothes in Japan 68 (14) Tipping Customs 68 (15) Drinking Water 68 (16) Places of Worship 69 (17) Travel to Tokyo 69 (18) Travel to Niigata-City 70 (19) Off Campus Living Information 70 (20) Child Care Information 71 (21) Helpful Telephone Numbers 72 Help Lines 72 Medical Consultation (9 languages) 72 Travel Help Lines (English assistance) 72 Appendix IUJ Campus Map 73 IUJ Map 74 Urasa Map 75 Muikamachi Map 76 Koide Map 77 Communicating in Japanese while traveling to IUJ 78 International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival/Arrival Guide~ Table of Contents - iv -

6 Section I: Coming to IUJ This section will help you prepare to travel, come to campus and settle in. It assumes you will arrive at Narita or Haneda Airport. (For alternative arrival options including Niigata Airport, see page 19.) I-1 Preparing to Come to Japan (For International Students) In order to come to Japan as an international student of the International University of Japan (IUJ), you need to obtain a passport and apply for a College Student visa in your own country. Here are some guidelines. (1) Passport and Student Visa Application Procedures You need to have a passport issued by your government that will remain valid throughout your stay in Japan (renewals are possible through your embassy in Japan once you arrive). Be sure to allow plenty of time if you are applying for a passport for the first time. Prior to your departure, you need a Student Visa for Japan in your passport. For this application, you need to obtain a Certificate of Eligibility (CE) which is issued in Japan by the Ministry of Justice, Government of Japan. In accordance with this certificate, you can receive a Student Visa, and earn the status of Student (a 3-year or 3-years 3-months student visa for PhD students, 2-year or 2-years 3-months student visa for 2-year Master s Program students, a 1-year or 1-year 3-months student visa for E-Business, IMBA, PPP, and Linkage students, and a 6-month or 1-year student visa for exchange students). IUJ can assist you to obtain your initial Certificate of Eligibility which is used to secure this Student Visa. We provide information and directions on how to manage immigration matters. However, all students are responsible for obtaining their own visa and for ensuring it is renewed and remains valid through their graduation. Failing to do so can result in deportation and forced withdrawal from IUJ. IUJ Assisted Application Process Once we receive your IUJ admission procedure documents and all your related application documents for the visa process, IUJ will submit the necessary documents to the Immigration Office of the Japanese Ministry of Justice asking for your Certificate of Eligibility. Be sure all your documents are clear and professionally presented. We will contact you by if we find missing document(s) or have any question(s) about the documents. But this will slow down the process so please check and double check before sending them to us. As soon as our request for your CE is approved (not guaranteed), the Ministry of Justice will send the Certificate to IUJ and we will forward it to you immediately. Be sure to write the correct mailing address on the express mail delivery slip provided by IUJ and return it to us with the other required documents. We use it, as is, to deliver your CE. Take the Certificate, your passport, Letter of Admission (sent to you by IUJ after you complete the admission procedure) and financial document (certificate of scholarship and/or bank statement) to the nearest Japanese Embassy or Consulate. They should issue you a Student Visa without any problems, though this is NOT guaranteed. You are strongly recommended to contact the Embassy/Consulate in International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 1

7 advance to find out if they require other documents. Please also refer to our Homepage for visa information: Note: 1) A Multiple Entry Visa is not necessary because you can obtain a re-entry permit* (if necessary) in Japan. 2) To those ALREADY RESIDING IN JAPAN: Please follow the special instructions sent under separate sheet for changing your current visa to a Student Visa or extending your Student Visa for IUJ. * A system of special re-entry permission was introduced in July Foreign nationals in possession of a valid passport and residence card who will be re-entering Japan within 1 year of their departure** will, in principle, not be required to apply for a re-entry permit. Foreign nationals who have departed from Japan using special re-entry permission will not be able to extend such permission while abroad. Please take note that such foreign nationals will lose their status of residence if they fail to re-enter Japan within 1 year of their departure**. ** Your period of stay will expire within 1 year after your departure if you do not return to Japan. So, please ensure that you re-enter Japan before the expiration of your period of stay. (2) Personal Needs - Prescriptions, Toiletries, etc. Bring all prescribed medicines, allergy medication and eye care items with you. Prescription and over-the-counter medication (such as headache medicine) available outside of Japan sometimes come in different forms, may not be available here, may be difficult to find in Japan, or be very expensive. Many students bring their traditional herbal medicines and over-the-counter medicines with them in supplies enough to last their IUJ stay. But please see the note below on items you may not bring into Japan. If you do have a prescription, bring an official copy of it from your doctor to show to the hospital staff here. They will be able to understand prescriptions written in English. Allergy medications, especially if it requires injections given at home, are not easily available in Japan because the laws and regulations for personal use of injections are very different. Eye care items are available near campus but can be expensive and your brand may not be available. Contact lens solutions and cleansers are available but expensive. You are advised to bring extra contact lenses and eye glasses with you. Purchases of new glasses are not covered by your health insurance and while the care is very good, making glasses here can be costly. If you need to use a specific brand of shampoo, soap or antiperspirant (deodorant), it is advisable for you to bring extra supplies. Women: We recommend you bring your preferred tampons and menstrual cramp medications with you as options here are limited. Birth control options for women, too, are very limited though condoms are readily available. International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 2

8 The OSS has a Women s Health Guide you can obtain after arrival. The following website may be very helpful to you now. VERY IMPORTANT Japan has laws unique to itself regarding illegal substances and what is categorized as such. Non-Japanese must be aware of and follow these laws closely. As ignorance is not an excuse, we ask you to please check with the Japanese embassy near you regarding any precautions specific to your cultural orientation. Recently, IUJ has faced a situation involving a student bringing a substance commonly used in his/her country, purchasable off the shelf, but that is illegal in Japan. The student could have faced very high monetary penalties and jail time in the worst case scenario. To help avoid such a situation, please note the following list. This list is NOT complete. List of items illegal in Japan: DO NOT bring into the country, or have sent the following items: Products that contain stimulants (including over-the-counter drugs) Pseudoephedrine Check inhalers and some allergy and sinus medications, such as Actifed, Sudafed, and Vicks inhalers Codeine Check Tylenol products, similar generic products, and cough syrups Heroin, cocaine, MDMA, opium, cannabis (marijuana), stimulants, psychotropic substances, and other narcotic drugs ANYthing that could be used to MAKE these drugs: Coca leaves, or other tea leaves that can be used in drug making Any seeds that can grow related plants Any equipment for processing and producing these drugs Prozac and Viagra Anything that could be used to make a chemical weapon Also, please note the following limitations: Up to a two-months supply of allowable over-the-counter medication and up to a four-months supply of allowable vitamins can be brought into Japan duty-free. Generally, up to one month s supply of allowable prescription medicine can be brought into Japan. Travelers must bring a copy of their doctor s prescription as well as a letter stating the purpose of the drug. Travelers who must carry more than one month s supply (except prohibited drugs and controlled drugs), or are carrying syringes (pumps), are required to obtain a so-called Yakkan Shoumei, or import certificate in advance. If you are aware of other substances illegal in Japan thay may be rather common in your country and not on this list, please inform the OSS so we can continue to provide information to help us all stay legal. International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 3

9 (3) Bringing Electrical Items from Home If you want to bring your own telephone, answering machines, stereos or computers, you should have no trouble using them in your room. However, be sure they have an international compatibility sticker, and bring with you an adapter (you can purchase them here if you prefer). Japan s wall electrical outlets only have two prongs. Televisions and electric radios may not operate well because of the voltage and frequency differences (clocks may run slow and TVs and radios are likely on a different broadcast range). If you have any compatibility concerns, please ask your electronics dealer. Tampering with dorm outlets is strictly forbidden. (4) International Driver s License Japan s wall electrical outlets If you wish to (or think you might) drive a car during your stay in Japan (rent a car, borrow one from a friend on occasion, or own a car), you must: 1) Make sure you have a current driver s license with you from your home country. It should remain valid for the entire period you are in Japan. 2) Obtain an international driver s license that must have Geneva Convention Sept. 19th 1949 * written in it from your own country s automobile association before traveling to Japan. This license is inexpensive and easy to obtain in your home country but once you arrive in Japan it is nearly impossible to obtain. This license is valid for one year only. You must get a new international license outside of Japan once it expires.** International driver s licenses cannot be easily reissued.*** Legally you must obtain a Japanese license after you have been in Japan for any length of time as a resident. See page 59 for details. Please be aware that the international driving licenses currently sold through various websites are NOT recognized to be valid in Japan. Note: * Not all international driving licenses are recognized in Japan. Only those licenses issued by countries on the list of Convention of Road Traffic (Geneva) are recognized (see the table on the next page). Indonesia, China, Iran, Brazil are among the countries NOT listed. So those country s international licenses are invalid in Japan and holders of such must obtain a Japanese driver s license before driving here (see below). Please confirm with the Japanese Embassy or Consulate in your country whether or not your country s International Driver s License is acceptable in Japan. ** To obtain an international driver s license after living in Japan for any length of time as a resident of Japan (your first one or second one), you must be outside of Japan for 3 full months (plus 1 day) in one location. If this is less than 3 full months or if you are moving around to various countries during the 3 months and you come into Japan with an international driver s license, that license will be regarded as invalid and you cannot legally drive in Japan. In order to drive, you must obtain a Japanese license (see the next paragraph for details). *** Determining whether your international driving license is valid or not in Japan can be very complicated and often requires judgments from a specialist. To be absolutely sure of the validity of your international license, you are advised to consult with the Japanese consulate/embassy in your country before coming to Japan. Once in Japan, you can take your passport, international license, and International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 4

10 country license to an auto federation or licensing center to confirm you can drive. The closest licensing center is in Niigata, about 120 km from campus. Obtaining a Japanese license is time consuming. It requires a written test and course driving test. Rarely do people pass it the first time. Those planning to bring family and who are allowed to drive (see your scholarship guidelines) MUST get a license before your family comes (assuming your international license is not usable in Japan and your scholarship provider allows you to own a car). Those owning a car must register the car & license/insurance info with the OSS and obtain a Parking Permission Sticker. Cars without a sticker may be towed away from campus at owners expenses. List of the contracting countries of the Convention at Geneva 1949 Albania Algeria Argentine Australia Austria Bangladesh Barbados Belgium Benin Botswana Bulgaria Burkina Faso Cambodia Canada Central African R. Chile Commonwealth of Dominica Cote d'ivoire Cuba Cyprus Czech R. Denmark Ecuador Egypt Fiji Finland France Georgia Ghana Greece Guatemala Haiti Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Ireland Israel Italy Jamaica Jordan Kyrgyz Laos Lebanon Lesotho Luxembourg Macao Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Monaco Montenegro Morocco Namibia Netherlands New Zealand Niger Nigeria Norway P. N. Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal R.O Korea R.O Congo Romania Russia Rwanda San Marino Senegal Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Slovak R. South Africa Spain Sri Lanka Sweden Syria Thailand D.R.O Congo Togo Trinidad & Tobago Tunisia Turkey U.K. Uganda U.A.E. U.S. Vatican Venezuela Zimbabwe If your nationality is not listed above, you must get a Japanese license to drive in Japan. (5) Travel Insurance We strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance before departing for Japan in case of any unexpected accident, illness or death en route to Japan. Traveler s insurance is also needed for travel outside of Japan while you are an IUJ student. Your Japan health insurance does not start until you register your address in Japan at the City Office. So without traveler s insurance you could be unprotected for a few days to a few weeks! (6) Sending Luggage to IUJ (Customs Considerations) If you need to send personal belongings to your IUJ dormitory room from your country before you fly to Japan, please read this section carefully. You need to make inquiries regarding delivery of unaccompanied baggage in Japan before you leave your country. Travel agents, shipping companies and post offices should be able to assist you. When you have unaccompanied baggage, two copies of written declaration forms are required to submit at the time of your entry into Japan, one of which will be returned to you with the seal of certification by a Customs Officer. Such declaration is necessary to obtain duty and/or tax exemption status. The sealed declaration must be presented at the time of clearance of the unaccompanied goods. If baggage is imported by mail, you are required to list this unaccompanied baggage on your declaration that you submit at customs upon entering Japan. You should identify the parcel by writing the words International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 5

11 "unaccompanied baggage" on the parcel itself. Notes: The Japanese Customs Office in Tokyo is more than 200 kilometers away from IUJ and traveling such distances is costly. If your luggage is left in storage at the Japanese Customs Office for an extended period of time without customs clearance, you will be charged expensive storage fees per day for each piece of luggage by the customs office. Here are 2 ways to deliver your goods to IUJ. a) Postal Delivery Service To use sea freight through your post office, be sure to clearly mark on the luggage that it contains Personal belongings with no commercial value. Make sure you obtain a Declaration of Customs Clearance from the post office and fill it out accurately before you depart. Your Declaration of Customs Clearance form should clearly indicate each package and its contents. Check with your post office officials to ensure that this form will meet the Japanese Quarantine Officer s approval so that your luggage is not held up at a Japanese seaport. If there are any problems it will cost you a lot of money and time to get your luggage out of quarantine-storage at the Japanese seaport. b) Door-to-Door Delivery Service - RECOMMENDED To help avoid such customs problems, choose a door-to-door delivery service. IUJ will notify you of your room assignment before you depart for Japan. In this way, several of the customs problems noted above can be avoided. Simply mail your items directly to your own room at IUJ. The Housekeeper will put your item in your room as a special service. This is a one-time service for newly entering students only. For the details of each procedure, please contact the post office or delivery company. Delivery Payments The entire cost of the shipment should be paid in full while in your country using your country s currency, as COD (cash on delivery) freight costs in Japan are probably higher. (7) Bringing Money and Setting up a Bank Account IUJ s Accounting Office will help you set up a bank account at Hokuetsu Bank before you arrive. Please follow their instructions carefully. All IUJ students must have a Hokuetsu account for money transactions with IUJ. Before money in your new bank account becomes available, be sure to have on hand enough Japanese Yen ( ) in cash to tide you over. You will need a minimum of 60,000 IN CASH to get you through the first 2 weeks (travel, food, incidentals). Those arriving in early September should prepare more. To bring money from your home country to Japan, there are several alternatives: Traveler s Cheques - Recommended Traveler s cheques are the safest and the easiest way to bring money to Japan. If you decide to use this method (and it is highly recommended that you do so), please ensure that your traveler s cheques are in US Dollars, EURO or Japanese currency. Such Traveler s cheques can be exchanged on the same day for a minimal charge and can be directly deposited into your Hokuetsu bank account. (For example American Express and Visa travelers cheques can be easily accepted.) International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 6

12 Credit Cards to Get Cash - Recommended Some credit cards can be used to withdraw money at Seven Bank ATM (located in Seven-Eleven Convenient Stores and on campus). For more details and to confirm your card is accepted, please refer to Seven Bank Homepage. ( Cash NOT Recommended The branch of the Hokuetsu Bank handles Japanese Yen, US Dollars and EURO. Cash can be exchanged on the same day (if the bank is willing to exchange the type of currency you have). However, this method is not recommended as sometimes there are delays when exchanging US$100 bills etc. due to counterfeit cases. Delays of up to 3 weeks have happened. Cheques (bank cheques/drafts, money orders) NOT Recommended These transactions take at least one month, and usually 40 days. Hokuetsu Bank cannot handle international transactions alone and must rely on a third bank. In addition to the inconvenience of time, high bank fees will be charged to you for this transaction ( 5,000 to 10,000). You are advised NOT to use this option. Note: Personal cheques are not used in Japan. If using money orders, be sure it is an international money order and expect delays. (8) Credit Cards Use of Credit Cards has become more widely spread in Japan. The easiest cards to use are International Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, and American Express cards. Check with your card company to verify if it is usable in Japan. Please note that some shops/restaurants cannot accept credit cards in our area. Japan is still primarily a cash society. There are stickers displayed near the entrances or cash register stations of stores that will take your credit cards. Those who have a Student visa are not qualified for getting a credit card in Japan. So if you want one, you should get it before arriving in Japan. Credit cards can be useful for purchasing a mobile phone, and ordering books, foods and supplies over the Internet. (9) Using your Own Mobile Phone If you plan to use your own mobile phone in Japan with the same telephone number used at home, you must confirm that your mobile phone will work in Japan before your departure (roaming, international/global, etc.). We suggest you check the phone use rates to be sure it fits your budget. If you plan to purchase a mobile phone in Japan, please see page 65. (10) Passport-sized Photos Passport-sized photos (4.5cm x 3.5cm in size) as specified below will probably come in handy for things like applications for scholarship upgrades, internship/job applications, homestay applications, as well as visas if you plan to travel outside of Japan. They can be International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 7

13 purchased in this area at instant photo booths for about 700. We recommend that you look professional in the picture: white or light blue backing only. No shadows or designs. It is best to face straight forward with a slight smile or no smile and the photo should show the top of your head down to chest. Please note these other requirements: 1. A photo that shows you alone 2. A photo of the dimensions specified above, excluding an outer border (the dimension of the face refers to the portion from the top of the head [including the hair] to the lower end of the chin) 3. You should face squarely to the front and without hats, caps or head coverings. 4. No background or shadows 5. Must be clear. 6. Must be taken within three months prior to submission. 7. Should not be printed out on your own on regular paper or photo paper, but should be professionally (shop or passport photo booth) printed. (11) Scholarships After Arrival and Japanese Language Studies Those coming to IUJ on partial scholarships may be able to apply for additional financial support from various sources. The Office of Student Services will support you for this with notifications and application facilitation. However, most of the scholarships require students to write the application in Japanese, and be able to communicate with the scholarship hosts in Japanese at various gatherings. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you study Japanese before coming to IUJ, and enroll in our Intermediate Japanese courses if at all possible. To learn what scholarships may be introduced (information may vary from year to year), please see the Scholarship website and the After Enrollment section at Available scholarships may include a monthly stipend through JASSO, and various private foundation awards. Start studying Japanese NOW! Good luck. International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 8

14 I-2 Arrival in Japan (1) Travel Dates and Timing Designated dates to arrive on campus will be sent with your Certificate of Eligibility and room number assignment in August. Dates are usually around mid-september (sometime between Sept. 18 and 21). That can be variable each year because of the starting date of Intensive Japanese Program, Orientation Week, Pre-Enrollment Programs and Fall Term Classes. For the current plan see and click on September Plan (Calendar). The administration offices are open only on weekdays from 8:30 to 17:00. Arriving at IUJ late in the evening, when general school services are unavailable, is not allowed for security reasons. However, arrangements may be made for you to get your room key after hours provided that you inform us by sending your details on your IUJ arrival date/time at least one week in advance to: or Fax ( ) If you have certain unavoidable reasons to arrive after business hours, be sure to notify the OSS of your arrival date and time as soon as you know you cannot arrive before 17:00 (Tel: ). This after hours check-in service is only available to those coming to IUJ for the very first time as a new student. Returning students are not eligible for this special support. Please choose a flight that arrives early in the day so you can check in before 5pm, or plan to spend your first night in Tokyo, Niigata City, or near Urasa Station before arriving on campus. (2) Immigration Procedures as you Enter the Country Foreign nationals who enter Japan are required to be fingerprinted and photographed (facial photographs) by means of special devices at the immigration counter at your point of entry into Japan. These procedures apply to all foreign nationals upon their entry into Japan, including those with re-entry permits, except for the persons eligible for exemption listed below. The immigration inspector will ask you several questions regarding your purpose for coming to Japan and length of stay. Explain that you are a new graduate student in a 1-, 2-, or 3-year program. If foreign nationals who are not eligible for exemption from this requirement refuse to submit their fingerprints or be photographed, they will be denied entry into Japan and ordered to return to their home country at their own expense. Persons eligible for exemption (1) Special permanent residents (2) Persons under the age of 16 (3) Persons engaged in activities which fall under the status of residence for Diplomat or Official (4) Persons invited by the heads of administrative organizations International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 9

15 (5) Persons provided for by the Ministry of Justice Ordinance as equivalent to a person listed in (3) or (4) For more details, please see: WORK PERMIT applications as You enter the country At the immigration gate, you are allowed to apply for a Work Permit at the 4 major International Airports in Japan; Narita, Haneda, Kansai, and Chubu. To apply for the Work Permit, you need to submit a designated form and follow the immigration officer s instructions. This form is included in the packet with your CE. As soon as the immigration officer at the airport returns your passport, please check the Landing Permission in your passport. <Check Point> Status: Student Duration: 3 YEARS or 3 YEARS 3 MONTHS for PhD students 2 YEARS or 2 YEARS 3 MONTHS for GSIR/MBA students 1 YEAR or 1 YEAR 3 MONTHS for E-Business, IMBA, PPP, and Linkage students 6 MONTHS or 1 YEAR for Exchange students Once you leave the immigration gate, no changes on Landing Permission are allowed. For your sake, please check the landing permission carefully before passing out of the immigration gate. (3) Residence Card A residence card is issued to persons residing in Japan who have been granted a status of residence with a period of stay of more than 3 months. As you come in to Japan with a student visa, a residence card will be issued to you at the immigration gate if you enter the country from one of the 4 major international airports; Narita, Haneda, Kansai, or Chubu. If you arrive at Japan through other airports including Niigata Airport, your Residence Card will be mailed to you a few weeks later. When you receive your Residence Card, please make sure that all the information on it is correct. If you find any errors, please ask the immigration officer at the immigration gate to make corrections. After arrival at IUJ, you are required to visit Minami Uonuma City Office with your Residence Card International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 10

16 within 14 days of your entry into Japan to register your address and go through necessary procedures. Please note: When you leave Japan (or relocate within Japan), you are required to inform the City Office within 14 days prior of the move. Special instructions will be provided by the OSS about this closer to your departure, but this registration immigration process is your individual responsibility. By law, you must carry your Residence Card with you wherever you go in Japan. If you intend to work, be sure your Residence Card has the Work Permit stamp on it. Apply for this stamp at the immigration gate as you enter the country using the form provided by OSS. (4) Lost Luggage In case your luggage gets lost or delayed upon arrival, please contact the concerned airlines and make sure that the Property Irregularity Report (PIR) is prepared. The contents of the bag should clearly be described. Arrange to have item(s) sent to your IUJ dorm room. (5) Customs Inspection As part of the entry process when you arrive in Japan, all passengers MUST submit a declaration form to Customs Inspection Counter regardless if you have accompanied and/or unaccompanied items. The form is available in the aircraft. When you have unaccompanied baggage, two copies of written declaration forms are required to submit at the time of your entry, one of which will be returned to you with the seal of certification by a Customs officer. For more details, please see Japan Customs homepage. Copyright Ministry of Finance Japan International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 11

17 (6) Exchanging Money Just past the customs area, before you enter the arrival hall (Narita Airport) or at the arrival lobby (Haneda Airport), you will see bank teller windows. If you do not have any Japanese Yen, you should exchange your money or travelers cheques at this bank. This is a safe and reliable bank that offers competitive exchange rates. This bank is open for every arriving flight. U.S. dollars and EURO are the most convenient currency to exchange. Slightly better rates are given for traveler s checks. Note: You cannot use other currencies than Japanese Yen in Japan, so be sure to have Yen cash before leaving the airport! For more details, please see Narita Airport: Haneda Airport: Niigata Airport: (7) Luggage Transport Service (Narita/Haneda Airport Arrival Lobby) Once you leave customs and enter the arrival lobby, you will see several service counters. Narita Airport (1F) Luggage delivery service: ABC, GPA, ANA Skyporter or QL Liner counters Limousine Bus counter: purchase tickets for the bus to downtown Tokyo Train Ticket Counter: purchase train ticket to Tokyo, Ueno (Keisei) and/or all the way to Urasa (JR) Haneda Airport (2F) Luggage delivery service: ANA Air Service or JAL, ABC Airport Bus ticket vending machine: purchase tickets for the bus to downtown Tokyo Train Ticket Gate: purchase train ticket to Shinagawa (Keikyu) or Hamamatsucho (Monorail) You will find signs in English to guide you through the airport. We recommend you to send your bags through the luggage transport service rather than trying to carry them on the trains. Moving through the train stations and on and off several trains can be difficult when you are tired and carrying too many bags. Baggage delivery service in Japan is very reliable. If you choose to use the luggage transport service, go to one of the luggage delivery service counters in the arrival lobby after customs clearance. Delivery will take just a few days, but remember to take with you the things you need for the next few days. One bag, a maximum of 20 kilograms, will cost about 2,000. Give the company your Japanese address (as shown below) and room number: 新 潟 県 南 魚 沼 市 国 際 町 777 番 地 国 際 大 学 学 生 寮 SD - (Fill in your own room number) (Fill in your name) For more details, please see Narita: International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 12

18 Haneda: Niigata: Note: If you plan to send any luggage in advance by separate mail before departure from your country, READ the important information provided on page 5 of this guide! In case your suitcases or luggage is slow in arriving or arrives damaged, please keep with you all paperwork and the telephone number and address of the luggage transport service company so your baggage can be traced. (8) Tell us you have arrived! Please tell us your scheduled arrival date/time to campus at least 1 week before you depart. When you arrive in Japan, call the Office of Student Services ( ) so that we can tell you whether or not you can reach IUJ by 17:00. You will need a minimum of seven to ten 10 coins for the public telephone so the line will not be cut off. (9) Leaving Narita/Haneda Airport Narita Airport is more than 300 kilometers and Haneda airport is around 250 kilometers from IUJ. Follow the directions given below and you should have no problem. If you can make all the connections, you will arrive at IUJ approximately 4 hours after passing through customs of Narita Airport and 2.5 hours after passing through customs of Haneda Airport. Also look for people carrying THIS GUIDE BOOK to find others traveling to IUJ. Many students arrive at about the same time and you are likely to find someone to travel with by showing off this guide! Once you have purchased your ticket in Narita or Haneda Airport, follow the signs to Railway (in the basement) to get on the JR (Japan Railway) or Keisei / Keikyu / Monorail Lines. Get off at Tokyo Station if you are on Narita Express and Ueno station if you are on a Keisei line. Or Get off at Shinagawa/Hamamatsucho Station if you are on Keiyu/ Monorail and transfer to the Yamanote line to get to Tokyo Station. Please see diagram from Narita/Haneda Airport on page Note: Whether or not you are a scholarship student, you are responsible for the cost of travel from Narita/Haneda to IUJ (approx. 11,000 from Narita and 9,000 from Haneda). Please ensure that you have sufficient Japanese currency before leaving home or obtain Japanese Yen before leaving the customs area. (10) Directions From Narita Airport to IUJ - Narita Express After you clear customs, go to a JR Ticket Counter (in the arrival lobby or B1F) to purchase express train tickets from Narita Airport Station to URASA Station. You will get a ticket for the Narita Express which runs between Narita Airport Station and Tokyo Station, and a ticket for a bullet train ( Shinkansen ) that runs between Tokyo Station and URASA station. You will transfer at Tokyo Station to catch a Joetsu Shinkansen. All seats on the Narita Express require a reservation which can be made when you International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 13

19 purchase your ticket. Your ticket will indicate, in order from left to right, the Car Number, Row Number and Seat Number. If the train you want has no seats available, you will be asked to wait and take the next available train. They run about every half hour. For more details, please see (11) Another Option from Narita - Keisei Skyliner Express There is another means of transport from Narita Airport to Ueno Station (another Shinkansen station in the city of Tokyo) by private railway, the so-called Keisei Skyliner. This service takes you to a part of Ueno Station called Keisei Ueno. You must walk about 10 min. from Keisei Ueno station to JR Ueno station in order to transfer to a Joetsu Shinkansen bound for Niigata. If you have a bit more time you may also take a cheaper limited express train. For time tables and costs, please ask at the ticket counter. For more information, please see (12) Directions From Haneda Airport to Tokyo Keikyu Airport Limited Express After you clear customs at Haneda, go to a Keikyu Railways (in the arrival lobby) and purchase a train ticket from Haneda Airport Station to Shinagawa Station. Transfer at Shinagawa Station to the Yamanote line, Tokaido Honsen line, Keihin Tohoku - Negishi line or Yokosuka line to go to Tokyo Station. At Tokyo Station, transfer to the Joetsu Shinkansen to get to URASA Station. For more details, please see (13) Another Option from Haneda Haneda Express (Monorail) There is another means of transport from Haneda Airport to Tokyo Station by private railway, the so-called Monorail. This service takes you to a part of Hamamatsucho Station called Monorail Hamamatsucho. You must walk from Monorail Hamamatsucho station to JR Hamamatsucho station in order to transfer to a Yamanote or Keihin Tohoku - Negishi line for Tokyo. After arriving at Tokyo Station, please catch a Joetsu Shinkansen bound for Niigata. For more information, please see (14) Transferring to the Bullet Train Joetsu Shinkansen Toki or Max Toki Shinkansen means high speed train. The Joetsu Shinkansen is the bullet train that takes you from Tokyo (Tokyo Station or Ueno Station) to Urasa Station, which is 4k from IUJ. There are reserved seats and non-reserved seats and all cars are non-smoking. Note: Whenever you travel by train in Japan, you must keep your tickets all the way to your destination and hand it over at the destination ticket gate. If you lose your ticket you will be charged the entire fee again. At Tokyo Station, you will use escalators to go up to the ground floor level in order to transfer to Joetsu Shinkansen. Follow the signs looking for a dark green stripe and the International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 14

20 words Joetsu Shinkansen ( 上 越 新 幹 線 ). Once near the ticket gate, refer to the electronic signs that alternate between English and Japanese indicating departure times (exact), train numbers and departure platform numbers. There are different kinds of Joetsu Shinkansen: Toki, Max Toki and Tanigawa. Be sure that you take a train that stops at Urasa Station. Most of these are Toki and Max Toki trains. Once in Tokyo Station, if you want to double check that your train stops at URASA, ask the conductor to confirm. Also look at the bilingual electronic message boards above your head which lists the stations where the train will stop. There are also announcements in English once you get on the train and electronic display boards above each entrance inside the train cars that show all the stops the train will make. Be ready to get off the train as it approaches Urasa Station (music plays just before each station followed by an announcement). Urasa is the one after Echigo-Yuzawa. See the train timetable (page 18) for a list of the stops along the way. Japanese trains are always exactly on time. (15) Arriving in Urasa Once you arrive at Urasa station, go towards the East exit( 東 口 ). This exit is to the LEFT after going through the ticket gate. Go down the hallway, and take one of these options: (A) Bus to IUJ: To find the IUJ bus, go down the middle stairwell to your LEFT and look for a round white sign with a blue IUJ logo on it. That is the IUJ Bus Stop. The IUJ Bus will take you from Urasa Station to IUJ free of charge. The bus operates from Monday to Friday until 8pm. See the IUJ bus information at page 20. (B) Taxi to IUJ: IUJ bus stop at Urasa Station If you arrive at a time when the bus is not running, take a taxi to IUJ. You will find the taxi standing down the RIGHT stair cases it is located the opposite side of the stairs from the IUJ Bus stop sign. Ask the driver to take you to Kokusai Daigaku Gakusei-Ryo SD1 (IUJ Student Dormitory 1). The taxi costs approximately 2,000. Once you arrive at the dormitory you will be assisted by the Housekeeper or the staff from the OSS or there will be a sign explaining what to do next. International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 15

21 (16) Transport Schedule Narita Option One: Using Narita Express Narita Airport Station Transportation JR Narita Express (ordinary cars, all seats reserved) Fare (subject to change) 10,980 (non-reserved) 11,700+ (reserved) Travel Time (approx.) 60 minutes Tokyo Station JR Joetsu Shinkansen 100 minutes Urasa Station School Bus* -or- Taxi Free -or- Taxi 2, minutes IUJ Total: 10,980-13,700+ * The IUJ School bus is operated during office hours on weekdays. Narita Option Two: Using Keisei Skyliner Narita Airport Station Keisei Ueno Station Ueno Station Transportation Keisei Skyliner (ordinary cars, all seats reserved) Walk JR Joetsu Shinkansen Fare (subject to change) Travel Time (approx.) 2,470** 50 minutes 7,470 (non-reserved) 8,190+ (reserved) 10 minutes 100 minutes Urasa Station School Bus* -or- Taxi Free -or- Taxi 2, minutes IUJ Total: 9,940-12,660+ * The IUJ School bus operates free of charge during office hours on weekdays only. Otherwise a taxi cost about 2,000. ** A few more trains are available that are express (Cityliner) and limited express. This adds minutes to the travel time but the fare is about 80% to 50% off. Ask the ticket salesperson for schedules. Seats are unreserved. International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 16

22 Haneda Option One: Using Keikyu Airport Limited Express Transportation Fare (subject to change) Travel Time (approx.) Haneda Airport Int l Terminal Keikyu Airport Limited Express 410* 12 minutes Shinagawa Station Walk JR Shinagawa Station JR Line 7,680 (non-reserved) 8,400+ (reserved) 11 minutes Tokyo Station JR Joetsu Shinkansen 100 minutes Urasa Station School Bus -or- Taxi Free -or- Taxi 2, minutes IUJ Total: 8,090-10,810+ * A few more trains (local, limited express, etc.) are available. Haneda Option Two: Haneda Express (Monorail) Transportation Fare (subject to change) Travel Time (approx.) Haneda Airport Int l Terminal Tokyo Monorail minutes Monorail Hamamatsucho Station Walk JR Hamamatsucho Station JR Line 7,680 (non-reserved) 8,400+ (reserved) 6 minutes Tokyo Station JR Joetsu Shinkansen 100 minutes Urasa Station School Bus* -or- Taxi Free -or- Taxi 2, minutes IUJ Total: 8,170-10,890+ * The IUJ School bus operates free of charge during office hours on weekdays only. Otherwise a taxi costs about 2,000. International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 17

23 (17) Timetable of Joetsu Shinkansen to Urasa Station and connection to IUJ Bus Shuttle Service (Schedule as of March 14, 2015) Train Number Tokyo Station Ueno Station URASA Station IUJ Bus Toki 301 6:08 6:14 7:36 Taxi or 8:15 Toki 303 7:00 7:06 8:23 8:55 Max Toki 305 7:48 7:54 9:21 9:45 Max Toki 309 8:52 8:58 10:37 Taxi or 11:05 Max Toki :16 10:22 11:49 12:05 Toki :56 11:02 12:37 Taxi Toki :52 11:58 13:25 13:35 Max Toki :16 13:22 14:43 Taxi or 15:35 Max Toki :32 14:38 16:08 Taxi or 16:40 Toki :32 15:38 17:09 17:23 Toki :32 16:38 18:09 18:15 Max Toki :32 17:38 18:59 Taxi or 19:25 Max Toki :52 18:58 20:32 Taxi Max Toki :24 20:30 22:07 Taxi Toki :40 21:46 23:21 Taxi Listed above are the Toki trains that DO stop at Urasa Station on the way to Niigata Terminal. There are more Toki and Max Toki trains but they DO NOT stop at Urasa. Please don t take a train that is NOT listed here. IUJ Bus runs from Urasa Station to IUJ. On Saturdays and Sundays, it operates on a limited schedule: Saturdays -- 8:15, 16:20 Sundays -- 16:20 IUJ Bus Timetable is available at (18) Shinkansen Stops Below are the stations at which the Shinkansen stops. When you buy train tickets please make sure that the train you choose stops at Urasa station. Trains do not necessarily stop at all the stations. You may skip some stations on the way - specifically Honjo Waseda and Jomokogen - so do not be alarmed. Tokyo Ueno Omiya Kumagaya Honjo Waseda Takasaki Jomokogen Echigo Yuzawa URASA Nagaoka Tsubame Sanjo Niigata (19) Sumimasen - Getting Help Along the Way Sumimasen means excuse me. Please show the following note to someone if you need help after you arrive at Narita or Haneda Airport and are trying to get to the Tokyo Station and Urasa Station. すみません 東 京 駅 までの 行 き 方 を 教 えてください (Excuse me, how can I get to Tokyo Station) すみません 浦 佐 駅 までの 行 き 方 を 教 えてください (Excuse me, how can I get to Urasa Station) International University of Japan INFO PACK ~Prearrival and Arrival Guide~ pg. 18