Hello, and welcome to this blog! I have been living at Science Tokyo’s dormitory, Nagatsuta House, and studying at Suzukakedai Campus as a doctoral student for two academic years. In the previous blog, I shared some of my interesting moments studying at Nagatsuta House and Suzukakedai Campus. In this blog, I will share my experiences with and advice regarding procedures for settling down smoothly in Nagatsuta House.

Photo 1 : Student Support Group at Suzukakedai

ARRIVAL SECTION: procedures you need to finish

>> This blog can be regarded as the supplement to my blog written in November 2023 [ here ]

1. Credit card (optional, before departure)

I highly recommend preparing a credit card that can be used in Japan. Having a credit card will make it easier to shop online and apply for a phone number when you arrive in Japan. Most services will require a Japanese phone number to apply, and most Japanese SIM card service providers also require a credit card to apply. Although some providers only need a Japanese bank account (and your residence card, see section 4.1) to apply for your phone number, you will still need to fill in your phone number to apply for the bank account. Additionally, it may take weeks to receive your bank card. Therefore, if you already have a credit card on arrival, you can apply for a SIM card and start online shopping as soon as you finish the resident registration procedures at the ward office.

2. An iPhone (optional, before departure)

I personally think it will be more convenient for you to use an iPhone in Japan, as iPhones bought outside of Japan also support Felica (while Android devices bought outside of Japan do not). Felica is necessary for integrating your Suica card (which can be applied for at airport train stations, highly recommended) with your mobile phone’s NFC reader. I also recommend buying a pre-paid SIM card at the airport. Internet access is essential when you are facing some troubles. With Suica integrated into your phone’s NFC reader, you won’t need to buy paper tickets to take public transportation. All you need to do is touch your iPhone at the ticket gate when entering and exiting the station. You can also use it as a payment method in convenience stores by tapping your iPhone at the cashier’s machine. You can charge your Suica anywhere and anytime using a credit card. Besides, the iPhone’s NFC feature helps a lot when ID card identification is needed by some online application procedures. My Android smart phone with NFC, bought in China, failed to read my residence card, but my iPhone succeeded.

3. Fetching your student ID card (very important, ASAP)

After finishing the move-in procedure for Nagatsuta House, you should go to campus to retrieve your student ID card. It is needed for some application procedures at the ward office.

Photo 2: Suzukakedai Student Support Group is located at J1 Building, 1F

4. Essential Ward Office Procedures for New Residents (very important, ASAP)

  • Location: Midori-ku Ward Office [ Map ]
  • Required Documents: Passport + Visa, Residence Card (在留カード), Student ID card
  • Link: City of Yokohama

Complete these procedures within your first two weeks in Japan. Feel free to ask your student tutor for help. First, you need to get a numbered queuing ticket for the service you wish to proceed with. You can do this by using the “automatic ticket issuing machine (自動発券機)” at the ward office:

1) Resident registration

  • What: Legal requirement for all foreign residents staying >90 days
  • Process:
  1. When it is your turn, fill in the “Moving-In (転入届)” form and submit it.
  2. Receive your updated Residence Card with your address in Japan.

2) Health insurance

  • What: Mandatory health coverage with 70% medical cost reduction
  • Process:
  1. When it is your turn, fill in the form for “health insurance (国民健康保険)” and submit it.
  2. Receive your updated Residence Card with your address in Japan.

3) Annuity exemption

  • What: Exemption from National Pension payments while studying
  • Process:
  1. When it is your turn, fill out the “annuity exemption (国民年金保険料免除)” form and submit it.
  2. Receive the exemption approval notice in 6-8 weeks by mail.

Reminder: Renew annually until graduation. For the annuity exemption procedure of the next year, you can fill in the application form delivered to the mailbox in your dorm (around March/April) and mail it.

4) My Number Card (Individual Number Card) application (optional)

  • What: Social security ID card
  • When: About 3 weeks after finishing resident registration
  • How: Using smartphone, PC, or mailing. 
  • Link: City of Yokohama

5. Phone number (very important, ASAP after finishing resident registration)

You can check website Kakaku.com (in Japanese) to select your preferred plan. You can apply for it online using a credit card or in person at an electronics store. The resident registration procedure should be finished before applying.

Case for onsite around Nagatsuta House:

  • Nojima: [ Map ]
  • AU shop: [ Map ]
  • Teruru: [ Map ]

6. Bank account

You can visit Nagatsuta Post Office [ Map ] to open a Japan Post Bank account. Please take your residence card and student ID card when you go. Detailed multi -language guidelines can be found at the Japan Post Bank website:

Example: English, Chinese, Korean

You can also open an account without visiting the office via the smartphone application procedures.

Congratulations!

By completing the steps outlined above, you’ve successfully laid the foundation for a smooth and enjoyable life at Nagatsuta House and Science Tokyo’s Suzukakedai Campus. As you embark on this exciting journey, don’t hesitate to reach out to your student tutors, peers, or the university’s support services whenever you need assistance.

SCIENCE TOKYO website : Student life and support

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