Studying in Japan: what to do in your first month

Before departure: documents and what to pack

Keep your passport, your visa or entry permission, the school's acceptance papers, your accommodation address in Japan and proof of how you are paying fees in your cabin bag. Japanese addresses are long and use a block system, so save the address as text and as a screenshot in Japanese so that a taxi driver or a station officer can read it. Ask your school for the exact name and phone number of the person who will meet you or the office that will help you on day one.

Pack for the season, since Japanese rooms can be small and storage is limited. Medicines from Thailand may be restricted or need paperwork in Japan, and some common ingredients are controlled, so ask your doctor and the official health authority before you pack any.

Arrival: your residence card and first night

For longer stays, the immigration process at the airport normally involves receiving a residence card, which is the identity document you will use for almost everything: opening a bank account, signing a phone contract, enrolling in insurance and showing to officials. Check that your details are correct before you leave the counter, keep it with you, and make a photo copy for your records. You are generally expected to carry it, so confirm with the school or official source what applies to you.

Plan the first night. Trains and airport buses are efficient, but luggage space is limited on crowded trains, so a luggage forwarding service can be handy if you have large bags. Konbini, the convenience stores, are open at most hours in cities and sell basic food, but check opening hours for any specific shop yourself.

Registering your address and joining health insurance

After you have a fixed address, you generally need to register it at the municipal or ward office within a deadline set by law, so check the current deadline with your school or the office itself. Take your passport, your residence card and any documents the school suggests. At the same visit, ask about enrolling in the national health insurance system, which students who stay beyond a certain period are normally expected to join. The office can explain premiums, and what share of medical bills you pay yourself, so ask them to show you in writing.

1. 1Go with a Japanese speaker or translator if possibleMany offices have limited English support, so ask your school whether a staff member can accompany you.
2. 2Register your addressBring your passport, residence card and the address in writing, then ask for a copy of the certificate you may need later.
3. 3Join health insuranceAsk about premiums, how to pay them and how to use the card at clinics.
4. 4Keep every paperPut receipts, notices and letters in one folder, as you will need them for later renewals.

In an emergency, the long-standing Japanese numbers are 110 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance, but confirm before you travel. Save your school's emergency contact too.

Phone, data and your Thai number

Signing a Japanese phone contract normally needs a residence card and sometimes a Japanese bank account or credit card, which you may not have yet in week one. A short-term travel eSIM helps for maps, train apps and messages while the paperwork is done. Later, compare prepaid, monthly and budget-brand plans from official providers, read the minimum contract term, and ask about cancellation fees. Wi-Fi in dorms and cafes may require sign-in or have limits, so do not rely on it for banking.

Keep your Thai number active if you can, since Thai banks and government services send codes by SMS. Check roaming options with your Thai operator.

Bank account, cash and IC cards

Banks usually ask for your residence card, passport, address and sometimes a Japanese phone number and a seal or signature. Some banks require you to have lived in Japan for a certain period before opening an account, so ask the bank and your school which banks welcome new students. Japan is more cash-based than many Thai travellers expect, and while cards and QR payments are growing, some small shops, ticket machines and clinics may take cash only. Carry a cash buffer, and check ATM acceptance of your Thai card before you rely on it.

An IC transit card, such as Suica or PASMO, works on most trains, buses and in many shops, and it can be added to a compatible phone. Check the current setup rules for your phone and the card type, and ask your school about student commuter passes, which are issued with proof of enrolment.

Daily life: rubbish, noise and neighbours

Rubbish rules are strict and local. Your ward publishes a calendar that shows which day each category is collected, and bags are often a specific type. Ask your landlord or school for the schedule on day one, and watch what neighbours do. Noise rules matter in thin-walled apartments, so keep late-night phone calls quiet and avoid laundry on balconies at hours the building prohibits.

Earthquakes are part of life in Japan. Learn where the exits and evacuation points are in your building, keep water and a torch, and enable emergency alerts on your phone. Your school will run a safety briefing, and you should save the local disaster information source it recommends.

Part-time work, language and money

Students are generally not automatically allowed to work, and permission and hour limits depend on your status. Ask your school and read the official immigration source before applying for any job, because working outside permission can put your status at risk. Budget in yen, and convert to baht every week. Exchange rates move, and fees on foreign cards add up, so keep a buffer for deposits and moving costs in the first month, which in Japan can be high compared with the monthly rent.

Japanese lessons at your school, or free community classes, make every task above easier. Even basic phrases help you at the city office, the bank and the clinic. A translation app is a good backup, though downloaded offline language packs help when your signal is weak.

See eSIM options for Japan