Before You Arrive in Japan
This page provides information for students who are already confirmed to study with GenkiJACS. Here you'll find information on completing the application process, and preparing to come to Japan to study at our Japanese school.
Topics:
- Completing your application
- Flights
- Visa
- Money
- Packing List
- Japanese Study
- Accommodation
- Cell Phone
- Culture Shock
- Medication and Insurance
- Travel within Fukuoka
- Your First Day
- Other Information
1. Completing your application
We need a little more information from you to complete your registration with the school. Please take a moment to send us the info listed below.
1. Registration form
Takes about 3-4 minutes. Please fill out as soon as you book.
2. Self-introduction
Required if staying with host family or shared apartment only. Your accommodation will only be arranged after we receive this.
3. Photograph
Required if you will stay with a host family or shared apartment, or have booked an airport pickup. If the link above does not open an email, please send your photo to Evan at info@genkijacs.com, with the title "Student photo".
4. Japanese level check information
Please fill out between one month and two weeks before you arrive. This allows us to place you in the best class for you.
5. Arrival information
When you book your flight/train, please fill out the form below:
Finally, don't forget to pay! Payment information is available here.
2. Flights/Arrival
Please book your flights to arrive at Fukuoka International Airport (airport code FUK). It is often cheaper to travel to Tokyo or Osaka first, then transfer to a domestic flight to Fukuoka.
You should book your travel so that you arrive in Fukuoka at least the
day before the start of classes. As classes usually start on Monday, this
would mean arriving on Sunday. However, if you think that you would need
extra time to recover from jetlag, it might be a good idea to arrive a day
or so earlier.
Bear in mind that basic accommodation is from Sunday until Saturday.
Therefore, if you arrive earlier than Sunday, you will need to pay an additional
fee for the extra nights’ accommodation (Generally 1,500 to 3,300 yen per night).
Also, bear in mind that if your flight arrives late in the evening (after
9pm), it may be difficult for you to go to your accommodation
that night. In this case, you will not need to pay for that night’s
accommodation, but you will need to pay for alternative accommodation,
which we will be happy to arrange for you. Therefore, please inform us of
your flight schedule well in advance.
If your arrival plan changes, be sure to contact us! If you do not arrive when your accommodation expects you, they will be very very worried, especially if you have requested an airport transfer.
Fukuoka Airport is connected to the subway system, so it is easy to get to the center of the city. The subway station is located at the airport domestic terminal. If you arrive on an international flight, take the free airport shuttle bus to the domestic terminal.
Because the airport is central, it is often very cheap and easy to take a taxi to your accommodation, especially if your bags are heavy.
If arriving by train from within Japan, book a ticket to arrive at Hakata Station, the main train station for Fukuoka City.
More information about getting to Fukuoka is available on our Getting to Fukuoka page.
A packet of information about the school and the city will be sent to your accommodation in Fukuoka in advance of you, to be waiting when you arrive. You can download some of this information here, in Word format.
3. Visa
It is your responsibility to confirm whether a visa is required for you to enter Japan. If a visa is required, begin the application process as early as possible. Visitors from most countries do not require a visa to stay in Japan for 3 months or less. There is a lot more information about visas on our visa page here.
Be aware that even if you do not require a visa, you will be questioned at Immigration upon entry to Japan. The immigration officer is likely to ask you the following:- where you will stay (the address of your accommodation)
- what you will do in Japan (study at GenkiJACS)
- the start and end dates of your study
- what you will study (your course name)
We recommend carrying the following documents with you, to show to the immigration officer as necessary:
- accommodation information sheet
- invoice from GenkiJACS
- return plane ticket
4. Money
Your invoice includes details on your chosen payment method. A list of all payment methods and their details is provided here.
How much spending money you should bring to Japan depends largely on
what you plan to do during your time here. At a minimum, we would recommend
the following:
1500 yen per day for food (lunch and dinner) and drinks
500 yen per day for transportation
Extra for activities/shopping, etc.
It's often hard to judge how much you will need, so here are the prices
of
some common things to give you an idea (bear in mind that the prices are
very approximate):
1) dinner with drinks in a restaurant: about 2000~3000 yen
2) a movie (late show): 1000 yen
3) a 10-minute taxi ride: about 1200 yen
4) a beer: about 500 yen
5) dinner at McDonalds: about 600 yen
6) entry to an art gallery: about 800 yen
7) an anime DVD: about 2000 yen (You can watch anime dvd at school if a
room is free!)
8) a ride on the subway: about 250 yen
9) a concert by a famous musician: about 7000 yen
You can access money held abroad from Japan in the following ways:
1. Credit cards
Foreign credit cards are accepted in most major shops in Japan, but not in smaller places. Visa and Mastercard are the most common. American Express can be used in a few locations. Maestro cards cannot be used in Japan.
2. ATM (debit) cards
Post office, 7-11, and some bank ATMs can be used to take money out of a foreign bank account easily. However, sometimes your card or bank account needs to be "set" to allow use from overseas. If you plan to use your card in Japan, contact your bank before you go to check if there is anything you need to do. There may be extra fees for taking out money abroad - check with your bank before coming.
There is are branches of Citibank in Fukuoka, so Citibank card holders can take out money directly from their own bank.
Most shops do not allow you to use debit cards to pay bills.
3. Bank transfers
If you require additional funds after arriving, you can arrange for someone to wire money to the school bank account, and we will give you the cash. Please note that bank charges will apply, and we cannot give you money until our bank confirms we have received funds from you.
5. Packing List
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6. Japanese Study
Make sure that you can read the hiragana (and preferably katakana) scripts before you arrive at GenkiJACS. All good textbooks use these scripts, so this basic study is a vital prerequisite for study at any good Japanese language school. There are many tools on the Internet to help you with this, from flashcards to quizzes and more. You can usually learn to read hiragana in about two days, if you work hard.
We provide you with free textbooks when you arrive, based on the result of your level check test. If you bring those textbooks with you, we will refund your textbook fee, so there's no reason not to study before you arrive!
All GenkiJACS students can receive two online private lessons completely free! We will arrange these lessons after you have completed payment of fees. For details, see the online lessons page.
Detailed advice on pre-arrival Japanese study is here. Please read through this information, and get started on your study early to make the most of your Japan trip!
7. Accommodation
Be aware that accommodation in Japan is often less spacious than you may be used to, and food that is prepared for you (if staying with a host family) may not be what you expect. Keep an open mind, and use everything as a learning experience. Some places have only a bath, no shower, and you may be expected to bathe in the evening, not in the morning.
If you are staying with a host family, or in a shared apartment, you will generally receive a key from the owner on the first day there. Be very careful with this key! If you lose it, you may be asked to pay the full price for locks to be changed.
If you have any problems with the host family, talk to them directly or ask them questions. If that doesn't work, then talk to staff at school and we can help.
If you are staying in a private apartment, a representative from the school will meet you when you arrive in Fukuoka, to give you the key to the apartment and to explain everything you need to know.
We generally send detailed accommodation information to you about a month before your study is scheduled to start.
8.Cell Phone
Having a cellphone during your time in Japan can make the difference between enjoying your free time a bit, and enjoying it a lot. It's the one tool that makes making friends a possibility, so we absolutely recommend either bringing your own (if you can confirm that it works in Japan) or renting one here. To confirm whether your phone will work in Japan, contact your cell phone provider.
GenkiJACS recommends you to rent a phone through AIRS, a rental cellphone provider. They offer cheaper rates, and credit card payment. Apply for an AIRS cellphone here. Read more about using cellphones in Japan here.
9. Culture Shock
Japan is very different from most English-speaking countries, and there will be things during your stay that amuse you, annoy you, or upset you. It is important to keep an open mind, and understand that there are reasons for everything that people do, even if those reasons are not obvious to you at the time. Ask your teachers if you are confused by anything!
It is important to be aware of your own reactions to the world around you, as culture shock can often creep up on you slowly. If you feel tired every day, unusually irritable, or have problems dealing with people, it is a good idea to talk to our office staff. They can suggest ways for you to deal with your feelings.
10. Medication and Insurance
The school does not provide travel insurance for students. You are required to purchase your own insurance for the duration of your stay. You must have travel insurance to study with us. There are many plans available, depending on your home country and needs, and we do not recommend any single plan. However, we do recommend the travel insurance comparison shopping site QuoteWright.com.
Your travel insurance must include coverage for medical expenses. If you do not have insurance, you would be required to pay the full cost of medical expenses in the event of an accident or injury. While Japanese healthcare is comparatively cheap, costs for major surgery will still be very high. It is never safe to assume that you will be OK without insurance. We also recommend getting personal liability coverage, which would pay if you damage anything in your accommodation in Japan.
If you require any medication, bring it with you to Japan, along with a doctor's note. There are limits on the amount of medication you can bring in to the country, so if you will stay in Japan for a long time, check if your medication or a version of it is available in Japan, and get a note from your doctor as required. There are differences in licensing between countries, so medicine that requires a prescription in your country may not in Japan, and vice versa. Confirm with your doctor or pharmacist before coming.
11. Travel Within Fukuoka
See this page for more details on recommendations for traveling within Fukuoka, from your accommodation to the Japanese school.
12. Your First Day
The standard first day schedule is as follows:
- 9:00 - 9:30: Arrive at school
- 9:30 - 10:15: Placement test
- 10:30 - 11:00: Orientation
- 11:00 - 12:00: Lunch break
- 12:00~: afternoon classes
Please note that normally you will only have two core classes on your first day. However, depending on your placement test and class, you may be able to take four core classes on the first day. You will receive your schedule for the first week on the first day of classes, as your schedule can change based on the results of your first day testing.
The placement test consists of two parts: a written
test (approximately 30 minutes, mostly multiple choice with some written answers), and an interview test (approximately 10 minutes). You will be given one of three tests, depending on your language ability, but if you do very well or very badly, you may be asked to take a higher or lower level test too.
13. Other Information
The school is closed on certain days of the year. A full list is here. We either arrange an activity or event for that day instead of classes, or refund tuition for days the school is closed.
