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:
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. Full application form. Takes about 3-4 minutes. Please fill this out right now, as this info is necessary to prepare your accommodation, as well as the best Japanese language classes for you.
2.Digital photograph and self-introduction (if staying with host family, or in a dormitory or shared apartment): Click here to send them by email. Write your self-introduction in Japanese if possible (in romaji if Japanese input is impossible) - include your hobbies, favorite/least favorite foods, why you want to come to Japan, and any information that you think might be useful to them.
3. Japanese level check information. Please fill out the form here before you arrive to give us more specific information about your Japanese abilities. This allows us to place you in the best class for you.
4. Travel information. Please tell us your arrival information, so that we can tell your accommodation when to expect you. If there is any change in your information, even at the last minute, be sure to tell us, so that we can pass the information on to your accommodation. When your flight/train has been booked, please fill out the information below:
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 2,000 yen per night).
Also, bear in mind that if your flight arrives late in the evening (after
8pm), 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.
If arriving by train from within Japan, book a ticket to arrive at Hakata Station, the main train station for Fukuoka City.
3. 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.
2. ATM cards
Post office 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 is are branches of Citibank in Fukuoka, so Citibank card holders can take out money directly from their own bank.
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 bakn charges will apply.
4. Western Union
You can also have money wired to the school's Western Union account, and we will give you the cash. Please note that you cannot have money sent to you directly by Western Union, as the only pickup points are in central Japan. The school has a special account enabling us to receive Western Union transfers.
4. Packing List
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5. Visa
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.
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.
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 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.
8. 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.
9. Insurance
The school does not provide travel insurance for students. You are required to purchase your own insurance for the duration of your stay. There are many plans available, depending on your home country and needs, and we do not recommend any single plan. A local Google search for "travel insurance" should provide you with more information. The website SquareMouth has information on a variety of insurance providers, to help you compare their plans easily.
If you do not have travel 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: an apparently healthy student in his early 20s at GenkiJACS collapsed one day suddenly, and was diagnosed with a large tumor. He passed away a week later. Luckily, he had travel insurance; if he didn't, his family would have been left with a huge debt to pay, in addition to the loss of their son.
10. Travel Within Fukuoka
See this page for more details on recommendations for traveling within Fukuoka, from your accommodation to the Japanese school.
11. Other Information
We send a packet of information to your accommodation in Japan before your arrival. This packet includes info in English on how to use the transport systems, tourist spots, maps of the city, directions to the school, and the time that you are expected at school on your first day. In general, start time on your first day is about 9:30am. 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. You can download some of this information here, in Word format.
The school is closed on certain days of the year. A full list is here.
