I got this brochure called "Tokyo Metro Guide" and it contains a map of the subway system (click here for some info about commuting by train), it also contains a more simplified map that shows you all of the most popular must-see destinations while in Tokyo along with descriptions of each place. This brochure is pictured below. I'm sure you will be able to pick one up at the airport once you land. Also, if you ever go to Tokyo for a visit, this guide will help you hit a bunch of different places in a single day because you will know exactly which station you need to get to. This guide gave me a better idea of where things are and helped me to plan out where I have to see. If you are unable to get your hands on this brochure/map, or if you'd rather have an electronic version, I was referred to this app called Tokyo Subway Navigation (for tourists), which I also posted on my Helpful Phone Apps page. You can download the app onto your smart phone and easily access it wherever you are! There's free wi-fi at subway stations so you can still access it without a Japanese SIM card or pocket wifi. Below are some screenshots of this app.
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2/23/2016 0 Comments SIM Card? Pocket Wifi? Oh My!I think that the most common approach to communication and using our phones abroad as exchange students is the foreign SIM card approach. It's very convenient because you can use the phone you already have. I've also been doing some research on Pocket Wifi, which is basically a device that you carry with you to have Wifi wherever you go. Below I'm going to show you guys some examples from different companies I found or was recommended by other people. I'm going to be weighing pros and cons about the different options before making my final decision. 1. Getting a Japanese SIM Card B-mobile is a company that provides VISITOR SIM Cards. This company was recommended to me by a friend who is currently using their services. Below is a summary of what B-mobile provides. Visit their FAQ page and Product Details for more info.
For myself, I would prefer to rent something more long-term so I don't have to deal with extending it multiple times throughout my stay. This option is actually a great fit for someone who is just visiting Japan for a couple of weeks. If anyone comes to visit you while you're abroad you can tell them about this company! I would probably opt in to have the SIM Card shipped to the airport so I can pick it up as soon as I land. I'm not concerned about the lack of voice communication because I will be using Line (which uses data). CD Japan is another company that provides SIM Card rental. This company works with Docomo (a Japanese phone company). Most of the services offered are very similar to B-mobile but the main difference is that with CD Japan, you have more options as to how long you are able to rent the SIM Card. Below is a summary of what they provide and I pulled their chart that shows you the different types of SIM Cards and what phones they are compatible with. As a side note, this company also provides pocket wifi rentals.
2. Getting a Pocket Wifi Device Wifi Rental Store is the first company that I found that offers pocket Wifi devices for rent. Their website is very straight to the point, which I like and it compares prices between three different devices they offer for different reasons. Below is a summary of things I thought are useful to know. Right off the bat, you can see it's a lot more expensive to go with a rental Wifi for 6 months than a SIM Card from CD Japan for 6 months. This option has a lot of additional costs (mostly provided for your convenience though).
**Insurance is optional Of course, there are other companies that offer similar services that you might want to check out. You can also go directly to Y!mobile or SoftBank rather than through these other companies. It all depends on what works best for you in the end. Now that I'm thinking about it, a SIM Card does seem like the best way to go. But what I do like about the pocket WiFi is that I can connect my other devices (laptop/iPad) to the Wifi as well. I was concerned about not having Wifi in my dorm room and just surviving off of plugging in my laptop to the ethernet lol...there wouldn't really be any point to bringing my iPad on this trip. Another option is that after getting the SIM Card, you could consider arranging to set your phone up as a hotspot.
I hope this information helps you decide what to do with your phone situation. Researching and writing everything out to compare definitely helped me lol.
Overall, I am happy with the location of my dorm. Although it does seem far at first, looking at its location relative to all of these other places puts things into perspective and I don't think it's bad at all!
The maps and train routes pictured above were taken from the app: City Rail Map. I did mention Tokyo Rail Map Lite on my page of Helpful Phone Apps; however, I guess that app is out of date? So you can get the same results with City Rail Map. it's the same company. 2/11/2016 0 Comments Heads up about Financial AidThis is important information for those who are receiving scholarships from UH or federal assistance like a Pell grant:
As per federal regulations, your funds cannot be released to your account until 10 days prior to the start of your program. Keio University's spring semester starts on April 7, 2016. So my funds are not being released until "approximately" March 28, 2016. If you don't submit your full tuition payment by the regular deadline, the Cashier's office will put a hold on your account and send you notices of an "outstanding balance" in the mail. Normally this doesn't happen to those who are on financial aid, but if you are studying abroad through a program that starts a lot later than UH, it's a different story. The Cashier's office told me that although they know that I will be abroad and financial aid funds won't be released until later, they will continue to send these notices and have a hold on your account until they receive payment on their end. They said the correct thing to do is to pay your tuition at the normal time and wait for a refund later. I think this is important to know so you can be prepared to pay your tuition at a normal time, without your financial aid or sign up for a payment plan. Also, I received a scholarship from Hawaii Community Foundation, and those funds were already applied to my account. I also spoke to a friend who will be studying abroad in Japan and is receiving different scholarships and this person's funds were applied to their account already as well. So I have a feeling that this only affects scholarships from within the UH system and federal funds like a pell grant. This situation might never affect you. But if you're going to Japan (since the start of their semester is so different from UH) and if you're receiving aid, you should check up on this and be prepared.
It was a very quick drop-off and I got a 'receipt' paper that says my Visa will be ready for pick up on 2/9/2016. Five days! It's a super quick process and compared to getting your driver's license at the DMV, it's a 0 out of 10 on the stress scale, lol!
---I'll update this post when I receive my Visa--- Update: I picked up my Visa yesterday, (February 11, 2016) and it took less than five minutes. I just gave them the receipt they gave me and presented my ID. I had to sign a paper stating that I picked up my passport and I was all set! Seriously, the process of getting my Visa has been one of the least stressful events of this entire process. Mahalo to the people at the Japanese Consulate. If you're going to study abroad in Japan, you might get thrown off a little by the academic calendar. Here in the U.S., our Spring semester typically runs from January to May. In Japan, the spring semester will typically run from the start of April until the end of July. This is why it might feel like everything is arriving so late. I was getting anxious, waiting for my Certificate of Eligibility to come in the mail from Keio. This is the document you need in order to get your Student Visa (you will not be permitted to enter the country without this). I'm going to the Japanese Consulate later this week in order to get everything filled out and squared away. The package I received contained the following documents:
I know that most of my posts so far have been pretty boring. The reason why I'm giving the play-by-play is because when I started doing research about studying abroad, I was actually very concerned about every detail. I wanted to know as much as I could about the process before I actually had to go through it. If you are anything like me, I hope you find these posts to be informative or somehow helpful to you. If it offers some peace of mind to know around what timeframe you will be receiving these documents, I've done my job!
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