Living in Kyoto

Kyoto is a big city surrounded by mountains, the main ones being Higashiyama, Kitayama, and Nishiyama.
Kyoto was established in 794 as the capital and over the next 1,000 years developed into a historical and cultural city. Kyoto has managed to preserve its history and culture and has become known as the cultural capital of Japan, both at home and abroad. Kyoto has not limited itself to the old, it continues to make efforts in developing new art, culture and traditions. This combination of the old and new, and the "artistic" atmosphere of Kyoto, is in sharp contrast to other cities in Japan.
Many traditional industries such as Nishijin-ori, which originated in Kyoto, are still kept in accordance with tradition, while high-tech industries have been established in recent years.
As for the population, about 10% of the 1,464,018 people living in Kyoto City are college and university students. The statistics show that Kyoto is the No. 1 university city in Japan, which indicates its academic quality and academic vitality.

Weather in Kyoto

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(1) Housing

Students are expected to make their own arrangements. The university will assist students to find accommodation.
Here is some information on the types of housing available in Kyoto.

• Room Types

  ●Apartment room

  There is usually a kitchen, toilet and bath in every apartment.
  There are also apartments available where a tenant may rent only a room and share the kitchen, toilet and bath with other tenants.
  Most students staying in the latter type of apartment go to the nearby public bath houses.

  ●Condominium ("One-Room Apartment")

  One room with a kitchen and a bath and toilet unit. The rent is higher than that of an apartment room, since the buildings are made of ferro-concrete and rooms are furnished with bedding, and some other conveniences, and are air-conditioned.
  The more equipment the room has, the more expensive the rent will be.
  

  • ※ Many apartments in Japan are unfurnished and not air-conditioned, and students need to provide themselves with daily necessities.
  • ※ The typical room size in Japanese houses is 6 tatami-mat room (9m²).

  A tatami mat is about 180 by 90 centimeters. The size of Japanese rooms is usually measured by the number of tatami mats it contains.

• Cost

  ●Monthly rent

  • The rent is normally paid on a monthly basis. The following shows the average monthly rent in Kyoto City.
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  • ※ Common service fees are the ones for facilities commonly used by tenants.

  ●SHIKIKIN・REIKIN

  When the contract to rent a room is signed, the tenant must pay a lump sum of money as SHIKIKIN and REIKIN to the landlord.
  SHIKIKIN (key-money and/or deposit): a sum of money to be paid to the landlord as security money for possible damage. SHIKIKIN will be refunded upon vacating the room after a check has been made for any deliquency of rent and/or damage to the property.
  REIKIN (remuneration): a non-refundable fee to be paid to the landlord when the contract is signed.

  ※SHIKIKIN and REIKIN combined, amounts to about 2 to 6 times the monthly rent.

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(2) Living Expenses

The average monthly living cost in Kyoto is estimated at about ￥150,000 including the room rent. Therefore, about ￥1,800,000 will be needed for staying in Japan for one year. Applicants should keep this in mind when making plans for study in Japan.

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(1) National Health Insurance (Compulsory)

National Health Insurance is administered by a city, town or village. All foreign nationals are required to enroll in this program. The insurance covers 70% of all kinds of medical expenses, which means that patient pays only the remaining 30% at a hospital or at a dental office, etc.
The premium for this insurance varies slightly depending on the place one lives and the person's income in the previous year.It costs foreing nationals who hold College Student Visa approximately 18,000yen to enroll in this program.

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(2) Student Accident and Injury Insurance (Automatic)

This insurance covers medical cost paid for the treatment of injuries sustained in class or during extra-curricular activities.

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(3) National Health Insurance Subsidy

The Kyoto City International Foundation is providing to foreign students of the universities and junior colleges in Kyoto City .To be eligible, the student must be a resident of Kyoto City and be required to enroll in the National Health Insurance in advance.It is supported 700yen per month.

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Students holding a "college student visa" are allowed by the Japanese Government to engage in a part-time job on condition that the working hours should not exceed 28 hours a week by permission of the Immigration Bureau. However, students are not granted absences from classes because of part-time jobs.
Foreign students should come to Japan with adequate financial support, which will enable them to pursue their studies without resorting to part-time jobs for financial survival.