If you are starting at a Japanese university this autumn (fall intake), the weeks after your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) arrives are the busiest of the whole journey. Here is a practical 90-day roadmap — from COE to your first night in Tokyo — built around the questions international students ask us most.
Visa procedures differ by country and change over time. The visa sections below describe the general flow only — always confirm the details with your local Japanese embassy or consulate and your school's international office.
D-90: Your COE arrives
The COE is the document your school applied for on your behalf, and everything downstream depends on it. This week: check every detail — your name, date of birth, school — against your passport. They must match exactly; even a small typo can stall your visa application, so if anything looks off, contact your school's international office right away. Then keep the original somewhere safe. You will need it for the visa application and again when you enter Japan.
D-80: Apply for your student visa
The general flow is simple: COE, passport, a photo, and an application form, submitted at your local Japanese embassy or consulate. The details are not: some offices require appointments booked weeks ahead, photo specifications are strict, and processing time varies by country from days to weeks. Two tips that save real money — get the photo requirements right before you go, and don't book non-refundable flights until you know your processing time.
D-75: Plan your money
Beyond tuition and flights, housing is the biggest unknown for most students — and the easiest one to pin down early. At U Share, estimated move-in payments (first month plus initial fees) for standard contracts of 7 months or longer are JPY 385,500–398,500 at WC1 (Nishi-Waseda) and JPY 403,000–416,000 at WC2 (Omokagebashi). Monthly fees include Wi-Fi and utilities, so your ongoing costs stay predictable. For 5–6 month contracts the initial fees are JPY 40,000 lower, and a monthly plan with no initial fees is available for stays of 1–4 months. You can get an estimate matched to your situation in about 60 seconds with Find Your Room, and the full fee breakdown is in the FAQ.
D-60: Secure your room — from wherever you are
The classic worry: most Japanese rentals ask for a joint guarantor living in Japan. At U Share you can sign using our designated guarantor company instead — no need to find a guarantor yourself (the guarantor company may require a joint guarantor depending on its screening; its registration fee is JPY 50,000 at WC1 and JPY 60,000 at WC2, non-refundable). Resident selection runs mainly twice a year, in spring and autumn, and when rooms are available we also run selection on an inquiry basis — so reach out whenever you are ready.
The process itself works from anywhere. Submit the entry form; we review it and email a room proposal and estimate to applicants who match; the contract follows. Three steps, all possible before you land. And if plans change for reasons beyond your control — for example, you are unable to enter the country — contract termination normally involves a penalty as set out in the lease, but unavoidable force-majeure cases are reviewed and handled flexibly through mutual discussion.
Already in Japan, or visiting before the semester? Viewings are available by appointment — just send your preferred date and time via the inquiry form.
D-30: Pack one suitcase
Every room comes furnished — bed with bedding, desk, air conditioner and more — so one suitcase is genuinely enough. Large furniture such as pianos, big bookshelves or sofas cannot be brought in. Spend your luggage allowance on the things that are hard to replace in Japan.
Landing week
Your first days in Tokyo will be a series of small errands: resident registration at your local ward office, a bank account, a phone plan. You won't be doing them alone. Support at U Share is available in both Japanese and English, with a professional Community Manager and resident leaders (RAs) who help with daily life — and your new housemates have all been through exactly the same week.
Start here
Entries for Autumn 2026 are open. The shortest path: first, estimate your costs in about 60 seconds; next, submit an entry; and for questions or a viewing, talk to us. For what happens after you enter, see the step-by-step move-in guide — and everything else is answered in the FAQ (44 questions).