GJS Summer Program Q&A 2020
Q: What documents are needed for me to apply for Japanese visa?
A: Documents for visa application differ from country to country. Citizens from some countries andregions do not need visa to enter Japan. Ask your university or Japanese embassy or consulate generalin your country for detailed information about visa application.
In general, visa application documentation has two components: the first component is documents you
as the applicant need to prepare, and the second component is documents to be prepared by theguarantor and inviter in Japan.
The Global Japan Studies office will issue and mail to you the documents to be prepared by theguarantor and inviter. Notify the GJS office of your need as soon as possible.
Mail delivery of documents and visa application are very time-consuming. Start your preparation assoon as you have decided to come to Japan.
Q: Is it possible to join the summer program after it started, or withdraw before it ends? Ineither case, is program fee discount possible? Is participation in all program activities
compulsory?
A: You are not allowed to join after the program started or to withdraw before it ends. And discountwill not be available. You are required to participate in all the program activities. You will have freetime during the weekend and weekday evenings.
Q: My Japanese is very good so I don’t want to attend the Japanese language classes. If so, canyou give a discount from the program fee?
A: No discount will be given in the case you do not attend the Japanese language classes. The classes
are not just about language; you learn Japanese culture in these classes, so it is for your benefit thatyou attend them.
Q: Do I have to book hotel myself?
A: You don’t need to book hotel yourself. The GJS office will book hotel for all participants fromuniversities outside of Japan. All the nights from July 5 – 16 (check-in: July 5, check-out: July 17) arecovered by the program fee.
If you will be in Japan before July 5 or after July 17, you will need to book hotel for those nights
yourself.
Q: Are there pick-up or drop-off service at airport and hotel in Tokyo?
A: The GJS office does not provide pick-up or drop-off service, but before the program starts we will
send you guidance for transportation from airport to hotel.
Public transportation in Tokyo is highly developed and very convenient so you don’t need to worry

about that.
Q: How do I get to the University of Tokyo from the hotel?
A: In the morning of the first day of the program (July 6), the GJS staff will meet everybody in thelobby of the hotel and walk together with you to the University. The first day of the program will beorientation.
Q: Are meals included in the program fee?
A: Breakfasts and lunches for the days having lectures are included in the program fee. All dinners aswell as meals for the days without lectures are not included. These will be on you.
On the final day (July 16), group presentations and farewell party are scheduled. Everybody isrequired to participate in the presentations and the party.
Q: Does the program fee cover transportation expenses in Japan?
A: No. The University of Tokyo regulations stipulate that the GJS office cannot pay for domestic
travels of program participants. Domestic travels include your travels between airport and hotel, andshorts trips of fieldtrips in Tokyo.
One-way travel between airport and hotel costs 1000-3000 yen. Fieldtrip travels cost 4000-6000 yen intotal.
It is very convenient to use IC cards such as SUICA and PASMO. They are available for purchase for
500 yen at the airport and all Tokyo Metro and subway stations. These IC cards can be used not justfor riding trains but also for shopping at convenience stores and some other shops.
You can check out the details of cards here: http://www.pasmo.co.jp/en/
Q: Will there be scholarship from the University of Tokyo or from Japan for this summer
program?
A: Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) provides scholarship every year. It is open to theUniversity of Tokyo which operates the summer program. But it is not open to program participants.
The GJS office will apply for the JASSO scholarship but there is no guarantee that we will get it soscholarship for program participants is not guaranteed.
In the case that the GJS summer program is offered the scholarship, scholarship decision will be madebased on participants’ application materials and offered to participants with excellent performance attheir university and with strong motivation to participate in the summer program.
There may be scholarship available in your own country. We suggest you explore those opportunities
as well.
Q: Can graduate students apply to this summer program?
A: Yes, the program is open to graduate students. All graduate students are welcome to apply.

Q: Is it necessary that I bring my own PC?
A: Yes, it is. The GJS office provides one or two PCs for your use but that’s not enough for the wholegroup, so do bring your own.
Q: Can I use the library and gym of the University of Tokyo during the program?
A: Yes. On the first day of program orientation, you will receive the International Short-Term Program
Card which you can use to access the libraries and the gym.
The University of Tokyo libraries have one of the largest collections of material in the country. They
will be very useful for your preparation for group presentation. We hope you will utilize these great
library resources.
Q: I hold a Japanese passport. Can I apply to the GJS summer program?
A: Yes, you can. Citizenship is not important in our decision of acceptance and we welcome
applications from all nationalities, including that of Japan.