Chapter 1
Before Coming to Japan5

1 Before Coming to Japan
The purpose of this chapter is to help you to prepare to come to Japan as an international
student at Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus (SFC).
You will learn all about what to do before you leave your home country and what to do
from your arrival at the airport.

1-1 Welcome to Keio University SFC!

SFC (Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus)

Keio University has a proud history as Japan’s first private institution of higher learning. In
1858, renowned scholar Yukichi Fukuzawa opened a school for Dutch learning in Edo(present-day Tokyo), then shifted to focusing on English.
SFC is the fifth university campus, opened in 1990 on the north side of Fujisawa
City in Kanagawa prefecture.

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1-2 Welcome to Shonan, Fujisawa!
What is Shonan Fujisawa like?

湘南 (Shōnan)Shonan

藤沢市 (Fujisawa-shi)
Fujisawa-city

Shonan is the nickname of the region along the coast of Sagami Bay,known as a popular summer resort area with a relaxed atmosphere.
Blessed with a natural environment, Fujisawa-city is conveniently
located only 50 minutes from Tokyo.
The climate is rather warm, with little snow (it snows once or twice ayear), and its temperatures vary from 3°C to 30°C throughout the year.

Tsujido beach park

Mt.Fuji and Enoshima island

Enoshima Sea Candle

Hikijigawa water park

Enoshima Aquarium

8

Fujisawa Enoshima Fireworks Show

1-3 Visa

在留資格認定証明書

CoE (Certificate of Eligibility)
All foreign nationals entering and staying in Japan are given a statusof residence at their port of entry. International students are expected
to have a status of residence as "Student". If you do not have theappropriate status of residence, you may not be able to enroll.
To apply for a Student visa, it is required to obtain a Certificate of
Eligibility [CoE]. It is a digital document that certifies that you are an
eligible person to enter Japan as a student.
Keio University will apply for the CoE on behalf of international
students residing outside Japan.
Procedure
Apply for a CoE（zairyu shikaku nintei

shoumeisho）
CoE, Certificate of
Eligibility

留学生ビザ（Ryugku sei

biza）
Student visa

Student visa page of the
Ministry of Foreign
Affairs of Japan

Following the instruction sent from Keio University, fill out the
CoE application form and upload it along with your ID photoand other necessary documents to the designated website.

Receive your CoE
Once your electric CoE is issued from a regional immigration
bureau in Japan (it usually takes 2-3 months), Keio university
will send it to you as an email attachment.

https://www.mofa.go.jp/
j_info/visit/visa/long/visa
6.htmlWhat to bring to theJapanese EmbassySmartphone toshow your digital

Apply for a student visa
Make an appointment at your local Japanese
Embassy/Consulate and take your smartphone to sohw yourelectric CoE and other required documents.
*Please note that a CoE is only valid for 3 months after it is issued.

CoE

Completed visa
application formID photoPassport

Other necessary
documents (if necessary)9To obtain a permit for a part-time job
Students who hold a “Student” status of residence are allowed to stayin Japan only for study and research purposes. Therefore, you are notallowed to work. If you wish to engage in secondary activities aside
from your studies, such as a part-time job, you must apply for
資格外活動の許可“Permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the(shikaku gai katsudo no
kyoka)
Permission

katsudo no kyoka)

status of residence previously granted”(資格外活動の許可 shikaku gai

to engage in activity
other than that
permitted under the
status of residence
previously granted

With this work permission, students are allowed to work for up to 28
hours a week (up to 8 hours a day during the summer, winter andspring break) as long as the work is not deemed to be socially immoral.
How to apply

For moredetails
about work
permission,please refer
to 5-2.

You will receive the application form for this permit together with yourdigital CoE by email from our Admission Office.
Fill out the application form and submit it at Immigration at your portof entry upon arrival in Japan. Permission to engage in an activity otherthan that permitted under the status of residence will be given at the
airport accordingly.
Bringing your family to Japan
Please consult with the Japanese Embassy/Consulate in your homecountry, as Keio University does not support family visas.

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1-4 Money
Japan is predominantly a cash-based society especially in rural areas.
We recommend you bring the equivalent of ~300,000 JPY in cash withyou even if you are a scholarship student as scholarship payment
usually takes 4 to 6 weeks to start.
Currency
The currency in Japan is the yen (円, en) and is denoted with the

円 (en) Yen

symbol ¥.
Bills come in 1,000 yen, 2,000 yen (rare), 5,000 yen and 10,000 yen
denominations. Coins come in 1 yen, 5 yen, 10 yen, 50 yen, 100 yen
and 500 yen denominations.
Consumption tax
The current consumption tax rate is 10% nationwide (8% for take-out).

消費税（shouhi-zei）

All the price tags include the consumption tax.

Consumption tax

Tipping
Tipping is not customary in Japan. In fact, it can be considered rude inmany situations. If you leave the money at a restaurant table, they will
run after you to return the “forgotten” money.
現金（genkin） Cash

Payment methods
Cash:
We recommend you carry cash in your wallet, around ~3,000JPY fordaily life, and ~10,000JPY for your first visiting day.
IC cards:
An IC card is a prepaid transportation card which can be used on mostJapanesepublictransportation

and

also

at

many vending

machines, shops and restaurants by simply touching the card on a

SUICA card11

reader. You can charge them with cash at most of the train stations.
Transportation
IC cards sales
is currently
suspended,
Please refer to
8-4 forCommuteYou can obtain an IC card at a train station only with cash. (You don’t
need to have a bank account or a credit card.) You need to pay 500 JPY
as a deposit when you get the card for the first time.
In the Tokyo metropolitan area, the SUICA card is the most commonlyused IC card.

クレジットカード

Credit Cards:

kurejitto kaado

If you are going to use your own credit card(s) issued in your homecredit card

country, please check with the credit card company if the card(s) canbe used in Japan.
The most commonly accepted cards are MasterCard, Visa, JCB, andAmerican Express.

デビットカード

Debit Cards:

debitto kaado
debit card

A debit card can be difficult to obtain for international students as debit
cards are issued through credit card companies such as VISA or
MasterCard in combination with your bank.

スマホ決済

Mobile payment Apps (QR Code-based):sumaho kessai

You can make payments by scanning the QR code displayed or showing

mobile payment

the barcode on your smartphone app to be scanned. Once you get amobile phone and a bank account, you can install those apps.

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1-5 Travel Arrangement
 Passport
Apply for a passport if you haven’t got one.
 Airline Ticket

Map and Directions to
SFC

You must book your own airline ticket.
The closest international airports are
・Narita International Airport (approx. 3 hours to SFC)
・Haneda Airport/Tokyo International Airport (approx. 1 hour to
SFC) Travel Insurance

https://www.sfc.keio.ac.j
p/en/maps.html

This is not mandatory, but travel insurance is strongly
recommended for the first few weeks until joining the National
Health Insurance plan with your residential registration.
 Trains
Check access from your port of entry to your final destination.

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Access from Major Stations

Access from Airports

Shuttle bus services are also available to most major locations within the Tokyo area.
Visit each airport’s website for details.

Access to SFC from the nearest train stations
From Shonandai station:

15 minutes by bus

From Tsujido station:

25 minutes by bus

Please see 8-4 for more details.

141-6 Necessary Documents
The following documents will be required after your arrival. However,
we recommend you prepare them while you are in your home country.

Documents to beprepared before

Also, please make photocopies of your passport and your visa

coming to Japan

documents, prepare extra ID photos (4cm X 3cm), and check thecontact number for your embassy in Japan.

your passport

Contact informationof your embassy incitizen with regular income. They must also be able to prove that theJapanrent is not above 30% of what they earn.
You need to find a joint guarantor in order to rent an apartment before

Extra ID photos(4cm X 3cm)

a student defaults on payment of rent, or damages are incurred to anapartment. They must be over 20 years of age and be a JapanesePhotoopies of yourvisa documents

Joint Guarantor (Refer to 2-3 for more details)“Joint guarantor” is a co-signer who takes legal responsibility in case

Photocopies ofJoint guarantor’s
information

you arrive in Japan. Make sure to get their contact details andorsignature to submit to the realtors.

Subscribe toComprehensive
Renter’s Insurance

Comprehensive Renter’s Insurance by KeioIf a guarantor cannot be found, it is possible for Keio University to cosign the lease for your period of study at Keio University.

system

Documents tocertify the incomeof your guardian for

For details of this system, refer to 2-3.

applying for
scholarships

Necessary Documents for Financial Aid
Prepare documents to certify the income of your parent(s)/spouse andfinancial supporters.


Documents for all of your supporters, including your parent(s)/spouse. If your parent(s)/spouse do not earn any income, pleasestate it in the Financial Supporter Report (prescribed form).

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Documents required
for scholarship
application
registration



If your parent(s) (or spouse) or financial supporters reside outsideof Japan, they should submit a copy of documents that certify theirincome. An English or Japanese translation must be attached to(Keio International

the documents written in other languages then mentioned above.

Center)You can also write English or Japanese translations directly onto
the documents (the name of the document, year, amount ofincome, income period, name of the recipient and date of issuancemust be translated).

https://www.ic.keio.ac.jp/en/life/scholarship/appl
ication.html

Please refer to the Keio University International Center’s webpage ason the left for all the required documents and guidelines forscholarship application registration.

1-7 Medical
Visit your doctor
We advise you to visit a doctor for a physical examination before
coming to Japan. Bring along a copy of your medical records in English
in case of an emergency or if you are suffering from a chronic illness.
Prescription medications
輸入確認書(Yunyu

The importing of medicines from overseas is subject to control by the

Kakunin-sho)

Pharmaceutical Affairs Law and the Customs Law to prevent health

Import Confirmation

hazards caused by defective products.

Application Form

You can bring your personal medicines into Japan once certain
Ministry of Health,Labour and Welfare

procedures are completed. When bringing your personal medicines
into Japan, you have to apply for an “Import Confirmation
Application Form” ("Yunyu Kakunin-sho" in Japanese/ 輸入確認書),
and receive it before you leave your home country, and declare it tothe officer at customs.
See the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare website as shown on

https://www.mhlw.go.jp/
english/policy/healthmedical/pharmaceuticals/01.html

16

the left.
You can find the “Q & A form” and “Import Confirmation
Application Form” on the page.

1-8 Packing
Pack smart
While most things are readily available in Japan, some items may be
more expensive, inconvenient to purchase, or difficult to be mailed
internationally, so you may wish to bring particular items with youfrom your home country.
Recommendations include:
Clothes:
Temperatures in the Kanto region can range from about 10ºF (around
1~2ºC) in the winter to 100ºF (around 35ºC) in the summer. For thisreason, a wide range of clothing sufficient for the entire year isnecessary.
Do not forget to pack formal clothes like black suits which are suitablefor ceremonial occasions.
If you prefer larger-sized clothing, we advise that you bring them fromyour home country as it is not easy to obtain those sizes in Japan.
Japanese “L” size is maybe a “M” size in some countries.
Also, if your shoe size is bigger than 28cm for men, 25cm for women,
it may be difficult to find shoes in Japan.
*Recently, more varieties of sizes are available online.
Over-the-counter medicines:
Some over-the counter medicines (OTC), an equivalent amount ofvitamins and contact lenses for a two-month (60 day) supply areallowed to be carried into Japan.

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Back-up glasses/contact lenses
You can buy both of these items in Japan, but you need to visit a doctor
to get a prescription to purchase contact lenses. Back-up lenses will be
useful for emergencies.
Electric adaptors and voltage converters
Also refer to 2-6

Japan operates on a 100V supply voltage at 50/60 Hz. The socket typeis Type A (two-pronged like the U.S).
SIM / Wi-fi router
As Japan does not have many free Wi-fi spots, you will need to make acontract with a phone company once you are settled in Japan. Until
then, you can use a short-term pre-paid SIM or a portable Wi-fi router.
You can pick one up at the airport on your arrival.
Hand-carried baggage








Japan Customs

Cash (a credit card and a cash card if possible)
Flight tickets
Passport
Smartphone to show your CoE
Travel insurance certificate (if any)
A pen
Contact list (Contact information of your embassy in Japan, Keio
University, your guarantor, and your accommodation)

Prohibited articles
Please check the Japan Customs page as shown on the left.

https://www.customs.g
o.jp/english/summary/passenger.htm

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1-9 Culture and Language
Inform yourself about Japan
Take some time to better familiarize yourself with Japan. Knowing yoursoon-to-behome'sculture,history,geography,

economy,government, etc. can improve your experience in Japan and your time

<MARUGOTO
Japanese Learning>
Hiragana :spent in the country will be more rewarding. Talk to others who havebeen to Japan and seek opportunities to watch movies and read more
about the country and its culture.
It is recommended you learn basic Japanese greetings and the twomain written scripts (hiragana and katakana). It will make your life inJapan much easier. (reading menus, etc.). Note that not many people

https://a1.marugotoweb.
jp/en/hiragana.php
Katkana :can speak English well especially outside of Tokyo.
Please review the beginner’s Japanese learning webpages of the JapanFoundation.
Also make sure to familiarize yourself with all the admission guideinformation from Keio SFC.

https://a1.marugotoweb.
jp/en/katakana.php

191-10 Immigration
Visit Japan Web

https://vjw-

Visit Japan Web
Visit Japan Web is a web service that visitors (including Japaneseand foreigners who have reentry permits) can use for immigrationand customs procedures in order to enter Japan.
Using this service, customs declarations and registration of foreign
immigration records can be done in advance.

lp.digital.go.jp/en/howto/

Arrival procedure at Narita/Haneda Airports

Embarkation/Disembarkation card (E/D card) &Customs declaration card
An E/D card (Embarkation/Disembarkation card), a customs
declaration card and a quarantine questionnaire will be given to youon the airplane. Please fill them out before your arrival.

Quarantine
Undergo a health check at the quarantine counter. Please present
the completed quarantine questionnaire to the quarantine counter.

Passport Control
Present the following documents to the officer.
Your passport

A completed E/D card

Application form for part-time work permission(資格外活動許可申請書) which was sent to you from Keio University
with your CoE by email.

A Landing Permission stamp will be affixed to your passport and *aresidence card will be issued. Please double-check that bothresidence status and visa duration are accurate.

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You will have your finger prints recorded and your photographtaken.

Baggage Claim
Pick up your checked luggage from the baggage claim area.

Customs Inspection
Present your customs declaration card and undergo a customs
screening.

Arrivals Lobby
Please take a train/bus to your designated accommodation.

*Residence card（在留カード）…. Carry this card with you at all times.
You may be required to present it for certain official procedures such as

在留カード(zairyu ka ado)
Residence card

opening a bank account. Once you have found housing in Japan after
arrival, you must register your place of residence at the local city/ward
office within 14 days after moving in. Make sure to bring your residencecard when you go to the city/ward office. If you fail to register your placeof residence without a justifiable reason, your status of residence may be
revoked.

1-11 Delivery Service
At the arrival floor at each international airport, you can find baggage
delivery services (Takuhaibin/宅配便). If you have a lot of luggage orlarge suitcases, you can use the delivery service. Delivery is usually
made the next day. The price depends on the type, size and weight of

宅配便(Takuhai-bin)
Baggage home delivery
Servicethe package and the destination.
e.g. For a suitcase of 80cm x 40cm x3 0cm would be 2000~3000 JPY
from Narita Airport to your accommodation in Fujisawa.

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22

23

1-13 Announcements
Websites and Email Accounts
Latest announcements and important notices will be provided throughwebsites and e-mails, so please check these on a daily basis. The
university will not be liable for any damages or disadvantages causedby having overlooked announcements.
In addition, you will need to use specific websites to register for courses
or participate in classes; you may also be required to use some websites
when carrying out other procedures or making applications.
For details on functions and usage protocols for respective websites
and email services, please refer to the relevant user guide or manual in
K-Support

advance.

(1) K-Support
K-Support is a portal site intended for current students at Keiohttps://keiouniversity.
my.site.com/students/s/
Keio University
Students Website

University. You can check news items and messages addressed to you,and make various applications and inquiries. Links to various web
applications are also integrated in the portal.
Keio ID/password required.
(2) Keio University Student Website
This is the portal site for current Keio University students and is calledhttps://www.students.k
eio.ac.jp/en/

the “Jukusei site”. You can find information and the latest news for all
campuses, links to all the following websites, and an FAQ page withanswers to all kinds of questions regarding your academic and student

Keio International
Centerlife.
(3) International Center Website

https://www.ic.keio.ac.j
p/en/

24

This is the website for international students a Keio University. Pleasecheck this page for the latest information on scholarships, theprocedure to enter Japan, etc.

(4) SFC Online Learning System (SOL)SOL-A

The web system provides class support and is used by the Faculty of
Policy Management, Faculty of Environment and Information Studies,and Graduate School of Media and Governance.
CNS account password is required.

https://sola.sfc.keio.ac.jp/(5) Email Accounts
Important notices from the university may be sent to your CNS email
address (@sfc.keio.ac.jp) or keio.jp email address (@keio.jp), so pleasecheck your email regularly.
In addition, please use your CNS email address or keio.jp email
address when contacting faculty members or university offices via
email. The faculty member or university office may not be able torespond if you contact them from another email address.

Guidebooks(1) SFC GUIDE 2024

SFC GUIDE 2024

This annual guidebook covers rules and regulations, the academic
calendar, course registration, curriculum and requirements, the SFC
facilities guide, etc.
(2) SFC CNS GUIDE 2023
This is the guidebook for the SFC campus network system and otherfrequently used websites published by SFC Information Technology
Center. It covers wireless LAN, CNS mail, CNS printers, CNS servers,
etc.

https://www.students.kei
o.ac.jp/en/sfc/pmei/guid
e.html

SFC CNS GUIDE 2023

https://cnsguide.sfc.keio.ac.jp/2023/CNSguide2023_en.pdf

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1-14 Academic Calendar and Time Table
AY2024 Fall Semester Academic Calendar (as of November 10 2023)
Academic Calendar for
SFC students

https://www.students.kei
o.ac.jp/en/com/class/sch
edule/academiccalendar.html

Class Calendar

https://www.sfc.keio.ac.j
p/en/docs/2024_classcal
endars_en.pdf

September Entrance Ceremony(Undergraduate and Graduate)
Orientation (Undergraduates)
Orientation (Graduates)
Fall Semester Course Registration
Start date of Fall semester classes
National Holiday (classes day)National Holiday (classes day)Exam / Makeup Class Days for Courses in
the First Half of the Fall Semester
No Classes Due to Mita Festival
Winter BreakClasses Start
Anniversary of Yukichi Fukuzawa's BD
Makeup Class Day for Courses in theSecond Half of the Fall Semester
Fall Semester-end Exams
Entrance Examinations
Fall Semester Makeup Exams (Tentative)
Commencement Ceremony(Undergraduates and Graduates)
April Entrance Ceremony (Undergraduatesand Graduates)
Orientation (Undergraduates andGraduates)
Spring Semester Course Registration
Start date of Spring semester classes
Health Checkup
Keio Foundation Day
Exam and/or Makeup Class for Courses in
the First Half of the Spring Semester
Makeup Class Day for Courses in theSecond Half of the Spring Semester
Spring Semester-end Exams
Summer BreakSpring Semester Makeup Exams
September Commencement Ceremony(Undergraduate and Graduate)

Sep..24
Sep. 17 - Sep.30
Sep. 25 - Sep. 30
End Sep. – Early Oct.
Oct..1
Oct. .14
Nov. 4
Nov..19 (AM)Nov. 19 (PM) - Nov. 25
Dec. 28 - Jan. 4
Jan. 6
Jan. 10Jan. 23
Jan. 27 to Feb. 3
Mid - Feb.
Early of Feb.
Mar. 24
Apr. 1 (tentative)
TBA
TBA
TBA
TBA
Apr. 23
TBA
TBA
TBA
Aug. 1 - Sep. 21 (tentative)
TBA
Sep. 20 (tentative)

Depending on how the situation unfolds in the future, it may become necessary to
make changes to the calendar.

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Time Table

1st

09:25~10:55

2nd

11:10~12:40

3rd

13:00~14:30

4th

14:45~16:15

5th

16:30~18:00

6th

18:10~19:40

7th

19:50~21:20

1-15 Computing Environment
Preparing a suitable online environment to take online classes

SFC CNS Guide 2023
-English edition-

All students enrolling in the university need to prepare an online
environment and equipment for their studies.
Campus Network System
The personal laptops can be connected to the SFC campus network(CNS) via Wi-Fi.

https://cnsguide.sfc.keio.ac.jp/2023/CNSguide2023_en.pdf

Refer to the SFC CNS Guide 2023 as shown on the right.
*The 2024 version will be available soon.

Contact
Before Enrollment
Shonan Fujisawa Campus Admissions Office(ao-request＠sfc.keio.ac.jp)
After Enrollment
Media Center 1F CNS Service Counter27

Recommended laptop specifications
BYOD for AY 2023

・Display
Resolution Full HD(1920×1080) or higher（recommended）
・Keyboard
https://www.students.k
eio.ac.jp/en/sfc/pmei/class/byod/byod.html

Standardized keyboard that allows for touch typing
・BatteryStandard Battery life of 3 hrs+
・Wireless LAN(Wi-Fi)
IEEE802.11a/ac/n (5GHz Band) or higher, IEEE802.11ac/ax is even

Shonan Fujisawa
Information
Technology Center

better.
・Main memory
8GB (minimum), 16+GB recommended(Shonan Fujisawa

・Internal Disk(HDD/SSD)

KIC)

256GB minimum
・CPUIntel Core i5 and above(minimum), Intel Core i7 and above / AppleM1 recommended

https://www.sfc.itc.keio.ac.jp/en/computer_ren
talpc_sfc.html

・External Output
Has an HDMI port, or can be connected to an HDMI adapter
・OSmacOS 12 (Monterey) or higher / Windows10 or higher
・Others
If the power cable cannot be connected to a narrow outlet, an
extension cable is recommended.
Recommended Software
Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus
Mathematica
MATLAB
SPSS/AmosSAS
JMP
ArcGIS, etc.

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