Chapter 4
Other Procedures59

4 Other Procedures
4-1 Opening a Bank Account
普通預金(futsu yokin)a general account通帳(tsucho)
a bank book

Under the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Act, persons includinginternational students, are considered “non-residents” for their first 6months in Japan.
“Non-residents” are not allowed to open a bank account for their first
6 months in Japan, except for JP Bank and Suruga Bank. However, eventhese banks allow you to only make deposits or withdrawals until you
have reached the sixth month of living in Japan.
JP Bank

キャッシュカード(kyasshu kado)a cash card

To open a bank account at JP Bank, you need to visit one of theirbranches. There is one next to the North gate of SFC.
The application form will be given at the designated counter.
Bring your residence card, your student ID card with a sticker on theback, and your phone number in Japan. Some branches may ask you tocome with a Japanese speaker.
After completing the paperwork, you will receive a bank book (tsucho)
on the same day, and a cash card (kyasshu kado) will be sent to theaddress of the account holder approximately one week later. (There isa case where they cannot issue your bank book on the same day forsome reason. In that case, your bank book will be sent to you by postlater.)*MEXT scholarship recipients are required to open an account at JP Bank to receive
their scholarship.

Suruga Bank

https://www.surugabank.
co.jp/surugabank/foreign
ers/account/60

You can open a bank account from your smartphone. Please follow theinstructions on their website.
*After residing in Japan for 6 months, you need to visit the nearest bank branch tochange your “non-resident account” to a “resident account”.

Which Bank to Choose after Residing in Japan for 6 months?
Mega Banks

Banks in Japan primarily consist of major city banks such as Mizuho
Bank, Mitsubishi UFJ Bank, and Mitsui Sumitomo—that have headMizuho Bank
みずほ銀行

offices in large cities like Tokyo and branch offices across the nation—and regional banks including Suruga Bank or Bank of Yokohama, thatprovide financial services in specified prefectures or regions in thecountry.
Students choose their banks based on convenience, but please note

Bank of Mitsubishi UFJ三菱 UFJ 銀行

Sumitomo MitsuiBank住友三井銀行

that some scholarship providers designate specific banks for theirscholarship payment.
There is one JP post bank near the North gate of SFC and theconvenience store “Lawson” on campus also has a bank ATM insideJP Bank
ゆうちょ銀行

Local Banks

the shop. You cannot open a bank account at ATMs, however, you canYokohama Bank

withdraw cash from those ATMs once you set up your bank account

横浜銀行

in one of the branches outside of campus (You can find bank branches
near main train stations such as Shonandai/Tsujido/ Fujisawa).
<Note>
Keio University will make a transfer to your bank account whennecessary, but please beware that Keio University cannot maketransfers to students' Japan Post Bank accounts.

Suruga Bank
スルガ銀行

English FriendlyBanks
Shinsei BankSMBC Trust Bank

Closing Your Bank Accounts
Please make sure to close all of your bank accounts when youleave Japan.
When your unused bank accounts are used for bank transfer fraud orother scams, you will be held criminally responsible.

English Friendly
Online BanksSony Bank
Rakuten Bank
Seven Bank61

Bank Terminology

Bank Services

口座開設(koza kaisetsu)

Banking services including deposits and savings, direct payment foropening a bankutility bills, automatic debit transfer for credit cards, remittance, etc. areaccountall handled at banks and post offices (ゆうちょ銀行/yucho ginko). If you

預け入れ(azukeire)

Depositwish to send money home or overseas, you should consult with yourbank about the options you have, since each financial institution varies
in commission fees and handles services differently. For conducting

振替(furikae) Transfer

domestic and overseas remittance that amounts to more than 100,000
JPY, a form of personal ID (residence card, health insurance card, etc.)

通帳記入(tsucho kinyu)

Update Passbook

is required.

引き出し(hikidashi)

When making a cash withdrawal at a bank counter, you will need theWithdrawal

personal seal that you registered with when you opened your account

振込み(furikomi)

Remittancecash can be withdrawn from ATMs or cash dispensers, but be awarethat there may be a limit to the number of withdrawals and the amount

残高照会(zandakashokai )or give them your signature if you did not use one. If using a bank card,that can be withdrawn per day.

Checking

BalanceBank counters are normally open 9:00–15:00, and are usually closed on

残高照会後お引き出しweekends and holidays.

(zandaka shokaigoohikidashi)
Withdrawal After
Checking Balance

As each financial institution has different service hours and fees at theirbranches and ATMs, please check their websites for more detailed
information.

外貨両替え（gaikaryogae）Money

Foreign Currency Exchange

Exchange

Bank branches outside of Tokyo tend not to deal with foreign currency
海外送金(kaigai sokin)exchange.

overseas remittance

You can find currency exchange shops such as World Currency shops

手数料(tesuryo)

handling charge

62

in big cities and currency exchange machines in major train stations
such as Akihabara, Ginza, Shinjuku, Kamakura, and etc.

4-2 Credit Card
There are many choices of credit cards, but ones issued by banks are
subject to strict screening; it is considered difficult for those who have been
in Japan for less than one or two years to get approved by the credit cardcompany.
The following credit cards are easy for international students living inJapan to apply for and to get approved. Also, they charge no annual
membership fee.

Rakuten Card (Japaneselanguage only)
https://www.rakutencard.co.jp/

Rakuten Card
https://grp01.id.rakuten.co.jp/rms/nid/registfwdi
EPOS Card
MUJI Card

Keio Card
Keio University also offers different credit card services. Informationon these cards can be found in the Keio Co-op store in the Sigma

Keio Card(Japanese languageonly)

Building at SFC.
Items required when applying for a credit card
◻ Bank accounthttps://www.keiocard.com/◻ Address◻ Mobile phone or fixed-line phone number◻ Residence card
◻ Parents’ consent for students under 18 years oldPlease note that all the application needs to be done in Japanese
language only.

634-3 Smartphone Contracts

What to Bring WhenPurchasing aSmartphone with aContract◻
◻
◻
◻

Residence card
PassportBank card
Personal Seal

Having a smartphone contract in Japan is one of the first struggles mostnon-Japanese students face when coming to Japan for the following
reasons.
Unable to purchase phone device in installments as the periodof stay is under 24 months● In most cases, credit card is required● Contract and customers support are available only in Japanese●Smartphone Service Companies
The Big 3GTN mobileSoftbankAU
DocomoThe Budget SIMs

https://gtnmobile.com/en/uni_plans/

mobal

https://www.mobal.com/japan-simcard/?source=3289

64

Rakuten Mobile!
Y!MobileUQ Mobile etc.
International students friendly
GTN
mobal

Please search and compare some mobile service companies and choose
the best one for you.