MEXT Scholarship for Postgraduate 2009: Post Application
- Thread starter jim84
- Start date
WARNING: mega-long post 
Since I just joined this forum yesterday, I`m a bit slow reading some of the old posts, but I have some tips for living cheaply and getting set up in Japan that might be helpful. I`ve lived there for 3 of the past 6 years on different study scholarships. For 1 year of that time I was studying at a university in Kobe, living in the university dorm, so I had a similar experience to what most of you will have.
Cheap clothes/shoes – pack the absolute minimum as these (can be) cheap in Japan. However, girls who have a shoe size larger than 25cm will have trouble getting shoes, generally the biggest size if 24.5-25cms.
...UNIQLO/Foot Park/Jeans Mate (av. 1000yen t-shirt/shirt, 3-4000yen winter jacket, 2-3000yen pair of shoes)
...Daiei/Jusco/ItoYokado/Izumiya etc. (these places are also supermarkets, very cheap but better for just socks/underwear etc. than actual clothes)
For those of you in Kansai looking for more brand-clothes and sportswear (adidas, nike, lacoste, Oakley etc) try these discount designer outlets:
...Porto Bazaar in Kobe (near JR Tarumi station)
...Rinkuu Premium Outlet in Osaka (kinda near kansai international airport, near Rinkuu Town station on the Kansai-Kuukou line)
Getting your apartment/dorm set up
...100 yen shop for all basic household goods. Anyone who has been to Japan knows this.
...Don Quixote (ﾆ檀ﾆ停?愴鱈ﾆ築ﾂーﾆ弾) for cheap futon sets (got one for about 5000yen), pillows, bed covers etc.
...Daiei and home centres such as Konan are also pretty cheap
...Recycle shops for second-hand appliances (however you will need a car and someone who knows where the places in your area are)
...When you get to your dorm, introduce yourself to graduating students who are about to move out, they may give you their stuff for free or cheap (that`s what happened to me!)
Supermarkets
...Gyomu Supa 窶ｹﾃ??督ｱﾆ湛ﾂーﾆ恥ﾂー for much cheaper prices than regular supermarkets on fruit, veggies, all groceries, bulk frozen meat and fish etc. Do a google of kobe bussan.
...Someone said before about perishable goods in supermarkets such as sushi, sashimi, obento etc. being discounted at the end of the day and eating cheaply in the shokudou of your university.
...Also, restaurants that are shokudo such as Meshi-ya are very cheap if you don`t want to cook
Electronic dictionaries
Yes the ones with a sensor pad a pen for looking up kanji are a life-saver!! About 50 000yen for a new one, second hand around 3-40000yen depending on the model. My personal choice for second hand electronics (and new ones at good prices) is a store called Sofmap. Also note to girls: don`t bother bringing your hair dryer/straightener/styling tools to Japan as the voltage for these are different and you probably won`t be able to use it. Japanese products are good quality and not too expensive so its probably best to buy them in Japan.
Money in Japan
Cash is best. Especially when you first get there. I`ve been to Japan about 6 times, lived in 5 different cities, and each time I was told by a bank in my country ﾂ"if your bank card has a Cirrus symbol on it, you can use it at any ATM in Japanﾂ". More often than not, this was not the case. Out of about 5 ATMs which supposedly took foreign cards, there was only 1 that actually worked with my card. Shops that say they take credit card often only accept cards that are issued in Japan by a Japanese bank. I know lots of other foreigners who have also had this problem. However, some people in this forum have said they had no problem using foreign cards, so I guess it just depends on which city you`re in and where you shop. Still, in my opinion, cash is best in Japan.
Sorry guys, I wanted to put up links to websites of the places I talked about, but the forum wouldn`t let me coz apparently I haven`t made enough posts yet.
Since I just joined this forum yesterday, I`m a bit slow reading some of the old posts, but I have some tips for living cheaply and getting set up in Japan that might be helpful. I`ve lived there for 3 of the past 6 years on different study scholarships. For 1 year of that time I was studying at a university in Kobe, living in the university dorm, so I had a similar experience to what most of you will have.
Cheap clothes/shoes – pack the absolute minimum as these (can be) cheap in Japan. However, girls who have a shoe size larger than 25cm will have trouble getting shoes, generally the biggest size if 24.5-25cms.
...UNIQLO/Foot Park/Jeans Mate (av. 1000yen t-shirt/shirt, 3-4000yen winter jacket, 2-3000yen pair of shoes)
...Daiei/Jusco/ItoYokado/Izumiya etc. (these places are also supermarkets, very cheap but better for just socks/underwear etc. than actual clothes)
For those of you in Kansai looking for more brand-clothes and sportswear (adidas, nike, lacoste, Oakley etc) try these discount designer outlets:
...Porto Bazaar in Kobe (near JR Tarumi station)
...Rinkuu Premium Outlet in Osaka (kinda near kansai international airport, near Rinkuu Town station on the Kansai-Kuukou line)
Getting your apartment/dorm set up
...100 yen shop for all basic household goods. Anyone who has been to Japan knows this.
...Don Quixote (ﾆ檀ﾆ停?愴鱈ﾆ築ﾂーﾆ弾) for cheap futon sets (got one for about 5000yen), pillows, bed covers etc.
...Daiei and home centres such as Konan are also pretty cheap
...Recycle shops for second-hand appliances (however you will need a car and someone who knows where the places in your area are)
...When you get to your dorm, introduce yourself to graduating students who are about to move out, they may give you their stuff for free or cheap (that`s what happened to me!)
Supermarkets
...Gyomu Supa 窶ｹﾃ??督ｱﾆ湛ﾂーﾆ恥ﾂー for much cheaper prices than regular supermarkets on fruit, veggies, all groceries, bulk frozen meat and fish etc. Do a google of kobe bussan.
...Someone said before about perishable goods in supermarkets such as sushi, sashimi, obento etc. being discounted at the end of the day and eating cheaply in the shokudou of your university.
...Also, restaurants that are shokudo such as Meshi-ya are very cheap if you don`t want to cook
Electronic dictionaries
Yes the ones with a sensor pad a pen for looking up kanji are a life-saver!! About 50 000yen for a new one, second hand around 3-40000yen depending on the model. My personal choice for second hand electronics (and new ones at good prices) is a store called Sofmap. Also note to girls: don`t bother bringing your hair dryer/straightener/styling tools to Japan as the voltage for these are different and you probably won`t be able to use it. Japanese products are good quality and not too expensive so its probably best to buy them in Japan.
Money in Japan
Cash is best. Especially when you first get there. I`ve been to Japan about 6 times, lived in 5 different cities, and each time I was told by a bank in my country ﾂ"if your bank card has a Cirrus symbol on it, you can use it at any ATM in Japanﾂ". More often than not, this was not the case. Out of about 5 ATMs which supposedly took foreign cards, there was only 1 that actually worked with my card. Shops that say they take credit card often only accept cards that are issued in Japan by a Japanese bank. I know lots of other foreigners who have also had this problem. However, some people in this forum have said they had no problem using foreign cards, so I guess it just depends on which city you`re in and where you shop. Still, in my opinion, cash is best in Japan.
Sorry guys, I wanted to put up links to websites of the places I talked about, but the forum wouldn`t let me coz apparently I haven`t made enough posts yet.
Hi all, vyen you are right. But I'm sure many more who are not on this forum will join us while we check in. We can all meet up on 31st, then strategize abit to meet up on the 1st at the airport.
Some of us will need to transit (are you c0ok1e?), but most of us should be getting out at Tokyo. Not sure how easy it will be to get to the dorm, but as long as we stick together it should be ok.
Some of us will need to transit (are you c0ok1e?), but most of us should be getting out at Tokyo. Not sure how easy it will be to get to the dorm, but as long as we stick together it should be ok.
Transportation from Penang to KLIA
According to the Ms Yin's email, all scholarship recipients will be gather at KLIA airport. So, for person who is from Penang like me need to arrange flight from Penang to KLIA and pay the air ticket by myself?
May I have your suggestions?
According to the Ms Yin's email, all scholarship recipients will be gather at KLIA airport. So, for person who is from Penang like me need to arrange flight from Penang to KLIA and pay the air ticket by myself?
May I have your suggestions?
>lskeki
Aren't you going to KL on the 31st of March? I would suggest you to stay in KL, and go to the airport directly on 1st April. I don't think it is worth going back to Penang and go to KL again the next day... For that you will at least need RM60 more... enough to pay your accomodation fee. And you won't be rushing...
Transport Arrangement
Yes... you should be arranging and paying for whatever takes you to the KLIA and also the tranportation fee which takes you to your university, by yourself.
>lskeki
Count me in! I am studying in Penang!
I am doing some research of mobile phone services in Japan, and somehow I got confused. Are the mobile phones for billing subscription free? I understand that for prepaid plans, the phones would have to be bought.
Aren't you going to KL on the 31st of March? I would suggest you to stay in KL, and go to the airport directly on 1st April. I don't think it is worth going back to Penang and go to KL again the next day... For that you will at least need RM60 more... enough to pay your accomodation fee. And you won't be rushing...
Transport Arrangement
Yes... you should be arranging and paying for whatever takes you to the KLIA and also the tranportation fee which takes you to your university, by yourself.
>lskeki
Count me in! I am studying in Penang!
I am doing some research of mobile phone services in Japan, and somehow I got confused. Are the mobile phones for billing subscription free? I understand that for prepaid plans, the phones would have to be bought.
Last edited:
>kouki,
Thank you for your advice.
Are you staying in KL after attending the 31st March pre-departure ceremony? Then, where will you stay?
If I stay in KL, I need to take LRT to Tasek Selatan, and then take the KLIA transit to KLIA. But I might bring along heavy luggage with me.
Heavy.....heavy.....heavy
Thank you for your advice.
Are you staying in KL after attending the 31st March pre-departure ceremony? Then, where will you stay?
If I stay in KL, I need to take LRT to Tasek Selatan, and then take the KLIA transit to KLIA. But I might bring along heavy luggage with me.
Heavy.....heavy.....heavy
very nice post V but 1000 yen t shirt is still alittle expensive.. im interested in the electronic dict but 50k yen is expensive to me.. maybe il be getting a normal dictionary or look for cheaper ones..
i still dont know how to transit from narita to new chitose airport.. do i have to book the ticket myself from narita to the chitose airport?? i will have to do it now if i need to
i still dont know how to transit from narita to new chitose airport.. do i have to book the ticket myself from narita to the chitose airport?? i will have to do it now if i need to
- Thread starter
- #361
Thanks V, your post is a killer.
Should put a title: Guide to Cheap Survival in Japan
=)
Great info, very useful. Thanks a lot!
You must be a master sifu as an international student d, having been in 5 cities, under various scholarship.
Accept my bow of respect: orz.
Should put a title: Guide to Cheap Survival in Japan
=)
Great info, very useful. Thanks a lot!
You must be a master sifu as an international student d, having been in 5 cities, under various scholarship.
Accept my bow of respect: orz.
- Thread starter
- #362
I suggest you take Cab rather than KLIA express. The train ticket costs around RM30-50 single trip if not mistaken.
Cab costs between RM50-70. You can share with a few people and split the cost, also minus the luggage carrying part as the driver will usually help.
There are a lot of budget hotels in KL and Selangor area. I can recommend some in Subang which are not bad. Easily accesible to Taxis and KTM line (if you insist).
Subang is nearer to KLIA compared to KL. Don't stay in KL city unless you want to do some last minute shopping, the jam during evening hours (super crazy) may cause you to risk delays to the airport.
- Thread starter
- #363
50,000yen is really expensive.
I heard my Japanese language sensei said she got hers in Japan for about RM 300.
Perhaps for those who knows mandarin, you don't really need a dictionary that is soooo advanced in terms of kanji guide.
MakKuro
先輩
- 17 Jan 2009
- 36
- 0
Ours too!
I'll be arriving at 8:40! Sofia-Frankfurt-KIairport.I'll be arriving at Kansai airport on 2nd of April at 8:40
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
nice advice V! I will keep your post in mind. Oh, could you send me those links? I will post them for you.
1000yen for a shirt is the minimum in the US too, good deal. Those are the kind of shirts I buy. I'm a bit picky on shoes... 2-3000yen? Are these shoes good?
I'm almost certain that I will be spending my 11hour flight alone.... anyways, my consulate said they wanted to have an "orientation" for me. But I think its really a surprise party for 1~2 applicants hehe.
1000yen for a shirt is the minimum in the US too, good deal. Those are the kind of shirts I buy. I'm a bit picky on shoes... 2-3000yen? Are these shoes good?
I'm almost certain that I will be spending my 11hour flight alone.... anyways, my consulate said they wanted to have an "orientation" for me. But I think its really a surprise party for 1~2 applicants hehe.
eucalyptus
後輩
- 26 Feb 2009
- 11
- 0
cookie: I'm heading to Narita as well - count me in! 
Funny - but I am still awed by the surrealness that we really are going to be in Japan in less than 3 weeks!!
How's every1's preparation so far? Initially I thot of bringing only the basics to survive the early days there YET me parents insist on getting "sufficient" supplies of almost everything from here (which literally means more stuff to pack!!)
V: OMG!! u've been in 5 cities in Japan for the past 3 of 6 years?? how cool is that??? do share more with us!!!
Funny - but I am still awed by the surrealness that we really are going to be in Japan in less than 3 weeks!!
How's every1's preparation so far? Initially I thot of bringing only the basics to survive the early days there YET me parents insist on getting "sufficient" supplies of almost everything from here (which literally means more stuff to pack!!
)V: OMG!! u've been in 5 cities in Japan for the past 3 of 6 years?? how cool is that??? do share more with us!!!
I'll be arriving at 8:40! Sofia-Frankfurt-KIairport.
Frankfurt?
We were just told that we will be probably flying with Lufthansa, departing April 1st and arriving in Japan April 2nd, but were not given the full flight details yet. Maybe we are on the same flight?
@MakKuro
Now we just have to figure out how to recognize and intercept fellow MEXT students on an airplane (or maybe at the gate pre-boarding is a better idea?)
I have seen way too much of Frankfurt airport over the past few years, since I've been working at a German company and made many trips to the home office. I'm quite sick of it, really...
Now we just have to figure out how to recognize and intercept fellow MEXT students on an airplane (or maybe at the gate pre-boarding is a better idea?)
I have seen way too much of Frankfurt airport over the past few years, since I've been working at a German company and made many trips to the home office. I'm quite sick of it, really...
We'll be taking the same plane!Ours too!
I'll be arriving at 8:40! Sofia-Frankfurt-KIairport.
I'm also switching planes in Frankfurt. Cookie: if you`re looking for a shirt cheaper than 1000 yen, sometimes they have 2-for-1 offers, or places like Calaja, Hiraki or Shimamura have cheaper (pretty sure you`ll only find these stores in the smaller cities of Japan)ﾂ…or there`s always the 100-yen t-shirts from 100 Yen Shop haha!
Menrui: Thanks, I sent you a private message with the links. I don`t know if it worked though, let me know and I can send it to you again. The 2-3000yen shoes are not the best quality (for girls they are fine, for guys they are not that great). If you`re looking for something better go to the designer outlet stores I mentioned. I got a pair of Nike Shox at Porto Bazaar Kobe for 5000yen in January (normal price around 12 000yen)ﾂ…look out for the big sales they have in August and January every year. They also have a few sales around March/April for Spring/Stocktake as it's the end of the financial year. These sale periods are pretty universal through all kinds of stores for all kinds of products in Japan.
Everyone who mentioned the electronic dictionaries: The 50 000yen I quoted was for a new, advanced, deluxe model that I bought with the Kanji sensor pad etc. Yes, those who know Mandarin probably don`t need to worry about this feature and can buy a cheaper dictionary. The first one I ever bought about 5 years ago was just a basic dictionary, it cost me 14 000yen new, this probably enough to get you through your first few years of learning Japanese.
Menrui: Thanks, I sent you a private message with the links. I don`t know if it worked though, let me know and I can send it to you again. The 2-3000yen shoes are not the best quality (for girls they are fine, for guys they are not that great). If you`re looking for something better go to the designer outlet stores I mentioned. I got a pair of Nike Shox at Porto Bazaar Kobe for 5000yen in January (normal price around 12 000yen)ﾂ…look out for the big sales they have in August and January every year. They also have a few sales around March/April for Spring/Stocktake as it's the end of the financial year. These sale periods are pretty universal through all kinds of stores for all kinds of products in Japan.
Everyone who mentioned the electronic dictionaries: The 50 000yen I quoted was for a new, advanced, deluxe model that I bought with the Kanji sensor pad etc. Yes, those who know Mandarin probably don`t need to worry about this feature and can buy a cheaper dictionary. The first one I ever bought about 5 years ago was just a basic dictionary, it cost me 14 000yen new, this probably enough to get you through your first few years of learning Japanese.
menrui
先輩
- 24 May 2008
- 428
- 0
*credit to V
[links for cheap shops in Japan]
UNIQLO (links to the online store so people can see price and products)
http://store.uniqlo.com/jp/
Porto Bazaar Kobe (aka Marine Pia Kobe…company Mitsui has other outlet stores like this in many parts of Japan: Osaka, Tokyo, Sendai etc.)
http://www.31op.com/index2.html
Rinkuu Premium Outlet Osaka
りんくうプレミアム・アウトレット - PREMIUM OUTLETS®
Don Quijote
驚安の殿堂 ドン・キホーテ
Gyomu Supa
http://www.kobebussan.co.jp/
Meshi-ya
http://www.meshiya.co.jp/
Sofmap
http://www.sofmap.com/
[links for cheap shops in Japan]
UNIQLO (links to the online store so people can see price and products)
http://store.uniqlo.com/jp/
Porto Bazaar Kobe (aka Marine Pia Kobe…company Mitsui has other outlet stores like this in many parts of Japan: Osaka, Tokyo, Sendai etc.)
http://www.31op.com/index2.html
Rinkuu Premium Outlet Osaka
りんくうプレミアム・アウトレット - PREMIUM OUTLETS®
Don Quijote
驚安の殿堂 ドン・キホーテ
Gyomu Supa
http://www.kobebussan.co.jp/
Meshi-ya
http://www.meshiya.co.jp/
Sofmap
http://www.sofmap.com/
>lskeki
I am departing in October, so I will go back to Penang on that day.
If you would like to take the CAT to KLIA, I would suggest you to take it at KL Sentral. But as ooilingfan has suggested, it would be better if you could call taxi sending you to KLIA. The price is worth taking you there, rather than you have to drag your things along with you on the public transport. You should know how 'good' is the Malaysia public transport.
>V__
Are those electronic dictionaries come together with technical terms? We would need to deal with those really often, and I heard they are not covered in our intensive Japanese Langauge Course.
I am departing in October, so I will go back to Penang on that day.
If you would like to take the CAT to KLIA, I would suggest you to take it at KL Sentral. But as ooilingfan has suggested, it would be better if you could call taxi sending you to KLIA. The price is worth taking you there, rather than you have to drag your things along with you on the public transport. You should know how 'good' is the Malaysia public transport.
>V__
Are those electronic dictionaries come together with technical terms? We would need to deal with those really often, and I heard they are not covered in our intensive Japanese Langauge Course.
The dictionary I have is Casio Ex-Word model XD-GW6800, its about 1.5 years old, the sensor pad is ok, but for more complicated kanji, yes you do have to re-write the character a few times before it will recognise it correctly. The newer models may have improved this feature. They have sample models in the stores for you to try out the features before you buy. You can also change the sensitivity setting of the sensor to make kanji recognition faster.
kouki: the advanced dictionary I have includes over 100 dictionaries, some of them are kokugo (japanese language for japanese people, so definitions are described only in japanese) so it does include a most technical words, its very rare that an academic word I`m looking for doesn`t come up. The basic dictionary I had before included basically no technical words.
Yeah, I was at uni there with lots of Monbusho students doing intensive Japanese language course and these generally don`t cover technical terms, its just for basic japanese. I did take some classes at my uni especially for business/economics technical terms and reading skills for foreign students, but you had to get a high score in the initial class placement exam to be allowed to take those classes. It also depends on the university as to what japanese language courses they offer for foreign students. This varies widely.
kouki: the advanced dictionary I have includes over 100 dictionaries, some of them are kokugo (japanese language for japanese people, so definitions are described only in japanese) so it does include a most technical words, its very rare that an academic word I`m looking for doesn`t come up. The basic dictionary I had before included basically no technical words.
Yeah, I was at uni there with lots of Monbusho students doing intensive Japanese language course and these generally don`t cover technical terms, its just for basic japanese. I did take some classes at my uni especially for business/economics technical terms and reading skills for foreign students, but you had to get a high score in the initial class placement exam to be allowed to take those classes. It also depends on the university as to what japanese language courses they offer for foreign students. This varies widely.
