How much will clothes, food, housing and tuition fees cost me? Will part-time work be strenuous? What if I become sick? Will the lifestyle be that different? Just thinking of these makes me worried! You may experience a wave of discoveries, surprises or bewilderments from the moment you step into Japan until you are used to it. This is a much traveled road, so rest assured. Be positive and walk through it with confidence!

1. Currency and price of goods

The Japanese currency is the Yen (¥). The 4 denominations of bills are ¥10,000, ¥5,000, ¥2,000 and ¥1,000 while the 6 denominations of coins are ¥500, ¥100, ¥50, ¥10, ¥5 and ¥1. Cash payment is common in Japan though many shops do accept credit cards. Shops receiving debit cards are also on the rise. Checks are not normally used in Japan for payment of everyday expenses. A payment system using cash cards issued by financial institutions such as banks or post offices where payments are immediately settled upon successful transactions.
Exchange of major currencies can be done at banks handling foreign currency exchange. The exchange rate is standard at any bank.

Japan is well-known as one of the countries with an expensive cost of living. The following is a few examples of goods. (Calculated at US$1 = ¥90)


2. Cost of living

The average monthly expenses (including academic fees) of an international student are shown below. As seen, the cost of living in Tokyo is significantly higher than those in other cities.

Related Information

1. Guide for International Students（Japan Study Support/ABK )

2. Necessary Items for Living in Japan( Study in Japan Comprehensive Guide/MOFA ）

3. Japan Fact Sheet（Web Japan/MOFA）

4. Japanese Climate of the 20th Century(Japan Meteorological Agency)

5. Japan Rail Pass(JAPAN RAILWAY)

6. Switching Overseas Driver's License to Japanese License(Japan Automobile Federation)

7. Multilingual Living Information(Council of Local Authorities for International Relations)

8. List of Foreign Schools appointed as High School equivalently in Japan(MEXT)

9. Foreign Schools recognized by International Evaluation Organization(MEXT)

10. Lifestyle Survey of Privately-Financed International Students(JASSO)