Chapter 2.3

Contents

Residency and health insurance enrollment
Related Resources

Residency and health insurance enrollment

Moving into a dormitory

After staying in a hotel for two days, I started to go to the Tokyo Institute of Technology Umegaoka International Students' Hall, which is located at Fujigaoka Station on the Tokyu Tanazono City Line. It was a 15 to 20 minute walk from the station, and I had to walk uphill on the way, so I arrived at the dormitory with my two suitcases.

Dormitory Environment

After meeting the caretaker, Auntie Akiko, and filling out the check-in form, I was officially a member of the dormitory. I would like to introduce the facilities of the dormitory (attached picture):

Rooms: Single and double rooms are available, I was assigned to a single room on the first floor, the room is well-equipped, the beds already have quilts, and the sheets can be changed once a week.
Hostel Network: On the day you move in, there will be a relevant person to come to the dormitory to explain, as long as you fill out the form on the spot and talk about the cost to enjoy the Internet. It's pretty smooth to use.
Sweepers: A variety of sweepers are available for free rental.
Common areas: Bathrooms, kitchens, washing machines and dryers are shared, and the common areas are cleaned daily by the cleaning ladies, making the environment very clean and comfortable. In addition, there is a lounge on each floor where you can meet your fellow residents for a drink.

little reminder

No overnight stays by outsiders: The dormitories have a policy of not allowing outsiders to stay in the dormitories, and violators will be expelled from the dormitory.
About the refrigerator: Although there are dormitory facilities in the common area, I recommend that you keep your personal belongings and ingredients in the refrigerator in your room to prevent people from accidentally taking items from the common refrigerator. I've had my personal belongings put in my personal fridge after being stolen a couple of times because people would just take them out of the communal fridge.

Recommended Housing Agencies

If you don't get a scholarship or the school doesn't provide accommodation, "ビレッジハウス(Village House)" can be a good choice. Here is the introduction of "Village House Managements Co. The following is a brief introduction of this company.

Cheap but reassuring background

The reason for the low price of "Village House" is the acquisition of a large number of employment-promoting residences that were built as part of the employment insurance business in the past in order to reduce operating costs. These residences were originally public housing for laborers, but due to government policy, they were decided to be transferred or abolished by FY2021 and acquired by Fortress Investment Group, a U.S.-based investment company that is part of the Softbank Group. These residences have since been converted into low-cost rental residences called "Village Houses," which are able to offer low rents by reducing costs through bulk purchasing.

Features

Coverage of real estate across the country: Offering properties in a wide range of areas, from urban to rural. From small suites for singles to spacious layouts for families, there is something to suit every need.
Starting a new life with zero initial cost: Normally, a tenancy agreement would involve a number of initial costs, such as deposits, gift money and brokerage fees, to name but a few. However, Village House'sDeposit, Gift and Agency Fee WaivedIf you look at the table below, you can see the difference in fees from a normal agency. Therefore, you can start your new life with less burden.

firms	Club A	B Club	Club C	Village House
deed	¥242,000	¥152,000	¥91,500	¥16,500
deposit	¥45,000	¥0	¥0	¥0
Gift	¥45,000	¥0	¥0	¥0
Intermediary handouts	¥49,500	¥49,500	¥0	¥0
Key Replacement Fee	¥11,000	¥11,000	¥0	¥0
next month's rent	¥45,000	¥45,000	¥45,000	¥0 (Note 1)
Next month's rent	¥45,000	¥45,000	¥45,000	¥15,000 (Note 2)
Day of the month*	¥1,500	¥1,500	¥1,500	¥1,500
Total	¥484,000	¥304,000	¥183,000	¥33,000

Initial Cost Comparison (Source)

(Note 1) Includes a maximum of $30,000 moving subsidy.

(Note 2) Includes a one-month free rent program. Free rent is a way to attract tenants to move in as soon as possible by adjusting the rental conditions to make it easier to rent, in order to avoid the property being left vacant for a long period of time. Rather than leaving the property vacant for almost a year before the next busy season, it is better to offer free rent for the first 1 or 2 months to ensure a stable rental income.

Easy to review
- Ready to rent without guarantor: Uses the company's own criteria to screen tenants.
- No Guarantee Company Required: It is very possible to rent a home without problems, even if there are problems with rent, credit card delinquencies, or personal bankruptcy.
- It's okay to have a low income.: Generally, if the monthly income is about one-third of the rent, it will pass the screening.
Supporting foreigners with peace of mind: Village House also provides strong support for foreigners who are starting a new life in Japan. There are staff members who provide multilingual services (Chinese and English) so that foreigners will not be bothered by the language barrier when going through the procedures.
Committed to environmental protection and community contribution: Contribute to the revitalization of the community and environmental protection through the renovation of unused houses and old apartments. Not only do we provide a comfortable living environment, but we are also highly regarded for our active participation in solving social problems.

Points to note

The term of most rental flats is usuallytwo yearsIf you cancel the contract early, there will be a default fee. After all, this company is more interested in the concept of cheaper upfront fees so that customers can stay longer. However, I personally think that the termination fee of this company may be cheaper than one month's rent of a normal real estate agent, so I think it is cheaper to sign the contract first and then terminate it early than signing a six-month contract with other real estate agents. However, it is always a good idea to ask for a clear contract when consulting this company.

If you're looking to start a new life with low initial costs or find a place to live across the country, check out Village House's housing information.

Click here to enquire about Village House.

Please click "メールでお問い合わせ" at the bottom of the page to start your inquiry, and we will provide you with personalized service afterward.

Residence registration and health insurance

The day after I moved into the dormitory, Mr. Honda took me to the district office to apply for residency registration. This is a very important step because only after completing the residence registration can you officially get your address information on your resident card, and then you are eligible to open a bank account, sign a cell phone contract, and other important applications.

Application Process

Preparation of Papers: Bring your passport and resident card to the district office.
Fill out the transfer form (転入届): Fill out and submit the transfer form to the window staff.
Waiting for AuditAfter a long wait, the window staff will display my address information on the back of the card.
Apply for National Health InsuranceI was then directed to the NHS window where I waited for my card to be checked and picked up.
- Objective: Basically, any foreigner who stays for more than three months is required to enroll in health insurance.
- Burden ratio: The government pays 70% of the medical expenses, while students only have to pay 30%. However, in special cases, such as denture treatment, high cost of special medicines, etc., the user must pay the full amount.
- Calculation of fees: Fees are charged from the first day you enter Japan, and the amount you need to pay is based on the previous year's income. It is relatively unaffected by short-term study, and most people in the same area pay the same amount. At that time, I remembered that I paid about 16,000 yen a year.
  - If you are an international student, you can apply for a waiver as long as you do not work too hard. If you find that your premium is more than 5,000 a month, we recommend that you go to the city office to apply for a waiver.
- Payment Methods: Insurance premiums can be paid monthly or in one lump sum, and payment locations include city halls and convenience stores.

Completion Procedures

After a long day of waiting, I finally received my resident card and health insurance card with address registration, which signified that my official residency status in Japan had been confirmed. These documents made me eligible for important applications such as opening a bank account and signing a cell phone contract, laying the foundation for the rest of my life.