Contributed by Pawit (Year 2 GIGA Student)
Transitioning to life at Keio SFC as an international student can be both exciting and overwhelming. To help you navigate your first few months smoothly, we sat down with Pawit, a 2nd-year GIGA student who recently moved from on-campus dorms to an apartment in Shonandai.
Here is his ultimate survival guide on housing, city hall administrative procedures, banking, mobile carriers, and everyday grocery shopping!
Housing & Commute: Moving from Dorms to Shonandai
- Why Shonandai? While living on-campus in H-Village is convenient, moving near Shonandai Station cuts commute time to central Tokyo and Yokohama by 20–30 minutes. Plus, you get direct access to gyms, restaurants, supermarkets, and local amenities.
- Monthly Rent: Approximately ¥90,000/month (around ¥95,000 including utilities).
- Commute to SFC: ~10–15 minutes by bicycle (approx. 3 km) or local bus. Biking is highly recommended on busy campus days!
City Hall & Health Insurance Hacks
Administrative processes in Japan are famous for paper forms and limited English support. Here is what to expect across different municipal offices:
1. City Office Breakdown
- Endo City Center: Local and convenient, but staff support is 100% Japanese-only. Best visited with a bilingual friend or an RA.
- Fujisawa City Hall (藤沢市役所): Claims to have English support, but in practice, staff rely heavily on hand-held translation devices. Official forms are strictly in Japanese.
- Shonandai Civic Center (湘南台市民センター): Offers English forms for basic documents (like your Juminhyo / Residence Certificate), though staff interaction remains primarily in Japanese.
2. National Health Insurance Discount
To claim your student discount on National Health Insurance, you must explicitly declare zero income at the city office.
The process involves visiting multiple departments within the city office to sign zero-income declarations and confirm the discount. It can be lengthy and confusing without Japanese language skills, so prepare your translation apps or bring a Japanese-speaking friend!
3. My Number
You do not need to wait for the physical plastic My Number Card to complete most basic registrations. The paper notification containing your 12-digit number is sufficient for administrative processing.
SIM Card & Banking Setup
Best SIM Option: Rakuten Saikyō Plan
- Why it’s great: Extremely cheap student rates, 100% online application in English, and instant eSIM activation. No physical office visit required!
- What you need: Japanese residence address, Residence Card (Zairyu Card) details, and a payment method.
Banking Essentials
- First Bank (JP Post / ゆうちょ銀行): Most dorm students open this first because of its proximity to campus. However, it only provides a basic cash card (no credit/debit card functionality).
- Recommendation: Keep JP Post Bank for basic cash deposits/withdrawals, but consider opening an online bank account later if you need a proper debit card for online shopping.
- Daily Payments: Cash remains king for daily small transactions. Use PayPay for peer-to-peer transfers with friends, and international credit cards for Amazon JP.
Grocery Shopping in Shonandai
Knowing where to shop will save you thousands of Yen every month:
| Supermarket | Location | Best For | Price Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| OK Super (オーケー) | Next to Shonandai Station | Daily staples, meat, rice, drinks | Very Cheap (~¥1,000–2,000) |
| Gyomu Super (業務スーパー) | Near Shonandai | Bulk buys, frozen goods, weekly meal prep | Great Value (~¥3,000+) |
| Ito-Yokado (イトーヨーカドー) | Near SFC / Endo | Convenience for dorm students | Pricier / Smaller portions |
| AEON Supermarket | Shonandai | Purchasing official Fujisawa garbage bags | Standard |
The #1 Advice for Freshmen
“Make a bilingual Japanese friend as early as possible!”
During your first month, you will receive dozens of official letters and administrative tasks written entirely in formal Japanese. Having a friend who can help you read mail, translate city hall procedures, and navigate student discounts will save you time, stress, and money!