- Written and reviewed by the Inochi Global Education counselling team
- Last updated:
- 5 min read
The first 14 days: paperwork that cannot wait
- Airport: receive the Residence Card (在留カード) and make sure the back is stamped with the part-time work permission.
- City/ward office (市役所 / 区役所) within 14 days: register your address (住民登録); they print it on your Residence Card.
- Same visit: enrol in National Health Insurance (国民健康保険) and apply for the My Number card; ask about the student premium reduction.
- Bank: Japan Post Bank (ゆうちょ) opens accounts for new arrivals with the Residence Card and a phone number; most other banks want 6 months' residence.
- SIM: budget carriers (Rakuten Mobile, ahamo, LINEMO, IIJmio) cost ¥1,000–3,000/month; you need the Residence Card and a Japanese address.
- School: attend orientation, get your student ID and commuter-pass certificate (通学証明書) for discounted train passes.
Inochi's Japan office (Toda, Saitama) does this round with new arrivals — airport pickup, the city-hall visit, the bank and the SIM — in the first week.
Housing: dormitory first, apartment later
Almost every language school offers a dormitory or partner share-house: furnished, utilities included, 2–4 students per unit, ¥30,000–55,000 a month with a deposit of 3–6 months paid from Bangladesh. Take it for the first 6 months — you have no credit history, no guarantor and no Japanese yet, which makes renting privately hard.
- Private apartments need a guarantor company (保証会社, ~50% of one month's rent), deposit (敷金) and often key money (礼金) — budget 3–4 months' rent up front.
Frequently asked questions
Is halal food easily available in Japan?
Yes in every major city. Halal groceries and Bangladeshi/Indian restaurants cluster in Tokyo (Okachimachi, Shin-Okubo, Ikebukuro), Saitama (Warabi, Kawaguchi) and Osaka; supermarkets sell halal chicken; apps like Halal Gourmet Japan list restaurants. Cooking at home is the norm for students.
How much is health insurance for a student in Japan?
National Health Insurance is income-based; students with little or no income pay roughly ¥1,500–2,500 a month after the reduction, and then 30% of any medical bill. Enrolment is mandatory within 14 days of registering your address.
Where do most Bangladeshi students live in Japan?
Greater Tokyo — especially Saitama (Warabi, Toda, Kawaguchi), eastern Tokyo wards (Kita, Arakawa, Adachi) and Chiba — plus Osaka and Fukuoka. Rent is lower there and the community is large; Inochi's Japan office is in Toda, Saitama for this reason.
Can I send money to Bangladesh from Japan as a student?
Yes, through licensed services (Wise, Remitly, SBI Remit, Western Union) from your Japanese bank account. Amounts should be consistent with legal part-time income; large transfers from a student account attract questions at visa renewal.
Official sources
Rules and fees change — always confirm with the official source or an Inochi counsellor before you act.
Someone is waiting for you at the airport
Inochi's own Japan office handles pickup, city-hall registration, insurance, bank, SIM and a dormitory check-in — so your first week is about classes, not paperwork.
This guide is general information based on official Japanese government and institutional sources at the time of writing. It is not legal or immigration advice. Immigration rules, fees and exchange rates change; confirm the latest requirements with the Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh, the school, or an Inochi counsellor.