Mobility specification

Country:Japan

Institution:Rikkyo University

City:Tokyo

Program:Faculty agreements

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Japan Studies Seminar

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?they have tons

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?Depends on the form of recognition. D makes 1 or 2 credits in Rikkyo into 2 to 3 credits in MUNI. B ignored the credits of Rikkyo and gives me the credits of the MUNI subject I am replacing.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Everyone here loves to put the students into groups every class and we also get tons of homework.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Yes, a lot. I have not been that interested in them but I know there were lots of them every month.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Interpretation services
Crisis intervention
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:9800 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?no

Do you have any tips on how to find private accommodation?My school gave me which service I should contact about living (BeGoodJapan) and so I did just that.

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Not really. In Japan they are very keen on telling you about every payment and why you are paying for it well in advance before you have to pay.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?Living on konbini food is actually more expensive than just cooking for yourself if you have a kitchen in your house. Also buy a train card that makes you pay once and then you can use the train as much as you want (between two stations of your choosing that is).

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?perfectly

How does public transport work in the city?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?I used NAVITime app but Google maps works just fine. You don't need tickets. Just buy a Suica card in a machine on any train station and then charge it with any amount you want in the same machine. You can use Suica cards in any train or bus with just placing to the card reader.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?I loved going around different anime shops. If you are in Ikebukuro, you should deffinitely visit Sunshine City.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Kamakura, Nikko and Akihabara.

Share your best experience:I loved how everyone was so well accepting of me and how everyone treated me so well.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?Japanese embassy in Prague

What is needed?COE from your Japanese university, printed photo, ID, form you can fill out online.

How long does it take approximately?10 minutes in the embassy but it takes a week for the visa to get made.

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Find out which bus takes you from the airport to your part of the city in advance.

Can you pay by card?in most places

What not to forget when packing?Any medicine you might be used to from your country.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?A life-changing experience that made me a much better person.