Mobility specification

Country:Japan

Institution:SOKA University

City:Tokyo

Program:Partner universities

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2025/2026

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts

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?neutral

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?For example, I had a course that ran 5 times a week for 10 credits and I had it recognised for 4 different courses for a total of 11 ECTS credits.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Emphasis on attendance.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?An orientation week where all the paperwork is discussed and completed with you. Student clubs and events are also common.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:14000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?Only dormitory fees, which used to be free in the past years thanks to inter-university agreements.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?The bus from the university to the centre of Hachioji is quite expensive by local standards, if you don't mind getting sweaty occasionally, I recommend buying a used bike, which will not only save you money but also give you more travel options.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?with gestures

How does public transport work in the city?mostly fine

And what about transport outside the city?mostly fine

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?For daily connections, google maps is definitely the easiest. Instead of tickets, the easiest solution is to buy and top up a Suica IC card. For owners of Apple phones, Suica can be added to Apple Pay from where you can conveniently recharge it.
The alternative is to carry change (at least on the bus).

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?Mt. Takao
Ryusenji no Yu

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Around Tokyo: Kamakura, Nikkō
Near Hachioji: Mt. Takao, general intermountain canyons west of the university, e.g.: Okutama
Definitely worth a trip to the Kansai area (if you want to save money I recommend taking the overnight bus, where you can sleep with a bit of luck).

Share your best experience:Day trip to the top of Mount Akadake.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?Embassy of Japan in Prague

What is needed?Passport, maximum 6 months old photograph (45mm x 35mm), visa application form (available from the Embassy or requested by email), Certificate of Eligibility

How long does it take approximately?14 days

How did you get to the place?Car

Can you pay by card?sometimes

What not to forget when packing?I'd say medication, but realistically everything can be procured locally.

🥳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?The ideal balance between the city and nature.