How much money will I need? First you need to calculate the tuition fees and accommodation fees for the planned period of stay. The easiest way to do this is to use Yamasa's online "Study Cost Calculator" - it covers most (but not all) study and accommodation options/combinations. The cheapest accommodation option is usually to share with another student. Studying in Japan is usually a little cheaper than travelling for the same period, especially if accommodation is shared.

Compared to higher density cities such as Tokyo, Nagoya and Osaka, Okazaki City is insulated from the higher land prices. Apartments in the city are generally larger and rents relatively lower. The land is also relatively flat which further reduces costs. Your rental costs will range from 30000 to 72000 yen depending on which options you choose, for space that would cost roughly double in Tokyo.

The average cost of living per month as reported by our students ranges from 40000 to 70000 yen not including accommodation. It is cheaper if you cook your own meals and this is why all of our accommodations have kitchen facilities. It should also be noted that some students enjoy the nightlife more than others. The attractions of Japan are numerous and you will want to visit and taste a great deal of Japan while you are here. These experiences will not be free - you are advised to budget for more than the above figure if you wish to travel.

The total cost of living in Okazaki City is roughly half that of the Tokyo metropolitan area. The largest cost components is accommodation, but store prices are also significantly lower than in Tokyo, restaurants and entertainment more affordable. Each of the local supermarkets have special days where prices are cheaper - particularly for fruit, vegetables and fresh food. A local street market sells low cost produce just 300 meters from the campus.

Transport costs: The city is not congested and public transport (JR Tokaido Line and 2 private lines, plus buses) is quite good. Bicycles are the easiest way to get around. One of your biggest cost advantages is the fact that you will not need to pay for public transport to get to your classes. Figures from the Japanese Language Education Information Center indicate that international students in Tokyo and Osaka pay between JPY143,500 to JPY198,800 in public transport to and from their classes alone if they study for 1 year. By comparison Yamasa has its own (not leased) student housing within easy walking distance of the Yamasa campus. Most students walk or rent/buy a bike.

Part-time work: If you obtain a student visa you will be allowed to work part-time (see the Visa Requirements section for details of part-time work). Okazaki is part of the strong regional economy of eastern Aichi Prefecture and has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Japan. There are 4 universities in Okazaki, but as a student in a language program at Yamasa, another advantage you will have is that you do not need to compete with Japanese speaking foreign university students (as compared to larger cities there aren't many in the city for you to compete with).

If you work part-time then you should be able to recover your living expenses. If you have certain "in-demand" skills such as multimedia knowledge, teaching qualifications, translation skills etc then it may be possible to pay your own way. This would depend on your level of Japanese and how many hours you were prepared to work. Remember that the longer you work, the less time you have available for study. Although you may work more, Yamasa recommends not working more than 12-15 hours per week.

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