My Exchange at The University of Tokyo
Kia ora! I found out about this exchange programme through my major, with one of the lectures mentioning scholarships and exchange opportunities that were available (after COVID). I ended up looking into the scholarships and applying for the exchange programme, and luckily I got in!
I’d previously been to Japan, so my impressions arriving in Tokyo were not too different to the last time I went. Things do differ when living there as opposed to travelling, and getting used to everyday things like changes in buying groceries or sorting the trash is important to build into routines. I ended up not getting into the UTokyo dorms (they have a lottery system), so I had to find private housing which was a fair bit more expensive and at a distance from the campus, and I would definitely recommend anyone in the same position as me to have housing sorted out before they move to Japan. Finding private accommodation as a foreigner, even if you speak Japanese very well and especially if you don’t, is near impossible. There are shared private dorms available, but I suppose everyone’s needs are different. Even in that case, it is better to find something online (with good reliability) than trying to juggle arrival and looking at places at the beginning of the exchange programme.
Speaking of arrival, orientation was a very tiring ordeal when I first got to UTokyo. I’d recommend moving to Japan at least 3 or so days before the actual orientation; there is a bit of a gap between then and the date classes begin, but it is better to take your time looking around your neighbourhood and getting into the swing of things than trying to juggle twenty things altogether. As the credit transfer ratio was also 2:1, I was taking twice the amount of classes at UTokyo with similar amounts of commitment and time investment as at Auckland, so I really felt very burnt out at the start, so it is very important to give yourself a buffer period at the beginning to get used to things. The classes were very engaging, but I regret burning myself out in my first semester taking classes that were too advanced for me due to language or credit requirements. I’d advise taking classes you want to take even if they do not exactly count to the credit transfer and transferring back less than the full time course load (not all, obviously, but a couple extra ones) if it comes to that to manage things. In the end, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and learning what you can without slaving away in the pursuit of better grades is a better mindset to be in. This was especially true for me, being at a prestigious university with its own university culture and environment as well as access to a lot of other areas of study UoA may not have, and prioritising those instead of what already exists in Auckland was more satisfying. It’s also okay to just give up on things if they don’t work out, cutting your losses is better in the long run!
Living in general was not too hard if you know a bit of Japanese and are confident about asking questions. The times that people are active day to day are different to Auckland, though, so it might be important to get used to that and pace yourself. The cost of living felt cheaper to me when it came to rent and sometimes transport, as well as eating out, but things like fresh fruit and vegetables are roughly similar. If you do not cook for yourself often, it is significantly cheaper than Auckland. Utilities like cell and internet services may be expensive depending on your plan, but it is not much worse than Auckland. If we factor in convenience, Auckland is a lot more expensive. As for food, the rotation of fruits and vegetables and other things is very seasonal, so it is crucial to get used to not having everything available all of the time. It’s better environmentally as well! Every season has its own flavour, and sometimes that flavour can be a fair bit sweeter than what you are used to. Japanese food can be sweet or bland depending on your taste buds, but you get used to it. It might take more effort for vegetarians and vegans to find things, however, and there is a lot more meat than greens in most dishes, so being aware of balance is important.
If I had to do anything differently, I would have checked out different accommodations and transport options, as well as looked into services that help dispose of furniture and other things while moving out. The misalignment of semester dates was especially stressful for me, so managing final exam deadlines, moving out, paperwork related to the latter and taking care of my health all at the same time was quite harsh. If doing a full year exchange, I’d recommend starting from Semester 1 instead of Semester 2 like I did. Ending the exchange with the end of the year would definitely work better in an exchange to Japan. Other than that, being proactive about keeping up with weather changes and knowing of possible common illnesses is also important. If you are not used to a specific climate it is important to prepare and give yourself time to get used to things, but also understand if you can’t fully get used to it and need other ways of coping. On a similar note, making good use of things the ways locals do (like medicines or heat packs) is useful as well.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
I got to do quantum computing. I did not understand that much, but it was great as it wasn’t something I could have easily done in NZ especially with active IBM researchers.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
Not specifically, but I’d recommend travelling when you can wherever you are. I regret that I did not travel as much as I wanted to.
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
- Be careful about the weather, how you dress and if it’ll serve you well on your chosen mode of commute.
- Have cash on hand and keep your phone charged.
- Learn Japanese!
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
I received a monthly stipend of 120,000 JPY per month, and I additionally got 600,000 JPY for travel as part of my scholarship. Adding to that, I received $1800 from the 360 International grant. I used up about $4000 from my own savings. I did manage to travel a bit in that. Tokyo can be expensive, and because I was not staying at the dorms, my monthly rent was 90,000 JPY, which did not leave too much wiggle room. Also, eating out was somehow cheaper than cooking, which is kind of terrible if you are trying to take care of your health, and where a lot of my money went.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
The world isn’t that terrible of a place and most people just want to connect.