YAMAGUCHI UNIVERSITY

Accommodation

1. International Houses

Dorms rooms are available for international students and researchers at the International Houses on both Yamaguchi Yoshida Campus and Ube Tokiwa (Faculty of Engineering) Campus. However, there are a limited number of rooms, and a large number of applicants, so we cannot guarantee housing. Information about application procedures will be displayed on the bulletin boards of your affiliated faculty or graduate school. You can also print out an application here. Non-degree students should consult with their faculty or graduate school before applying.

About the Cleaning Deposit

Residents are required to pay a cleaning deposit when moving into either of the houses. This money is used to cover the costs of professional cleaning when residents move out. Any money that is not used will be refunded to the residents. If the cost of cleaning exceeds the cleaning deposit, the residents will be required to compensate the difference.

Please Note

Residents cannot park their cars at the International House.
Residents must open a bank account with Yamaguchi Bank for rent payments.

2. YU International Share House

YU International Share House was established for exchange students. We do have several on-campus dormitories for international students in Yoshida campus and Tokiwa campus, but this new dormitory was added to further increase our accommodations capacity for international students. The YU International Share House has 31 flats, each shared by three students, meaning it can accommodate a total of 93 students. All flats come with air-conditioning, the common area in each flat is equipped with home appliances, and each bedroom is furnished with a desk and bed.

3. General Dormitories

There are student dormitories on the Yoshida and Tokiwa Campuses. If rooms are available, international students can move into student dormitories. You can check for more information on the web site or bulletin board of your faculty or graduate school.

4. Private Apartments

If you wish to stay in a private apartment, you will have to contact a real estate agent or form a contract directly with the owner of the apartment. We suggest that you bring a Japanese friend, tutor, senior student or someone else who is familiar with these types of procedures in Japan when you go to speak with a real estate agent. The following offices on campus offer information concerning apartments.

*Information about private apartments for Kogushi Campus or Tokiwa Campus is also available at the Student Service Section, Student Support Division at Yoshida Campus for first year students.

*The cost of renting an apartment varies depending on its location and condition. Generally, the rent ranges from JPY 20,000 to JPY 45,000 per month. In Japan, in addition to paying the monthly rent, it is common to pay one-off fees called shiki-kin (deposit) and rei-kin (key money) when you move into the apartment.

Regarding Shiki-kin and Rei-kin

Example of the fees required to rent an apartment

Shiki-kin (2 months rent) + Rei-kin (1 month rent) + Tesuūryo (1 month rent) + first month rent= 5 months worth of rent

5. Prefectural Housing/Municipal Housing

Prefectural and municipal housing is not available for single students. When you leave the residence, you will be required to pay approximately \100,000 to cover cleaning costs such as tatami replacement. The university will not act as an intermediary. For further information on how to apply, please contact the following organizations directly.

Prefectural Housing

New applications are accepted 4 times a year, in February, May, August, November. Click here for more information. (Japanese Only)

Yamaguchi City:

Prefectural Housing Management Office, Yamaguchi Branch, Yamaguchi Prefecture Facility Management Foundation
1-7 Mizunoue-cho, Yamaguchi City, 753-8532
TEL:083-934-2004

Ube City:

Prefectural Housing Management Office, Ube Branch, Yamaguchi Prefecture Facility Management Foundation
1-1-50 Kotoshiba-cho, Ube City, 755-0033
TEL:0836-37-0878

Municipal Housing

You can apply for Yamaguchi municipal housing at anytime. In Ube city, applications are accepted four times a year in April, July, October, January.

Yamaguchi City:

Urban Development Division, Architecture & Buildings Engineering Division 2-1 Kameyama-cho, Yamaguchi City, 753-8650
TEL:083-934-2843

Ube City:

Administration, Housing Section, Civil Construction Division 1-7-1 Tokiwa-cho, Ube City, 755-8601
TEL:0836-34-8427
Ube Municipal Housing Website (Japanese Only)

6. When You Need a Guarantor for Your Housing Contract

In Japan, guarantors are usually required when you rent a private apartment, Prefectural or Municipal Housing. Yamaguchi University can serve as a guarantor for international students if necessary. This is called an institutional guarantee. International students must sign up for the Comprehensive Renters’ Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan run by JEES if Yamaguchi University will act as a guarantor.

Comprehensive Renters’ Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan

This insurance consists of liability insurance for international students, insurance for disability resulting from an injury and insurance for the guarantors’ legal liability. This insurance claim will be paid when international students would be held liable for damages as a result of causing damage to the property, due to an accidental fire, room flooding, etc.
TAlso, an indemnity will be paid to a guarantor in the event that it becomes necessary for the guarantor to pay expenses on behalf of an insured student as a result of the student being unable to pay rent to the landlord or if it becoming necessary to repair the rented accommodations or restore them to their original conditions.

Amount of Compensation

Premium

￥4,000 for 1 year, ￥8,000 for 2 years
(The duration will be selected automatically based on your period of residence.)

Please Note

*If the period that you are insured will end before you leave and 6 months or less left of study, you must purchase the 6 month insurance plan even if you will not use the full term. It costs ￥2000 and is available only to students who are renewing their Comprehensive Renters’ Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan.
*If you terminate the insurance because you have graduated or otherwise completed your study, part of the premium will be refunded based on the length of remaining period of indemnity. Refunds are usually deposited into student’s bank accounts. If you close your Japanese bank account, you will need to contact the company to discuss your options in advance.

Procedure for Getting an Institution Guarantee

1. Find an apartment you wish to live in and receive a lease agreement from the real estate agent or landlord.
   

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2. Fill out the parts you need to write in the lease agreement.
   

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3. Fill out the necessary forms for requesting Yamaguchi University to be your guarantor (available at your faculty or graduate school)
   

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4. Visit your faculty or graduate school with these documents and have them check for any issues.

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5. Submit the documents at the International Support Office on Yoshida Campus, the Student Section, Educational Affairs, Faculty of Engineering on Tokiwa Campus, or the Education/Student Support Section, Educational Affairs Division, School of Medicine on Kogushi Campus. When you submit your forms, you will receive a payment slip for paying for Comprehensive Renters’ Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan.
   

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6. Payment can be made at Seven Eleven convenience stores.
   

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7. About 3 days after you complete your payment, we will return your contract with the guarantor section signed by Yamaguchi University and give you your insurance certificate.
   

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8. Submit one copy of the contract to the real estate agent or your landlord and keep the other copy and the certificate for your records.

Where to Apply

International Student Section of your faculty or graduate school

Procedure for Ending Institution Guarantee

1. Send a Termination Notice to your real estate agent or landlord
   

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2. Turn in the necessary form for ending the institution guarantee to your affiliated faculty or graduate school
   

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3. Resident departure or change of guarantor results leads to end of Institution guarantee
   

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4. A month after your departure or change of guarantor, the insurance premium for Comprehensive Renters’ Insurance for Foreign Students will be refunded if you desire a refund and there is still time remaining on your policy.

Where to Apply

Your faculty or graduate school

Please Note

After you move out, Yamaguchi University will contact your real estate agent or landlord to confirm that there is no remaining unpaid rent, that all of the public utility charges are paid, and that there are no other issues. Please make sure that you remember to follow all of the necessary procedures when moving out. Unfinished procedures or unpaid rent affect not only your real estate agent and landlord, but also your guarantor, Yamaguchi University. In the unlikely event that there are issues after you move out, Yamaguchi University will contact you to settle matters, whether you remain in Japan or leave the country.