About riding a bike in Kyoto.

After a long time I eventually got a bike. If I'm not wrong the registration fee is 510 yen.

Ok let's start from the beginning. Kyoto is relatively flat so biking is realy easy since there are basically almost no (significant) slopes.
With biking there are some rules but I don't actually know them, so I guess as long as you ride safely... you should be more likely to survive unharmed as opposed to riding dangerously.

Bascially this post is meant to address this issue. Yes you should get a bike. It make commutive a lot faster and potentially moar fun.

Before I got a bike I considered getting a kick scooter. I didn't get one so I don't know what to think of those things, but the reason I considered it is because you don't have to park it, but you can't park it.

I don't really see people wearing helmets while riding their bicycles here either. I also still don't know where to get a helmet.

But as a pedestrian I still think bikes are scary.

I still don't know bicycle etiquette here.

So if you are still wondering if you should get a bike or not. I'd (after getting a bike) advise to get one if you can afford one. I got mine for under 10000yen. It really saves some time, even for short distances (not super short distance) like going to the supermarket or convenience store. And some bikes have a basket.

That's all for now i guess

shirucafe (知るカフェ)

I just accidently pressed enter. So it got published before I finished writing down the title. *feels annoyed*

Ok. Some time ago (yesterday), I (with someone else's help) found a cafe that gives free drinks to "college students". I hear it's called "shirucafe", but looking a the email it says "知るカフェ".
About the email thing, you need to register. I got some help because I don't know Japanese.

If you look at Kyoto University on a map with up being north,  on the same side of... ummm... I'll draw a picture... And I'll need to figure out hot to upload a picture.

Also I forgot the opening times but I know it closes at 23:00.
I guess It opens around 11:00. So my guess from memeory is that it opens from 11:00 to 23:00.
Also I think the menu has 2 types of coffee, a juice (orange I think) and cocoa. I have only tried the cocoa so far and it's nice.

Edit:  The picture above is not to scale. Also the colours were chosen arbritrarily. And I only drew the bit I thought were important in this context. DAIKOKU drug was deemed important because it helps to know that shirucafe is in the opposite block of DAIKOKU.

On getting a sim card in japan.

Well, my experience on this is limited to my own (obviously... or not?).

Basically I went to yodobashi camera. Then I went to phone section. Then this guy started helping out. Remember I declared that I don't know Japanese? well I did say that in one of my previous posts unless I'm wrong. So the guy knew english but couldn't speak it. And this was an opportunity to try to practice Japanese. So we both struggled to find the best plan for me! And we found... I actually forgot the provider name but I think it was "Freetel" or something similar sounding. The problem with this "Freetel" is that you need a japanese credit card to use it. So I tried to apply for a yodobashi credit card, but couldn't because I'm officially unemployed!
So we ended up looking for a new sim card. I was recommended Umobile. This can use a non-japanese credit card. I had an NZ visa debit so I could use it.

Now here is where I think the process differs from NZ. You actually buy the sim card first.
Yes, I had to pay >3000円 just to buy the sim card. After you buy the sim card. You have to register online. This is the place you put you card details in. Not at the shop, but online.

My plan is a... multiple rate plan. I pay <700円 if I use under 1GB and <1000 if I use <3GB.
Also I had to wait a few days for the sim card to actually start working. I think it was one day but I panicked for one day since it didn't immediately work. So if you can't make a password andor you sim card doesn't work immediately. Just worry for a few days and it might fix itself if it's the same thing as what happened to me.

I heard someone else got a plan too.
His phone isn't compatible with the sim card here (in Japan), so he had to buy a new phone. He was lucky because there was a promotion at that time with "y mobile" I think. So he pays like... 30,000 or 40,000円 per month for 6GB of data (presumably per month) and idk how many minutes of calling and an iphone 5. I think I heard the contract was like 2 years, which is too long for me.

My plan is a data only plan since I prolly won't text or call. Or maybe I just need to make moar friends...

On opening a bank account in japan.

This is the first post that has a title. I guess it's beause this is mostly going to be about opening a bank account only. I'll "try" to only put stuff about banks here.

So... (I only considered 2 banks :P)

The first bank I tried to open an account with is shinsei bank (新生銀行, I think... idk japanese).
The most important thing you must consider before opening an account with them is...
Q: Are you under 20?
A: If yes: you need MOAR paper work and if your parents aren't in japan you prolly can't open an account with them. Correct me if I'm wrong.
If no: you're fine and you may open an account with shinsei bank.

This paragraph is still about shinsei bank. The main reasons I considered shinsei bank is that the website is in english! And depending on the colour of cash card you pick you can get the cash card right away. The cash cards look pretty cool IMO.

The other bank I considered is yuucho aka japan post bank (ゆうちょ銀行）.
This one, you don't have to be at least 20 years old. Buy you don't get the cashcard instantly.
The main advantage about this one is that the post office is "everywhere". Unlike other banks where the branches (not atms) are only at certain places.

That's all I have to say for now...

Mwahahahahaha! I have something new to write.

This is about registering the resident card in japan.

Basically you need to know which area you live in. Go to the ward office with your passport and alien card. Then there is this form you must fill out there. There is an incomplete english translation and if you get stuck just hope someone will come and help you or ask for help or figure it out!

Inside... You usually have to wait as you need to go to some sort of machine to get a numbered ticket.
This is also your opportunity to get national health insurance.

2016 april law in japan says you must register within 14 days of moving into your new permanent lodgings.

I guess this is it for now!

I am starting to get lazier updating this blog.
So I think this blog won't be organised.

In Yoshida International House, there are some furnitures in the room. They give you some bedding stuff and a fridge and a stove. That's about it. you need to buy everything else yourself. Including LAN cable to access their internet.

In sakura watching season the busses in Kyoto are packed. I don't know if they are still packed outside of sakura watching season.

Let's just say this is it for now.

I am getting used to the rail thingy. Having those top up card thingies does help because you don't need to figure out how much monies you must pay before going through the gate.

So if you don't know how the train thingy works in tokyo. There is metro and other companies which include JR. when you want to go somewhere... You enter a gate using ticket you buy from machine or some IC card. If you use ticket, you put the ticket in the machine and the machine gate thingy will put a hole in the ticket which you must take on the other side of the machine gate. If you used IC, you just put your card near the circle thingy and it will turn blue. If it is red try it again or ask for help. after you enter the gate look for the line you want to go to and fine the direction of the line you want to go on. Then go on the train and hope you took the correct one.Get out of the (train, and then the) station by going through the machine gate thingies. You also do the same things as I have stated above except if you use a ticket you won't get the ticket back, instead you gain your freedom (to exit the station).

Also you can get free pocket tissues with advertisements in it.

Well... assuming night and you exists good night to you!

edit:

rewording: "via" -> "using" 

So now more updates! And this time I'm not starting with a case-insensitive "ok".

I'm now getting more used to the train thingy and it's more convenient to use those suica card things so I don't have to figure out how much I must pay in advanced...

Suica and Pasmo are now interchangable, as in where you can use Pasmo you can use Suica, vice versa.

Convenience store food is nice in my opinion. I can conceivably live off that stuff given enough monies. I think beef bowl chains are pretty inexpensive. Not necessarily cheap... just not expensive unless you buy something expensive like unagi.

I'm too lazy to write moar for now...

edits:
"concievable" -> "concievably" 

Ok... it seems like I'm in Japan now.

Let's start with the immigration: Well what happened at immigration is  I got told to wait at the interpreter line which was empty. I guess all international students will get pulled over there because there was another exchange student that got told to go there after a few minutes at least. After a while longer which didn't feel short at that time because I had no idea what was happening and I was... scared/nervous so you know how time usually feels longer when you are scared/nervous. At the immigration thing where you show your passport is the time to give the work permit application!

At this time you get a residence card. I'm still... not in Kyoto... actually in Tokyo. The residence card has this thingy behind it where it can be stamped.... I'm not sure what else to write about this...

Apparently you can bring NZ feijoas into Japan.

About Trains in Tokyo... I find the transfers annoying... but I think if you get used to it it's ok.
I experienced the peak hour trains are packed with people phenomenon while carrying massive bags!
It wasn't very comfortable. Also there were some delays which made me wait even longer. And I know almost no Japanese...

I did go to Goura in Hakone. There it snowed... but it didn't stick to the ground. The onsen was good... but I couldn't stay for too long because I'm weak vs heat and humidity... unfortunately. This is why I must wear armour with heat and humidity resistance.

I'm too lazy to write right now... And I think I'll stick to untitled posts!

Also so far, I think NZ is a nicer place to live... But I'm still biased and I'll see if my opinion has changed by the end of this.


edits:
-typo: "buy" -> "but" 

Ok... I think I have realised I didn't put a title on my first post... oh well :P

This is an update I guess... unless it's something else which might be mutually exclusive.

This is going to be about the student visa, I have applied for it but I haven't got it yet.
The visa apparently "activates" when you legally enter Japan through immigration with the correct documents. I don't think it "activates" if you spontaneously ior non-spontaneously teleport to Japan for mostly obvious reasons I assume.
So basically the visa apparently doesn't automatically grant you entrance into Japan.
You, actually most people but I don't know if you specifically need one incase there are exceptions, assuming you need a student visa to enter and study and enroll in an actual school in Japan need a student visa, which requires a "COE". This "COE" thing, is a Certificate of Eligibility. This Certificate of Eligibility allows you to apply for a student visa.
If I am not wrong, from memory I think that when you enter Japan you need a valid passport, that's japanese ior with a valid visa. If that visa from the previous sentence is a student visa you must also bring the COE. This COE must be available at the immigration thingy so bring it into the plane ior have some sort teleporting powers which will let you access the COE at immigration. I don't remember what else you have to bring.
I think at immigration is also the time you want to hand in your (assuming you have one and want to do this) part time work permit thingy.

Also this is a disclaimer, I have never actually been to Japan (unless something weird happened).
Also I can't be bothered putting my sources out because this is not a formal paper and not wikipedia!

I have realised that my main paragraph is too long... meh oh well. As long as no one complains I will probably not bother changing it.

Update: I now actually have the visa. There is apparently an issue and expiary date. I think you must enter Japan between those 2 dates or else the visa is not valid. It's valid from the day you enter until what ever period of stay you got on the visa. This is good IMO since it allows for flexibility.

OK, So this is going to be about my exchange to Kyoto University from The University of Auckland, specifically Kyoto University's KUINEP.
This is my first time blogging and I feel I made this blog early because the exchange actually starts in April 2016 (now is January). So please correct me if I'm blogging incorrectly.

All this information may ior may not be relevent depending when you read this but in this case I can only write about stuff as of 2016.

After writing a few sentances, I realise I need to define something. Home university = the university you are applying from.  Host University = the university you want to go on exchange to.

To apply for an exchange to Kyoto University, I think it must be done through your home university. So just do what they tell you. Usually it must be done at least roughly 0.5 years in advance. If you're still not sure if you want to go near the application due date, just apply and send it in. This application I mentioned before is actually for the nomination, so you get nominated to go to a certain university, then you wait several months then you get the acceptance letter from the university you want to go to for exchange.

For the above paragraph, basically:

1. Decide where you want to go. In auckland university this was the most important step due to course approvals and those other stuff.
2. Apply for nomination. And then hope you get nominated.
3. Later on the host university will somehow contact you and ask for details and the you have to actually apply directly to them. In the case of Kyoto University they send you an email and they give you a URL then you have to put your info and stuff there and apply.
4. Stuff happens (I forgot, I think you just wait now.). Try to apply for scholarships.
5. Receive the official acceptance letter and more "paperwork".
6. ??? I haven't reached this stage yet. I'll update later... xor not?

In my case I got the acceptance letter in January and I'm waiting for the COE which is required to get a student visa to japan in March.

I've left a lot of the details out because I forgot and because the application process may be different at other universities.