Housing

  • Dormitory
  • Furnished Housing
  • Apartment
  • Other Housing Options
  • Guarantor Program



    • To find an apartment and actually moving in to it is a hard work, because you normally have to spend a quite amount of money as an initial cost in Japan.
    You'll even have to find a guarantor to rent an apartment in Japan, too. ( Guarantor Program)

     

    For those reasons, DiRECT advise you to stay at a dormitory or a furnished housing at least for a several month. This will make you get used to your life in Sendai.

    Dormitory

    Approx. 10,000 to 30,000 JPY/month (Utilities are NOT included)

     

    Tohoku University Emergency Student Housing Dormitory (Single only)

    Applications are open to international students now.

    DiRECT will apply for it for those who have missed the rooms in the International Houses and the University Houses in Sanjo machi. Let us know by August 26 if you do NOT want to apply.

    ★ Students who were not eligible to apply for the previous university dormitories are eligible this time. Thus, reply us by the above date if you do NOT want to apply for the Emergency Student Housing Dormitory.

    Emergency Student Housing (Temporary Dormitory)
    *This was built in 2011 for those affected by the great earthquake, but vacant rooms are partly open to international students.

    Tohoku University owns 6 to 7 dormitories for international students. Rent, types of rooms, facilities, and other conditions vary among each of them.

    All the students, are eligible to apply for the dorms; however, short-term exchange students from partner institutions around the world have a priority. Due to the increasing number of exchange students, it has been very competitive for regular (degree) students these years.
    It is wise for applicants to have an alternative plan.



    Dormitory Information

    Refer to the following chart for an overview and check each dorms for its details.
    Tohoku University Dorms for International Students [PDF/101KB] (as of June, 2013)
    (Also added the foundation year of each dormitory.)

    International House Higashi Sendai has already had an applicant. (as of July 1)


    One single room availabe at International House Higashi Sendai, as of June 27!!

    If you wish to get a room there, apply NOW, and you're almost certain to get it!!

    It is on first come first served basis. Email DiRECT if you wish to apply.

    (In that case, you won't be eligible for the other dormotories)

    *Check the Map for locations of the dormitories, furnished housings , and campuses.





    Tohoku University Dormitories

     

    [Location Map (except for 6. IH Higashi Sendai)]

    1. University House Sanjo I (UH Sanjo I)
      (ƒ†ƒjƒo[ƒVƒeƒBƒnƒEƒXŽOπ I ) [website by UHS ]

      2.
    2. University House Sanjo II (UH Sanjo II)
      3. (ƒ†ƒjƒo[ƒVƒeƒBƒnƒEƒXŽOπII)

    3. University House Katahira (UH Katahira)
      (ƒ†ƒjƒo[ƒVƒeƒBƒnƒEƒX•Π•½j

    4. International House Sanjo 1 (Int'l House Sanjo 1)
      (“Œ–k‘εŠw‘ΫŒπ—¬‰οŠΩ ŽOπ‘ζˆκ‰οŠΩ)

    5. International House Sanjo 2 (Int'l House Sanjo 2)
      ( “Œ–k‘εŠw‘ΫŒπ—¬‰οŠΩ ŽOπ‘ζ“ρ‰οŠΩ)

    6. International House Higashi Sendai(Int'l House Higashi Sendai)
      ( “Œ–k‘εŠw‘ΫŒπ—¬‰οŠΩ “Œε‘δ‰οŠΩ)

    7. Tohoku University Emergency Student Housing
      Applications are due to open for international students like last year.
      This was originally built for those who has suffered after the great earthquake in March 2011, but some rooms are expected to be open for International students.


      [NOTE]
    • Single students are not eligible to apply for a Couple or a Family type room.
    • Applying for a Couple/Family type rooms will require you to submit scanned certificate
      of your marriage and birth certificates of your child(ren).


    Dormitory Application

    Application for the dormitories will be done by DiRECT on behalf of you.
    For that, download the form and check the deadline here.

    Those who got the dormitory admission
    The move-in day to the dorms (except for 6) above must be on or after October 1.
    You will need to stay at a temporary accommodation after your arrival in Sendai before the move-in date.
    DiRECT will make a hotel reservation upon your request.
    (See Support Service >Hotel Reservation )

    £Top of the page

    Furnished Housing

    Approx. 40,000 to 50,000 JPY/month (Utilities included)


    Furnished housing has individual rooms and furnished common-use spaces.
    These are either a shared house (usually called "guest house" style) or a dormitory like system.

    DiRECT recommends it for those who:
    (i) prefer private housing
    (ii) cannot wait for the dormitory result to be released around the end of August
    (iii) did not get admitted to the dormitory



    How to Reserve a Room

    DiRECT can help you reserve a room (or you can ask your lab member or a friend in Sendai).

    Let DiRECT know the room information such as:
    • name and contact information of the real estate agency
    • name of the building (if not A, B, or C below)
    • URL or copy of website where you found the room informaion (if not A, B, or C below)
    • approximate date of your move-in
    • and estimated period of stay (how many months)


    DiRECT's Recommendation

    Refer to the chart below for overview and check the websites of each housing for details.
    Furnished Housings around Campus [PDF/100KB] (as of June 2012)

    *Check the Map for locations of the furnished housings, and campuses.


    1. Urban Castle Kawauchi
      (UC Kawauchi; ƒA[ƒoƒ“ƒLƒƒƒXƒe[ƒ‹μ“ΰ) [Website]
      Open only to international students or foreign reserchers of Tohoku University.

    2. Sendai Guest House
      (ε‘δƒQƒXƒgƒnƒEƒX) [Website] [Blog]
      Guarantor NOT required in case of international student of Tohoku University.

    3. Sendai Kitayama Sharehouse
      (ε‘δ–kŽRƒVƒFƒAƒnƒEƒXj] [Website]

    £Top of the page

    Apartment

    Approx. 30,000 to 70,000 JPY//month (Utilities NOT included)


    Most international regular (degree) students tend to live in an apartment, but it is tough for newly-arrived international students to rent a room as a lessee. It usually requires about 3 to 6 times of the monthly rent as the initial cost including deposit, handling fee, housing insurance premium, and so on. In addition, note that there is nothing in a room when you move in. Rooms are not furnished in Japan. Expect additional costs to buy necessary items.

    DiRECT does not recomend you move in before you check the room with your own eyes.



    [NOTE]
    • Apartment information can be found easily on the internet, but usually not available in English.
    • You may be required to have a guarantor (•ΫΨl) who has a sufficient amount of income in Japan. Using Tohoku University Guarantor Program, the University can be your guarantor.
    • Once you rent a room, you're required to stay there for 1 or 2 years, or 6 months at least. In most cases, it is not welcomed to move-out in less than 6 months.


    How to Reserve a Room

    DiRECT can help you reserve a room (or you ask your lab member or friend in Sendai).
    Let DiRECT know the room information such as:
    • name and contact information (if possibble) of the real estate agency
    • name of the apartment
    • URL or copy of website where you found the room informaion
    • approximate date of your move-in (if earlier than the end of September)
    Or, DiRECT may be able to introduce some available rooms if you tel DiRECT how much you can afford for initial cost & rent and which area you prefer.


    What you may need to buy before move-in
    • bedclothes (pillow, mattress, comforter, sheets, etc.)
    • furniture (bed, rack, table, etc.)
    • curtains & lightings
    • electric appliances (fridge, washing machine, TV, microwave, etc.)
    • cookwares (pans, knives, silverwares, dishes, glasses, etc.)
    • housewares (trash boxes, bath towels, toilet paper, etc.)


    Popular Area among International Students

    North of the Campus:
    Kawauchi Kameoka (μ“ΰ‹T‰ͺ), Kawauchi Sanjunin-machi (μ“ΰŽO\l’¬), Hachiman(Eͺ”¦), Tsunogoro (ŠpŒά˜Y), Kunimi (‘Œ©), Sanjo-machi (ŽOπ’¬),

    South of the Campus:
    Yagiyama (”ͺ–ΨŽR), Mukaiyama (ŒόŽR)


    Useful Website for Serch



    References



    £Top of the page

    Other Options

    Public Housing

    Approx. 5,000 to 60,000 JPY//month (Utilities NOT included)

    Miyagi prefecture and Sendai city offer public housings (public apartments) with reasonable rent to those who live with their family members. However, it is always in high demand, and the residence is determined by lottery. Applicants don't get a room unless they get lucky.


    Room-sharing

    It is not really popular in Japan and thus it may be difficult to find a roommate. DiRECT does not have or offer any information on room-sharing. If you have any international students currently studying at Tohoku University, try and ask them for any information.


    Homestay

    It is not an option for those who are looking for a place to live. Few homestay programs are offered in Sendai, but they are short-stay programs focused on cultural exchange.

    £Top of the page

    Guarantor Program

    Tohoku University offers the Tohoku University Association of International Student Support Program (“Œ–k‘εŠw—―ŠwΆZ‘ξ•ΫΨ§“x; hereafter referred as "Guarantor Program") that allows Tohoku University to be a guarantor of international student. There are only two major requirements to use the program: (1) you are a main lessee of the contract, and (2) buy the Renter's Insurance.


    [Note] Those who use the program are required to take an interview at Center for International Exchange at Kawauchi Campus. The interview appointment can be taken through DiRECT after you submit all necessary documents.


    How to Use the Guarantor Program

    The contract document must be in the format designated by the University.
    Pick up the forms and payment bill for Renter's Insurance at DiRECT before making contract.

    Renter's Insurance

    The Comprehensive Renters' Insurance for Foreign Students Studying in Japan (—―ŠwΆ‘‡Z‘ξ•βž; hereafter referred as "Renter's Insurance") is the insurance specially designed for international students who'd like to rent a room but don't have a guarantor in Japan.



    Insurance Premium

    8,000 JPY for 2 years
    *A part of the premium will be refunded in case of moving out less than 2 years

    Brochure

    English / Japanese / Chinese / Korean [PDF / 8p / 880KB]

    Introduction Moive

    English / Japanese / Chinese / Korean *Flash Payler required

    [NOTE] Real estate agencies usually offer their own insurance plan to lessees. In some cases, the Renter's Insurance holders are waived from that insurance, but sometimes not. It depends on the agency.

    £Top of the page








    Locations of Dorms & Furnished Housings



    View University Dormitories 2013 in a larger map


    £Top of the page