Handbook for Foreign Students in Kyoto University
Kyoto University Co-op (Consumer Co-operative)
http://www.s-coop.net
Foreign Students Committee (FSC)
http://fsc1996.blogspot.com/
Be a Member of the Kyoto University Co-op! ...................................................................................1
Welcome to Kyoto University! ...................................................................................... 1
How to Become a Member of the KU Co-op .................................................................. 1
Membership Card ........................................................................................................ 1
KU Co-op Electronic Money .......................................................................................... 2
Student Fraternal & General Liability Insurance ............................................................. 2
Get Ready for a New Life ....................................................................................................................4
Advice on Housing ....................................................................................................... 4
Rules & Customs ......................................................................................................... 4
Furniture and other necessary goods ............................................................................ 4
Where to buy the new one?
____ .......................................................................... 4
Where to buy used one?
________ .......................................................................... 4
Cycle in and around Kyoto University ............................................................................ 6
Using the Internet ....................................................................................................... 6
Cell-phones ................................................................................................................. 6
Study and Research at Kyoto University ...........................................................................................7
The Co-op Book Center Renais ..................................................................................... 7
Internet Shopping through Kyoto University Co-op ........................................................................7
Libraries ..................................................................................................................... 7
Secondhand Bookstore ................................................................................................ 8
Campus Life in Kyoto University .........................................................................................................8
The Co-op Offers Healthy Foods ................................................................................... 8
Price Tags ................................................................................................................... 9
Halal Dishes ................................................................................................................ 9
Part-time ................................................................................................................................................9
How to Look for Part-time Job.................................................................................... 10
International Exchange ......................................................................................................................10
Student Lounge KI-ZU-NA .......................................................................................... 10
Useful Information ..............................................................................................................................10
Saving Transportation Fees ........................................................................................ 10
Clock Tower Travel Assistance Desk ........................................................................... 11
Let’s use “Kyoudai Honyaku” www.s-coop.net/smarttrans.html ................................... 11
Tuo Card VISA .......................................................................................................... 11
Going to the Movies................................................................................................... 12
Useful Websites ........................................................................................................ 12
Kyoto University Co-op Foreign Students Committee ................................................... 13
Be a Member of the Kyoto University Co-op!
Welcome to Kyoto University!
The Kyoto University Co-op runs 8 shops inside Kyoto University to support the life of all the

students and faculty members.
Students and faculty members of Kyoto University may become a member of the University

Co-op by handing in the application form and the required membership fee.
How to Become a Member of the KU Co-op
 Fill out the application form and submit it with the membership fee to the information desk.
(For foreign students, the initiation fee is ¥4,000.)
 A Co-op Membership certificate will be sent to the applicant’s address in about one a month.
 When a member graduates or goes back to the country, he/she can withdraw from
membership and will receive the membership fee back.
Where to apply for membership
Campus
Location
Campus
Location
West
Shop Renais
Headquarters Office
Main
Clock Tower Co-op Shop South
Nambu Shop
Yoshida
Yoshida Shop
Uji
Uji Shop
South
North
Hokubu Shop
Katsura
Katsura B Shop
Membership Card
Generally, you can use your student/faculty ID card as your Co-op membership card. To validate
your membership card, please follow the process below:
*If your ID card is not equipped with an IC chip, please tell us when you apply.
1. After the application, a membership certificate and a sticker will be sent to your
address.

Until you receive them, you can use a temporary membership card.

Please keep your certificate so that you can give it back when withdrawing.
2. Put the sticker on the back of your ID card.
1
When you buy a book at our shops, you can get a discount by showing the sticker on the bacj
of your ID card.
3. Bring your student/faculty ID card with the sticker to one of the offices above, and
go through the procedure, to use electronic money (See the next page).

At the office, you will receive a receipt on which your membership number is written.
Please transcribe it on your sticker. (Please avoid the peak hours: from 12 to 1 p.m.)
KU Co-op Electronic Money

You can add electronic money to your card up to ¥20,000, at the cash registers.

Its usage is similar to a prepaid card; just put it onto the card reader.

When you run out of electronic money when paying at the casher, you can add cash and put
the change into your card.

0.5 point is added to your card per purchase of ¥100. One point is equivalent to ¥1, and you
can use the points at our stores.

If you should lose your card, please inform us at the office or the stores immediately.
Student Fraternal & General Liability Insurance
During your campus life, a lot of unforeseeable trouble occurs. If you carry our insurance, you
can prepare for a rainy day. Join at any time, and have good, inexpensive guarantee.
What’s Student Fraternal Insurance?
It financially helps you when you are ill, involved in an accident, or injured.
Features
A) You can receive wide range of guarantee at low cost.
B) We pay benefits even for tiny injuries or single-day hospitalizations.
C) The application can be easily completed at school
D) We offer 24-hour guarantee for incidents which happens inside and outside Japan
E) We provide financial aid in case of fire, water leak, or burglary. (Fire insurance against
theft)
What’s Student General Liability Insurance?
 We pay up to 100 million yen when an insured person has to make reparation.
How to apply?
Only KU Coop members can apply.
2
 We recommend getting our insurance at the same time as application for Co-op
membership. (You can also apply after the membership application.)
 For more details, please visit our headquarters office in Main Campus.
Note: We, Kyoto University Co-op, are different from the Kyoto Co-op,
another Co-op in Kyoto. You cannot use your ID card at their stores. To use their
facilities, you have to apply for membership of Kyoto Co-op.
3
Get Ready for a New Life
Advice on Housing
Rules & Customs
When looking for an apartment, you should pay attention to:
1. Terms
Make sure that you understand and abide by the terms and conditions of the contract.
 Contract period: generally 1 or 2 years (not less than a year).
 The number of tenant(s): basically rooms are only for single use
2. Expenses
 In Japan, in addition to the actual rent, it is sometimes required to pay a deposit and/or
key money. Note that key money will not be refund.
 Room pricing differs depending on location and room size. For example:
 Single room (with shared kitchen, bathroom): Approx. ¥25,000-30,000/month
 Single room (one-room apartment): Approx. ¥55,000-65,000/month
3. Lifestyles: Real estate agent or owner will explain:
a. How to use and pay utilities (electricity, gas, and water).
b. How/When to take out the garbage, etc.
Furniture and other necessary goods
Where to buy the new one?
____
 Various daily commodities are sold at the Shop Renais in April.
 You can also buy goods listed on a catalog distributed at our shops. Delivery is included in
the price.
Where to buy used one?
________
 There are some recycled-goods stores in Kyoto city; the nearest one, for example, is
“学生リサイクル”(“Gakusei recycle”) to the north of Hyakumamben.
 You can also look for secondhand goods at the websites below:
外人ポット http://www.gaijinpot.com
Kansai Flea Market http://www.kfm.to
4
*KU Co-op shall not be responsible for any loss, damages, costs or expenses which may be incurred by
the usage of the websites above.
5
Cycle in and around Kyoto University
 Riding a bicycle is very useful around Kyoto University.
 You can purchase both new and recycled bicycles at the Shop Renais. The cheapest used
bicycles are about ¥6,000.

Don’t forget to register your bicycle against theft.
Using the Internet
There are two ways to subscribe to the Internet:
1. Broadband Internet Service at Home
 We have a counseling corner at the Shop Renais in April. Experienced staff will respond your
questions regarding the Internet. This service is only available for a limited period of time, so
please make use of it while it is available!
Renais Internet Counseling Counter
March 19th (Tue.) - April 6th (Sat.), 2013
In the Shop Renais
 After the application, it takes about 3 weeks to become able to use the Internet. You should
apply as soon as possible.
 It requires a monthly fee of around ¥4,500-6,500
 You can subscribe to the Internet at the Shop Renais even after the counseling period is over.
2. Wireless Internet
We also sell other options and products which are convenient for Skype, etc. Please visit
the Shop Renais. You can use free Wi-Fi internet at the campus, if you have an ECS-ID. For
more details, please visit http://www.kuins.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/index.php
Cell-phones

The most popular mobile carrier among foreign students at Kyoto University seems to be
Softbank. They offer special rates and payment structures for students.

Other carriers also provide similar services. When obtaining a cell-phone, you should
compare them.
6
Study and Research at Kyoto University
The Co-op Book Center Renais

We sell textbooks, reference books, and dictionaries used in lectures for foreign students.

There are also many other books that will help you enjoy Japanese life.

If you are a KU Co-op member, you receive a 10% discount on books (excluding foreign
books), and CDs and DVDs. You can order books if they are not available at the stores.

JLPT guidebooks and electronic dictionaries are also sold at a discount price.

You can apply for TOEIC, JLPT, Book-keeping exams, etc. at a lower cost

Students in Uji or Katsura campuses can also purchase books through the Co-op online
store (see below).
Internet Shopping through Kyoto University Co-op
http://www.s-coop.net/shopping/
 Japanese books are 10% OFF in the same way as they are in the KU Co-op stores.
 We also have publishers’ special discounts.
 You can check the stock status at the Shop Renais through the Internet.
 You can receive it at the Co-op stores on any campus including Uji and Katsura.
 The KU Co-op accepts delivery to your laboratory.
 Cash, Tuo Card VISA, public expense, etc. are available as payment method.
 We also sell PCs and peripherals. Please feel free to ask for an estimate.
 We offer foreign books at a lower price, even those which you cannot find on Amazon.
Internet shopping for foreign books: https://yosho.univcoop.jp/BookShop/
Libraries
The libraries in Kyoto University are favored by many KU students as a place to study.
There are more than 50 libraries within the campuses besides the Main Library. 24 Study Hall
is available for 24 hours on the 1st floor of the Main Library.
7
For more information: http://www3.kulib.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Secondhand Bookstore
If you take advantage of secondhand bookstores, you can get books at a lower price. But
you have to make sure to look closely into the book before purchasing. Different stores have
different prices. Below is a list of used book stores near Kyoto University.
There is a bulletin board on the 2nd floor of the Hokubu Cafeteria which gives information
about selling used books.
Store Name
Fukudaya
Bookstore
Holidays
No
regular
holidays
Yoshioka
Bookstore
(Main shop)
None
Yoshioka
Bookstore
(Branch)
None
Inoue
Bookstore
Sundays
Makimura
Bookstore
BOOKOFF
No
regular
holidays
None
Open Hours
10 am – 7 pm
Genre
Humanities, Dictionaries
Maps
Mon. to Sat.
10am – 6:30pm
Sun. and Holidays
Humanities, Dictionaries
12:30pm
–
6:30pm
Mon. to Sat.
10am – 6:30pm
Sun. and Holidays
Humanities, Dictionaries
12:30pm
–
6:30pm
Humanities, Sciences,
10 am – 7 pm
Dictionaries
Humanities, Sciences
10 am – 6 pm
Dictionaries,
Foreign
Books, Arts
10am – 11pm
All
Campus Life in Kyoto University
An advice on Meal
The Co-op Offers Healthy Foods
 We use ingredients without unnecessary additives.
 You can choose among various dishes to make your own menu.
 The nutritional content is shown on the menu cards and receipts. They help you have a
balanced diet.
8
Price Tags
The Animal Symbols on the Price Cards
Pictures of animals on the price cards show what sorts of meat are used in each dish.
Halal Dishes
<At Camphor>
We offer dishes of Halal chickens for Muslim students and faculty members at the restaurant
Camphora. The chicken is certified as Halal foodstuff, and the cooking utensils and seasonings
are specially prepared.
<At Cafeteria Renais>
Halal and vegetarian dishes are offered at the kebab counter.

Kebab Wrap: ¥390

Kebab Plate: ¥410

Kebab Falafel: ¥350
We provide breads, beverages, sweets, lunch-box, sandwiches and other groceries at our stores.
For information on each store’s open hours, please refer to our website:
http://www.s-coop.net/
Part-time
As a foreign student, you must first obtain permission before you start to work. You
can apply for it at Kyoto University or at the immigration office. For more information, please
refer to your school guidebook or visit the office of your department. You must not have a job
which disturbs your study or which has anything to do with sex-related business. The number of
hours you can work for is also limited.
Some foreign students work as a sanitation worker, but for students who wish to improve
their Japanese skills while working, we recommend having a job which let you talk with
Japanese people more.
For example, if you work at a restaurant, you have to speak to customers to take orders.
Then you will see that the Japanese you learned at school are different from actual
conversational Japanese. There may be some times where you will make mistakes, but these
9
also serve as valuable experiences. So we strongly recommend that you get a job which allows
you to have conversations with Japanese people.
How to Look for Part-time Job
1. Coop Bulletin Board
There is a job offer bulletin board on the first basement floor of the Clock Tower building.
When you are looking for a job, we recommend this as the first place to go. You can also
access it online: http://www.s-coop.net/arbeit
2. Job Advertisement Magazines
Many convenience stores provide free job information magazines such as “Townwork”. You
can search for jobs by districts, so you should be able to find a nearby workplace.
3. The Internet
Just can search by the term “アルバイト” (part-time job). But be careful that suspect jobs
may also be included. Sometimes our FSC makes recruitment, please check our website.
International Exchange
Student Lounge KI-ZU-NA
“KI-ZU-NA” is a lounge for foreign and Japanese students to interact. It is located in the
southwestern part of Yoshida Campus, to the west of the International Center. There are a
reading room, audio room, and salon, where cultural exchange events are held every month. For
more information, please visit the Kizuna website:
http://www.kyoto-u.ac.jp/ja/education/international/facilities/kizuna/
Useful Information
Saving Transportation Fees
“Torafika-Kyo Card” for Kyoto city buses
It is a ticket for the municipal transportation, the subway and city buses. 1000 card
(equivalent to ¥1,100) and 3000 card (equivalent to ¥3300) are sold. They can be used at
any lines of the city bus and municipal subway. For more details, please visit the website of
Kyoto Transportation Bureau: http://www.city.kyoto.lg.jp/kotsu/
Discount Ticket Shops
When going to Osaka or Kobe from Kyoto, you should visit some ticket shops in the city,
where you can buy tickets with some conditions at discount.
Expressway Buses for Tokyo
10
Many expressway buses leave Kyoto at around 11 p.m., arriving in Tokyo at around 6 a.m.
Their one-way tickets are about ¥4,000. You can make a reservation at our Travel Assistance
Desk on the first basement floor of the Clock Tower.
The Seishun 18 Ticket
It is a special discount ticket which allows holders one-day unlimited rides on the local trains
of Japan Railways Group during limited periods of year. They are sold at our Travel
Assistance Desk, during spring, summer and winter breaks.
Clock Tower Travel Assistance Desk
Our Travel Assistance Desk is on the first basement floor of the Clock Tower. We sell not
only the discount tickets, but also deal with domestic and international trip.
We sell discount air tickets for various countries such as Asia, Europe and America,
etc. We also sell ferry tickets for China and Korea.
Open hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., weekdays
Let’s use “Kyoudai Honyaku”
www.s-
coop.net/smarttrans.html
Here you can translate official names of the university courses, other official procedures and
buildings in and around the campus. You can use the service in Jp>Eng (more than 15000
vocabulary registered), Jp>Ch and Jp>Kr (more than 5000 vocabulary each).
Tuo Card VISA
If you are a member of Kyoto University Co-op, you can apply for Tuo Card VISA.
Annual Fee
No initiation fee. Annual fee is also free if you use the card more than once the last year.
How to Apply?
Fill out the application form in our shops. Please note that it takes about a month for you to
receive your card.
How to Use?
In KU, just swipe the card at the cash register. No need to sign when the payment is lower than
¥3,000. Outside KU, every VISA member store accepts the card, not only in Japan but overseas.
11
Going to the Movies
How to get a discount at TOHO Cinemas Nijo
If you show your student ID and your foreigner registration card when buying a ticket, you can
get a discount and see a movie for only ¥1,000 (+¥300 for 3D movies). You can book 2 days in
advance. Other theaters offer many kinds of discounts.
TOHO Cinemas Nijo
http://hlo.tohotheater.jp/net/schedule/023/TNPI2000J01.do
Useful Websites
www.kcif.or.jp
Kyoto City International Foundation
There is plenty of information about its business and cultural exchange events in Kyoto
city. They provide helpful information for living in Kyoto and guide for its facilities. You may also
make new friends on its bulletin board. The site is provided in 5 languages: Japanese, English,
Chinese, Korean, and Spanish.
www.kpic.or.jp
Kyoto Prefectural International Center
Information on cultural activities and language lectures in Kyoto is posted. There is also
some information aimed at foreigners Q&A on international activities. You can search for
international organizations in Kyoto here. We also recommend looking at the site’s “World Recipe
Classroom”. The site can be viewed in 6 languages: Japanese, Chinese, Spanish, Korean,
Portuguese, and English.
www.kakaku.com (価格.com)
From electronic goods to reservation of domestic/international travel, this site helps
collect and compare price and product information from a variety of resources, to help you make
the best purchasing decisions. (See also: http://www.kakaku.com/help/guide.htm)
www.jasso.go.jp
Japan Students Services Organization (JASSO)
This site contains a good deal of useful information on scholarships and livelihood support
for foreign students. They offer an e-mail newsletter for students who have studied abroad in
Japan before. You can subscribe from here:
http://www.jasso.go.jp/exchange/magazine_e.html (English)
http://www.jasso.go.jp/echange/magazine.html (Japanese)
12
Kyoto University Co-op Foreign Students Committee
About us
__
___
The Kyoto University Co-op Foreign Students Committee (FSC) was founded more than 10
years ago, in 1996, in an effort to improve the support of foreign students. Our committee used
to be the only organization in the university composed of members from many countries. In fact,
our committee is also the first of its kind in Japan and has since been a model for Coops in
other universities across the nation.
Annual Activities
April --------------------------- Welcome Party for New International students, Start of English
Conversation Class (Spring Semester)
May ---------------------------- Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
June --------------------------- FSC training camp, FSC Kyoto&Shiga&Nara region meeting
July ---------------------------- Essay Contest
August to September ---- Summer Vacation
October ---------------------- Welcome Party for New International students, Start of English
Conversation Class (Fall Semester)
November ------------------ November Festival, the Eve of November Festival, Maple Tour
December ------------------ Japan Universities’ Co-op annual conference
January --------------------- Kyoto, Shiga & Nara regional training camp, Editing of “Handbook for
Foreign Students in Kyoto University”
February to March ---------Spring Vacation
P.S. There are also weekly meetings and new project suggestions during the year.
Contact us
Email: fsc1996@gmail.com
Website: http://fsc1996.blogspot.com/
Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kyoto-University-Foreign-StudentsCommitteeFSC/120454501310847
Address: 〒606-8317 Kyoto-shi, Sakyou-ku, Yoshidahonmachi, Kyoto University Co-op
Office: Kyoto University, Yoshida South campus, Yoshida shop 2F
13