Accueil > News > So you want to come and study programming in Tokyo? Here is our 2022 travel guide!
So you want to come and study programming in Tokyo? Here is our 2022 travel guide!
Great news for our global community: Japan has officially reopened for travelers. After more than 2 years of tight border restrictions, everyone at Le Wagon Tokyo campus is excited to be able to welcome students from abroad again for our full-time Web development and Data Science bootcamps.
Summary
Starting October 11th, Japan resumes visa-free entry and independent travel. The country’s prolonged closure is finally over, with entry regulations almost back to pre-pandemic ones.
With the Japanese yen at an almost all-time low, now is the time to fly to Japan!
Visa & entry to Japan
1. No visa needed for many countries If you are from one of the 68 visa-free countries, including most of Europe and North America, you do not need to apply for a visa in advance. You can simply fly into Japan and be given a 90-day tourist visa upon arrival (there are few exceptions for countries like Thailand and Malaysia which are listed on the MOFA site). Note that a 90-day tourist visa allows you to enroll into our full-time 9-week Web Development course or Data Science bootcamp. Those wishing to apply for the 24-week part-time course need to have a long-term resident visa that is not covered by Le Wagon Tokyo assistance services.
If your country is not in the list, you will still need to obtain a short-term tourist visa for 90 days. Le Wagon Tokyo will be able to assist you with a required invitation. 2. PCR test or vaccination certificate
Everyone arriving in Japan must test negative in a pre-departure test taken within 72 hours prior to departure OR present a proof of a triple vaccination. The proof (certificate) must clearly show that you have received 3 doses of any of the following vaccines: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Bharat Biotech or Novavax.
Read more about the requirements for the certificate here.
3. No quarantine and arrival testing
For most countries, quarantine and a PCR test on arrival have been eliminated. You do not need to spend days self-isolating and can use public transportation to access your home or other locations after arrival. There is also no cap on daily arrivals.
Accommodation
The cheapest, most convenient, and basic go-to option for those who want to stay a couple of months while studying at the coding bootcamp is a shared house. It also happens to be a really good way to meet locals and fellow travelers, and you won’t be annoyed by paperwork.
Here is a list of links to find your next home in Tokyo:
You can also find more nomad-dedicated places, like Tokyo Chapter or BeLiving. They’ll organize events, introduce entrepreneurs, and overall connect you to the right people.
It’s difficult to pinpoint what the actual city center is, and it often refers to very posh neighborhoods dedicated to expat living. There is so much more Tokyo can offer in terms of local living, and up-and-coming areas such as Shimo-Kitazawa or Meguro can be a perfect base for a short stay, being close to our campus.
One last thing you need to know: rents are very “linear” in Tokyo, and mostly depend on the neighborhood, distance from the nearest station and building construction year. This means two things: you’ll always get what you pay for, and you have access to the full range of prices.
Budget: 80,000–100,000 JPY / month (550–700$)
Food & Drinks
Normal day
Now you have a place to stay. What do you eat? 800 JPY for lunch and 1,200 JPY for dinner will be the minimum you’ll spend. We also have a supermarket next to the campus where you can buy some decent lunch boxes for 500-600 JPY.
A lot of places offer all you can eat & drink for as low as 2,500¥, but if you’re the party type you’ll probably hop from one bar to another, and finish your night (or early morning) in one of the local clubs.
Budget: 5,000 JPY per party night
Transportation
A train ride in Tokyo can cost anywhere between 1 and 3$ depending on where you’re staying, and there are very few discount options.
If you are not a fan of public transportation, consider getting your hands on a bicycle. Sites like Craigslist or Facebook groups list options for all budgets. Fun fact, since it’s costly to get rid of pieces of furniture, fridge, television, etc… a lot of foreigners leaving Tokyo will just give their bicycles away.
Budget: 5,000 JPY (45$) for a bicycle, 300 to 600 JPY (2–5$) a day for commuting.
Currency
As you probably already know, the official currency in Japan is the Yen – And great news for international travelers, especially those coming from Europe and the US: it is at a 20-year low!
Some exchange rates at the time of writing:
1 Eur = 141 JPY
1 USD = 146 JPY
1 CAD = 105 JPY
1 AUD = 91 JPY
1 Pound = 161 JPY
Budget
Now more than ever, the reputation Tokyo has of being one of the most expensive cities to live in is not deserved. Let’s make a quick budget for our 2 months stay in Tokyo!
Accommodation: 80,000 to 100,000 JPY
Food & Drinks: 60,000 to 100,000 JPY per month
Party (optional!): 30,000 JPY per month
Transportation: 20,000 JPY per month
With a little bit of margin, that gives us a minimum monthly budget of around 200,000 JPY – That is just short of 1,400 USD!
Time to book your flights!
With over 60 different nationalities among our 500+ students, the Tokyo branch of Le Wagon may be the most international one worldwide. This creates a unique bootcamp experience, mixing different backgrounds, cultures and life aspirations!
See you soon in Tokyo
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Ready to change your career and study at our Tokyo campus in 2023? Our next full-time Web Development and Data Science sessions will run as below:
Winter course: January 9th – March 10th
Spring course: April 4th – June 2nd
Feel free to schedule a short call with our bootcamp manager and discuss your journey with us here. Looking forward to seeing you in Japan!
