I travelled to Kyoto with my family on 29 August and returned on 5 September. Our primary purpose was to support our younger daughter settle into her new life, arrange her accommodation, and ensure that she had everything necessary before beginning her university journey.
Sending our younger child for higher education to Japan is an exciting part of our plan. At the same time, we had several questions and concerns. Will she be comfortable to live alone? Will accommodation be convenient? How easy will it be to manage everyday necessities, food, transportation, and other practical matters?
For us, these questions became a reality when our younger daughter secured admission to Kyoto University of Advanced Science (KUAS), Japan, for its undergraduate engineering programme.
It was a busy week, but also a memorable one. Looking back, I feel that sharing our experience may help other Indian parents whose children are planning to pursue higher education in Japan.
KUAS offers a four-year Bachelor of Engineering programme through its Department of Mechanical and Electrical Systems Engineering. One of the main attractions for international students is that the programme is taught entirely in English, making it accessible to students who are not yet proficient in Japanese. The university’s emphasis on practical engineering is particularly interesting because Japan has a strong reputation for manufacturing, robotics, electronics, and technological innovation. Studying engineering in this environment offers students an opportunity to experience a country where technology plays an important role in everyday life and industry.
KUAS’s engineering campus is located in the Uzumasa area of Kyoto. For international students, another important consideration is the support available for accommodation and settling into Japanese life.
During our one-week visit, we stayed at the Rhino Hotel in Saiin. The hotel was approximately a 25-minute walk from the university, which made it a convenient base for our activities.
Our days were quite busy. We had to familiarise ourselves with the neighbourhood, understand the available shopping options, purchase household necessities, and make our daughter’s apartment ready for independent living.
We made a list of the essential items she would need, from kitchen utensils and electrical appliances to furniture and other household articles.
Japan is well organised, but setting up a home in a new country still requires time and planning. We found that knowing where to shop and how to get around the neighbourhood made a significant difference.
By the time our visit came to an end on 5 September, we had managed to arrange most of the essential things she needed. It was a satisfying feeling to know that she could begin her new life with a reasonably well-equipped home.
One of the most important decisions for an international student is choosing the right accommodation. KUAS offers several types of student housing, including international student dormitories and university-managed apartments. The university’s official housing information explains that these options are intended to help students settle into life in Kyoto, with support available through the university’s housing staff.
Our daughter was allotted a KUAS-managed apartment in a four-storey, mansion-style residential building near the university. For us, this arrangement offered a good balance between independence and security. It provided her with a place to live while allowing her to manage her daily routine without being entirely dependent on others.
The biggest advantage, in my opinion, is the freedom it gives students. They can manage their own schedules, prepare their meals, organise their rooms, and gradually learn to live independently. For students who are moving from India to Japan for the first time, this is an important step towards becoming self-reliant.
However, there is one practical point worth considering: the distance from the university can make a difference to daily life, particularly when it comes to meals. Students who depend on the university cafeteria or enrol in a meal programme may find it less convenient if their accommodation is farther away from the canteen.
Fortunately, our daughter prefers to cook for herself. For her, the apartment was therefore a big plus. She could prepare food according to her preferences and schedule, rather than having to plan every meal around the university cafeteria.
As an Indian parent, I also felt reassured that she could prepare familiar dishes whenever she wanted. Food is often one of the first things students miss when they move abroad, and having the freedom to cook can make the transition easier.
One of the most useful discoveries during our stay was Kyoto Family Shopping Mall, located approximately a 10-minute walk from our daughter’s apartment.
For a newly arrived international student, having a shopping centre nearby is a real advantage. Students need much more than a place to sleep. They need groceries, kitchenware, electrical appliances, furniture, toiletries, stationery, and many other things to make their accommodation feel like home. Kyoto Family proved to be a convenient place to meet several of these needs.
We found a Nitori store near Kyoto Family. Nitori is a well-known Japanese retailer specialising in furniture, interior products, and household goods. It was particularly helpful for purchasing the everyday items required to set up a student apartment. Rather than bringing everything from the home country, students can buy many of the necessary items locally after arriving in Japan.
I would suggest to prepare a list of essential items before travelling and avoid carrying too much from home. It is often more practical to purchase bulky household goods in Japan, especially when the student has a furnished or partially furnished accommodation arrangement.
Another useful store in Kyoto Family was Yamada Denki, an electronics retailer. We purchased an oven, a rice cooker, and other electrical items for our daughter. The rice cooker was especially important for us because rice is a staple in most Indian households, and it is equally convenient for preparing rice-based meals in Japan.
One practical suggestion for parents is to check the apartment's inventory before buying appliances. It is better to confirm what is provided, what is permitted, and what will actually be needed rather than purchase everything at once.
Another important task after arriving in Japan is arranging a mobile phone connection. Students need a reliable phone connection for communicating with family, accessing university information, using maps, managing banking arrangements, and handling everyday matters.
We noticed that Kyoto Family had offices or outlets associated with major Japanese mobile operators, including Rakuten, au, docomo, and SoftBank. This was convenient because our daughter could explore the available options without travelling far from her apartment. I would recommend researching mobile plans before arrival and comparing the available options after reaching Japan. Some plans may have different requirements concerning identification, payment methods, contract periods, and eligibility.
It is also useful to ask whether English-language assistance is available. Although Japan is very efficient in many respects, some everyday administrative tasks can be challenging for a newcomer who does not speak Japanese.
Kyoto is a city where public transportation can make student life much easier. Our daughter's location near the university offered access to the surrounding transport network, including Tenjingawa Station, which is useful for travelling around Kyoto.
For students, convenient transportation means more than simply commuting to university. It makes shopping, meeting friends, visiting the city centre, and exploring Kyoto during weekends much easier.
Kyoto has an extensive network of trains, subways, and buses. However, students should check the most convenient route from their particular apartment, as the nearest station and the best transport option may differ depending on the destination.
I would encourage students to familiarise themselves with Japanese navigation apps and public transport routes early in their stay. Learning how to travel independently is an important part of adjusting to life in Japan.
Between KUAS and our daughter's apartment, there was a Seven-Eleven convenience store. This may sound like a minor detail, but we found it reassuring. Students frequently need to purchase something at short notice, whether it is a drink, a snack, a simple meal, or an everyday essential.
Having a convenience store along the route between university and home means that a student can pick up necessary items while returning from classes instead of making a separate trip.
Convenience stores are an integral part of everyday life in Japan. They are particularly useful for international students who are still learning where to shop and how to manage their daily routines.
Of course, they are not a substitute for regular grocery shopping, especially for someone who intends to cook at home. Nevertheless, their availability nearby is a definite advantage.
Another useful facility near the university is the Ukyo Ward Office. Students arriving from overseas have several administrative matters to take care of after settling in Japan. Depending on their circumstances, these may include resident registration, address-related procedures, and other municipal formalities.
For international students, understanding these requirements and completing them within the prescribed deadlines is important.
Having the ward office within a convenient distance is therefore helpful. It reduces the effort involved in travelling to complete official paperwork, particularly during the first few days when students are unfamiliar with the city.
One of the most encouraging aspects of our daughter's experience has been her interaction with students from other countries. She made friends from Indonesia, Thailand, and Myanmar. They would get together and go on outings during weekends.
As a parent, I consider this an important part of studying abroad. University education is not limited to lectures, laboratory sessions, assignments, and examinations. Living in another country also offers an opportunity to understand different cultures, develop friendships, and learn to appreciate different perspectives.
For many students, adapting to a new food culture, language, and social environment may take some time. Having friends who are going through similar experiences can make the transition much smoother. These friendships also help students develop independence and confidence. They learn to plan outings, navigate public transportation, explore unfamiliar places, and solve everyday problems together.
KUAS itself emphasises an international learning environment, and its engineering programme attracts students interested in developing skills for global careers. Our daughter's growing circle of international friends has been a welcome extension of that experience.
Another advantage of studying at KUAS is the opportunity to live in Kyoto. Kyoto is internationally known for its temples, shrines, traditional streets, gardens, and cultural heritage. At the same time, it is a modern Japanese city with shopping centres, restaurants, public transportation, and the facilities students need for everyday life.
For a student, this combination makes weekends particularly interesting. There are cultural sites to explore, neighbourhoods to discover, seasonal attractions to enjoy, and opportunities to experience Japanese traditions firsthand.
I believe that students should make time for these experiences alongside their academic commitments. Exploring the city can help them understand Japanese society better and create memories that remain with them long after graduation.
Naturally, students must balance leisure with their studies, particularly in a demanding engineering programme. But having interesting places to visit and friends with whom to explore them makes student life more fulfilling.
One issue that parents should consider from the beginning is what happens when the initial accommodation arrangement comes to an end.
Based on our understanding of our daughter's particular housing situation, we were planning ahead for the possibility that she would need to arrange alternative accommodation after her initial period in university housing.
However, KUAS's published housing information states that its international student dormitory residence period can be up to two years, subject to the applicable conditions. University-managed apartments and other arrangements may have different terms.
Therefore, I would strongly recommend that parents and students confirm the exact residence period and renewal conditions with the KUAS Housing Office before making long-term plans.
If moving to private accommodation eventually becomes necessary, students should allow sufficient time to explore rental options, understand the associated costs, and consider the distance from the university.
It is always better to plan for this transition well in advance than to begin looking for a new home at the last minute.
Our visit from 29 August to 5 September was a short one, yet it was filled with meaningful experiences. We arrived in Kyoto with the responsibility of helping our younger daughter settle into a new country. We returned home having arranged her essential household items, familiarised ourselves with her neighbourhood, and gained a better understanding of the practical aspects of student life around KUAS.
The university-managed apartment suited her preference for independent living and home-cooked meals. Nearby shopping facilities made it possible to arrange the necessities without excessive travel. The convenience store, transportation links, and ward office were useful features of the neighbourhood. Most importantly, our daughter had begun building friendships with fellow international students and discovering life in Kyoto.
Nevertheless, if your son or daughter is planning to join Kyoto University of Advanced Science, I hope our experience provides a useful starting point.
Studying abroad alone is a significant step for a young person, and it is an equally significant milestone for parents. We may not be able to accompany our children through every stage of their journey, but supporting them establish a comfortable home and a good start can make all the difference.
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