To many students, both new to the university and those who are on campus for the first time due to online classes, it may be a challenge to figure out the spots on campus that are ideal for studying. But worry not! In this article, I will discuss the best spots on campus for studying and the pros and cons of each spot.
Library The university library is one of the best places for studying out of all the places on this list. I interviewed many students about the best spots for studying on campus, and the library itself seemed to be the most popular among students. The library is also my personal favorite spot for studying.
The library is quiet, which makes it an ideal place for studying. For students who want to make use of the books and computers available in the library, there is even more of a reason to consider studying in the library. The library has many tables equipped with power outlets, it is ideal for working on your laptop or other devices.
However, for students who want to study in groups, the library is perhaps not the place to go as students must maintain silence in the library at all times. My best suggestion for students who want to study in groups would be to use the GLS rooms in the English Plaza area which is on the first floor of the same building, just below the library. If you reserve one of these rooms, you can have uninterrupted discussions with your fellow students, and also benefit from the HDMI screens or whiteboards which are available depending on the room.
Auditorium The auditorium was also a popular choice among students who wish to have a quiet place to study. The auditorium seems to be a quiet place except during lunch or when there is an event such as the orchestra practice going on. However, most of the time, the auditorium is quiet and there are some power outlets that can be used for keeping your laptop charged even though they may not be as plentiful. Much like the library, the auditorium may not be ideal given the structure of the tables and the quiet nature of the place. Please note that reservation is required if students want to use the auditorium when the 2023 Spring semester starts.
Student Plaza and Café Lounge If you look for a quiet spot to study, the Student Plaza and Café Lounge may not be the best places for studying, especially during the lunch time given that there are many students having lunch during the time. However, on an occasion when you fail to reserve a GLS room in the English Plaza, it could be a good alternative. At the Student Plaza and Café Lounge, these areas and since the table arrangements are more group-friendly, it could work as a good study spot as long as it is not too crowded. Typically early morning or later in the evening, there seem to be fewer students and these places are less noisy. As both the Student Plaza and Café Lounge have adequate power outlets, it will not be difficult to find a place to charge your device.
Japanese Plaza The Japanese Plaza or usually referred to as J-plaza, is a nice place for studying Japanese and to practice Japanese conversation with Japanese interns, as it is relatively quiet and comfortable with some seats with a window view. I personally like this spot a lot (window view near the automatic door) for my study and it does seem that many students feel the same way given that this spot’s seats are almost always occupied by students. As the J-plaza has very limited seats, it may be hard to ensure that there will always be free seats here. However, if you ever happen to find an open seat here, I recommend you give this spot a try!
The outdoor sitting area next to Building 3 If you prefer to step outside for some fresh air but want to continue studying, this is the spot to go! Sitting out here to study during the autumn or spring can be quite refreshing. However, do keep in mind that this spot does not have many seats, lacks power outlets, and it might get too hot or cold during the summer or winter!
We hope this article will be helpful for your university life!
For students who are becoming freshmen and who will arrive in Japan for the first time, you might be wondering what good preparation needs to be done before moving to Japan. In this article, I will discuss what you need to prepare for a smooth transition and acclimation to life in Japan.
Pre-plan budget and finance
Planning and managing finance is a very important aspect of moving to a new country. As the average expense and income can be vastly different between countries, it is important to do the necessary planning and calculations to know how you will fund your life in Japan as an international student. The main expenses as a student in Japan will include rent, food, transport, and tuition expenses. It is a very wise choice to pre-plan these core expenses and how they would be afforded before coming to Japan. For students who will not receive financial support or will only be supported partially, it is good to do some research on scholarship opportunities as well as part-time jobs.
Find a place to live in Japan
One of the main expenses as well as necessities for an international student in Japan is renting a place to live. For most freshmen who will be coming to Japan, university dorms are always a popular choice. However, for students who cannot get into the university dorms or simply have other living preferences, it could be quite hard to find a place to live. However, there are housing agencies that are foreigner-friendly and English-friendly which could help a lot in finding a good place to live.
Regardless of whether you eventually choose to live in the dorm or find your own place to live, there are important factors to consider when moving. The location should be considered carefully to make sure that necessary facilities such as train stations and grocery stores exist in the vicinity. As a student, the two most important factors are perhaps affordability and being near the campus. Luckily, here in Kasumigaseki where the main campus is, the average rent cost is fairly cheap compared to the more urban areas of Tokyo. For those who are looking to share living space, rent in the Kasumigaseki area is even more affordable.
Get to know basic Japanese
Despite being a developed country, English is not a language that is widely used in Japan. While it is possible to get by in Japan without knowing Japanese, it would make life here so much easier with even a little bit of Japanese knowledge. As a student, you may have to visit banks and city halls from time to time. You will also receive a lot of mail in Japanese. While PAs (Peer Assistants) of TIU can help students with the aforementioned tasks, it would be very helpful to know even some basic Japanese to be independent in certain situations. For example, as an international student, Japanese skill is perhaps the one skill that can increase part-time job opportunities for students in Japan the most. Furthermore, for students who want to continue life in Japan by working after graduation, Japanese skill is all the more important. So why not learn some basic Japanese and gain a head start before arriving in Japan?
Prepare to bring your necessities or buy them once you move to Japan
It is important to plan everything that you will need for your life here in Japan before arriving here. For example, many students who come from hot countries may forget to consider bringing winter clothes with them. In the case that you do not have winter clothes, you could either buy some before coming to Japan or buy them once you move to Japan.
Make sure you have the necessary documents to move to Japan
While this is often not an issue, there are required visa procedures before coming to Japan as a student. Make sure that all the necessary documents are obtained in preparation for moving here. If it is your first time traveling abroad, a passport is absolutely necessary! You should make a checklist of necessary documents before you leave your country for Japan.
Have you ever heard about how many people end up with hay fever? According to a TV program, each person has an empty container-like structure inside their body, and you accumulate substances that can cause hay fever into it. When the container is full, you get hay fever. This means that every person has the potential to get hay fever. However, according to my research, it was not technically a container. You accumulate antibodies created within your own body in reaction to the pollen that gradually accumulates in your body through your eyes and nose. Once the amount of antibodies reach a certain level, a chemical substance causing an allergic reaction is secreted and hay fever symptoms appear.
I, the writer of this article, have eventually come to the final phase of having a pollen allergy. I define the final phase as when your eyes feel a bit achy and you sneeze sometimes. Once this state gets worse, then you will have hay fever. (Some people who are in this final phase do not realize that they are at risk of getting hay fever and I used to be one of them too! I have not got hay fever yet.)
Now you might say that you do not want to have hay fever! Worry not, as I have researched some tips to prevent hay fever.
１Being healthy
It is important to maintain a healthy immune system by getting a night of good sleep and having a good diet. This is also what you have to typically do in order to prevent catching a cold.
It might be a little hassle for students living by themselves to prepare their meals considering a balance of nutrition every day because it takes lots of time. One TV program featured a student from Tokyo University who does not have normal meals, but nutrition supplements only in order not to waste his time. I do not personally recommend this. However, taking supplements with meals might be a good idea for hectic students.
２ Maintaining a normal mucous membrane
Inflammation in the mucous membrane can trigger and aggravate your hay fever. Here is the bad news for heavy smokers and alcoholics. Smoking and drinking can damage your mucous membrane. If you are at risk of getting hay fever, it is best that you refrain from smoking and drinking alcohol.
３Avoid absorbing pollen
As I mentioned in the introduction, accumulation of pollen causes hay fever. Therefore, the best prevention must be avoiding the absorption of pollen into your body in the first place. So it is important to wear a mask at all times. Shutting windows and doors properly, and wiping off your clothing before entering the house will help a lot as well. I guess because of this covid-19 situation, the occurrence of hay fever might be reduced greatly since we wear masks and even stay at home.
If you think you might be at risk of getting hay fever, I recommend you get medical treatment as soon as possible. That can help you to hinder the progress of aggravation. It is always better to take action to prevent symptoms at an early stage before you actually get hay fever. I hope this information helps you.
Hello everyone! How are you dealing with the weather changes? As the end of fall is nearing and winter is approaching, the cold weather in Japan will certainly cause us to adjust our lifestyles accordingly. For those who are experiencing winter in Japan for the first time or those whose least favorite season is winter, this article will contain helpful tips on how to deal with this harsh season.
From Autumn, when the temperature starts to drop drastically, the first and foremost preparation to make is the closet change. Flannels and windbreakers are the musts for the extreme cold during January and February. Winter is also a good time to show off fashionable outfits while staying warm. One more thing that you must keep in mind during winter is the fluctuation and unpredictability of the temperature. In Japan, it’s generally a good habit to check the temperature before heading outside as winter rain is in fact very common here as well.
Winter outfits
During winter, you must not forget to take necessary health precautions. Especially for people moving from warm countries, it is important to take extra measures. As the humidity adjustments take time to adapt to, prevention is better than cure. For instance, Influenza or flu is one of the most common illnesses in Japan in winter. Most people have a tendency to catch it in late fall. Additionally, skincare is something that shouldn’t be taken lightly as the humidity drops severely when winter comes. Irrespective of gender or age, pocket-sized hand cream and lip balm that are convenient and can be carried anywhere become the most demanding cosmetic products during winter. Moreover, don’t forget to stay hydrated. During winter, the body’s thirst response is lower and we tend to sweat less compared to other seasons. So, you may sometimes be under the wrong assumption that you are better hydrated, which later results in winter dehydration. Insufficient water intake can cause health problems like skin breakouts or peeling.
Starting from fall, people set out to travel to several tourist attractions around Japan, a country with a phenomenal diversity in nature from mountains to seas. As winter approaches, the tourists start to gather in the colder regions of Japan to enjoy the winter outdoor activities such as snowboarding, skiing, ice skating, ropeways in breathtakingly beautiful locations. Or maybe just relaxing in some hot springs, one of Japan’s most unique destinations in terms of traveling. Hokkaido, Niigata, and Gunma prefectures are the most famous when it comes to such winter activities. Asides from that, the greater Tokyo area starts to put on its festive look with Christmas around the corner. For people with tight schedules, they can go for a short one-day trip to different locations in Tokyo where there is winter illumination. Ebisu and Roppongi Illuminations are very well known among foreign visitors.
Roppongi Hills Illumination
Overall, regardless of how you choose to spend winter or how you deal with the cold, some may still find the conditions of winter somewhat harsh. Nevertheless, it is important to stay warm, healthy and enjoy the winter as much as possible. Hopefully, after reading this article, you have found some useful tips that can make your winter experience a better one!
Times Of TIU 