Toyohashi City Guide

Toyohashi City is located in the southeastern edge of Aichi Prefecture, and is the both cultural and industrial centre of East-Mikawa area with the population of about 370,000.
There are two "number one in Japan" in Toyohashi. One is its biggest port for automobile imports, and the other is its leading agricultural supply. Toyohashi is a leading city for both Japanese industry and agriculture. AsToyohashi is one of Core Cities in Japan, there is everything you'd expect to find in a city here, and also friendliness and Japanese tradition that the big cities often forget. Hereare some references of Living in Toyohashi.

1. Residence
In TUT campus, we have International House with 50 rooms for newly arrived exchange students, and Government Supported students, and we also have Student Dormitories with 499 rooms where both Japanese and international students are able to stay. Since both students residences are much cheaper than private apartment, the competition is quite tough, but we try to arrange that many international students are able to stay in the university accommodation. The cost of living in the university residences is 20,000 - 30,000 yen per month (including energy charges). The private apartment is expensive, compares to the university residence. The cost is approximately 30,000 - 50,000 yen per month. Of course you can find much cheaper apartment and luxury apartment in Toyohashi.

2. Part-Time Job
Students who maintain "College Students" VISA status may be able to obtain permission for part-time job, as long as the hours are within 28 hours per week (8 hours per day during summer and other extended vacations). However, if you cannot speak Japanese, work opportunities are limited. *Please remind that some scholarship programmes do not allow students to do the part-time job. Also,you should have enough money to stay in Japan without doing part-time job. The money you can get from the part time job should be used for your vacations and other enjoyment in Japan.

3. Money
International banking cards can be used at almost all banking machines, and major credit cards are generally accepted, but often, you cannot use them for the small purchase. Universitywill ask you to open the bank account in Japan. You can open it with a seal (signature is accepted) and identification documents. Usually, to open a bank account in Japan is not so difficult. There is one banking machine (SMBC) inside the campus.

4. Cost of Living
Some might have heard that the cost of living in Japan is really high. However, in these years' Japanese deflation, the cost might not be so high as you suffer. Moreover, as Toyohashi is not a super-big city, everything is relatively cheaper compared to Tokyo or Osaka. Followinglist provides general ideas of what costs are like. And Japanese Consumption tax is 5%. [Food] Milk1000ml approx. 150 yen, Dozen Eggs approx. 150 yen, Coke 350ml approx. 120 yen, Beef 100g approx. 200 yen, 1 Apple approx. 100 yen, Rice 2kg approx. 800 yen, Studentsare able to eat 3 meals at the student cafeteria for about 300-500 yen. [Other] Movie Ticket approximately 1,500 yen, Bus Charge from Toyohashi Station to the university 450 yen. Returningtrain tickets to Nagoya 1,800 yen or 1,500 yen (with special discount) Bullet Train Shinkansen (Return ticket Toyohashi-Tokyo) approx. 14,000 yen (with student discount)

5. Transportation
The transportation to and in Toyohashi city is quite good. The Bullet Train, Shinkansen stops at Toyohashi, and from Toyohashi station, you can take 4 major lines of trains (Tokaido, Iida, Atsumi, and Meitetsu lines) as well as trams. By using these lines, you can visit most unique cultural places around East Mikawa area. However, we must say that the transportation to our university from the station is not so good. It takes approximately 25 minutes from the station to the university. Therefore, bicycles are very common in TUT students.

6. Climate
Climate in Toyohashi is very good. Summers (July to September) are hot and humid like other cities in Japan, but the average August temperature is 27.6 degrees Celsius, which is much cooler than Nagoya, the big city in the same prefecture. The hottest day reaches 33 degrees Celsius. Winters (December to February) are cold and windy but snow is rare. The average temperature in January 2006 is 4.9 degrees. Weget lots of rain during the rainy season of June, also in the typhoon season of September. Spring (March through May) and Autumn (October and November) bring nice weather with cherry blossoms or colorful leaves, and are both pleasant seasons.

7. Medical Insurance
All international students are required to join Japanese National Health Insurance. You will get 70% reduction of your medical cost with this insurance. You need to make monthly payment, but students can receive discount. National Health Insurance can cover dental care and pre-existing/chronic conditions.

8. Place to see
Toyohashi has wonderful natural environment, as surrounded by the sea and mountains. This has given the city many interesting places to visit. Thenorth of the city is Mt. Ishimaki, and to the east in the hill area are the Toyohashi Nature Walk and Imo Bog. Big Toyogawa River flows through the city, blending with the surrounding greenery to create a beautiful landscape. To the South are the vast expanses of the Pacific Ocean with beautiful beaches. Omote-hama beach is a famous place where turtles (loggerheads) lay eggs. The west of the city opens onto Mikawa bay with the Toyohashi Port which is the biggest for importing in Japan. There are many interesting events and festivals in each season. >>Seedetails for "Four Seasons and Festivals (Toyohashi City Hall webpage) " AlsoToyohashi has a lot of unique historical places worth to see.

Yoshida Castle and Futagawa-juku Honjin Museum are two major historical monument of Toyohashi, and Toyohashi Haristos Orthodox Church is newly appointed as Important Cultural Properties from Japanese government. >>See details for "Culture of Toyohashi (Toyohashi City Hall webpage)"

More enquiry and other questions

International Affairs Division at TUT is happy to answer to any kinds of questions regarding to admission procedure, daily life, and supports you can get in our university.

Please contact:
International Affairs Division Toyohashi University of Technology 1-1 Hibarigaoka, Tempaku-cho, Toyohashi 441-8580 JAPAN TEL +81-532-44-6577 / FAX +81-532-44-6557 ryugaku@office.tut.ac.jp