Transportation:

1. Bus

Bus is the main mode of transportation in the region and most students take bus to get to and from the campus. Tickets can be easily purchased from the local shopping mall, Tokiwa. As buses run on a strictly-adhered schedule, do take note of its arrival timings when booking your tickets.

It takes approximately 15 minutes to get from JR Kamegawa station to APU and 35-45 minutes from Beppu station to APU. Depending on the traffic conditions, it generally takes around one hour for students to get to APU from anywhere in the city.

Flying Chalks’ tip: Students can enjoy a discount when they purchase the yearly commuter bus pass!

2. Motorbike and Scooter

If you want to travel to and from the university by motorbike or scooter, you must have both insurance and a license that allows you to drive in Japan. You must apply at the Student Office should you wish to use the car park. However, do note that students are not allowed to park their car at the car park.  

3. From AP House to APU

It takes roughly 10 minutes to walk from AP House to campus. In front of the AP House, there is a bus at the bus-stop that goes directly to town, making it very convenient for students to get around. 

Banking services:

In Japan, foreign visitors cannot open a bank account until 6 months after their arrival. To open a bank account, you must provide some form of identification (an official document to verify your name, address, and date of birth). Typically, an inkan (a personal seal) is also needed to open a bank account in Japan. If you do not have an inkan, you can open a bank account with your signature. As an inkan is just as legally binding as your signature, be very careful about using your inkan.

At any nearby post offices, you will be able to find the Japan Post Bank (Yucho Ginko) with ATMs that allows you to withdraw money with credit card issued by overseas banks. You can also open an account in Japan and arrange your utility fees automatically deducted from your account. However, note that this account cannot be used for transactions such as remittances from overseas.

Regular business hours for bank counters: 9:00-15:00 on weekdays; closed on weekends.

Major Banks in Beppu

1. Oita Bank (Local Bank)

Oita Bank Beppu Branch
Local Bank
18-21 Noguchi Nakamachi
+81 977-21-2121

Oita Bank is just east of the JR Beppu station. It will give cash advances on credit cards (show passport).

2. Japan Post Bank

It is relatively easy to withdraw cash from ATM machines which you can find on campus and also at many places such as banks, shopping malls, and convenience stores. Credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and JCB) can be used at many department stores and supermarkets.

Flying Chalks’ tips:

• As there is no foreign exchange service available around APU, you are advised to change your home currency prior to arrival.
• Using foreign ATM cards to withdraw cash will incur a service charge. If there is a need to, it is best to draw in large amounts to avoid unnecessary expenses.
• Although there are no costs involved in opening a bank account, there is really no need to unless you require it (e.g. to receive a scholarship from the Japanese Government). Some banks may require you to maintain a minimum balance and having to close the bank account when you leave can also be a slight hassle.  
• Thankfully, APU organises and arranges for sessions to brief you on how to open and close bank account so you don’t have to worry as long as you attend the session.

Post office services:

Counters handling postal matters are usually open from 9am – 5pm on weekdays while those handling savings accounts and insurance are open until 4pm. Letters can be posted from campus, but packages have to be brought to the post office downtown. There is a local post office nearby campus which will allow you to post your stuff overseas. Fees depend on the location but are generally rather expensive. Should you have a tight budget, you can opt for the shipping option which takes the longest time to deliver.                 

1. Beppukitahama Post Office

Address: 2 Chome-9-1 Kitahama

Telephone: +81 977-21-6822

2. Beppukamegawa Post Office

Address: 2-1 Kamegawahamadamachi

Telephone: +81 977-66-4800

3. Beppuhamawaki Post Office

Address: 2 Chome-3-7 Hamawaki

Telephone: +81 977-22-4961

Medical services:

There is a Health Clinic located on-campus, which provides health and medical support. However, apart from that, medical services are generally that not accessible. You will have to visit the clinic for referral to specialists or hospital if needed. If students feel anxious about their student life at APU, they can also go to the counselling room and seek advice from the counsellors.

It is mandatory for all international students staying in Japan for 12 months or more to sign up for the National Health Insurance which costs about 1,100 yen per month. Also, the students whose immigration status is "College Student" may apply for the reimbursement of the medical costs that is not covered by the National Insurance if they submit the required documents to the University. 

Telecommunications:

There are four cellular service operators in Japan:

1. NTT DoCoMo

DoCoMo is one of the most popular telecommunication service providers in Japan. It provides the widest coverage in each of Japan’s three big cities. Having wide coverage is especially important for those traveling to popular national landmarks like foreign tourists to guarantee its accessability. As of March 2012, the number of subscribers is 60 million.

2. KDDI

In terms of coverage in Tokyo area, KDDI offers the second widest coverage. However, in terms of price for 3G services, it has a lower price compared to Docomo. As of September 2010, there are 32 million subscribers.

3. SoftBank Mobile

Softbank Mobile is a subsidiary of Softbank. It has the third widest coverage in Japan’s three biggest cities. Softbank Mobile was also the exclusive service provider of Apple iPhone in Japan until November 2011. As of September 2010, there were 23 million subscribers.

Flying Chalks’ tip: If you make use of M1’s passport services, you do not have to purchase any SIM card. With just an additional SGD10/month, M1 allows you to use Japan’s Softbank with the exact same plan. If you don’t use M1, you might want to check with your telecommunication service provider for this kind of service. There is a phone in every room of the dormitory but you need to buy a calling card to use it. People from other countries can call your room phone but the charge will be on the caller.

Weather

Japan’s climate is characterized by 4 distinct seasons: Spring (March to May), Summer (June to August), Fall (September to November), and Winter (December to February). But since Japan is a long series of islands stretching from north to south, the weather also varies from place to place. Beppu is located in eastern Kyushu, the southernmost of the four main islands so the climate is relatively mild all year.

Here’s the range of average temperatures in Oita throughout the year:

Flying Chalks’ tip: The APU campus is on a mountain, and because it sometimes snow in the mountain during winter, it is best to warm yourself up in hot springs around this time.

The following telephone numbers are indispensable in times of emergency. When calling any of these numbers, always remember to give your full name and the location of the accident or crime.