Dormitory life at Tokyo Tech

For Tokyo Tech students from Japan and abroad, dormitory life offers many advantages:

• low costs, especially compared with private apartment rental
• ease of finding and moving into a comfortable and supportive living environment
• a relaxed atmosphere in which to rest and recharge
• interaction with fellow sci-tech students from diverse fields and backgrounds
• easy access to campus
• well-equipped facilities
• a convenient base from which to explore all that Tokyo has to offer

With more than 13 dormitories —including three new dormitories opened near campus in the last two years— Tokyo Tech students have a wide range of housing options beyond private homes and apartments.

According to data provided by Tokyo Tech's Student Support Division, as of May 2018, about 6.3% of the student body lives in a dormitory, and approximately 61% of dormitory residents are from overseas.

Six Tokyo Tech students living in the newest dormitories —Senzokuike House, Minamishinagawa House, and Midorigaoka House —discussed their experiences and offered advice for prospective students. A Q&A with the Student Support Division follows.

For many students, especially those coming from overseas and from farther away in Japan, the ease of finding housing is a key reason for choosing to live in a dorm. Detailed information about each of the dormitories is available through the Tokyo Tech website. Because the dormitories are managed by or available through cooperation with the Institute, prospective residents can be assured that the buildings are well-maintained and appropriate for students.

By comparison, prospective dormitory residents need only apply for a dormitory, pay the initial fee and first month's rent, and move in. Furniture and necessary appliances, such as refrigerators, are provided by the dormitory.

Close proximity to Ookayama Campus —a 15-minute walk from Senzokuike House, a 30-minute commute from Minamishinagawa House, and a coveted on-campus location for those living in Midorigaoka House— also figured into interviewees' decisions to move into a dorm.

University dormitories are often regarded as being rather boisterous places where students do more socializing than studying, but according to the residents interviewed, Tokyo Tech's dormitories are quiet.

Located near a large park in a quiet residential neighborhood, Senzokuike House is a women's dormitory that opened in April 2017. It features three-person units with private bedrooms and a small living area. Residents share the dormitory's large kitchen and dining room, a television lounge, restrooms, and shower rooms. Though residents clean their own units, the campus maintenance service cleans the common areas.

"Living with students from other countries is a key part of the experience," related dormitory tutor Sae. "Japanese students are in the minority in the dorm. My roommates are from Finland and China."

"When I moved into the dorm, I expected to stay for just four or five months and then move to an apartment," explained resident Irene. "I thought the dorm would be loud, but actually, it is quiet. I don't get distracted. For me, the proximity to campus is the best thing about Senzokuike House. I don't have to take public transport. I am basically able to go to the lab any time."

Designed by Tokyo Tech professors Koichi Yasuda and Toru Takeuchi, the stylish Midorigaoka House opened as a men's dormitory on the Ookayama Campus in September 2017. Residents have single bedrooms and share the dormitory's kitchen and study spaces. Other common facilities include restrooms, showers, coin laundry facilities and a storage room. Though residents are responsible for cleaning their own rooms, the dorm's common areas are cleaned by the campus maintenance service.

Asked what makes life in his Tokyo Tech dorm unique, Bin answered immediately, "Diversity. There are students from many different countries. Because Tokyo Tech offers programs and courses in English, the Institute attracts students from around the world. The dorm recently welcomed new residents from places like Thailand, China, Vietnam, the U.S., Germany, and Finland. They include master's and doctoral students, and short-term exchange students."

Residents of Minamishinagawa House list as advantages the safe and secure environment of the dorm, located in a crowded urban area near the Oimachi train station, and its convenience to Tokyo's city centers.

Ton Tosawat is satisfied with the dorm. "The bedrooms are very small, but the shared areas are bigger, so it's okay for me. I like my unit because I can cook every day."

Regarding unit mates, Ton noted that residents have to be open to differences, both culturally and personally, when it comes to communal living. He emphasized the benefits of living with other Tokyo Tech students. "One of my unit mates is an undergraduate and the other is a master's student. We can talk about our studies together and share advice."

Added Takuya, "A lot of the residents are master's students, and we have some shared classes, so we sometimes exchange information from class."

A big concern for new dormitory residents is deciding what to bring to the dormitory and how to budget appropriately to purchase items needed after arrival.

Though private apartments in Japan typically require tenants to provide everything, from furniture and major appliances to ceiling lights, dormitories provide residents with a desk, chair, and bed, as well as partially furnished kitchens and living areas, and coin-laundry facilities. Many of Tokyo Tech's dormitories also provide combination air conditioning and heating units for residents' year-round comfort. Small kitchen appliances, such as vacuum cleaners, rice cookers, microwave ovens, and hot water pots, are also provided. Dormitory residents are advised to bring or purchase some items, such as bed linens.

Regarding Minamishinagawa House, Ton commented, "The facilities in the room are great. As a student from abroad who only comes with a suitcase, it's great to have everything ready for us."

"In the beginning, it was very useful that I was living with one of the dorm tutors," Irene reflected. "She organized dinners for us and took us around Tokyo. It really helped me get through the first days. I couldn't have had that if I had just rented an apartment."

"We've had dormitory parties three times so far," commented Midorigaoka House's Bin. "The next will be next week. As a tutor, I help the dorm manager buy food for the parties. Generally on weekends, I work at a part-time job. Some students do club activities on campus. The dorm is very convenient to Shibuya, so students also go there."

In some dorms, dormitory tutors play an active role. Hired by the Institute to support residents in their daily life, tutors are typically responsible for conducting orientations for new residents, assisting residents with administrative procedures, organizing parties or dorm events, liaising with dormitory managers, and in some cases, acting as an intermediary to communicate residents' concerns to dorm managers or to Tokyo Tech.

According to the Institute's Student Support Division, new tutors are recruited whenever vacancies occur. New tutors are selected based on personal interviews as well as on satisfactory review of their application documents, which must include letters of recommendation by their academic supervisors.

• Dormitories | Dormitories and Accommodations | Current Students

Published: October 2018