Housing Information for Exchange Student

*This page contains information prepared for exchange students who plan to enroll in the program at Sophia
following the instruction of the Center for Global Education and Discovery, Inbound Team. For degree students
(undergraduate students, graduate students), non-degree students, foreign special research students, research students, currently enrolled exchange students, please find the information regarding Soshigaya International House here, application information here.
*Message from the university to exchange students who are considering this dorm: Students who wish to stay
at Sophia dormitories should confirm below carefully since there are many important points. In the past years,
sadly, there are students who did not confirm carefully, and this caused mismatching situation during their stay
at Sophia dormitories. The university strongly wishes to prevent such regretful experiences for exchange students and requests all students to confirm the information below carefully.

1. Period of Stay for Incoming Exchange Students from April 2025

-Four-month contract: April 1, 2025 – July 31, 2025
-Ten-month contract: April 1, 2025 – January 31, 2026
*As a tentative schedule, the successful applicants will be able to move into the dormitory during the designated moving-in period in late-March. The schedule for this designated moving-in period (a finalized
one) will be announced at the time of notification of acceptance. Please follow the instructions from the university in case you are required to take quarantine outside the dormitory for a prescribed period as specified by the university when entering Japan from abroad due to an infectious disease outbreak such as COVID-19.

2.To Stay at this Dormitory

Applicants for this dormitory must agree and fully understand the Sophia Soshigaya International House
Guideline, Living Guide and other regulations set by the University. For details, see this site.
Especially, when moving into the dormitory, please also take the following important points into consideration:

-Applicant should understand that dormitory is a place of community life and live together with consideration
and respect for others; comply with the mission, vision, various systems, and regulations of each dormitory;
Japanese laws, and manners. In addition, applicants will communicate and exchange with other residents
while taking action to solve problems that arise in our daily dormitory life.
-Applicant must agree with the condition that smoking (with all forms of cigarettes/tobacco, including new types
of cigarettes/tobacco such as heated and electronic) is prohibited in all areas of the dormitory. No smoking
room is provided. Applicants must fully understand that the dormitory is in a ward where smoking in public
spaces is prohibited. Applicants must obey the non-smoking regulations.
-Since the residents’ rooms are not completely soundproof, there is a certain amount of noise from daily life
and activities. In addition, due to the geographical situation in Tokyo, it may be necessary to take measures
against humidity in the dormitory. Students should apply to the dormitory with the understanding of this type
of living environment.
-The University is committed to preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Therefore, if
you or others around you have a possibility of infection, you must follow the instructions from the University to
prevent infection (for example, changing the room you are staying in, refraining from going out, etc.).
In addition, you must be able to comply with the rules and manners of each dormitory to prevent infection.
-Ideal image of Sophia dormitory residents:
Students who can be engaged in the planning and organizing of events and exchanges among residents in the dormitory.
Students who have clear ideas for the vitalization of the dormitory, and who can utilize their experience
such as in international exchange and community life to help create an active educational dormitory.
For dormitories with a mission and vision, students who understand the mission and vision can put them
into practice in concrete ways and can take a leadership role in dormitory operations.

3. Basic Information

-In April 2012, Sophia University opens the co-ed dormitory as an “International House” for foreign international
students and Japanese students who come from away; Sophia hopes that living in a community with multiple
cultures and languages will enhance important aspects of human growth.
-There is a live-in dormitory manager. Meals are not served, but a kitchen is available for shared use.
-Sophia Soshigaya International House (SSIH) is a dormitory run by Sophia University under its university
educational principles which are expressed in the “Mission and Vision”. The members of SSIH are required to actively participate in maintaining its order, dormitory events and its exchange activities. Those who agree with the mission and vision of the SSIH are welcome to send your applications.

Address: 4-24-1, Kami-soshigaya, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, JAPAN 157-0065
TEL: ＋81-3-5384-1201; Email: dorm-soshigaya-ofc@sophia.ac.jp
Web Page: Sophia Soshigaya International House
Direction to Sophia: https://goo.gl/maps/SdJVrvzRhyU2B27x5

4. Transportation & Commuter pass

Total commuting time is approximately 60 minutes.

1. Sophia Soshigaya International House → Seijo-gakuen-mae Station
   Walking <20 min.> (buses are also available)
2. Seijo-gakuen-mae Station → Shinjuku Station
   Odakyu Line (rapid train) <16 min.>
3. Shinjuku Station → Yotsuya Station
   JR Chuo Line (rapid train) <4 min.>
4. Yotsuya Station → Sophia University
   Walking <3 min.>
   *Commuter pass (Student Fare; from Seijo-gakuen-mae Station to Yotsuya Station):
   6,030 JPY / 1 month, 17,200 JPY / 3 months, 32,580 JPY / 6 months
   *A commuter pass allows you to stop without an extra fee at any stations along the designated route.

4.Estimated Fee

Four-month contract: Below is the estimated fee for a 4-month stay.

Ten-month contract: Below is the estimated fee for a 10-month stay.

Note: The above amount of payment is applied for a single room. Above dormitory fees and other fees are for FY2024. Those fees might change in the next fiscal year.

6. Payment Methods

-You will receive a bill for the month every month after moving in. The bills will be delivered to your mailbox by the end of the previous month. You can pay in cash at a convenience store by the deadline written on the bill. The handling fee for the convenience store payment will be charged.
-You cannot use your debit or credit card.

7. Cancellation Policy and Leaving Procedures

The university gives priority to the exchange students for residency at Sophia dormitory and it is not desirable for students to cancel the contract and leave the dorm.
There are some rules to follow for the leaving procedures:

-Please submit “Notice of Leaving” to the dormitory office at least a month before you move out. If you fail to submit the Move-out Notice at least one month prior to the intended move-out day, your move-out day will be counted as one month after the submission date of the Notice, and the dormitory fees up to that month will be charged. Once you submit “Notice of Leaving”, you CANNOT cancel the request of leaving the dormitory.
The dormitory office receives “Notice of Leaving” only during office hour.
-The schedule of first room check and second room check will be determined at the time of submission of “Notice of Leaving”. In general, the first room check will be one or two days after submitting the Notice of Leaving, and the second room check will be conducted on the day of leaving or on the weekday right before the leaving day.
-The last bill for rent should be paid in cash at a convenience store.
-Please take all your belongings and dispose of unnecessary items. We do not accept anything at the office.
It is not allowed to leave your unnecessary items (including bicycle) in the kitchen or other shared spaces.
Please be sure to complete necessary procedures at the Setagaya Ward Office for oversized garbage trash
(over 30 cm square).
-Please be sure to terminate contracts and newspaper delivery.

Dormitory Fee for the Month of Moving out

Move-out between 1st and 10th of the month: 15,000 yen
Move-out between 11th and 20th of the month: 30,000 yen
Move-out between 21st and last day of the month: 45,000 yen

※When moving out from the dormitory, please submit “Notice of Leaving” (designated form) to the dormitory office,as stated in dormitory regulations, at least one month prior to the intended move-out day.

Example 1: You wish to move out on June 12, and submit “Notice of Leaving” by May 12:→Dormitory fees for the month you move out (June) will be 30,000 yen, applicable to “move-in/-out between the 11th and 20th of the month”.

Example 2: You wish to move out on November 12, and submit “Notice of Leaving” by October 12:→Dormitory fees for the month you move out (November) will be 30,000 yen, applicable to “move-in/-out between the 11th and 20th of the month”.

Please note that if you fail to submit “Notice of Leaving” at least one month prior to the intended move-out day, your move-out day will be counted as one month after the submission date of the Notice, and the dormitory fees up to that month will be charged.

Example 1: You wish to move out on June 12, but you are late in submitting “Notice of Leaving” and submit it on June 2:→Your move-out day will be July 2, a month after the Notice submission date, and the full dormitory fees for June (45,000 yen) and dormitory fees for the move-out month (July) will be charged. Dormitory fees for the move-out month (July) will be 15,000 yen, applicable to “move-out between the 1st and the 10th of the month”.

Example 2: You wish to move out on November 12, but you are late in submitting “Notice of Leaving” and submit it on November 2:→Your move-out day will be December 2, a month after the Notice submission date, and the full dormitory fees for November (45,000 yen) and dormitory fees for the move-out month (December) will be charged.

Dormitory fees for the move-out month (December) will be 15,000 yen, applicable to “move-out between the 1st and the 10th of the month”.

8. Period of Stay

-Four-month contract
Exchange students can extend their period of stay till the end of August 2025 if they apply for the extension around May 2025. In this case, extra dormitory fee (15,000 yen/30,000 yen/45,000 yen; Depends on the date of leaving the dormitory; See above “7. Cancellation Policy and Leaving Procedures” for details) and bedding fee (only for users of bedding lease service, a flat rate of 2,200 yen) will be charged.
-Ten-month contract
Exchange students can extend their period of stay till the end of February 2026 if they apply for the extension around November 2025. In this case, extra dormitory fee (15,000 yen/30,000 yen/45,000 yen; Depends on the date of leaving the dormitory; See “7. Cancellation Policy and Leaving Procedures” for details) and extra bedding fee (only for users of bedding lease service, a flat rate of 2,200 yen) will be charged.

• Above dormitory fees and other fees are for FY2024. Those fees might change in the next fiscal year.