It is your responsibility to visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, to check whether you need to obtain a short-term stay visa to enter Japan or not.
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/short/novisa.html
List of Embassies and Consulates:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/about/emb_cons/over/index.html
Procedure Chart for Short-Term Stay Visa:
http://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/visa/process/short.html
We strongly suggest that you begin this procedure as early as possible. The process may take 3-4 weeks or longer.
NOTE:
If you are planning to continue studying at another institution or university in Japan after the HIF program, please ask a foreign student advisor of the program you will join about a student visa before you leave your country. HIF cannot issue a Certificate of Eligibility.
Please see the website of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare for the current Japanese boarder measures.
COVID19: Current Japanese Boarder Measures
https://www.mhlw.go.jp/stf/covid-19/bordercontrol.html
Besides COVID-19, there are some recommended vaccinations such as Japanese encephalitis, but they are not necessary. Please visit the following websites for more information.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/japan
World Health Organization:
http://www.who.int/ith/vaccines/en/
Also, your doctor would be a good source of information on vaccinations.
If you need to bring or mail any medication to Japan, please consult your doctor and/or refer to the following websites:
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare:
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/english/policy/health-medical/pharmaceuticals/01.html
U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Japan:
https://jp.usembassy.gov/services/importing-medication/
I applied to HIF on a whim, not knowing what to expect. Now that I have completed the program, it's safe to say that applying was one of the best decisions ...
HIF was hands down one of the best experiences of my life. I came into the program with the goal of improving my Japanese, and I certainly achieved that ...
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For my first time traveling abroad, I do not think I could have picked a better place to be than Hakodate as an HIF student. Whether it be inside the ...
Eight weeks felt like a very short time to spend at HIF. Our teachers and the staff encouraged us to make the most of our time in Hakodate ...
The summer at HIF has been wonderful for me! I'm so glad that I was able to improve my Japanese so much and met so many wonderful instructors ...