Housing
An Integral Part of the AIU Experience
More international and Japanese students cited living in the on-campus community as their favorite part of studying at AIU over all other aspects of life and study.
AIU requires all short-term international students to live in on-campus housing. Over 80% of all AIU students live on our residential campus, and living here gives you easy access to student clubs and circles, campus events, and many kinds of community interaction opportunities.
Degree-seeking students at AIU are required to live in Komachi Hall for their first year. At AIU, we consider living together with students from other cultural backgrounds to be a critical part of the international experience, for all students- whether degree-seeking or short-term exchange.
On-Campus Life
Social Space
AIU’s small campus size makes it easy for students to form close and lasting bonds with new friends from Japan as well as from our partner universities in 51 countries and territories. But those bonds aren’t forged only in the classroom. Living together with roommates from other countries and participating in the same clubs and activities are essential parts of the AIU experience. Life in AIU’s housing facilities- which are all within 10 minutes’ slow walk of each other- means that your friends and friends-to-be are close at hand and there is always an excuse to get together.
As students consistently tell us, one of the best things about AIU is the people you meet here, and the small campus environment is designed to foster connections by bringing everyone together in the same social space for spontaneous interaction and friendships.
Access to Activities
Second only to the on-campus living environment, international students rated university-organized activities and clubs as another favorite part of their AIU experience. When asked to cite a specific example of an experience that stuck with them, every single survey respondent cited clubs or university-arranged activities.
Guaranteed on-campus housing for all students ensures that everyone has easy access to these opportunities. The Division of Community Outreach arranges many kinds of activities each year, including interactions with Japanese schools and local communities. These events, as well as bus tours, club activities, and class trips all occur on or depart from campus.
In addition to events and activities, all the housing facilities are within a few minutes’ walk from AIU’s 24-hour library and computer laboratories. For inclement weather, our primary buildings, including the Komachi Hall, are all connected by interior walkways, as well.
International students are guaranteed housing on campus for each semester they are enrolled, so long as they fill out the Housing Application form.
Housing Photos and Details
Komachi Hall
Komachi Hall is an ideal place to start your AIU life. Newly renovated and fully furnished, international students living in Komachi Hall have the easiest time making Japanese friends since many of them begin living with a Japanese roommate from the first day of their stay here at AIU.
- Double room *Used as a double room in principle
- Number of rooms 160 + 4 barrier-free rooms
- Floor Plan 14 ㎡ (room)
- Rent 28,000 – 30,000 JPY
*Rent: per person/ month- *Includes utilities and internet usage.
- *Cleaning fee to be paid separately when moving out.
- *If the dormitory fee is revised during the student’s enrollment, the new amount will be applied from the time of the revision.
Komachi residents (New degree-seeking students) must purchase meal plans (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). Meals on the meal plan are provided during the spring (4 months) and fall (4 months) semesters. Meals are not provided during Golden Week (Japanese holidays), summer vacation, New Year’s holidays, and winter program (January through March).
Price of meal plan: Approx. 250,000 JPY (spring semester + fall semester)
Safety and Security
All rooms and suites are single-sex. There are automatic locks for male and female floors, as well as for individual rooms, to ensure students’ safety and security.
Rooms
The dorm has 160 rooms, plus 4 handicapped-accessible room. Each room has space for two residents, with each having a loft bed over their personal desk station. In addition, suites, composed of two rooms, share two toilets and showers located in between the rooms.
While individual rooms do not have cooking facilities, there is a community kitchen where students frequently gather for cooking parties and the dorm is connected directly to the cafeteria. Komachi Hall also has a lobby with games, satellite TV, vending machines, mailboxes, and a round-the-clock management office.
Tsubaki Village
- Single room: Shared house style with a maximum of 12 students
- Number of rooms 252 + 3 barrier-free rooms
- Floor Plan 213 ㎡ (1DK+9 ㎡ room × 13)
- Rent 48,000 – 50,000 JPY
*Rent: per person/ month- *Includes utilities and internet usage.
- *Cleaning fee to be paid separately when moving out.
- *If the room fee is revised during the student’s enrollment, the new amount will be applied from the time of the revision.
Tsubaki Village features suite of twelve individual bedrooms attached to a common living-dining-kitchen room and bathroom. The first-year degree-seeking students, second- and older year degree-seeking students and international students may live in this apartment.
Safety and Security
It has single-sex floors and Mixed-sex floors. Each unit and the individual rooms have locks.
Rooms
Tsubaki Village has 21 twelve-occupancy suites plus 3 handicapped-accessible units. This is an option for students who want the maximum opportunity to mingle with other students and willing to work together.
Sakura Village
Sakura Village features suite of three individual bedrooms attached to a common living-dining-kitchen room and bathroom. Like the other apartment villages, only international students and second- and older year degree-seeking students are eligible to live in Sakura Village.
- Single room
- Number of rooms 105 + 2 barrier-free rooms
- Floor Plan 53 ㎡ (DK+9 ㎡ room × 3)
- Rent 48,000 – 50,000 JPY
*Rent: per person/ month- *Includes utilities and internet usage.
- *Cleaning fee to be paid separately when moving out.
- *If the room fee is revised during the student’s enrollment, the new amount will be applied from the time of the revision.
Safety and Security
All apartments are single-sex and have their own locks.
Rooms
Sakura Village has 35 triple-occupancy suites plus 2 handicapped-accessible rooms. Although more expensive than the other housing options, this is a perfect option for students who want to have their own space for sleeping and studying, but still have the opportunity to socialize with their suitemates in the common room.
Global Village
Global Village also features double occupancy rooms, but each room has a privacy curtain as well as its own bathroom and kitchenette with induction cooktop. All international students and second- and older year degree-seeking students are eligible to live in the apartments.
- Single room
- Number of rooms 100 + 4 barrier-free rooms
- Floor Plan 20 ㎡ (K+9 ㎡ room)
- Rent 52,000 – 54,000 JPY
- Double room
- Number of rooms 92
- Floor Plan 26 ㎡ (K+13 ㎡ room)
- Rent 31,000 – 33,000 JPY
- *Rent: per person/ month
- *Includes utilities and internet usage.
- *Cleaning fee to be paid separately when moving out.
- *If the room fee is revised during the student’s enrollment, the new amount will be applied from the time of the revision.
Safety and Security
All apartments are single-sex and have their own locks.
Rooms
Global Village has 100 single-occupancy rooms, 92 double-occupancy rooms and 4 single-occupancy, handicapped-accessible rooms for students with medical needs.
Themed House (Tsubaki Village)
On campus, there is a student dormitory for new students and student housing for students in their second year and above, where they reside with short-term international students. Themed House, in which a variety of students gather on campus to engage in activities based on a specific theme, were introduced in 2015. Members live together in the student housing, Tsubaki Village, and work on planning and organizing events based on the theme.
In 2024, the following Houses are scheduled to conduct activities.
1) Anime House
2) Criminal Justice House
3) Indigenous House
4) Lego House (Language Learning House)
5) Nihongo House (Japanese Language House)
6) Well-being House
The purpose of Themed House is to pursue their respective themes while living together.
Members of Themed House are expected not only to participate but also to take the initiative in promoting the events and activities of each house.
Room Details and Facilities
Room Details and Facilities
Details | Komachi Hall | Tsubaki Village | Sakura Village | Global Village |
---|---|---|---|---|
Room Style | Double occupancy room; two-room suite | Single bedroom; twelve occupancy suite | Single bedroom; triple occupancy suite | Single occupancy, Double occupancy |
Constructed | Main Building: 1990 Renewal: 2023 | 2022 | 2013 | 2007 |
Bathroom facilities | Shower, Toilet, Bathroom sink | Shower, Bathroom, Toilet, Bathroom sink | Bathroom, Bathroom sink, Toilet | Bathroom, Bathroom sink, Toilet |
Kitchen | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Amenities/Equipment | ・A/C ・Loft Bed ・Bedding Set* ・Book Shelf ・Closet ・Desk ・Desk Chair ・Desk Lamp ・Wired Internet ・Wi-Fi ・Internal Phone ・Small Refrigerator(No freezer) ・Community Kitchen (1st floor in Komachi Hall) ・Lounge(9 locations in Komachi Hall) | ・A/C ・Bed ・Bedding Set* ・Book Shelf ・Closet ・Desk ・Desk Chair ・Desk Lamp ・Dining Table ・Dining Chair ・Wired Internet ・Wi-Fi ・Refrigerator(with freezer) ・Microwave oven ・Toaster | ・A/C ・Bed ・Bedding Set* ・Book Shelf ・Closet ・Desk ・Desk Chair ・Desk Lamp ・Dining Table ・Dining Chair ・Wired Internet ・Wi-Fi ・Refrigerator(with freezer) | ・A/C ・Bed ・Bedding Set* ・Book Shelf ・Closet ・Desk ・Desk Chair ・Desk Lamp ・Wired Internet ・Wi-Fi ・Refrigerator(with freezer) ・Microwave oven |
Japanese Residents* | Yes; Mostly First-year students | Yes; Second year and above | Yes; Second year and above | Yes; Second year and above |
Main differences in rules | ・No alcohol ・No cooking in rooms ・Single-sex suites only ・No visitors of opposite sex between 10pm – 7am | ・Single-sex and Mixed-sex suites | ・Single-sex suites only | ・Single-sex rooms only |
Things to Keep in Mind for On-Campus Living
Room Change
Campus life is a communal living experience with other residents, including roommates and suitemates. Even if lifestyles differ, residents are expected to respect each other, engage in frequent dialogue, and find ways to compromise in their daily lives. Please understand that, as a general rule, room changes will not be approved even if there are lifestyle differences among residents.
Smoke-free campus
AIU is a completely smoke-free campus. (Komachi Hall, Tsubaki Village, Sakura Village and Global Village are smoke-free housing.)
Short-Term International Students
Short-Term International Students are required to choose their housing from Komachi Hall, Tsubaki Village, Sakura Village, and Global Village double occupancy rooms. (Housing options vary by semester.) Short-Term International Students who live in Komachi Hall will, in principle, share a room with a degree-seeking student.
*Bedding Set: Includes pillow with pillowcase, Japanese futon-style mattress with cover, blanket with cover, and comforter with cover. Pillowcase and covers may be exchanged once a week.
For Short-Term International Students, bedding is included in the dormitory fee and is to be provided. Degree-seeking students are required to apply if necessary.
Notes: Items not listed above must be provided by students. They include, but are not limited to towels, toiletries, and hair dryers.
Laundry Facilities
Details | Komachi Hall | Tsubaki Village | Sakura Village | Global Village |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hours | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
Washer Cost | ¥200/load | ¥200/load | ¥200/load | ¥200/load |
Dryer Cost | ¥100/30 mins (Electric) ¥100/15 mins (Gas) | ¥100/15 mins (Gas) | ¥100/15 mins (Gas) | ¥100/15 mins (Gas) |
Postal Address for Student Housing
Postal Address for Student Housing
Postal address for each student housing as below. You should add your housing name and room number.
Komachi Hall
- 193-3 Aza-Okutsubakidai, Tsubakikawa, Yuwa, Akita City, Akita, 010-1211
Sakura Village
- 193-17 Aza-Okutsubakidai, Tsubakikawa, Yuwa, Akita City, Akita, 010-1211
Global Village
- 193-4 Aza-Okutsubakidai, Tsubakikawa, Yuwa, Akita City, Akita, 010-1211
Tsubaki Village
- 194-20 Aza-Okutsubakidai, Tsubakikawa, Yuwa, Akita City, Akita, 010-1211
For Short-term International Students
Rent and Fees (per Semester)
Semester | Komachi Hall | Global Village | Sakura Village | Tsubaki Village |
---|---|---|---|---|
Fall Semester 2024 per student | 130,000 JPY utilities included | 143,500 JPY utilities included | 220,000 JPY utilities included | 220,000 JPY utilities included |
Winter Program 2025 per student | 88,000 JPY utilities included | 97,000 JPY utilities included | 148,000 JPY utilities included | 148,000 JPY utilities included |
Spring Semester 2025 per student | 126,000 JPY utilities included | 139,500 JPY utilities included | 216,000 JPY utilities included | 216,000 JPY utilities included |
*Amount scheduled for FA2024 to SP2025.
Utilities Fees: Utilities include electricity, water, internet, and gas (where applicable) and are included in the rent for all facilities.
*Bedding & Room Cleaning Fee: 23,000 – 25,000 JPY per semester; 7,200 – 7,500 JPY (Winter). The Bedding fee covers weekly cleaning of the pillowcase, mattress cover, blanket cover, and comforter cover. Charges will be assessed for any excessive stains or replacement of the bedding set. Room cleaning fee will be used when you vacate your room. Payment of bedding and room cleaning fee and use of the bedding set is mandatory for residents of all housing types. This fee is subject to change without notice.
Housing Availability Dates
The period of housing availability for each semester is as below.
Fall Semester 2024 | August 26, 2024 – December 24, 2024 |
Winter Program 2025 | December 25, 2024 – March 7, 2025 |
Spring Semester 2025 | April 1, 2025 – August 7, 2025 |
Fall Semester 2025 | August 25, 2025 – December 24, 2025 |
Winter Program 2026 | December 25, 2025 – March 7, 2026 |
Students cannot stay in on-campus housing beyond the accommodation period above unless they will continue their studies at AIU in a subsequent semester.
The accommodation period above is subject to change and will be updated as necessary.
Housing During Long Breaks
Summer Break (August 1 – August 31)
Students who are enrolled in both the Spring and Fall Semesters may remain in their housing rooms at no extra charge.
Winter Break (late December – March 31)
On-campus housing is available to students who are enrolled in both Fall and Spring Semesters, regardless of whether or not they enroll in the Winter Program. All students who wish to retain their housing during Winter Break must pay the housing fees indicated in the chart above.
Considerations for Shared Housing
Vaccination
On-campus accommodations share common spaces. As such, the possibility of spreading infectious diseases is high. To prevent the possible risk of infection, we strongly request that students receive the following vaccinations before your arrival at AIU:
- MMR vaccine (measles-mumps-rubella vaccine)
- DPT vaccine (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine)
- COVID-19 vaccine
NOTE: Students enrolled at AIU during the Fall semester will be strongly encouraged to receive the influenza vaccine on campus (at their own expense.)
For further information, please refer to the Medical Preparation Page.