Campus Life

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 Research and Community Outreach Services arranges over 200 events 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.

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Housing Options: Costs and Amenities

Room Details
Details Komachi Hall Global Village Sakura Village Tsubaki Village
Room Style Double occupancy room; two-room suite Double occupancy Single bedroom; triple occupancy suite Single bedroom; twelve occupancy suite
Constructed Main Building: 1990
Renewal: 2023
2007 2013 2022
Toilet, Bath/Shower Separate; Two per suite. Shower only. One unit bath per room Separate; One per suite Separate; Four per suite
Kitchen Community kitchen/ dining room for all residents Induction cooktop in room Induction cooktop in suite Induction cooktop in suite
Amenities
  • A/C
  • Loft Bed
  • Bedding Set*
  • Book Shelf
  • Closet
  • Desk
  • Desk Chair
  • Desk Lamp
  • Wired Internet and Wi-Fi
  • Internal Phone
  • Small Refrigerator
  • Refrigerator in community kitchen
  • A/C
  • Bed
  • Bedding Set*
  • Closet
  • Desk
  • Desk Chair
  • Desk Lamp
  • Wired Internet and Wi-Fi
  • Small Refrigerator
  • Microwave oven
  • A/C
  • Bed
  • Bedding Set*
  • Closet
  • Desk
  • Desk Chair
  • Desk Lamp
  • Dining Table
  • Dining Chair
  • Wired Internet and Wi-Fi
  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave oven
  • A/C
  • Bed
  • Bedding Set*
  • Closet
  • Desk
  • Desk Chair
  • Desk Lamp
  • Dining Table
  • Dining Chair
  • Wired Internet and Wi-Fi
  • Refrigerator
  • Microwave oven
  • Toaster
Japanese Residents Yes; Mostly First-year students Yes; Second- and older year students Yes; Second- and older year students Yes; Second- and older year students
Room Rules
  • No smoking
  • No alcohol
  • No cooking in rooms
  • Single-sex suites only
  • No visitors of opposite sex between 10pm - 7am
  • KH residents only between 10pm - 7am
  • No smoking
  • Single-sex rooms only
  • No smoking
  • Single-sex suites only
  • No smoking
  • Single-sex and Mixed-sex suites

*Bedding Set: Includes pillow & pillowcase, mattress & mattress cover, blanket & blanket cover, and comforter & comforter cover. Pillowcase and covers may be exchanged once per week.

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 Global Village Sakura Village Tsubaki 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)
¥100/30 mins (Electric)
¥100/15 mins (Gas)
¥100/15 mins (Gas) ¥100/15 mins (Gas)
Location Komachi Hall Laundry Facility Map. Washers and Dryers are located in the middle of each floor. Global Village Laundry Facility Map Sakura and Tsubaki Village Laundry Facility Map
Rent and Fees (per Semester)
Semester Komachi Hall Global Village Sakura Village Tsubaki Village
Fall Semester 2023
per student
130,000 JPY
utilities included
142,000 JPY
utilities included
218,500 JPY
utilities included
219,500 JPY
utilities included
Winter Program 2024
per student
88,000 JPY
utilities included
97,000 JPY
utilities included
148,000 JPY
utilities included
148,000 JPY
utilities included
Spring Semester 2024
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 FA2023 to SP2024.
*This list of Rent and Fees are for short-term students.

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 JPY per semester; 7,200 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.

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Housing Photos and Details

Komachi Hall
picture of Komachi Hall dorm room

Komachi Hall dorm room

picture of the common kitchen in Komachi Residence Hall

The community kitchen in Komachi Hall is a popular location for cooking parties and socializing

Komachi room and suite layout

Komachi Hall suite layout, showing double rooms and suite shower/bath and toilet.

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.

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.

Please see the chart above for room furnishing details and costs.

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Global Village
picture of Global Village Bedroom

Global Village Bedroom

Global Village room layout

Global Village room layout showing bedroom, kitchen, and unit bath

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.

Safety and Security

All apartments are single-sex and have their own locks.

Rooms

Global Village has 92 double-occupancy rooms plus 4 single-occupancy, handicapped-accessible rooms for students with medical needs.

Please see the chart above for room furnishing details and costs.

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Sakura Village
picture of Sakura Village Private Bedroom

Single bedroom in a Sakura Village suite

picture of Sakura village common room

Living/Dining/Kitchen common space in a Sakura Village Suite

Sakura layout

Sakura Village suite layout showing private bedrooms and common area

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.

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.

Please see the chart above for room furnishing details and costs.

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Tsubaki Village
picture of Tsubaki Village buildings

Tsubaki Village exterior

picture of common a space in a Tsubaki Village suite

Living/Dining/Kitchen common space in a Tsubaki Village Suite

picture of a single bedroom of a Tsubaki Village suite

Single bedroom in a new apartment suite

Tsubaki Village layout

Tsubaki Village suite layout showing private bedrooms and common area

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.

Tsubaki Village will be partly used for Themed House in 2023.

The themed house project is a pilot project funded by the Ministry of Education to further enhance the “24-hour Liberal Arts Education” practiced at AIU. In each Themed House, international and Japanese students live together and work on common subjects. They develop intercultural communication and collaboration skills, as well as leadership.

Themed Houses began with the Japan House (Japanese Arts and Culture House) in Spring 2015. The number of houses and their specific themes change each semester. AIU will send a list of available themes along with application instructions to accepted students each semester.

Past Themes have included:

  • AI House
  • Akita Opera House
  • English Education House
  • Migration House
  • Russian (Slavic) Language & Culture House
  • Strange Attractor House
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.

Please see the chart above for room furnishing details and costs.

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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

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Housing Availability Dates

The period of housing availability for each semester is as below.

Spring Semester 2023 April 1, 2023 - August 7, 2023
Fall Semester 2023 August 24, 2023 - December 24, 2023
Winter Program 2024 December 25, 2023 - March 7, 2024
Spring Semester 2024 April 1, 2024 - August 7, 2024

Students cannot stay in on-campus housing beyond the accommodation period above unless they will continue their studies at AIU in a subsequent semester.

Housing During Long Breaks

On-campus housing is available during the university Summer Break (August 1 - August 31) to students who are enrolled in both Spring and Fall Semesters. Housing is also available during the Winter Break (December 23 - March 31) 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 in the chart above.

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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 spring semester will be required to receive the influenza vaccine on campus at their own expense.

For further information, please refer to the Medical Information Form.

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