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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 over 200 community interaction opportunities per year.
Degree-seeking students at AIU are required to live in Komachi Residence Hall for their first year, where they will all have an international roommate or suitemate at some point during the 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 50 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 Residence 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
Details for the Themed Houses may be found below.
Room Details
Details | Komachi Residence Hall | Global Village | Sakura Village |
---|---|---|---|
Room Style | Double occupancy room; two-room suite | Double occupancy | Single bedroom; triple occupancy suite |
Constructed | Main Building: 1990 Annex: 1991 |
2007 | 2013 |
Toilet, Bath/Shower | Separate; One per suite | One unit bath per room | One unit bath per suite |
Kitchen | Common kitchen/ dining room for all residents | IH Range in Room | IH Range in Suite |
Amenities |
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Japanese Residents | Yes; Mostly Freshmen | Yes; Upperclassmen | Yes; Upperclassmen |
Room Rules |
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*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 Residence Hall | Global Village | Sakura Village |
---|---|---|---|
Hours | 24/7 | 24/7 | 24/7 |
Washer Cost | ¥100/load | ¥100/load | ¥100/load |
Dryer Cost | ¥100/40 mins (Electric) ¥100/20 mins (Gas) |
¥100/40 mins (Electric) ¥100/20 mins (Gas) |
¥100/20 mins (Gas) |
Location | ![]() |
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![]() Shared with University Village |
Rent and Fees (per Semester)
Semester | Komachi Residence Hall | Global Village | Sakura Village | Spring Semester per student |
90,000 JPY utilities included |
108,000 JPY utilities included |
180,000 JPY utilities included |
---|---|---|---|
Fall Semester per student |
90,000 JPY utilities included |
112,000 JPY utilities included |
184,000 JPY utilities included |
Winter Program per student |
60,000 JPY utilities included |
76,000 JPY utilities included |
124,000 JPY utilities included |
Utilities Fees: Utilities include electricity, water, internet, and gas (where applicable) and are included in the rent for all facilities.
*Bedding & Cleaning Fee: 20,000 JPY (Fall/Spring); 7,050 JPY (Winter). The cleaning 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. Payment of bedding and 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 Residence Hall

Komachi Residence Hall dorm room

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

Komachi Residence Hall suite layout, showing double rooms and suite shower/bath and toilet. Dark grey shading indicates loft beds.
All first year degree-seeking students at AIU live in Komachi Hall and, to the maximum extent possible, we arrange for each of them to have an international roommate or suitemate for at least part of that year.
Safety and Security
In general, the dormitory is divided between male and female living areas. However, based on the number of dorm residents of both sexes, a portion of one floor may be designated a coed living area if necessary. 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 184 rooms, including 1 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 a toilet, bathroom, and shower/bath located in between the rooms.
While individual rooms do not have cooking facilities, there is a common 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.
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!
Please see the chart above for room furnishing details and costs.
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Global Village

Global Village Bedroom

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 an IH range. All international students and upperclassmen 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

Single bedroom in a Sakura Village suite

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

Sakura Village suite layout showing private bedrooms and common area
Sakura Village is AIU's newest apartment complex and features units of three individual bedrooms attached to a common living-dining-kitchen room and bathroom. Like the other apartment villages, only international students and upperclassmen 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 units plus 2 handicapped-accessible units. 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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Themed Houses (University Village)

University Village Bedroom

University Village room layout showing bedroom, kitchen, and unit bath
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.
Themed Houses require an additional, emailed application and entrance is not guaranteed.
Past Themes have included:
- Japanese Arts and Culture House
- Nihongo House
- Entrepreneur House
- International Customs House
- Romance Languages House
- Fitness House
Safety and Security
All apartments are single-sex and have their own locks.
Rooms
University Village has 71 double-occupancy rooms
Room Details
Room Style
- Double occupancy
Constructed
- 1991
Amenities
- A/C
- Bed
- Closet
- Desk
- Desk Chair
- Desk Lamp
- Wired Internet
- Small Refrigerator
- Kerosene Fan Heater
Bedding Set
- See chart above
Japanese Residents
- Yes; Upperclassmen
Room Rules
- No smoking
- Single-sex rooms only
Notes
- See chart above
Laundry Facilities
Hours
- 24/7
Washer Cost
- ¥100/load
Dryer Cost
- ¥100/20 mins (Gas)
Location
Shared with Sakura Village- 108,000 JPY utilities included
- 114,000 JPY utilities included
- 78,000 JPY utilities included
- 193-3 Aza-Okutsubakidai, Tsubakikawa, Yuwa, Akita City, Akita, 010-1211
- 193-17 Aza-Okutsubakidai, Tsubakikawa, Yuwa, Akita City, Akita, 010-1211
- 193-4 Aza-Okutsubakidai, Tsubakikawa, Yuwa, Akita City, Akita, 010-1211
- 193-8 Aza-Okutsubakidai, Tsubakikawa, Yuwa, Akita City, Akita, 010-1211
- MMR vaccine (measles-mumps-rubella vaccine)
- DPT vaccine (diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus vaccine)
- Influenza
Rent and Fees
Spring Semester per student
Fall Semester per student
Winter Program per student
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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
Sakura Village
Global Village
University Village
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Housing Availability Dates
The period of housing availability for each semester is as below.
*It is not possible to arrive earlier or depart later than the dates below.
Spring Semester 2019 | April 1, 2019 - August 7, 2019 |
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Fall Semester 2019 | August 23, 2019 - December 24, 2019 |
Winter Program 2020 | December 25, 2019 - March 7, 2020 |
Spring Semester 2020 | April 1, 2020 - August 7, 2020 |
Student must undergo a room damage check and move out between 9:00 – 17:00 and no later than the last day listed in the chart above.
Note: Students who need to depart AIU before 9:00 am for an early flight or other reasons must undergo their damage check and move out on the previous day. Please take note of the times above when purchasing your plane tickets for departure.
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:
For further information, please refer to the Medical Information Form.
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