Anyone applied for a Japanese student visa by leaving Japan (tourist → Korea/Taiwan) after COE?

Hi everyone,

I’m heading to Japan for an exchange program, but my Certificate of Eligibility (COE) may not be issued before my required departure date. Because of that, I’m considering entering Japan as a tourist (visa-free, 90 days) and then, once the COE is issued, leaving Japan to apply for the student visa at a Japanese consulate in another country, such as South Korea, Taiwan, or Hong Kong, and then re-entering Japan with the proper student status.

I understand that:

• You cannot change status from tourist to student inside Japan
• The visa application must be done outside Japan
• Studying or working while on tourist status is not allowed

What I’d really like to know is:

• Has anyone here actually done this?
• Which country did you apply from (Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, etc.)?
• Did the Japanese consulate accept non-residents?
• How long did the visa process take?
• Any issues at Japanese immigration when re-entering?

I’m trying to stay 100% legal and avoid losing my exchange opportunity due to timing issues. Any firsthand experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated.