Hi everyone.
I'm scheduled to start a language school in April on a 2 year student visa. Since I'll be moving with my cat (I already have everything needed), I was planning to go alone first to meet with a realtor and find a suitable apartment, and then re-enter with my cat and the rest of my belongings. I don't want to go apartment hunting with a pet in tow, nor do I want to do it at the same time as starting school.
So I wanted to enter as a tourist first (I'm from a visa exempt country) to secure an apartment, but I've read in other people's posts that without a residence card it's impossible. If so, how early can I enter on a student visa? My school rep has sent me this year's schedule, but it reads Designated Entry Date to Japan on April 1st with School Orientation literally the next day… surely I can enter a bit earlier than one day before school start? 😅 Also, if the visa is strictly for a 2 year duration, will I have a problem towards the very end of my language school's final year if I do "activate" the visa early?
Lastly, if you would recommend a specific realtor or agency in kansai/Osaka, I would really appreciate it. I found a few I'm planning to contact, but some personal recs would be great.
Thank you very much.
by kuruttaco26