I've got some time this weekend so I figured I'd throw this up to relate to you guys my own personal experience studying abroad. Brutal truths the good the bad etc. as long as you ask it I will answer it.

I'll start by telling you a little bit of my background.

Before going I finished Heisig and ~2000 of Kore. I was in Tokyo studying at International Christian University. The school was kind of small and in a less populated part of Tokyo. I lived in an international dorm about 50% Japanese 15% half Japanese Americans and the rest from various countries. My usually hang out spots in Tokyo we're Kichijoji, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Roppongi and I'm more familiar with Harajuku than just Takeshita-dori.

I hope this is entertaining for you guys too. you guys(and gals) are always good at getting me to procrastinate.

How was it? I am contemplating on going to 岩手大学 through my university next year. Although it's a different part of Japan, could you give some tips about getting around and what not that you were consider to be essential no matter where you are in Japan?

I've been living in Kichijoji for 2 weeks now and will be staying a whole year. Any tips on restaurants, sights, places to visit etc that aren't too expensive?

And what kind of classes did you take? How different are the classes in Japan from your home country?

First thing you need is a bike. The mamachari type with a basket for groceries and other random stuff. Get a suica card to make travel easier and faster when taking trains. Also there are a lot of small train stations if your not in a main city that you can get away with hoping on and off stations without buying a ticket if you feel like it.

What school are you studying at?

In kichijoji there's a street that is really small across from the baskin Robbins. Down that street has a lot of small bars and food you check out. There's two hubs which are nice one is more casual than the other. Yakiniku at gyuukaku is good. There's an amazing burger place down the way called village vanguard diner. Diner not the book store. And another place that comes to mind is koki's house which is a fun izakaya interesting food and on the way out you and friends can make cotton candy for free.

I'm studying at Seikei University, classes will start this friday!

Thanks a lot for the tips! Right now, i have a pasmo card. What are the benefits of a suica over a pasmo?
And that street sounds amazing, I'm going to search for it later today~

I use suica and pasmo interchangeably it just happened I had a suica. There's a gyoza place somewhere in there I can recommend. I always wanted to try the yakitori bars too.

So only rtk and core 2000? Or is kore different? Any previous experience learning the language?
How well were you able to communicate with the people if that was all? Just some info regarding that and whatnot

I think it's the same. I was watching Japanese drama and took two years of classes. The drama helped my listening and also my accent so people thought I was better than I was. Or more likely they were being nice. I can hold conversations and was dating a girl for a while that could only speak Japanese. She didn't care to have deep conversations so not too difficult. I improved but still need to bulletproof what I know and iron out details so I can eventually pass n1 for work purposes.