Where does your participation fee go? Your fee is divided among AFS International and the National Offices in your own country and in Japan. AFS International uses the fee to pay for international operations, the emergency travel fund and medical insurance during your stay in Japan. There is also an international development fund to help AFS partners and promote projects for program growth. Your national office uses the money for recruiting, screening, coordination with AFS Japan, pre-departure & post-return orientations, support for parents while you are away, your international flights, office administration and volunteer development.
During your stay in Japan, AFS Japan uses a portion of your fees for coordination with your national office, transportation between the international airport and your hosting community, arrival & pre-return orientations, school-related expenses such as transportation, local support and activities, office administration and volunteer development. The full cost of running the program is more than what you pay. The remainder comes from the generosity of the many people supporting you.
The Japanese postal system is very reliable. You can buy stamps from post offices, convenience stores and train stations’ kiosks. You will see red mailboxes everywhere.
EMS (Express Mail Service) is the fastest way to send things home. It also has an online tracking system so that you can follow your package all the way home.
For details about stamps and international related services, please access the Japan Post website below.
Japan Post website (English) Japan Post (Japanese)
Your host family’s phone
In Japan even local calls cost money. Always ask your host family before using their phone and keep your calls short.
Public telephones
Public phones accept coins, telephone cards and IC (integrated circuit) cards. Green public phones are analog, and the gray ones are digital/IC type. International calls can be made from the gray digital/IC phones. To prepare for an emergency, ask your host family where the closest public telephone is.
International calls (see section: 4 Living in Japan about AFS policy on phone calls home)
You are responsible to pay for any international phone calls.