A less well known way of living and studying in Japan is by engaging in an exchange program with a Japanese university. I have found that living in Japan as a student (on a student visa) has many benefits which are not accessible to someone who lives here semi-long term on a landing permit (3-6 months).
We Germans like riding the bus a lot, not only the BMW Auto. So when I come to Fukuoka I always ride the bus to school or to visit Tenjin and so on. (We Germans also like walking a lot, but maybe this is another story). But it was a little difficult to get used to it as a matter of fact at first.