Studying in Japan: Progress Update

Well, it looks like I won't be able to leave till next April.

Mostly a visa problem, cause I probably need 2 years of studying Japanese before I'm fluent enough to take a university course taught purely in Japanese, but their university courses open in April.

This means I'd end up with a 6 month gap between language school and uni if I started this Autumn. Something of a quandary with a 2 year shuugaku (pre-college) visa or ryuugaku (college) visa due to the way the visas work when updating and converting them for continued study.
I'm also out of time to apply for a visa for later this year anyway.

If anyone is interested in doing something similar in Japan, I've compiled below a list of helpful stuff I've dug up these past months while doing my research.
Includes accomodation, schools and other info.

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Useful Links:

Tokyo Life Guide
Decent site for everything you need to know about moving to Tokyo as a foreigner, with information about accomodation amoungst other useful topics.

Expatriates guide to Japan
A list of useful resources in the form of links, gathered by people who have made the move themselves.

Japan Student Services Organisation
Yeah I don't get how the acronym works either, but this is the website of the organisation which you want look to first if you're thinking about studying in Japan.

List of recommended language schools in Tokyo:

KAI Academy
Naganuma Language School
HJC - Hiroo Japanese Center
Yoshida Institute
Kichijoji Language School

Not a definitive list of every school, just the ones I looked into the most, bearing in mind I was looking for a school which best suited me ie. didn't cater specifically for students who were already familiar with kanji, for example students from China.
Not speaking from personal experience, but I don't think you can go wrong with any of the above.
I'm aware most schools will have a largely asian student body with the exception of HJC which is a school which aims at teaching westerners only. KAI looks promising, and Naganuma is very well established. Kichijoji is, in my opinion, situated in the best place. HJC is the smallest.
Just so you know, I'm probably going for KAI.
Edit: Went with Yoshida because they were more helpful with starting in Autumn

Other schools of note:

Yamasa Institute
Yamasa is probably the largest language school in Japan, although it wasn't situated in Tokyo so it didn't make it into my list of possible considerations.
Located in the quieter city of Okazaki, this place may interest you if you're looking for a well established school in a less distracting environment.

Stuff to keep in mind:

-Many schools will require a contact in Japan who will serve as a mediator and sometimes a guardian during your study. Without one it may be impossible (I found out the hard way).
Some exceptions are KAI, HJC and Yamasa.
-You will want to plan way ahead. Getting the appropriete visa can take over 6 months, and without one you'll be going nowhere.
-Cost. It won't be cheap, start saving.
-Backup plans. Don't throw away your university applications and whatever you have going in your home country just yet, you never know what may fall through.
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I'll add to this post in the future as I gather more info. Check back every now and then for updates.