Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

IES Tokyo Language & Culture Program Review July 31, 2026

By (Brandeis University) - abroad from 09/02/2025 to 07/12/2026 with

IES Abroad: Tokyo - Language & Culture

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My time abroad felt extremely worthwhile. It was a great way to gain independence and increase language proficiency through daily and natural communication with locals. After my program, I now feel much more confident in doing things alone like traveling, activities, personal advocacy, etc.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Overall, this program provides general support that direct-enrollment programs don't typically offer, primarily guaranteed housing. The program staff were also responsive about personal questions, concerns, etc. The academic courses offered have a similar requirements/structure to US university courses, which makes the class credit easy to transfer back. However, there are excursions outside of class time that (while sometimes are interesting opportunities) often get in the way of making personal plans. More specifically, it is difficult to find time during the semester to do bigger plans like traveling because the Japanese partner university doesn't observe almost any public holidays, as well as due to the class excursions. I personally felt fulfilled with my time abroad, but that was largely due to by ability to travel during the 3-month long spring break (I completed the year-long program), while many of my peers wished they had more time to do their own things. While the program orientation was long, it didn't cover information that ended up being important, including how to pay national health insurance bills, or how to waive national pension fees (if needed). Finding out this information required a lot of personal advocacy when it should have just been included as part of the orientation curriculum (since it applies to all students on the program), and would have saved plenty of unnecessary stress. This was particularly true as a year-long student, since the orientation only covered information for semester-long students, and any questions about year-long specific information again required personal advocacy, which the program staff often didn't initially know the answer to. That being said, I would still choose this program again- I enjoyed the local area, partner university campus, courses, and housing.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~250 usd
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Try cooking as much as possible, most of my expenses came from eating out since I wasn't on a meal plan. University cafeterias also typically offer cheaper meals.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? JAPN 105B-1 - Advanced Conversation and Composition II
How many hours per day did you use the language?

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Other
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Program Location (Chiba is Great! Close to Tokyo But More Local)
  • Housing (Single-Person Rooms)
  • Partner School Campus
* What could be improved?
  • Program Staff Communication/Transparency
  • Out of Class Activities (Too Many Mandatory Ones)
  • Information for Year-Long Students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? See previous answers.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!