Japan you got my heart ❤️ October 28, 2026
By Adèle B (Asian Studies, University of California - Los Angeles / UCLA) - abroad from 10/05/2026 to 10/23/2026 with
Meiji Academy: Kyoto - Learn Japanese in Japan
Definitely! I learned to embrace different cultures and also immersed myself in the Japanese culture through different Japanese arts and workshops we did
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My time in Kyoto with Meiji Academy was amazing. I loved the cultural activities in Japan's ancient city and had very intense 3 weeks Japanese studies. The staff was very accommodating and they even had events with fellow local Japanese university students scheduled. Highly recommend! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was well organized and I loved their support throughout the program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed at a female-only dorm that was about 30min by walk away (there were buses but I liked to walk). It was great and the community was welcoming. It just was a bit far away for me. |
| * Food: |
You can literallly find anything in Kyoto and the food choices around the school are also great. The school is located between Shijo and Omiya subway station which is literally Kyoto's central district. Great for shopping and eating out with friends. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The staff at Meiji Academy paid a lot of attention in assisting me to properly integrate into my new environment. Landing the first time in Japan can be a cultural shock for most Westerners, but the school made great effort in showing us around and also |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Can't combine how good the health care system here is. Compared to the US where it's literally non-existent... |
| * Safety: |
I was walking back home in the mid of the night from a party and also went out with Japanese friends for Karaoke at night. I never experienced anything dangerous except when once a cat jumped out of a bush and purred at me for food. lol |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Yes, but I would have stayed for a full three months as it was simply too much to see and experience in such a short time |
Finances
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* 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) |
Due to the super weak Yen and the Dollar being extremely strong, daily-life expenses were very low. Literally I went out dinning everyday 1-2 times. And the best thing is you don't need to tip 😝 |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | around 50 dollar |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Make sure to take advantage of Japan's superb public transport and cycling around Kyoto is also super easy and accessible |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
All the time! Classes were in Japanese only, but even for a total beginner like me that wasn't a problem due to the Genki textbook they use. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Beginner |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Some basic Hiragana and Katakana alphabet studies |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Go for it, you won't regret it! Japan is not another country, it's another planet to be discovered!! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I should have been less shy and more proactive towards engaging with locals |
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 Avid AdventurerThe wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal. |
