Good if you are an extrovert, difficult otherwise September 03, 2026

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes at ICU were easy and laid-back. Even if I did not understand everything, I did not struggle as much. JLP classes were easy, but time-consuming and mainly busywork. Middlebury classes were alright but mainly just 1 on 1 meetings.

On-site administration of your program

Supportive and communicative. You can always reach out to them on LINE.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The dorms were really nice. I lived in Momi and had a single through accommodations. Every room is equipped with an AC/heater that is adjustable and has cool features such as a humidifier and a setting to dry your clothes. Washers and dryers are free. There are private bathrooms that have heated toilets and bidets. The showers are more private than typical US ones. Only the sinks are located outside the hallways.

The lunch food is fine, nothing going over 700 yen usually. They regularly have ramen/udon, a rice bowl, curry rice, miso soup, tonkatsu, etc. Lunch is open Monday through Saturday, 11-3 if I'm remembering correctly. The family mart on campus is also convenient and is open Monday through Saturday as well. The hours vary but usually open 8 am through 7pm I think, and Saturday it closes at 5pm. On breaks the cafeteria and family mart are usually closed, unfortunately.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The Japanese students at ICU are kind and easy to hang around with, but outside of ICU it is a little harder to integrate.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I found getting accommodations easier to attain than my experience in the US. Unfortunately, during field trips, accommodations like having a private room are more difficult to obtain. ICU has a list of doctors who speak English and are located near ICU, so going to the doctor is less intimidating. If you get the flu or COVID-19, you have to get tested by a doctor in order to have an excused absence, and you are obligated to quarantine for 5 days before being able to attend class again. I received several medicines for the flu, and in total it was about 25 dollars for the visit and medicine. I also visited a gynecologist for endometriosis (in Kichijoji, in the list provided by ICU). They gave me an ultrasound and a pap smear, and although they did tell me everything looked normal, they offered me 3 different treatment options. I ended up getting the Japan equivalent of Yaz birth control (ドロエチ) to manage pelvic pain. I believe everything cost about 30 dollars. Also, every student on Japanese national health insurance has to pay 8,000 yen if you are staying a year. Back in the US, my school health insurance pays for everything, so I found myself spending a lot more than a regular year.

ICU overall feels safe, but outside of ICU is a different story. I have unfortunately received racist remarks, and when I went to the police, they were also a bit discriminatory and skeptical of me and my friend's IDs (who was Japanese but lived abroad). There are also many ちかん who will disturb you even in public spaces. As a woman, always be aware of your surroundings and avoid rush hours.

I felt that most of my time in Japan was taken up by busywork, and it required a lot of communication. I have an anxiety disorder, so I constantly felt exhausted and too tired to do anything. The JLP courses are 3-4 hours long, which was too hard on me, and that made me skip class a lot. Be prepared to present weekly without much preparation.

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

(Slight trigger warning): As a FGLI I felt very anxious about spending money, so I only ate lunch, which was about 600 yen or less a day. I avoided cooking in the kitchen because of my anxiety, but occasionally I would buy some groceries and spend less than 15 dollars each visit.

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

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• Dorm

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• Local Students
• International Students

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• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• Closeness to Tokyo
• Hosting workshops through my CE/internship

• n/a