Fukuoka Internship with Meiji Internships

I don't know where to start but this IT internship for the past three months was a game-changer for me! I have made so many contacts, developed my Java Script and C++ coding skills to the next level while networking with the local entrepreneurial crowd filled with international IT geeks, locals business man and even a few angel investors, Fukuoka just blew my mind! The best thing about Meiji was how much of a grip and connection they have in Kyushu and really know the whole local companies pretty much. I have hung out with the staff and fellow interns for a couple of dinners and food gatherings and I cannot intensify how much it is important to get out of your comfort zone.

Off the back of a terrible internship I did back home in Australia, I still felt as if I hadn’t really gained any work experience, so I searched abroad. Meiji’s services appealed to me for the professionalism (as well as all the fun the interns seemed to have had). I was so glad to find that this followed true with my internship, because they handled my case so professionally and efficiently, and I had so much fun! They placed me in the graphic design department of the local tourism board, and my main tasks were to design marketing materials to inform residents and tourists (both domestic and international) about events across the city. I felt that I thrived in this role and really gained a lot from it. Plus, I got to attend all of the events as part of my work, which was a much welcomed bonus! This internship showed me what true work experience is, and I’m glad I continued searching after my bad experience in the past.

I was lucky enough to do my internship at a resort on the outskirts of Fukuoka, the area was basically in the countryside but it still had a bit of a city vibe to it. I’m a big fan of the countryside, and being a bred-and-born city boy, there was a lot to discover. Seeing those tiny road-side vegetable shops that have no staff and rely purely on the honesty of people was definitely a highlight for me and a reminder why I love the Japanese culture so much! I will say, I’m definitely not a fan of those countryside spiders though (they’re HUGE). Working at the resort was a real pleasure. I think many of the guests were shocked to see a foreign face working in a countryside resort, but they were so kind and I loved answering all of their curious questions! There a few occasions were I was surprised to find that guests had gone out of their way to buy gifts for me, Japanese people are honestly so sweet. If you’re considering Japan for your internship destination, I absolutely recommend Meiji, and equally as much recommend the countryside!

Lately I have really focused on the value of experiences, which was different to my old way of thinking, which was purely about money. When I first heard of unpaid internships, my first thought was, why? After my internship in Fukuoka I now fully understand, and I wouldn't hesitate to do another. I did an internship at a local recruiting agency, and you cannot put a price on the experience I gained from that place. My assigned role was to handle communications with foreign applicants, and as a native English this was absolutely no problem for me. I have also studied Japanese for many years in the past, so speaking Japanese with my colleagues is no issue for me. I enjoyed the work, but I will be honest and say it’s not my passion - although everything is a step towards finding your passion! Fukuoka is also a fantastic environment to do an internship in. It has all the best elements of Japan while also being a bit more on the laid back side of things, so it’s no where near as intense as Tokyo for example. For me, it was the perfect balance. This was a top quality internship, and it really unlocked new levels of potential for me!

On one hand, this was a great internship. On the other hand, it was terrible, but only for the reason that I grew to love Fukuoka so much and now have to leave :( My internship gave me the opportunity to work with a 5 star hotel. To be honest, I thought they were just going to stick me in front of a laptop for 3 months answering emails, but this was definitely not the case! I was actually given real tasks, and every day I experienced something new. I had a super supportive team and they genuinely cared about my personal development. I felt so lucky! Plus, probably the best part of it all, my boss would let me use the hotel’s sentō in the mornings :D After work I made every opportunity to enjoy Fukuoka, and I did so much! If you go there, you’ll be amazed by the sheer number of restaurants you’ll find. If I had to pull out one experience I enjoyed the most, it would be catching a baseball game at the Paypay dome. The atmosphere is incredible and it really makes you feel like a local Fukuokan! While I am bitter about having to leave Fukuoka, this is a place that will stay in my heart forever…

Credit to Meiji for partnering me with possibly the best company I’ve ever worked with. Every day in the office was a day full of laughter (don’t get me wrong, we all worked hard) and the trips to the local bar as a team after working hours were just as fun. Best 2 months of my life, but now not looking forward to the withdrawal symptoms.

It was good for me because I can have the work experience in Japan and Asia even if I am not speaking the language. I had some fun and learned a lot and now my CV has some great experience to show to the employers. Perfect!

I don’t mean I did just work in Fukuoka, as I spent a lot of time travelling and enjoying the different aspects of Japan at the same time. The work was tough, but at the end I felt satisfied in the experience I had gained. I lived 20 minutes by bus from my work, so I should say that Meiji found me a really convenient apartment. However I do wish that it had a bicycle because everybody seems to use them in Fukuoka since they are so convenient. My top 3 favourite experiences in Japan was: eating motsunabe, doing karaoke, going to a maid cafe!

This program gave me the opportunity to build some relationships with professionals in their fields, and to learn about new technologies and above all experience the real Japan life with immersing myself into the Japanese culture

Meiji Academy gave me major family vibes, coming to class was like coming home hahaha. The staff are all so lovely, and I loved our little chats before and after the lessons. They all seemed so keen to make sure my first time in Japan was as fun as possible, so they kept me updated with any upcoming festivals, told me all the best places to eat, helped me with any of questions etc. I really got on with the teachers too, they understood that I am generally pretty slow when it comes to learning languages, so they broke things down into easily digestible pieces for me. It made learning such a breeze, and I conquered so much during my stay. By the end, I was able to talk in only Japanese when I was at Meiji! If you’re looking for a comfortable way to learn Japanese, this is it!

I studied at this excellent school for some weeks, and it was really great for my learning of Japanese. We learned all the basics and some very useful things to say in Japan life for example words at the supermarket. I also had a lot of fun in Fukuoka and ate many delicious foods, it is a really great city. It was a useful experience and I think that I would recommend this for anybody.

I completed my PR & Marketing internship after 3 months in Fukuoka, Japan. It’s a great city with so much opportunity and entrepreneurial spirit, it really feels like it is the best place possible for a young individual like myself who is in the midst of starting a career. My host company was on the smaller side which was definitely my preference, because it meant I could work very closely with my colleagues, and also get to know them on a personal level. They quickly became my friends and they were keen to show me the culture of Fukuoka outside of work hours, I can’t thank them enough for this! Meiji are brilliant, the staff actually care and don’t just send you out on any old internship. They thoroughly considered what I wanted from my internship, and I have to say they made it happen. I would absolutely recommend Meiji Internships.

I chose to do my internship in Fukuoka after doing some research into the different cities in Japan, and I decided on somewhere a bit lowkey that most people don’t get the chance to see. This was probably the best decision I could’ve made! I had so much fun in the city, no matter the time or the place there is always something to do in Fukuoka. The internship was engaging and I worked on some very challenging projects. I saw a different side of Japan within the business world, and was able to get a better idea on what it takes to maintain a career in Japan. I was also able to do a lot of networking throughout my time there, so I was able to form some very valuable connections. Overall I am very happy with my experience with Meiji, definitely consider Fukuoka!

Fukuoka is the start-up capital of Japan, so that alone should give you good reason to do an internship here. There are so many young entrepreneurs here it feels like the type of place you can grow as a professional. My business development internship was with a local young entrepreneur who taught me a lot and allowed me to see a hands-on approach to running a start-up in Japan. In the process I made a lot of useful connections and I’m now considering a future running my own business in Fukuoka! This was definitely worth doing for me, it was everything I expected from an internship and more.

I would absolutely recommend Meiji Internships to anybody considering an internship in Japan, it’s hassle-free and you honestly save yourself a lot of time and headache. From the first email I sent to the minute I finished my internship, they were responsive and helpful in every way. They found me the perfect host company who really made my time there special. It’s a clear 10/10 for me, I’d 100% do it all again given the chance!

Fukuoka is such a good city, its criminally underrated. It feels like one of those cities where everybody is on the same wave, it’s super easy living and everyone is so happy! I was working with some real die-hard Fukuokans who were eager to show me everything about their culture, which included a lot of good food. The whole experience was fantastic, my highlight would definitely be surfing in Itoshima! Meiji were great throughout, so can’t be faulted really.

Meiji did everything promised and more! The communication with them was always clear and reliable, and they really cared for us and made our stay in Fukuoka one to remember. It’s easy to see they don't just choose any business to partner with, as my host company was probably the best I could’ve ever worked with. Fukuoka was a great stop on our 1-year itinerary, and the 3-month internship I did was fantastic. I’m not sure how the rest of Japan compares, but the food here is crazy good… hakata ramen might just be the best thing to come from this country. I’m sad it’s come to an end today, but this is not the last time I’ll set foot in Fukuoka.

I came here with my best friend 3 months ago, as we both decided that we wanted to get some real work experience in Japan. We came with the working holiday visa and both chose Meiji to arrange an internship for us to cover the first 3 months of our stay. As our interests are in different industries, we weren’t working in the same company, but we spent every day after work together and from what I heard her internship was just as great as mine. The staff at my company were so sweet and they made my time in Fukuoka so special, I’m really going to miss them going forward but I’ll always be grateful for all they did for me. My internship finished today but I’ll be in Japan for another 9 months, I’ll definitely be back in Fukuoka some time soon!

For the internship I was in Fukuoka for some months, and I think this was the best choice I ever made. I did not know what was Fukuoka before even coming here and I was thinking to go to Tokyo. But in the end I think that Fukuoka is better than Tokyo Osaka or Kyoto! I emailed to Meiji telling the things I want to do and other details about it, and they listened then gave me the perfect internship for me. I worked with a japanese company that was very kind to me and they gave me a lot experience. It was the first time for me to do a full time job so it was definitely useful for me to learn some things, plus in the Japanese way it will give me a good unique way to think in the future.

I finally arrived in Japan after a long (too long) wait of 2.5 years. I came on a Working Holiday Visa with hopes to travel the country and experience everything Japan has to offer. With that said, some real work experience in Japan was equally as important to me so I set my mind on a 1 month internship here. I began searching for Japanese internship providers and at that point I came across Meiji! After some in depth consultation, I was matched to a local business in Fukuoka who was looking to improve their business presence to foreigners in preparation for the borders opening up. I personally found this project really exciting, and I felt I could offer a lot with the perspective of a foreigner. Initially I had no idea where Fukuoka was and really had no desire to visit - but I’ll tell you now that would’ve been a huge mistake. Fukuoka was my first stop and it was honestly hard to leave, I easily could’ve spent my whole year there. The incredible staff at the business treated me like family, and introduced me to everything the city has on offer. I had a pretty good work life balance too, I was engaged in meaningful tasks at all times, but once the work day was up I was free to enjoy Japan! Probably like most people, I had read about all the terrors of the Japanese working culture, but I didn't experience that in the slightest. Having Meiji there to support me at all times was also very reassuring, plus their actual office is located in Fukuoka so I could easily drop in if I had any issues. This was the best possible way to start off my year in Japan and I’m so glad I’ve discovered the secret of Fukuoka. It’s a goodbye for now as I continue my travels around the country, but believe me I’ll be back! Sayonara xx