Study Japanese in Hokkaido

One hell of an adventure! Japan felt like a roller coaster and it’s definitely hit a good spot doing my first travel to Japan not a busy city like Tokyo or Osaka. Sapporo was amazing and I loved my school a lot. The teaching was pretty smooth and the activities were my favorite. Be back in Japan soon. Peace

The past three months passed by so quick. Looking back at my time here I made a lot of long lasting friendships, got really close with my host family and also planned my next steps. I did quite a unique preparation studies before starting my JET teaching program here in Hokkaido and I'm glad I did it with Meiji! This school felt more than just learning Japanese. It is my spot to get back when homesickness kicks in and the community here is really warmhearted. The best thing is even if you are a graduate you can always come back and join their social events and language exchanges. Once a Meiji student, always a Meiji student!♡

Learning Japanese in such a snowy megacity and also making friends from all around the globe was mesmerizing. I loved my instructors and the casual pace on how my classes went. The nightlife was also fun and I did get more than one opportunity to rock the mic during karaoke! lol

My three months in Hokkaido are nearing towards the end and looking back at my time here I can only say it was life changing. This is my third time in Japan but the first time in Hokkaido. After the comment travel to Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and all the spots between I wanted to get off the beaten track and experience the real Japan. Meiji’s program in Sapporo seemed intriguing and really caught my attention. The classes were well structured and the instructors were very passionate and helpful all the time. I loved staying in the share house which helped me as well to make friends with local Japanese students and other international students from Meiji and the other universities studying here. The best part were the activities that were so diverse and included a lot of cultural activities as well as social gatherings informed of karaoke, language exchange and casual dinners with Japanese volunteers and other students. I really miss my time here already and hope to be back soon. Thanks for everything and hope to see everybody else sometime in the future.

Studying at Meiji in Sapporo was one of the best experiences I’ve had so far. I came to improve my Japanese speaking skills and school’s focus on communication and conversation really helped. In class we practiced speaking a lot through role plays, discussions and practical situations, which made it much easier to use Japanese confidently in everyday life. One of the things I loved most was how the school combined language learning with cultural activities. We tried traditional things like calligraphy and local festivals and teachers always explained the cultural meaning behind what we were doing. It made learning the language feel much more connected to real life in Japan. Sapporo is also an amazing place if you enjoy winter sports. During the winter I went skiing and snowboarding several times. The powder snow in Hokkaido is incredible!!! The atmosphere at Meiji Academy was really friendly and international. It helped a lot for an introvert nerdy like me to make friends from many different countries while practicing Japanese together. Between the engaging classes, cultural activities I had the chance to experience Hokkaido’s famous winter.

I simply loved it. The Japanese lessons were fun with a lot of group practices and focus on communication. The grammar lessons were sometimes a bit intense but a lot of rehearsals and sample sentences practices helped for tricky grammar chapters a lot. I recommend going out of your comfort zone and engaging with Japan is the best solution to improve your Japanese. My fellow classmates were nice and I always hang out with them. I was even able to make friends at some of the language exchange and culturally events that Meiji organized. My recommendation is to stay at the share house as it is very affordable and it helps a lot to not get home sick and also make Japanese friends to practice your Japanese.

It all started at a snowy day arriving in Shinchitose airport and seeing all the fairy landscape covered in snow. A staff from the school picked me up and escorted me to my host family where I had the pleasure to spend the next five weeks. The Winter course was filled with wonderful winter sport activities and excursions to unique snow festivals. I wholeheartedly enjoyed every minute with my lovely classmates and also the warm hands-on support from the fellopw staff members. Everybody was so welcome and I never felt excluded or wrongly treated during my time there. The classes were very entertaining and I had so much fun in exploring Hokkaido's wonderful streetfood after the classes. Can't believe everything passed so quick. Thanks for the great time♡

I spent the last three months in Hokkaido with Meiji Academy and my time was bloody amazing. I loved the instructors and their passion to always help me out with all my questions. The snow sports were the highlight of my trip. And yes I felt in love with the hot springs. I will definitely get back to Noboribetsu again. Loved it!

Pasé cuatro semanas increíbles estudiando japonés comunicativo en Hokkaido en clases pequeñas. Los profesores eran muy dinámicos y siempre hacían que las lecciones fueran prácticas, interactivas y fáciles de entender. Me encantó que habláramos japonés desde el primer día, con muchas actividades en pareja y juegos que hacían el aprendizaje muy divertido. Gracias al ambiente cercano de las clases, pude ganar confianza rápidamente y mejorar mi fluidez en situaciones reales. Por las tardes había muchas actividades sociales, lo que me permitió hacer amigos internacionales y seguir practicando japonés de una manera natural.

Desde el primer día en Sapporo supe que había elegido el lugar correcto para estudiar japonés. La combinación de una ciudad dinámica, naturaleza impresionante y un ambiente acogedor hizo que mi experiencia en Meiji fuera realmente especial. Las clases estaban muy enfocadas en el japonés práctico y conversacional. Practicábamos situaciones reales como pedir en un restaurante, hablar con compañeros de trabajo o hacer preguntas en una tienda. Gracias a eso, pude comunicarme con japoneses en mi vida diaria mucho mejor de lo que esperaba. Las profesoras siempre estaban atentas y nos daban muchos ejemplos reales, lo que hacía que las clases fueran dinámicas y útiles. Las actividades culturales fueron una parte esencial de mi experiencia. Participé en talleres tradicionales, probé comida típica de Hokkaido y visitamos lugares históricos y templos. Estas actividades me ayudó a comprender mejor la cultura japonesa y a sentirme más integrada en la comunidad local. Y por supuesto, la vida social en Sapporo fue divertidísima. Salir por Susukino con otros estudiantes, descubrir izakayas y pequeños bares, y celebrar después de los exámenes fue algo que nunca olvidaré. La ciudad tiene un ambiente muy animado pero al mismo tiempo acogedor. La gente son muy amable y siempre estaban dispuestos a ayudar cuando tenía dudas o necesitaba indicaciones.

I had the time of my life in Hokkaido. The school was well organized, the instructors were very in enthusiastic and the community was simply mind blowing. I made so many Japanese friends during my stay and even found my girlfriend that I’m very thankful for taking that opportunity. The activities were top-notch especially the skiing and snow gliding events. Make sure to go to Mount Moiwa and also some hiking around Lake Shikotsuko and the ice festival where unforgettable. I’ll be back for sure for my working holiday. Much love and looking forward to see you all again! cheers!

Can't get enough of that powder snow and also the amazing ski spots. and the shrines in the romantic snow landscape...oh dear! Hokkaido hit hard and I desperately want to go back. The school organized the program very well and we had almost daily events happening besides the classes. Teaching was good and you could tell the teachers did it out of passion. I made a lot of friends and loved my time. Recommend!

Super expérience à Meiji Academy Hokkaido. J’y ai étudié pendant 10 semaines et j’ai adoré chaque moment. Les cours étaient intéressants et motivants, et l’ambiance générale très conviviale. La sharehouse était vraiment idéale pour se faire des amis, avec beaucoup d’étudiants américains et allemands. Une expérience inoubliable que je recommande sans hésiter.

I've had a wonderful time with Meiji and my fellow friends from around the globe I made there. The instructors went the extra mile helping me out with all the difficulties I had as a total beginner. Especially I appreciated the follow-ups and hands-on approach to track my learning progress. I was placed in a class perfectly meeting my learning requirements and also had the opportunity to make a lot of friends from Europe. Most of Meiji's free activities are focused on social gatherings, close-by trips or simply a fun karaoke nights with fellow students and local Japanese volunteers who joined us. The two months went by so quick and can't wait to come back to Japan again. Hokkaido is...what can I say. You have to experience yourself. The food, the people, all was just on the spot and I became a Ramen Otaku after all the amazing Miso Ramen I tried while I was there. Can't recommend enough these wonderful people.

Studying in Hokkaido showed me a much calmer and more authentic side of Japan. I really appreciated the relaxed atmosphere in Sapporo and how welcoming everything felt. The teachers were kind, supportive, and made speaking Japanese feel far less intimidating. Classes were practical and well balanced. Sapporo is quieter than places like Tokyo or Osaka and winter can be intense, but those are small trade-offs. Overall, I’d absolutely recommend Meiji if you want real Japanese life, great teachers, and a more grounded study experience. And yes the Winter Sports are phenomenal over there! Another reason I will come back there again!!

Right, so I popped over to Meiji Academy in Hokkaido thinking I’d brush up on my Japanese and maybe freeze to death in the snow. Instead, I ended up having an absolutely cracking time. The teachers were brilliant patient, funny, and somehow able to explain grammar without my brain melting like a poorly made soufflé. Couldn't get enough of the Miso Ramen and fun karaoke nights out. The community vibes are up to the roof! Recommend!

My time at Meiji flew by so quick. From the beginning to the end, all teachers, staff and fellow students were so lovely. The lessons were engaging and perfectly tailored to my level, and the incredibly supportive from everybody was very much beyond my expectations. One of the highlights was staying with my local host family. They truly welcomed me as one of their own which felt very warmhearted. Sharing meals, daily conversations, and small moments with them gave me a real sense of connection and belonging. I also loved experiencing everyday Japanese life in such a peaceful and beautiful part of the country. Hokkaido became more than just a place to study, it felt like home.

Great experience at Meiji. Classes were small and personal, teachers supportive, and the environment perfect for learning Japanese. Loved the mix of study, cultural workshops and abundance of extracurricular activities. Highly recommend!

The school location in downtown Sapporo makes it perfect for eating out and going after classes with fellow students to explore Sapporo. Classes were well taught with strong focus on speaking and role-play games for daily life practices of new grammar. The teachers were interactive and made sure nobody was left out from practices and engagements during class. Loved my experience a lot!

I've been at Meiji Hokkaido for 4-months and it has been a rewarding experience. The teachers are experienced and funny, helping me to get out of my comfort zone. The school environment is very inclusive and encourages you to make friends with students. My stay at the host family was a good experience with many trips we did on weekends.