Study Abroad Programs in Kyoto, Japan
Kyoto is a study abroad gem, with about 20 percent of Japan’s most important cultural sites found within the city center alone. Formerly the imperial capital of Japan for over a thousand years, students will find grand palaces, lush gardens, shinto shrines, and buddhist temples galore. Aside from being a national treasure, major tourist destination, and foodie paradise, Kyoto is also one of Japan’s key centers of higher learning, with over 35 academic institutions scattered across the city. Kyoto blends Japan's cultural traditions, history, and innovative spirit, making it the ideal place to study the art, culture and history of Japan, as well as cutting-edge technology and design.

12 Kyoto, Japan Study Abroad Programs

CIEE College Study Abroad
CIEE Open Campus Block in Kyoto, Japan
Study abroad in Kyoto – one of Japan's most traditional cities – ...
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JaLS GROUP
Short-term Japanese Courses & Cultural Activities in Kyoto
Kyoto JaLS, located in the center of the bustling and modern city...
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CIEE High School Grads Abroad
CIEE First Year Abroad in Kyoto
Put your global education first! See Kyoto and start college at t...

EF Gap Year
Study Abroad Semester in Tokyo
Immerse yourself in a dynamic mix of time-honored traditions and ...

Non-Profit Study Abroad (NPSA)
Non-Profit, Low Cost, Direct Study Abroad
Have the opportunity to study abroad by joining one of our Non-Pr...

The National Registration Center for Study Abroad
NRCSA Learn Japanese in Kyoto, Japan
The NRCSA Center in Kyoto has been teaching the Japanese language...

University of New Orleans
UNO-Japan: Study at Doshisha University
The University of New Orleans' UNO-Japan: Study at Doshisha Unive...

Edu-Odyssey
Japan Across the Eras: Kyoto
Welcome to a captivating study abroad program nestled in the cult...
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A Guide to Studying Abroad in Kyoto, Japan
Study Abroad Programs in Kyoto
Kyoto was spared from the destruction that many other cities endured in Japan during WWII, making Kyoto one of the few cities with many surviving pre-war buildings, from world heritage sites and important religious centers to the traditional townhouses called machiya. But, these are not the only things that have withstood the test of time; in Kyoto, you will experience Japan's thriving artistic and cultural heritage too. Kyoto is the birthplace of the tea ceremony and flower arranging, so it should come as no surprise that Kyoto is an excellent place to study art history, religious studies, and history.
The main economic industry in Kyoto is information technology, and it is home to both Nintendo and Kyocera. For technology, architecture, and design majors, Kyoto Institute of Technology is considered one of the best. Kyoto hosts plenty of international students, thanks to its large number of academic institutions. Additionally, the Kyoto Consortium for Japanese studies is comprised of 14 U.S. based universities that sponsor study abroad programs in Kyoto for those with a focus in Japanese language and cultural studies. Kyoto University is one of the top higher learning institutions in all of Japan, coming in second place only to University of Tokyo and ranking 25th in the entire world.
If you are going to study abroad in Kyoto, you will likely not be required to understand Japanese. However, if you find that you loved your experience so much that you want to go back to Japan to pursue your full degree, or if your program is hosted by a Japanese university, you will absolutely need to take at least a two year course in the Japanese language.
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