Study Abroad Programs in Sapporo, Japan

This program is amazing for people of any level who want to learn Japanese and emerge themselves in Japanese culture. The process of being admitted into the school and expenses that need to be covered for accommodation and events and such were super easy due to the fast and detailed responses from the staff at JaLS. The school itself is amazing and the atmosphere is awesome and when you add amazing staff and people who want to be your friend and help you it makes for one amazing experience. I have had the time of my life here made new friends and had a great time learning and enjoying Japanese cultural activities alongside my classmates and amazing supervisors. For anyone who is looking for a great way to experience the culture, make new friends, and learn a Japanese whall having fun this is the place for you.

I did the winter course at JaLS, which runs for 6 weeks and includes several cultural activities. It was my first time in Japan, and it has been incredible. I even ended up extending my stay in Sapporo for another 4 weeks. What I really enjoyed about my time at JaLS is that I got to meet amazing people from all over the world, also plenty of Japanese people. In a short time, I got to form strong bonds, and it has elevated the whole experience. The Japanese classes are great - my Japanese level increased a lot. The activities are fun and engaging, and I really enjoyed living in a share house where I could go be by myself when I wanted to but also hang out with friends anytime.

I spent one month studying at JaLS in November-December 2019 (I chose the standard course + I could choose and pay for the activities I wanted to take part in) and I am really really happy with the choice. The school is incredible, teachers are skilled and friendly. The staff are so kind and helpful, too and the location is very convenient (just 5 minutes on foot from Sapporo Station). I also chose to stay in the sharehouse provided from the school and I found it excellent. I had everything I needed and met many wonderful people so I had the chance to practice Japanese at home, too. I hope to visit Hokkaido and study at JaLS again. I will never forget this amazing experience.

When I first arrived, I couldn’t speak Japanese at all. Now I can order things, ask people how their day was, and even read some Kanji! Great school, great staff, and great senseis! Also the location in Sapporo is beautiful! The school is located near the main station, where most of the stores and restaurants are, and there are just too many near and beautiful places you can go from Sapporo!

The best 1 month of my life. I haven’t had fun for a very long time. Besides the academic part, the activities are really fun and interesting. My Senseis were great and the staff are friendly. I also met new friends along the way. Jals and Sapporo will always be my 2nd home.

I was happy to attend school. the lessons are fun and productive. the teachers are very kind and interesting in their presentation. staff is always ready to help if you have questions. I will be glad to return to school again. Thank you very much for everything !!

As always, excellent. I came for the third time and appreciated the kind and attentive teachers and staff. The learning curve was very high and the lessons adapted to my actual level. The activities provided were interesting and allowed to gain further knowledge of the Japanese culture and daily life. For first time visitors who know very little about the use of public transport or where to buy food, there was always great support from staff and teachers. Classes start at 9:30, so public transport is easy to use and the trains are not overcrowded. Really a plus! I think it is wonderful that there are various age groups and nationalities which makes the experience more interesting. Many lasting friendships have been built. Sapporo has many things to offer. I came twice in winter, because I like to ski. The areas are very close and even night skiing is possible. Now in Spring/Summer hiking, flower viewing, visiting Onsen (thermal bath) is great. There are stunning National Parks and the temperature, even in Summer is very agreable.

I was looking for a language school, that was not only providing Japanese Lessons, but also had interesting activities and i wasn't disappointed. The staff is helpful and friendly, the teachers are patient and competent. I liked it and I'm looking forward to join them again.

JALS Hokkaido is a wonderful study environment to be in if it’s your first time studying Japanese abroad. You are treated very well by the staff and the lounge area is perfect for both socialising and studying.

JaLS Winter Course 2019 I had the pleasure to participate in the winter course at JaLS this year for two months. The programme has a great balance between study, cultural excursions and activities. I can confidently say my Japanese has developed leaps and bounds, whilst I also got to explore the culture of Japan, and also the events and special local places of Hokkaido and Sapporo. While there I stayed with a homestay family, an experience I highly recommend. You get to experience how amazing and welcoming Japanese hosting is, as well as lots of delicious home made meals. Not to mention the continuous Japanese practice. I was also taken by my host family to visit many places and restaurants, things I would not have done without them. They have also been massively helpful for me for paperwork and other times I needed assistance with Japanese post and so on. Come visit and you'll see what I mean!

On my University break I decided to go to Sapporo for 2 months to work on my language skills and have a bit of a holiday. JaLs was the perfect combination of learning and having fun! I made amazing friends during my stay and the staff were helpful and kind. I experienced a Home Stay and lived on my own in a private apartment, and the organisation and help provided from the school was incredible. Everything went smoothly and I was able to have a stress free experience. All the activities organised by the school were very enjoyable and the schools facilities were clean and modern. I would highly recommend JaLs if you are wanting to learn Japanese in a relaxed environment that focuses on culture as well as language. I would definitely come back to JaLs Sapporo next time I need to brush up on my Japanese!

Going to a foreign country by yourself is daunting, but JALS made it an ideal experience. The staff is very friendly and helpful, the building is inviting and cozy (also located very closely to odori park), and the school provides a plethora of programs that invites you to immerse yourself in the culture. I have studied Japanese on my own for a while, and became frustrated at a point because I saw less progress. JALS is the perfect place to go, because they not only perfectly accommodated to my level and pushed me, but also offers a very flexible schedule so I did not have to commit to a longer stay than I wanted. Accommodation is also fantastic. The program offers many options to choose from, and each one is guaranteed quality. I personally did a home stay, and I will always remember the kindness of my home stay family. Could not recommend more for anyone who is visiting Japan for the first time/starting to learn Japanese.

On my first day I thought I was in way over my head but with the help of the staff I was able to fit in, and enjoy every bit of my experience there, to the point of making me want to go back again in the future. I met so many wonderful people and made a lot of friends. Jals is definitely a place I would recommend to anyone who wants to learn Japanese and experience a beautiful part of Japan.

To learn a new language rather than your mother younger is difficult in any situation given. Wether you are 10,23, or even 50, learning a completely new language takes an immense amount of practice, study and time. Studying at JaLS Hokkaido Language School gave me the opportunity to learn a new language in a fun and free environment where there was no pressure put upon you to do well. Not only did the staff welcome you with open arms, but the teachers are very helpful, understanding, and they create a certain atmosphere that reassures students studying Japanese that it is ok to make mistakes, and that even if you do not understand completely, they will find a way to re-ensure you. The school itself provides many opportunities for foreign students to practice their Japanese in the Cafe area. The school hosts events, such as language exchange and Japanese Talk nights. The cafe also hosts many Japanese people who use the space to study as well. So this area is a great place to make new friends and hopefully improve your Japanese skills. JaLS Hokkaido Language School helped me with my studies of the Japanese Language, as it pushed and motivated me to speak more Japanese and to communicate with people i would otherwise avoid. This Language school has given me unforgettable memories and friends to last me a life time. Hokkaido Language School has a great learning atmosphere, great culture and a sense of community.

I studied at Hokkaido Japanese Language School for 10 weeks in the spring and stayed at a share house organised through the school. Sapporo is a great city and it’s easy to get out into the countryside, definitely a good choice if you’re looking for a quieter alternative to Tokyo or Osaka. The lessons at the school were excellent, the learning materials are good and the teachers are very helpful. You are placed in a class that is right for your ability and the classes progress at a fast enough pace to learn plenty of Japanese but still leave you with time to explore the city. Hokkaido JaLS also organise many activities for their students and they are good value and a great way to socialise with your classmates and experience Japanese culture. I was very happy with the share house as well, it was clean and sociable with a mixture of JaLS students and Japanese people living there. I had a fantastic time in Sapporo and so much of that is thanks to JaLS, the staff and teachers were very supportive, the school itself is a great place to study and meet people and the activities really added to my experience. I would highly recommend studying there!

This was the second time I went to sapporo jals. First time I made the winter course, and the second one just the course without the activities. Teachers are friendly and helpful, And classes are made from few students, in this way lessons are intense, and you can improve your Japanese very fast. I went two times to the sharehouse buie asabu. The keeper is willing and friendly, and the house is comfortable. I hope I will able to come back as soon as possible. また来年！

Hokkaido JLS is a great language school where you can learn a lot about Japan and its culture as well as make a lot of international friends. The teachers and staff are very friendly and are always willing to help. The school itself is very nice and the teachers really focus on you because of the smaller classes. It is also in the middle of town (5 min from sapporo station), so there was always a lot to do after school. There were also many cultural activities after school and on saturdays where I was able to do things I would have never been able to do on my own. The school also set me up with a very kind host family. They were very accepting and really made you feel like part of the family. At this school I was able to: improve my japanese quickly in a short amount of time while learning about the culture at the same time, make many new friends from around the world, and experience life in Japan instead of just traveling. Overall this was an amazing, once in a lifetime experience that I will never forget. I highly recommend this school to anyone planning to study in Japan.

JaLS GROUP responded to this reviewAugust 25, 2016

Thanks so much Jacklin! Come back and study here any time :) We are waiting in Sapporo!!<br/><br/>The JaLS team :)

As my first visit to Japan, I think this was a great choice. Rather than the intense heat and huge crowds of Tokyo (as I later got to experience), in Sapporo you get to immerse in the Japanese culture without rush, giving you time to acclimate to this whole new place. As for the school, I think the staff and teachers are the nicest people ever, and they really try to make you feel comfortable. I learned a lot from this program and I really wish to go back to the school and study more Japanese with them. I literally knew nothing and ended up being able to order and asking for directions without anyone (or anything) to help me. It was simply great.

JaLS GROUP responded to this reviewAugust 25, 2016

Thanks Winnie!<br/>We're so glad you came, and keep up the Japanese study!!<br/>The JaLS team :)

This was the first time I had ever been on my own, away from home. And I have to say, this was the absolute best experience I could ever have asked for. With people from all around the world coming to the school, not only did I learn about Japan's culture, but countless others' as well. The class sizes were at most six people, which really helped me concentrate on the material and getting to know my classmates as well as my teachers. The activities they had planned for us were some of the funnest things I have done in my life! In my eleven weeks of study, I went from knowing almost nothing, to being able to show my parents all around Japan, convey ideas that I wanted to get across, and have intelligent conversations with the sushi bar chefs! Everyone was extremely respectful and lovely, and I can't wait to come back and see them all again.

Went to school last year for 5 weeks. Would consider that time as the best time in my life. Met great people and had great time. JaLS staff is better than family. Even you dont like to study, you feel like you want to study at school and spend there every day of your time. Came back this year twice and it was even better. As a result im moving to Sapporo for good next year!