Study Abroad Programs in Japan

I am very glad that I came to Nagoya this summer. My Japanese skills improved immensely, I started a new martial art (though I'm still not very good at jiujitsu yet), I made many new friends, and I was able to see and do things I wouldn't have been able to otherwise. I liked how much free time we had; I and many of my classmates spent a weekend or two traveling outside of the program, and that was beside some very interesting field trips. Overall, I think this was a very good program.

Two weeks passed by like a mild Autumn breeze. It was more or less a spontaneous decision for me to pack my luggage and embark on this adventure. But the school made it very comfortable and accommodating for me to settle down in my new home Osaka. My apartment was very nice and centrally located. I loved the proximity to Osaka castle and also Umeda was within walking distance. The school is literally in the heart of Osaka downtown and the surrounding venues didn't disappoint for cute souvenir shopping and simply relaxing at nice cafes around Nanba and Amemura. My classes were indeed intense but I learned so much in my short time I was there and left with a big smile and love for my newly discovered place Kansai. I wish all the staff well and hope our ways cross again soon. Much love from your passionate Elizabeth:)

My time with Meiji was unforgettable and I did make a lot of friends. I loved the cultural activities and socialgatherings we had on weekends. I recommend taking the traditional culture and Japanese conversation module. Especially our excursion to a Katana performance and Karate practice was so much fun. I hope to be back soon ♡

So glad I didn't listen to my friends and went to Tokyo for studies. Osaka was such a blast and the school assisted me with everything. My sharehouse was super close located and the access to restaurants and other supermarkets was very convenient. However, I did hear from other students they stayed a bit further away about 20 mins by subway as the sharehouses seem to get filled up quick! The classes were sometimes intense but very interactive with a lot of speaking practices. Especially the events and excursion trips to Osaka castle and nearby shrines were a lot of fun. I just stayed two weeks but had a great time. Thanks for all the efforts and greetings from Linz :)

Ah yeah my dear Osaka! You brought me so much fun in the sun with these lovely people at Meiji. My time was short but nevertheless my nights going out were long. Japanese learning still feels like a hangover that never completely recovers but due to Meiji's magic teachers it felt at least enjoyable for the past two weeks :) Hope my time with you guys won't be the last and yes, next time Osaka again. Ookinii!

Osaka was much fun and the staff at Meiji definitely contributed to it. The lessons were focused on communicative Japanese with separate classes where we cracked through the grammar and Kanji writings. Vocabs took quite a bit of time but the teachers were very patient and had good revision lessons at the beginning of the lectures. Events were the best bit and the local exchanges with Japanese students and Takoyaki bar hoppings were fun too. Will be back in Osaka for sure!

I can highly recommend LTL Language School in Tokyo. I studied there for two weeks, from August 24th to September 3rd, with classes from Monday to Friday, every day from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Before starting, I was a little worried that four hours of Japanese every afternoon might be exhausting, but fortunately it was much more manageable than I had expected. The teachers are very attentive to the students’ concentration and know exactly when a break is needed, especially after intensive or difficult grammar sections. This made it possible to stay focused even on days with a lot of new material. The lessons were sometimes very intensive, but always well structured and easy to follow. What I particularly appreciated was that I did not simply rush through new material. I was able to review and strengthen important basics, which turned out to be extremely helpful for me. In the past, I often made the mistake of trying to progress too quickly when learning Japanese. As soon as the material became more difficult, I would eventually lose track and become frustrated. At LTL, I felt for the first time that I really understood how I can approach learning Japanese in a sustainable way: strengthen the basics, review regularly, keep going consistently, and when something becomes difficult, take a step back and work through it again instead of giving up. The teachers were very friendly, patient and attentive. I especially appreciated the personal feedback. For example, one of my teachers complimented my hiragana handwriting and gave me specific advice on how to continue studying and practising at home. During my stay, I could already notice small improvements in everyday life. I became more confident and was able to start forming simple Japanese sentences on my own. Of course, I am still very much a beginner, but the course gave me the feeling that I am finally on the right path. For me, this was much more than just a language course during a holiday. It gave me new motivation to continue studying Japanese consistently after returning home. I am already planning to come back next summer and would be very happy to study at LTL again. Thank you very much to the whole team for the wonderful time, the excellent teaching and the supportive atmosphere. A very clear five-star recommendation.

LTL Language School responded to this reviewSeptember 23, 2026

Already planning next summer before you have even left - we love to hear it! We are thrilled the course gave you a new approach to learning Japanese that actually feels sustainable. Thanks so much for taking the time and keep up the great work studying Japanese! LTL Team

Thanks to World Campus International, I was able to experience various rather unique experiences in Japan - things that a normal tourist would never be able to experience. In Isa, Kumamoto and Uda, there wasn't a single day that wasn't full of interesting stuff. While for some the rather packed schedule might be a minus, I for one really liked it, since the activities showed you things you'd normally never be able to participate in, such as (just some examples): going to a local farm and planting rice, being part of an actual Shinto ceremony, going to various schools, and of course the best part: doing stuff with your host families. The host family aspect alone elevates this project to a perfect score for me. It is a really unique experience to fully immerse yourself in normal local life, and interact with locals. The people I lived with, I am eternally grateful to, and my time with them I'll forever hold close to my heart. The other participants along with the staff where also very pleasant to be around, and in the staff's case also very helpful and kind. My time spend in those 3 locations will forever stay with me as an unforgettable experience. If I could, I'd do it all over again without hesitation. I am extremely grateful that I was able to partake in this program.

From beginning to end my time in Kansai was bloody amazing. Osaka is bustling with great food choices and activities day & night. The teachers at Meiji did a wonderful job and were supportive throughout my studies. Big shout to Akira for taking me around the city and also the spa world trip was awesome. Highly recommend!

지금까지 다녀본 어학원 중에 단연 최고예요! 다른 어학원들과 비교해 봐도 이렇게 짧은 시간 안에 많은 걸 배운 건 처음이에요. 수업 진도가 빠른 편이라 처음에는 조금 어렵게 느껴질 수도 있지만, 하루하루 실력이 눈에 띄게 느는 게 보여서 정말 신기하고 뿌듯해요! 문화 체험 활동도 정말 재미있었는데, 특히 야간 보트 크루즈와 현지 일본인들과 함께한 본오도리가 가장 기억에 남아요!

Fabulous time with these bunch of amazing people. They instructors did a great job and went the extra mile to explain me all my questions in detail. I know myself very well I can be demanding so I really appreciate their patience😉 The events were top-notch and they had such a great time exploring the city and engaging in a lot of cultural events. Two weeks were not enough! Next time I make sure to stay in Kenai for at least two months!

Simply fabulous and full of culinary experiences were my two weeks in Osaka. The instructors were very well organized and classes were fun. My class was small with only three other students, which I personally preferred. The school location is within less than 10 minutes walking distance from Shinsaibashi subway station which made it super central. A lot of foodie spots around and yes I had almost every other day takoyaki or okonomiyaki! Osaka is really Japan’s kitchen hub No.1! And let me not start about the crazy karaoke and club nights I had😁 Highly recommend.

Hi, I am Sterre. This review comes rather late, but after returning to Japan two years later, I felt it was still worth writing. I went to Japan with World Campus in Session 3 of 2024. During those three weeks, I stayed in Abiko, Mito and Tama. The actual World Campus programme included a wide range of activities: tours, museums, school visits, company visits, workshops such as karate and kendo, and all kinds of interactions, activities and games with local communities, students, clubs and host families. At the end of every week there was an Arigatoo event. In my case, this involved eating a lot of good food, talking to everyone and anyone, and dancing the Kabouter Plop dance. The Arigatoo event can be scary or a bit daunting at first, but I enjoyed them very much. One thing worth knowing is that WorldCampus is not a typical travel organisation. You follow a structured programme, so there isn't a lot of free time for sightseeing. For me, this wasn't a bad thing, as I got to experience Japan in ways I probably wouldn't have as a regular tourist. My fondest memories are connected to the people I spent my time with. One of the biggest values of World Campus, in my opinion, is that it connects people from all over the world. On the one hand, you spend three weeks travelling with people from different countries. Some of these people have become good friends, and even after two years we still meet up in different countries whenever we happen to be in the same place. On the other hand, you get to spend time with host families. For me, these families have become my people in Japan: people I could reach out to when I was there. And that is something I appreciated even more after returning to Japan two years later. In the two years between my World Campus trip and my return to Japan, we didn't stay in constant contact, but the connection was never completely gone either. I sent a letter to my host families after about a year, and with one family in particular, I also stayed in touch through occasional messages. Then, when I came back to Japan for a five-month exchange, I made sure to visit all three host families I had met through World Campus. Just like two years ago, I was invited to stay with them, and we went to different places, had barbecues and dinners, visited museums, and simply spent time together. One family in particular, the family that lived closest to where I was staying during my exchange, has come to feel like much more than just a host family. They are people I can reach out to when something happens, people I can visit when I'm in Japan, and people I would also do a lot for. That, to me, is what made World Campus so special. I didn't just get three weeks of experiences in Japan. I made connections that lasted beyond those three weeks. I had a blast with World Campus. I would have loved to go again, maybe even for all 3 sessions at once, but unfortunately my schedule doesn't allow it in the near future. Even so, I am very happy that I was able to spend at least one session with World Campus. Two years later, I can honestly say that I am still grateful I went.

I had fun in my two weeks I've been there. The events were very unique and different from what I have experienced years ago when I went to Tokyo at another school. Osaka people are much friendlier and warmer. The school helped me a lot with finding an accommodation and also assisting with info for food recommendations as I'm Vegan. The community is very inclusive and I never felt insecure or unsafe. If I could do it all over again I would go for Osaka for sure.

Osaka hat richtig geflasht! Meine Zeit hier war einfach nur genial und ich habe viele Freunde kennen gelernt. Der Unterricht war sehr gechillt und die Lehrer waren super nett. Die Location von der Schule ist auch sehr zentral. Shinsaibashi Station ist ein kurzer Spaziergang entfernt, aber das geilste war die extrem fashionlastige und kunterbunte Amemmura Nachbarstadt mit coolen Cafés, sehr extrovertierten Leuten und einer lebendigen Nightlife Szene. Kann Meiji und Osaka nur sehr empfehlen.

2026 so far has been a year of adventure and my month at LTL Osaka was a definitely a stand out experience! The initial application process was straightforward. The Director of Studies, Hiyori Ito, was extremely responsive and great at answering my questions. I felt like I had a connection to the programme right from the beginning. Going into my first day I was extremely nervous. Prior to LTL, I had no experience with Japanese output as I’d only studied the language from textbooks. Despite this, the LTL learning approach was accommodating to my skill level – adapting to where my strengths and weakness were across listening, reading, speaking and writing. LTL employs a conversational approach to learning. Using the textbook as a guide, we covered new grammar and vocabulary points with the majority of the learning being conducted in Japanese. At first this was quite intense but with the teachers help it becomes the best method of learning through exposure. All the teachers were friendly and approachable. I elected to do both group and one-on-one sessions. My daily schedule was slightly overwhelming so I don’t recommend it for everyone but for people who work well in a fast paced environment, I felt it expedited my learning experience tremendously. In the group class we worked through the majority of the Genki 2. I had previously gone through this textbook but it was really beneficial to revisit the grammar constructions and vocabulary with a teacher present. Things I never fully understood the first time, now I feel like I’ve really solidified. Furthermore, being able to delve into the textbook’s content alongside other students allowed me to practice outputting the grammar in a safe and enjoyable environment. In addition to the group classes, I participated in one-on-one classes every afternoon. This was a valuable asset. Throughout the one-on-one classes I set the priority of developing my conversation skill as I felt that was most vital for daily interactions. Due to these sessions being less structured, I was able to revisit basic grammar as well as use what I had learn in the group classes. These classes ended up being my favourite. Over the month I had developed a strong repot with many teachers. From a personal standpoint, I think LTL is best suited for people looking to have a passionate learning experience, focusing more so on developing your ability to speak real Japanese rather than passing the JLPT (it’s definitely visible through LTL but not the main goal). LTL conjures a more relaxed environment, feeling less like a strict school and more like an hyper-invested language club! Outside of class, Hiyori regularly plans group activities such as trips around Osaka or group dinners. Additionally, thanks to the close-nit feeling from the other students during my tenure at the school, we would made plans together for food or drink. On school days during lesson breaks and lunch breaks both teachers and students would hang out in the spacious common area. By not separating the students and teachers it created more opportunity to practice Japanese as well as letting us get to know each other, teacher and student, in a less formal setting. I’d like to highlight a few teachers who really made an impact on me during my time in Osaka: Naomi, Nanaho and Sae Sensei made group classes a joy. We engaged in lots of fun discourse around the textbook. As well as lots of laugher playing vocabulary games and learning about Japanese culture. A massive thank you to Satoko and Hiroko Sensei for creating such friendly atmospheres during our one-on-one classes. I can firmly attribute much of my Japanese progression to their help. Every class was fun yet contained the perfect balance of conversation and teaching. By the end of my time at LTL I felt as if my conversational flow had drastically improved thanks to the consistent and attentive corrections to my speaking made by Hiroko and Satoko. We had many long discussions about a variety of topics but it never felt intimidating due to the pace of the conversation as well as us stopping to discuss grammar and vocabulary throughout. As a place to live and study for an extended period of time I can wholeheartedly recommend Osaka. The city is very well connected by public transport, the underground system is convenient and affordable. Furthermore, for weekend trips Osaka is perfectly central in the Kansai-region offering amazing excursions to surrounding areas such as Kobe, Nara and the various waking trails or tradition villages. Lastly, but maybe most importantly, during my time studying I also engaged in the homestay programme. Without a doubt this was the highlight of my time in Osaka. Getting to experience life with a family abroad is an eye opening experience and something I’d definitely want to do again. When being inducted to LTL, if you select to do a homestay, you can provider preferences for what kind of house you want to stay in, such as ‘being with other students or alone’ or ‘the families level of English’ – in my case, I was the only foreigner with a family where they spoke little English. After the month I truly felt I’d made a connection with the host family. Many nights after dinner we’d talk for hours, with a little help from google translate, on all manor of topics and discussing each-other’s culture. I’d play video games with the kids and join them on weekend trips to the river or out for food. The entire time I felt so warmly welcomed and accommodated both in my language ability and in comfort around the house. Being able to communicate with them became a massive motivator for me to put more effort into my studies! Many thanks again to the LTL Osaka team!

LTL Language School responded to this reviewAugust 27, 2026

Wow Luke! We are thrilled the homestay became the highlight of your month in Osaka! Hiyori, Naomi, Nanaho, Sae, Satoko and Hiroko sensei will all love reading this. Thanks so much for taking the time to write such a detailed review. Keep up the great work studying Japanese and we hope to see you back at LTL soon! LTL Team

This year I participated in the Osaka World Class program and I loved it! I experience many exciting activities with much to see and do. From sight seeing to eating delicious food, all of it was great. Hiroshima was one of my all time favorite places that we went to by far, it was a long day of traveling, but 100% worth it. I specifically remember the Hiroshima peace memorial, while it was a solemn memorial they still had a beautiful tribute to the lives lost. Informing others on how big this impacted their community and how they moved on from this. This program allowed the opportunity to immerse myself in an atmosphere where I can learn and understand the Japanese culture.

Two of my daughters went to the 2026 Osaka World Class program. They absolutely loved it! From exploring Japanese temples, to visiting historical sites, learning Japanese language and cuisine, to shopping, they enjoyed every day to the fullest.

Oh my gosh, where do I even start with this program? It was absolutely, positively, mind-blowingly amazing! Seriously, I can’t even begin to express how incredible it was. From the very first day, I was in love with World Class Programs. The energy, the staff, the excitement, the sheer awesomeness of it all was just overwhelming in the best way possible. First off, the people and teachers at World Class Programs were just the best. Everyone was so friendly and welcoming, and it felt like I was part of a big, happy family right from the start. The instructors were super knowledgeable and passionate about what they were teaching, and it was so inspiring to see how much they cared about helping us succeed. They continuously went above and beyond to make sure we understood everything and were always there to answer any questions we had, no matter how silly they might have seemed. And the activities! Oh my goodness, the activities were just out of this world. We got to do so many cool things that I never even thought I’d get the chance to try. There were trips to places like Kyoto, Nara (to see the deer!!!), Himeji, Hiroshima (on the peace day festival) and Tokyo! We also played group games, and even some fun, unexpected surprises that kept us on our toes and made every day an adventure (don’t even ask me about the “karaoke” experience! Haha). I learned so much and had a blast doing it. It was, seriously, like being in a dream. But it wasn’t just the people and activities that made this program so amazing. It was also the environment. Japan. Oh Japan. Japan was just beautiful, with stunning views and a vibe that was both really chill and relaxing, and also energizing at the same time. It was the perfect setting for us to focus, learn, and grow, and I felt so lucky to be there. Every morning, I would wake up excited to see what the day had in store, and every night, I would go to bed feeling grateful for the incredible experiences I had. I also have to mention how much I learned. This program was not just fun and games; it was also incredibly educational. I took the Japanese history course for my major and Photography for my minor. I gained so much knowledge and skills that I know will be super valuable in the future. The way the information was presented was so engaging and easy to understand, and I felt like I was really absorbing everything. Being able to EXPERIENCE things rather than just talk about them was great. It was like my brain was a sponge, soaking up all the amazing stuff being thrown at it. And let’s not forget about the friendships I made. I met so many awesome people who I will never forget. We had so much fun together, whether we were playing “taco cat goat cheese pizza”, hanging out during breaks, watching movies, or just chatting about life. Even though we all just met, It was like we had known each other forever, and I felt so lucky to have them in my life. We even planned to stay in touch after the program ended, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for all of us. In conclusion, this program was just the best experience of my life. It was everything I could have ever hoped for and more. I learned so much, met so many amazing people, and had the time of my life. I will always look back on this program with fond memories and a heart full of gratitude. It was truly an incredible experience, and I am so thankful to have been a part of it. Thank you World Class Programs!!!

As a study abroad student in Japan, I am having so much fun! And I highly recommend this to others who might be interested in this! There are tons of fun and interesting adventures!! And the teachers are the BEST!! I’m currently in Japan and I leave tomorrow! I am excited to see my family, but also I genuinely don’t wanna leave Japan. I feel like I could stay here another week!