Japan

Language & Culture

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Study Japanese through intensive language training and exciting activities. Explore vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods and stay with a host family in a different region.  

  • Art

  • Certificate

  • Culinary

  • Language

WHY STUDY LANGUAGE IN JAPAN?

Land in Tokyo for orientation, where you will begin Japanese classes and practice writing systems like hiragana and kanji. Your language skills will develop through 60+ hours of direct exposure in formal classes, with host family interactions, peer-to-peer practice, and more. Because English is not widely spoken in Japan, you will have countless opportunities for immersion. You’ll also enjoy sushi and indulge in handmade noodles at the city’s famed ramen shops. You will learn what Tokyo’s exciting and unique districts have to offer, including anime and manga in Akihabara and the colorful fashion scene in Harajuku. 

Continue practicing your Japanese and deepen your understanding of culture and family life during your host community visit. Learn to cook homemade soba noodles or roll your own sushi with a family. Learn about Japanese history by visiting shrines and museums and take an excursion to Hiroshima to visit the historic Hiroshima Peace Park and Memorial Museum. 

At the conclusion of this program, students will earn a language certificate noting the number of hours of language training completed through formal classes and experiential learning. 

LEARN BY DOING

The Experiment’s programs are designed to build skills that will help you succeed. In Japan, you will learn: 

TECHNICAL SKILLS

  • Japanese language  

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

  • Resourcefulness 
  • Intercultural communication and understanding  
  • Problem-solving  
  • Adaptability  
  • Relationship-building  

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

  • Explore urban life by foot (lots of walking!) and learn to navigate the public transit system.
  • Temperatures and humidity are extremely high during the summer.  
  • Meat, seafood, rice, and noodles are staples of Japanese cuisine and will be difficult for vegan and vegetarian diets. Your homestay family will be very keen to share many traditional foods and local and regional delicacies with you, and their preparation and your enjoyment of these will be a source of pride for your hosts. Culturally, it is considered very rude to your homestay family to leave food on your plate during meals, so adventurous eaters are appreciated.  
  • Access to the internet is limited and internet speeds and connectivity will vary.
  • Japan is a conservative country regarding LGBTQ+ issues and you will find traditional gendered spaces, such as male or female only public/communal baths in the dormitories. We encourage students to approach the program staff for support on gender and sexuality questions and concerns. 
  • The diverse personal and social identities of participants may, in part, shape their experience abroad. In-country partners will discuss cultural norms and the local context during orientation. Please read our approach to Diversity, Equity,  and Inclusion for further information. We take a collective effort for all students to have a safe space within the program spaces and with the local staff and group leaders.
  • The Experiment program structure is rooted in experiential learning and cohort-based learning. The participant group experience is a major source of learning for Experimenters and is facilitated by trained Experiment group leaders.

AT A GLANCE

Program Availability

Filling Fast

Program Date

Jul 8 - Jul 30

Prerequisite

None

Program Fee

$7,950.00

(does not include airfare)
Group Airfare Cost

$1,720.00

Departure City

Los Angeles

WHAT'S INCLUDED
  • Certificate of completion
  • Lodging
  • Meals
  • All program activities
  • In-country transportation
  • Health insurance
  • Experienced group leaders

Families or partner organizations are also responsible for arranging and paying for participants' domestic travel to the international departure/return airport in the U.S., whether flying, driving or by other means. By its nature, domestic airfare varies by airline, timing, destination, and availability.

TALK TO AN ALUM
Questions? Ask Us! APPLY NOW
Learn about Japanese language and culture when you study abroad in Japan with The Experiment. Develop your skills through Japanese language immersion, exploring vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods, and living with a Japanese homestay family.  High school students in kimonos
Learn about Japanese language and culture when you study abroad in Japan with The Experiment. Develop your skills through Japanese language immersion, exploring vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods, and living with a Japanese homestay family.  Japanese classes
Learn about Japanese language and culture when you study abroad in Japan with The Experiment. Develop your skills through Japanese language immersion, exploring vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods, and living with a Japanese homestay family.  Japanese tea ceremony
Learn about Japanese language and culture when you study abroad in Japan with The Experiment. Develop your skills through Japanese language immersion, exploring vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods, and living with a Japanese homestay family.  Japanese classes
Learn about Japanese language and culture when you study abroad in Japan with The Experiment. Develop your skills through Japanese language immersion, exploring vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods, and living with a Japanese homestay family.  High school student in a kimono
Learn about Japanese language and culture when you study abroad in Japan with The Experiment. Develop your skills through Japanese language immersion, exploring vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods, and living with a Japanese homestay family.  Japanese food
Learn about Japanese language and culture when you study abroad in Japan with The Experiment. Develop your skills through Japanese language immersion, exploring vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods, and living with a Japanese homestay family.  Japanese classes
Learn about Japanese language and culture when you study abroad in Japan with The Experiment. Develop your skills through Japanese language immersion, exploring vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods, and living with a Japanese homestay family.  Japanese calligraphy
Learn about Japanese language and culture when you study abroad in Japan with The Experiment. Develop your skills through Japanese language immersion, exploring vibrant Tokyo neighborhoods, and living with a Japanese homestay family.  Japanese classes
I will never forget my trip to Japan with The Experiment! I've never felt so welcome in a new space and thrilled to keep learning. Whether it was exploring with my group, playing with my host siblings, eating amazing food, hanging out with local students, or attending language classes, every day was amazing!

MARSHALL, The Experiment alum, Japan

Sample Itinerary

This itinerary is only a sample and is subject to change. Because of factors such as group size and availability of in-country offerings such as festivals, your experience — including sites visited and the number of days spent in each location — may differ somewhat from the one presented below.

View Itinerary Details

Day 1

Pre-Departure Program Orientation (U.S.) 

  • Meet your group and group leaders and get an overview of the program. 
  • Begin building your learning community and learn about program expectations.

 During this period, you and your group will stay in a hotel near the airport. 

Days 2-3

Orientation in Tokyo 

  • Get to know other members of your group while exploring diverse neighborhoods such as Shibuya and Harajuku. 
  • Make your way through the city by way of a scavenger hunt; navigate the city using public transportation; and sample Japanese cuisine. 

During this period, you and your group will stay in a dormitory-style youth center. 

Days 4-14

Thematic Focus in Tokyo or Osaka  

Tokyo 

Depending on group size, Group 1 will continue to explore Tokyo. 

  • Become immersed in the Japanese language and culture through interactive small-group language classes. This includes placement tests on the first day followed by interactive lessons that you can apply by practicing during activities throughout Tokyo.  
  • Learn about the history and culture of Japan through site visits of historical significance such as the Meiji Jingu Shrine.  
  • Learn about Shibuya, the center of Japanese youth fashion and culture.  
  • An excursion to Kamakura to experience the cultural importance of temples and shrines.   
  • Learn about the daily lives of Japanese youth by visiting a local high school. 

During this period, you and your group will stay in a dormitory-style youth center. 

Osaka  

Depending on group size, Group 2 will travel to Osaka be based in the region. 

  • Become immersed in the Japanese language and culture through interactive small-group language classes. This includes placement tests on the first day followed by interactive lessons that you can apply by practicing during activities throughout Osaka. 
  • Learn about the history and culture of Kyoto through visits of famous temples and shrines. 
  • Visit the Cup Noodle Museum in Osaka and make your own cup noodles.  
  • Learn about the daily lives of Japanese youth by visiting a local high school.  

During this period, you and your group will stay in a dormitory-style youth center. 

Days 15-16

Hiroshima Stay 

  • Learn about the history of Hiroshima by visiting the Peace Memorial Museum and Park .  
  • Take a ferry to Miyajima, an island in Hiroshima Bay and recognized as a World Heritage site. 

During this period, you and your group will stay at a hotel. 

Days 17-19

Homestay and Host Community Visit 

  • Visit a high school to interact with local students by lunching together and participating in their club activities.  
  • Explore your host community and the surrounding area with your group and learn about traditional Japanese culture. 

During this period, you will stay with a homestay family and in hostel accommodations near the host community.   

Sample host communities: Sagamihara, Yokohama 

Day 20-21

Program Reflection and Wrap-up in Tokyo 

  • Reflect with your group on your experiences during the program. 

During the reflection period, you and your group will stay in a  hotel near Narita airport. 

Day 22

Departure 

Past Group Leader

The Experiment’s group leaders go through a rigorous selection process and have extensive experience with youth education, local expertise in the country or region of their program, language abilities, knowledge in their program theme, travel logistics and management know-how, and experience with health, safety and risk management.

Adria Buncal

Adria’s journey into the world of international exchange began when she was a child, as her family hosted exchange students in their home, sparking her interest in global connections. Her passion for Japanese culture led her to study abroad in high school, a life-changing experience that motivated her to delve deeper into various cultures, resulting in pursuing a major in East Asian Studies and Japanese at Western Washington University. While studying in Tokyo, she found immense joy in connecting with Japanese and international students, appreciating their diverse backgrounds. Adria’s international experiences expanded when she led for The Experiment to Japan in 2008 and 2023 and later served as an international student and scholar advisor, introducing American culture to incoming international students. She continued her educational journey with a master’s degree in College Student Services Administration, specializing in international education, at Oregon State University. In her free time, she actively volunteers with a multicultural center, hosts exchange students, and explores the world through travel.