Program |
Duration |
Start/End Dates |
Tuition |
Availability |
More |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year High School Program - Spring | About 11 months | March 2013 - February 2014 | TBD | Apply now | Read More + |
Age Range:
15 years 0 months - 17 years 11 monthsBirth Date Range:
04/19/95 - 03/19/98Travel Dates:
Mar 15-18, 2013 - Feb 8-11, 2014Application Deadline: September 25, 2012
Japan Year High School Program – Spring Departure
One of our most popular study abroad programs, the year program to Japan offers an unparalleled opportunity to dive into Japanese culture and live with a host family, while attending high school in your local community.
Japanese society places high value on education, so your academic experience will be rigorous. One interesting difference at school in Japan is the “souji,” where all students take part in cleaning the school. You will probably wear a school uniform, which AFS will help you purchase secondhand if possible. Be ready to get peddling, as most students commute to school on bike, often several kilometers a day!
Your local chapter may organize activities throughout the year, which may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Japan. Also, over the course of your program, AFS staff and volunteers will meet with you at orientations to evaluate your experience and help with your cultural adjustment.
Learn More about Japan High School Programs
| Semester High School Program - Fall | About 5 months | August 2012 - February 2013 | $12,000 | Closed | Read More + |
Age Range:
15 years 0 months - 17 years 11 monthsBirth Date Range:
09/24/94 - 08/24/97Travel Dates:
Aug 19-22, 2012 - Feb 2-5, 2013Application Deadline Extended! Apply By April 10, 2012
Japan Semester High School Program – Fall Departure
A semester in Japan offers enough time to really understand the workings of Japanese culture. Live with a host family and attend a high school in your local host community.
Japanese society places high value on education, so your academic experience will be rigorous. One interesting difference at school in Japan is the “souji,” where all students take part in cleaning the school. You will probably wear a school uniform, which AFS will help you purchase secondhand if possible. Be ready to get peddling, as most students commute to school on bike, often several kilometers a day!
Your local chapter may organize activities throughout the semester, which may include parties or excursions to other cities or regions in Japan. Also, over the course of your program, AFS staff and volunteers will meet with you at orientations to evaluate your experience and help with your cultural adjustment.
Learn More about Japan High School Programs
Japan: The Land of Opposites.
On one hand, you’ve got an ancient culture represented by tea ceremonies and graceful gardens. On the other, you have high-speed trains, striking efficiency and hyper-modern skyscrapers. Choose an academic year or semester program to Japan and prepare for complete immersion into one of the most dynamic countries in the world.
No Shoes, Please! Living in Japan with your host family will be an unparalleled opportunity to learn about and participate in everyday Japanese customs. Expect a tidy household where slippers are mandatory and meals are enjoyed together. Family is at the foundation of Japanese culture, so responsibilities around the house, school and workplace are more to benefit the whole, not the individual.
Books, Bikes and Brooms. So, what’s the learning style in Japan? Rigorous and rewarding. The Japanese place a high value on education, so get ready to hit the books. You may welcome extended class time after your long bike commute to school, as most students in Japan choose the bicycle as their primary mode of transportation (often several miles a day.) In Japanese high schools, at the end of classes all students participate in “souji,” a massive clean-up of the school grounds.
Slurping Soba, Sampling Sashimi. Food in Japan can be described in three words: Simple. Fresh. Delicious. Think lots of rice and noodles paired with fresh vegetables, fruit and light meats. Green tea will also be served at most meals. Practice your chopstick skills, as your host family will likely prepare some incredible dishes to share and (slurp!) together.
Student Quote
“Wow, has it been an adventure. It's been hard and fun and eye-opening and inspiring and it has made me grow immensely as a person and a student. I don't regret coming one bit! It has given me a new family and a new culture and made me treasure everything I have at home all the more.”
- Claire 2011 Semester
>>Read more stories on our Study Abroad Blog
More on Japan
View a Japan Slideshow and see what it's like
Watch a Video from one Student's Summer Program in Japan.
Two Full Scholarships for the 2013 Japan Spring Year Program.