Whether your interest in Japan stems from a fascination with technology, a passion for Zen gardens, a life-long love of anime, or an appetite for sushi, a visit to this remarkable country will only broaden its appeal. Japan combines and juxtaposes a rich cultural tradition with the latest in modern technology. On the one hand you’ll find medieval Buddhist temples and ancient customs like the Tea Ceremony, on the other the Bullet trains (maximum speed 188 mph!). The Japanese rail network will carry you all over the country, to iconic Mount Fuji, to the temples and shrines of Kyoto, to twenty-first-century Tokyo, and beyond. Very few countries in the world have a culture more distinctive than Japan’s. Come prepared to be puzzled at times, to marvel at others, but most of all to look, listen, and learn.

Mitaka is a city in Tokyo Prefecture with a population of some 200,000. It is home to the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan as well as to a popular museum that features the anime work of Studio Ghibli. The city is a major stop on the JR Chuo line that runs between Tokyo and Takao. Mitaka is also home to International Christian University (ICU), Japan’s oldest and largest American-style university, which was founded in 1949.

Program Description

ICU offers four options for Japanese language study. One-year visiting students typically enroll in the appropriate level of Program Two, though you may opt for Program One or Program Three, depending on your language proficiency. Students whose proficiency is equivalent to a native speaker’s may even enroll in Program Four. For detailed information, see the ICU language programs web page.  Alongside your language classes, you can choose from a wide variety of courses at the university that are taught in English. ICU operates on a trimester system (Fall, Winter, Spring). As a year-long student you will most likely live in an on-campus dormitory, sharing a room, bathroom, and kitchenette.

Information at a Glance

• Academics
  

• Academic Calendar

• Accommodations and Meals

• Program Costs
  

• Scholarships
  

• Travel Brochure

For more information about this program, please visit the ICU website.