CIEE College Study Abroad in Kyoto, Japan

It was such a unique experience. The teachers, the staff and even the other students helped create an adventure that I will never forget. I feel in love with the classes and was so excited to learn more about Japan’s history. It was an amazing opportunity to grow my japanese speaking skills as well as use these credits for my major. They program offered many excursions to help expose the students to japanese culture. Even class had extra curriculars where we would be able to see the things we were learning about.

My experience in Kyoto was unique and insightful because I got to learn the Japanese language in the historical and cultural capital of Japan. As a mix between old and new, Kyoto provided me with a holistic perspective on what Japan evolved from as well as the direction it is going in. I would recommend this city to anyone who is looking to study abroad in a dynamic city that is also very clean and safe. During the summer here, pack for heavy heat and humidity. During the winter here, pack for a lot of snow!

My experience abroad in Kyoto has allowed me to witness a number of cultural facets pertaining to Japan. Attending tea ceremonies, participating in the Gion Matsuri, visiting many shrines and temples, and hiking the local mountains are only a fraction of the fun activities I've done during the program. I was also able to enjoy the city life that the Kyoto youth enjoys, partaking in nightlife like clubs, and rooftop bars. I frequented the Round One arcade in Kawaramachi and the BiVi arcade near Nijo Castle. The cuisines in Kyoto are so diverse that I have nearly 300 restaurants marked and have been to a fair amount of them and all of them have been affordable and more than satisfactory.

This was a condensed 6-week program, and you definitely feel the fast paced course load. That being said, if you are able to stay on track with the course work, you still have plenty of time to explore the Kyoto, both through program organized excursions and through independent travel if you so desire. I personally really enjoyed the independence and encouragement given to the students to explore Kyoto on behalf of the program. Additionally, Kyoto is simply an incredible city to study in. Would definitely recommend!

The CIEE staff are really over worked, there are too many programs going on at the same time. The professors were not organized and one professor was completely unhinged and made me feel unsafe. The student life staff was extremely accommodating and invested in our success. The housing was really nice and the location was incredible. My positive of the experience is I got to immerse myself in Japanese culture. I loved being in Kyoto, I think it’s a fabulous place to stay over Tokyo and Osaka. I loved my classmates, it was super easy for me to make friends. I wish I grew professionally a bit more and gained more academic and transferable skills. The classes simply were not what I expected for a college level. They were very informal.

January in Kyoto was a life-changing experience that presented me with lots of first experiences in my life. For starters, this was only a three-week program, so everything was very fast-paced. This isn't a bad thing though, as it makes you strategically plan out your limited time in Japan and makes you plan to see the sights and even go to Tokyo or Osaka. If you do the research you'll find so many things to do and you'll never run out of new things to experience, ideally something new every day! If you have a good balance between your academic and adventurous side, then this is the perfect program for you!

David and Karen are the two coordinators for the CIEE branch in Kyoto and they are incredibly kind and fun. I took the history of anime and manga course during the J-Term which covered from the ancient Buddhist art to scroll paintings to modern animation. They brought in two professional artists who showed how they work and gave us an unlimited pass to the international museum of manga in Kyoto. They also organized a few side trips with local activities! Being right in the heart of the city, there are many restaurants and shrines nearby, and the famous Fushimi Inari mountain shrine is a short subway ride away!

CIEE in Kyoto was some of the most fun I’ve ever had. Not only was the staff amazing but the housing was great as well. With everything that CIEE put in place for us it allowed us to have an amazing even life changing experience even in just 3 weeks. Getting to explore all of the things kyoto as to offer was amazing. Kyoto also is the #1 place to travel since it is not too crowded but still provides all of the amazing experiences a city in Japan has to offer! The city really gives you a place to bond with your classmates! Highly highly recommend!