Study in Japan
Choose Your Program
PROGRAM DEPARTURE RETURN FULL TUITION
2025 Spring Year (FULL) Late March Early January $17,095
  • Placement with a carefully selected host family
  • Enrollment in a local Japanese high school
  • Airport transfers
  • Domestic and international travel
  • All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
  • Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
  • Support from a YFU Japan Area Representative while on program
  • Comprehensive insurance

Students will typically be placed in the first or second year at a Japanese high school. Most schools are quite large, averaging 500 to 1,000 students. You will likely study subjects like Japanese classics or contemporary Japanese language and you may also attend elective classes that include subjects such as art and calligraphy. You may attend club activities after school such as karate or judo.

Japanese schools are generally conservative and therefore the dress code in Japan may be stricter than you are used to. In Japanese schools, students do not have unnaturally dyed hair or eccentric hairstyles. Piercings, earrings, necklaces, and rings are not allowed in schools. Students cannot wear makeup, or perfume, or have visible tattoos. Female students cannot wear skirts above the knees or high heels. Male students should not have a beard or long hair. Schools in Japan almost always require uniforms. The cost of a school uniform and language training is included in the program tuition. All students will be placed in the appropriate language course as a result of a level check test at the arrival orientation.

Please note: Students may not be able to receive a transcript or a record of grades. Some schools can issue a certificate of attendance. Placement in a particular grade level, credit, or graduation cannot be guaranteed.

All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in early-mid December. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.

*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

Upon arrival in Japan, students will participate in a 5-day orientation in Tokyo. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.

  • 2025 Spring Departure: Students born April 2, 2007 – March 31, 2010.
  • Students applying for the year program who will graduate from high school before the start of their program will not be considered for admission.

Japanese. One year of previous language study is required for long-term Japan programs. A Japanese correspondence course is included in program tuition for long-term program participants.

Students to Japan may be placed with a host family anywhere in the country, including the Okinawa Islands, in either a rural or suburban setting. Students are usually not placed in large urban centers.

PROGRAM DEPARTURE RETURN FULL TUITION
2025 Fall Semester Mid-August Early January $16,095
2025 Spring Semester (FULL) Late March Early August $15,095
  • Placement with a carefully selected host family
  • Enrollment in a local Japanese high school
  • Airport transfers
  • Domestic and international travel
  • All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
  • Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
  • Support from a YFU Japan Area Representative while on the program
  • Comprehensive insurance

Students will typically be placed in the first or second year at a Japanese high school. Most schools are quite large, averaging 500 to 1,000 students. You will likely study subjects like Japanese classics or contemporary Japanese language and you may also attend elective classes that include subjects such as art and calligraphy. You may attend club activities after school such as karate or judo.

Japanese schools are generally conservative and therefore the dress code in Japan may be stricter than you are used to. In Japanese schools, students do not have unnaturally dyed hair or eccentric hairstyles. Piercings, earrings, necklaces, and rings are not allowed in schools. Students cannot wear makeup, or perfume, or have visible tattoos. Female students cannot wear skirts above the knees or high heels. Male students should not have a beard or long hair. Schools in Japan almost always require uniforms. The cost of a school uniform and language training is included in the program tuition. All students will be placed in the appropriate language course as a result of a level check test at the arrival orientation.

Please note: Students may not be able to receive a transcript or a record of grades. Some schools can issue a certificate of attendance. Placement in a particular grade level, credit, or graduation cannot be guaranteed.

All students applying for the year program must be available for a mandatory 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation*, which usually takes place in early-mid December. This orientation is a required part of the program aimed at preparing students for their experience overseas.

*Due to COVID-19, the 3-day National Pre-Departure Orientation described above may take place online dependent upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

Upon arrival in Japan, students will participate in a 5-day orientation in Tokyo. All orientation costs are included in program tuition.

  • 2025 Fall Departure: Students born April 1, 2007 – April 2, 2010.
  • 2025 Spring Departure: Students born April 2, 2007 – March 31, 2010.
  • Students applying for the semester program who will graduate from high school before the start of their program will not be considered for admission.

Japanese. One year of previous language study is required for Japan’s long-term programs. A Japanese correspondence course is included in program tuition for long-term program participants.

Students to Japan may be placed with a host family anywhere in the country, including the Okinawa Islands, in either a rural or suburban setting. Students are usually not placed in large urban centers.

PROGRAM DEPARTURE RETURN FULL TUITION
2025 Summer Late June Early August $9,995
  • Placement with a carefully selected host family
  • Attend a Japanese high school (number of days in the high school will vary dependent on where your placement is made)
  • Airport transfers
  • Domestic and international travel
  • All pre-departure and post-arrival orientations
  • Pre-program support by trained YFU staff
  • Support from a YFU Japan Area Representative while on the program
  • Comprehensive insurance

All students applying for the summer program must be available for a mandatory Japan Pre-Departure Orientation*, which takes place just prior to the departure date. This orientation is specifically designed for American students studying in Japan and covers cultural elements such as food, language, etiquette, and arts. It is a required part of the program to prepare students for their experience in Japan.

*Due to COVID-19, the orientation described above may take place online depending upon recommended guidelines at the time of the event. YFU will continue to assess the situation as it develops.

  • 2025 Summer Departure: April 2, 2008- April 1, 2010

Students should not have graduated before the start of the summer program.

Japanese. Previous language study is not required.

Students to Japan may be placed with a host family anywhere in the country, including the Okinawa Islands, in either a rural or suburban setting. Students are usually not placed in large urban centers.

Japan comes to life when you arrive for your six-week stay with your host family. Attending traditional tea ceremonies, practicing martial arts, and visiting local summer festivals are just some of the activities  YFU students to Japan may experience during their summer exchange. School is in session during our summer program in Japan so students may attend classes at their host high schools for a short duration. Students may attend and audit classes but are not officially enrolled in the school during their stay in Japan. Students will not receive report cards or evaluations of their performance.

Study Abroad Participants
What to Expect

Konnichiwa! If you’re looking for a fascinating culture with a rich history, beautiful scenery, and welcoming families and friends, then Japan may be just the place for you!

Come to the birthplace of manga, anime, origami, kimonos, and samurai, where you can learn firsthand about all these popular fixtures of Japanese culture that mesh Japan’s history with its present-day influences. You will have the chance to attend performances of traditional theatre or enjoy a night of modern-day karaoke. The Japanese enjoy newer sports like snowboarding and baseball, as well as traditional sports like sumo wrestling and kendo (fencing).

One major element of the Japanese experience is school, where you will take classes with Japanese students in various subjects and participate in extracurricular activities like martial arts. Food in Japan will offer a variety of new dishes ranging from sushi, rice bowls, and different types of noodles, to dishes like chashu and moyashi.

In Japan, you will find a truly unique culture of ancient history with a modern twist. By going on a YFU program to Japan, your experience will open up endless opportunities for your future!

YFU USA is proud to send over 200 American students on cultural exchange with a full or partial scholarship each year. Financial assistance may be in the form of a merit-based scholarship, need-based financial aid, or Legacy Grant for students previously involved in the YFU Community. Scholarships may vary in deadline, requirements, and eligibility. To learn more, please visit our Scholarships Page to find details on the following scholarships eligible for Japan:

YFU Legacy Grant
YFU Financial Aid Fund
Japan Summer Program
Employer Based Scholarships

Applications must be submitted by September 15 for Winter/Spring departure programs and February 15 for Summer and Fall. Programs often fill before these deadlines, so we encourage early submission!

Visa Information
Information regarding visas and other immigration processes will be provided upon enrollment.

Additional Costs
Students are responsible for paying any school fees (including books, transportation, and optional school trips), as well as all fees related to obtaining visas. Program tuition does not include personal spending money.

Students to Japan may be placed with a host family anywhere in the country, including the Okinawa Islands, in either a rural or suburban setting. Students are normally not placed in large urban centers, but often are placed in small towns, where they have opportunities to become an integral part of their host communities!

YFU Japan’s Participant Eligibility Guidelines

Dietary Requirements: Students accepted into the Japan program must be open to eating all types of food, including meat, shellfish, and nuts. Due to the prevalence of these ingredients in Japanese cuisine, students with severe allergies to shellfish or nuts will not be eligible to participate. It is challenging to avoid cross-contamination, and this policy is in place to ensure student safety.

Schooling Requirements: Students who are graduated, homeschooled or enrolled in online schooling are not eligible for the Japan program due to the regulations and structure of the Japanese education system.

Only your high school can agree to accept your international credits upon your return home. YFU does not guarantee credit transfers from your international school to your local high school for semester or year programs. All that being said, students are often able to stay on track when they’re proactive with their American high school and guidance counselors before program departure. To help you along, you can find additional information on our School Credit Guideline document.

Medication Restrictions: All medications containing stimulants are prohibited in Japan, including those for ADD/ADHD such as Adderall. Students requiring medications should consult the Japanese Embassy’s website for detailed information and may be deemed ineligible for the program if their medication is prohibited.

Legal Compliance: Smoking is illegal for individuals under 20 in Japan. Any violation of this law, or any other Japanese law, may lead to immediate dismissal from the program and return to the United States.

Please note that YFU Japan requires that students participating in their programs are fully immunized against COVID-19.

East and West. Tradition and innovation. Industry and family. Shinkansen (bullet train) and tatami (straw mats). As a YFU student in Japan, you’ll discover a land of contrasts.

Have questions or want to learn more about YFU Study Abroad Programs?

My exchange to Japan allowed me to look through the eyes of a culture very far from the one I knew. I’m still in contact with many of the friends I made and have made plans to visit a few of them in the future. My exchange abroad continues to influence my decisions in life

– James