Explore the Authentic Japan this Summer

Just WOW! I took this trip to Japan during the end of July for three weeks through August and it was absolutely incredible! Not only are the staff very friendly and easy to get along with but they know when to get serious and how to handle groups of high school students. I also really enjoyed being around the friends I made on this trip, it was one of those rare experience bonding connections you don't get to see or know of very often. Looking back on it now some of the trip highlights had to be the time we visited Nara Park and fed the deer that bowed to you, funnily enough it started POURING and it was a great time running to the nearby 7/11 for umbrellas! If you are going into this thinking its a vacation then STOP its an experience through and through. Expect to have the best time of your life BUT you have to be willing and ABLE to do it, some days went up to 25k steps. All in all this program was by far one of the best decisions I made in my life, and from the Tokyo Tower, to the Osaka street vendors, to the many many beautiful castles and the ACTUAL location of the atomic bomb detonation you really PACK in as much of Japan in 3 weeks as you can get! I cant think of what else to say other than praise for this program so SIGN UPPP!!! (also the program director Derek Tano is the KINGGG!!)

This was my first time outside of the US and I have to say that I couldn’t have chosen a better program to do so with. The support and care the staff members provide is unmatched. They’re all extremely kind people and great teachers. I took the photography and History classes and learned so much while getting to visit different places and having fun! I got to visit so many cool places( my fav being Nara Park). This is an experience I’ll never forget and a trip everyone should take with this program!

This was the first time my son had gone on a group trip. I researched this company, the owner and every employee extensively. All I could find were amazing reviews across the board. I had the opportunity to talk to a mother whose son had taken the trip the year before. He had the best time. We felt good about this company and my son was really excited to see Japan. From the very beginning, everything ran seamlessly. We easily found the group in the airport, met the instructors and fellow classmates, then said our goodbyes. Our first text we received was what a great time he was having! He would send pictures daily featuring one amazing place, after another. My son loves History and was blown away by the course abroad. Actually being in Hiroshima and learning about that day, definitely beats a standard classroom lecture. The total immersion in the culture was an amazing opportunity as well. Going to the grocery store, off the beaten path restaurants, and a traditional tea ceremony, are some of the benefits this program offers beyond just traveling there as a tourist. Derek and his team are so familiar with the area and itinerary, that they are able to pack a lot in without it feeling rushed or exhausting. Every Sunday, Derek would send us a weekly summary with photos and details of what they were up to. We looked forward to it every week. My son came home with new friends, a thousand cool stories and stronger confidence in his decision to go out of state for college, next year.
Thank you, Derek, Jaclyn and the team for providing such an amazing experience.

I had such an amazing time studying abroad with World Class Programs. Every day was full of multiple fun activities that were educational and engaging. Our classes took us all over Osaka on the subway and on foot, so we got a lot of time to enjoy where we were. There were so many opportunities for free time where we could explore the city and do things like trying street food, going to arcades and going to parks. Our teachers made sure we were safe while allowing us to have freedom and try things for ourselves! Overall such an amazing time and the three weeks went by way to fast. Definitely recommend!!

This was out daughters first time traveling alone and being “on her own” apart from family for the first time. I think we were all a little nervous. But, Derek and the staff were such amazing communicators leading up to the trip that we felt more confident when the time came to send her off. And from day one until the last day we heard nothing but rave reviews from our daughter during the entire three week trip. They did SO much, learned so much and had SO MUCH FUN! I don’t think it could have been any better.

This trip is full of fun experiences. Wherever we walked---whether it was exploring a castle or temple, eating amazing food, wandering through a garden, chilling with deer, or shopping at big malls---we always did something fun. If you don't like any of that stuff though, you're given free time everyday to do what you want to do. But really, the only time you'll ever get bored is at night back in the hotel getting ready for bed and trying to fall asleep. It sounds cheasy, but genuinely, I could not wait for the next day to arrive because I was so excited to get back out in the city and do awesome stuff. I credit part of that excitement to the staff, who were extremely friendly and easy to talk to to, as well as the other students on the trip, who were super fun to be around. If there was a 4 week option, I would've stayed 4 weeks. If you end up coming to Japan with World Class Programs, they give you tons of opportunities to be adventurous. When doing something feels scary, do it.

World Class Programs is hands down the best study abroad company out there! My wife and I shopped around & contacted all the companies out there looking for the perfect fit for our “wild child” daughter & we reached out via email & phone calls with so many questions to them all. We got crickets from them all …but World Class Programs answered the phone the first time I called & Jaclyn was so informative & helpful & detailed. The application process was seamless & honestly fun. We had zero hiccups & any questions I had I simply dialed World Class Programs phone number & it was answered every time! The program itself was life changing and Derek and his staff are truly "World Class" educators. I could not be happier with this company and with the experience my daughter had while abroad. I will be sending all of my kids on one of World Class Programs study abroad trips again & again! I only wish I could go on one too!

I was on World Class Program’s Osaka, Japan trip and have nothing but knowledge, and incredible memories to bring back with me! Derek was so knowledgeable about everywhere we went, and I could tell he really has a passion for teaching. He made my fears disappear by how comfortable he was in his surroundings. I was worried that not knowing Japanese would be something that would make the trip difficult, but it was never a problem because I felt so supported by the World Class Programs’ staff!

We got to pet the most adorable deer in Nara Park! They bowed to you so that you could feed them right from your hand! They were so gentle and cute, that it was definitely a highlight for me! I also loved taking the Japanese history course while out in the city, so that I got to learn history where it actually happened! I am so glad I went on the 3 week trip because I got to see both Osaka and Tokyo, as well as the other day trip cities. This was my first time in Japan, and World Class Programs has sparked my love of travel, so I cannot wait to go back there someday!