CIEE High School Summer Abroad in Japan

The scholarships this program offered helped pay for a lot of the trip, in fact more than half of the cost of the entire program was covered (may change based on financial situation and academic merit). The staff there were also super supportive and fun, they were there to check in with us whenever we needed it and planned cultural activities for us to do in addition to our classes. I also got to meet so many new people that have similar interests, so it was really fun to hangout with them, and a great way to make friends.

As a child growing up in a relatively strict household, Tokyo felt like a breath of fresh air. It was truly like an educational vacation, I felt exhilarated. I didn’t have the stress of family on my back and I could be as free as I wanted, go wherever and I would do it all over again. I loved exploring the city, coming from NYC myself, it was like a bigger better NYC, and much cleaner. Theres just so much to offer with Tokyo. Its a one-in-a-lifetime experience. To anyone considering, absolutely go.

When I got accepted into the Anime and Manga in Japanese Culture program, I was absolutely ecstatic, and the experience did not disappoint! To begin with, the staff were always supportive and available whenever you needed them, and the locals were too! Japan is incredibly safe—I’ll never forget when I saw the little kids getting on the trains by themselves to go home. Also, Japan is astonishingly beautiful. The events CIEE hosted helped us explore Japan like no tour could have, all the while integrating us in with everyday Japanese society and culture. The food was delicious, and the freedom of independence you have in these programs is amazing! You get to travel with your friends to the places you have always wanted to see, but you can always choose to stick with staff if you’d rather do that. Although I only had the opportunity to attend this one, these programs build character, and I will forever remember this journey as I look toward my future!

Going abroad was so fun and such a great learning experience
I learned a lot in conversational japanese and navigating independently! I met so many awesome people in the program and while out and about. Even with my limited japanese I could still talk about common interests and engage in basic conversations.
There were a good amount of times where money was an issue. We were told to not stick to only the konbinis for lunch, but were only given enough money to do so. In the same fashion, we weren’t given money for transportation during free time, which i feel is kind of odd. We were given 3000-5000 yen extra incase we got lost in transport or we were facing problems while on a trip. When a train was unavailable to get my class and I home I had to take a much more expensive route that ended up costing 7000 yen. On top of getting lost some times on my way home, the 5000 extra yen wasn’t enough and I had to pull some money from my personal wallet.
The PLs were super helpful and patient with my transportation problems and helped me through it all.
i would recommend this program to anybody interested ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ...

I had the summer of a lifetime with CIEE! I discovered them through browsing online (especially on this site!) and, coincidentally, they had a college visit at my school. This helped convince my parents to allow me to travel.

I have a peanut allergy, which disqualified me from applying to many study abroad programs. CIEE was different! They made sure different items were allergy friendly for me and informed my host family prior to arrival. Additionally, I have other health concerns that they were super accommodating of! Prior to departure, a CIEE coordinator spoke on the phone with my family and I about accomodations that could be made for me to have the same experience as everyone else. For me, this resulted in a homestay located closer to the school. My amazing host family and program leaders were also informed of my condition.

The program structure was perfect for me! It consisted of around three hours of language class in the morning, with students grouped based on their pre-test (STAMP) scores. After class, we would have lunch, then return at a set time so we could travel as a group to our activity. These ranged from cultural sites, such as Meiji Jingu and Senso-ji; popular places like Harajuku; and cultural experiences, like sweet making and bag making. After the activity, we had free time to do whatever we wished (within reason) until curfew. Our program leaders used a simple check-in system to make sure everyone was accounted for. Additionally, we had free days and day trips on the weekends.

I was able to learn so much more Japanese with CIEE in a month than I had self-studying. They weren't lying when they said that a month abroad was equivalent to around a year of learning in school! Immersion really helps you learn quickly! I made many friends on my trip that I still talk to over a year later, and would absolutely travel with them again!

Hello, my name is Alexis. I went to Tokyo, Japan for a month for Language & Culture. As a 14 year old, I was extremely scared to go to a country all by myself, but CIEE Program Leaders made sure that everyone was safe and had everything they needed. I got an opportunity to make new friends and see the other side of the world. I also had an amazing time with my host family, and I’m so grateful that CIEE gave me such an amazing experience. I really enjoyed learning Japanese and having an amazing teacher. Thank you CIEE!

I have been wanting to do study abroad in Japan for a long time, and I got to do it over the summer with a great scholarship from CIEE. I had an amazing host family experience where I felt integrated into their family, and it created some of my favorite memories. The program leaders as well as all the staff were extremely helpful and kind. The classes were nicely broken down into different steps that were easy to help with my retention and develop my Japanese skills. There were a large variety of activities, and they were all amazing. One of my favorites was visiting a community center/elementary school where we prepared hand rolled sushi in groups and got to play with the kids.

My study abroad experience in Japan through CIEE was honestly one of the best experiences I have ever had. Before going, I was excited to visit Japan, but I did not fully understand how much the experience would affect me personally. I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Kyoto, which gave me a great place to experience the city while also being surrounded by Japanese culture. Being able to actually live in Japan, even for a limited amount of time, felt completely different from simply learning about the country through school, videos, or the internet.
During the program, I studied Manga and Japanese culture, which was especially exciting for me because manga is something I am genuinely interested in. Getting to learn about it while actually being in Japan made the subject feel much more meaningful. Instead of just looking at manga as entertainment, I was able to understand more about its history, artistic style, cultural importance, and connection to Japanese society. Being able to study something I already enjoyed while experiencing the culture around it made the program feel very personal.
One of my favorite parts of the trip was getting to explore so many different places. We visited museums, restaurants, figure stores, and other locations that gave me different perspectives on Japan. The figure stores were especially memorable because I was able to see so many characters and collectibles that I had previously only seen online. Exploring the restaurants was also a great part of the experience because food is such an important part of experiencing another culture. Each place we visited gave me something different to remember.
What surprised me most was how much the trip changed me socially. Before the trip, I was not always the most social or talkative person. Being in a completely different country encouraged me to interact with other people, communicate more, and become more comfortable stepping outside of my comfort zone. I met new people, shared experiences with them, and became more confident talking to others. By the end of the trip, I felt like I had grown as a person, not just learned more about Japan.
Another thing I appreciated about the experience was that it allowed me to experience Japanese culture directly rather than just studying it from a classroom. Seeing the environment, visiting different locations, trying different foods, and experiencing everyday life made everything I learned feel more real. I think that is one of the biggest advantages of studying abroad: you are not simply learning about another culture—you are actually experiencing it.
Looking back, I would absolutely recommend the CIEE Japan program to other students who are interested in Japanese culture, manga, travel, or simply trying something new. The combination of education, exploration, and personal growth made the experience extremely valuable. I came home with memories that I will probably have for the rest of my life, a greater appreciation for Japanese culture, and more confidence in myself.
Overall, my CIEE study abroad experience in Japan was an incredible opportunity. From staying in Kyoto and studying Manga and culture to visiting museums, restaurants, and figure stores, every part of the trip gave me something to appreciate. Most importantly, the experience helped me become more social, more talkative, and more willing to step outside of my comfort zone.
Total Rating: 10/10