Program Reviews

For a long time it was a great wish to visit Japan. Then I learned about World Campus Japan and everything became better than expected.

The program gives only a hint of all the experience. It starts with the staff who organized the whole trip just perfect. And there is a lot of organization. Supported by local people and the families who allowed us to live in their homes.

I was really lucky with my two families. To me it felt, on both places, as I would be part of the family. They showed us their places, we were invited to their friends, we tasted many dishes and cooked it together. I felt welcome and pampered.

The program is a brilliant mix of culture, sports, nature, food and communication with people from every age group. We were invited to a tea ceremony, to a Kendo show, into a temple and so much more. We visited schools and a retirement home and a maple plantation. We saw an anime and after that we had the opportunity to talk to the filmmaker. The potluck parties at the end of every part were another of so many highlights. No, the whole trip was a highlight!

I’m grateful for all the experience I gained. Back at home it took me a while to process all the impressions. I still stay in contact with the families and most of the other people I met there.

This insight into Japan is really unique. I now nothing comparable that brings you closer to this great country. With all the colorful parts and friendly people. I was overwhelmed and still are, thinking of the time in Uda and Suita.

Thanks to Hiro and all his helping hands!
I benefitted so much from this program! It was worth every single Yen!

I was originally looking for a study abroad program through my school. After learning that I was too late to apply for any school programs, I went online in search of other programs. That’s when I found World Campus International! I am extremely happy that I found this program rather than a school program. Instead of studying in classrooms, which is not why I want I want to visit Japan, you do fun and exciting activities in the communities bettering yourself and the community you are visiting. I met so many amazing people on my travels with World Campus International who came from places like Belgium, the Czech Republic and Israel. I can honestly say that the time I spent with them during my travels last summer, was the best summer I have ever had. If you ever thought about going to Japan, I highly recommend going with World Campus International.

So this year (2017) I joined WCI Japan again, and I can honestly say that I had an even better experience than last time. So many fun and interesting people made the weeks fly by as if it was an instant. Some of my best friends I've made because of world campus. With crazy Czechs, Colombian pranksters and comedic Americans you will do daily activities like the field trips back from school days. Classical Japanese artforms like Kyudo, Taiko and Kendo, visiting schools from elementary all the way up to university, wandering deep into bamboo forests, shrines and temples left, right and center- it is a hands on curriculum for sure. Doesn't that sound great?- I tell you it is.

If you choose to join, you will enlarge your family- there is no denying it. I still keep in touch with my host families and I do get that warm feeling inside when I think of my time spent with World Campus International Japan. Finally a word of warning though. The culinary explosion of deliciousness on your pallet during your stay, might cause an addiction. For me it is soba, and I can tell you it is hard to find good soba in Sweden. //Daniel

I came across this program by searching for programs in Japan on the internet, and i'm glad that i found this.
It was my first time ever going abroad by myself so i was a bit nervous but also excited. This Program is packed full of activities to do so you will never be bored and it also have personal days which lets you just explore Japan at your own leisure.
This Program really puts you out of you comfort zone and really changes you (for the better) by giving you new experiences and views of Japan and world. This program is also great for making friends from around the world as the other participants are all from different countrys from like Sweden, USA, Israel etc... and you can learn more about their countries and find you things you never knew about (which can either confirm or debunk stereotypes you had about them).
I would say the best thing about this program, i would say is the host families as they are amazing and make you feel like you are apart of the family and honesty you will probably cry (or close to it) as i did when you have to leave them though thankfully for the internet, i can keep in touch with them.
If you're thinking about going to Japan but not sure what to do, I recommend this program, believe me you wont regret it and also you don't need to speak Japanese whats so ever( but it helps).

I came into contact with this program through an alumni of World Campus Japan who had joined the previous year and although she told me incredible stories, it couldn't compare to experiencing it myself for me. There are multiple things that make this program so special for me. The group, the host families and also the activities all contributed to making my participation making a very unique experience and I will tell a little bit about each of them.

First of all, the host families. Every host family will take you as part of their family for one week and also after that. They are excited to learn about you, your country and customs and also are very willing to share theirs. You become part of their family. Even now I still keep in touch with the families I stayed with.
Next a little bit about the activities. Not every activity might sound as interesting as some others, but there’s a lot of variation and if you put in a little effort, it will pay back double. For every activity, there are people that made efforts to organize something worthwhile and will be an unique experience and they are incredibly fun and sometimes also very educational. Having activities daily for 3 weeks does sound very tiring, but every week there will be a day you’ll spend with your host family and a free day off where you can decide on your own how to spend it.
Then a little bit about the group. When I joined the program in the 3rd session, it started out as a group of fellow participants from different countries. Over the course of 3 weeks I learned a lot about them, their respective countries and I now call most of them my friends. During the program you spend a lot of time with these people and naturally you’ll get along better with some, but after I got back home, I missed every one of them.

One session is 3 weeks with a group of people you barely know at the beginning, and at least 3 different host families, the program is packed full of activities, but it doesn’t get tiresome at all. The people you’ll meet are very nice and usually like-minded people. This program asks you to give a little bit of yourself, but you’ll definitely be rewarded with one of the most unique inside experiences to Japan. And the chance of keeping in contact with AT LEAST one person who lives outside your country are incredibly high.

Hi,
This Programm is all about showing people Japan and showing Japanese other people. It's a simple way of experiencing the Japanese and their lifestyle, that being living with them. If you are looking for a Programm in which you will
- Learn about Japan & the Japanese people
- Learn about their culture
- Experience Japanese Festivals
( - Go To JAPAN!)
- Eat many kinds of Foods (The Host-Families try very hard - it's almst all delicious)
(*cough* Nato *cough*)
- Get to know many People
- etc.

Then you should consider checking out the Webpage for Details.

If you struggle with Embarrassing situations, Too many new people or are a very untrusting person AND are not ready enough to try to fix those things then you may end up in some unenjoyable situations. However the Staff are there to help and they ensure a safe environment where all things that do not cause physical damage to simply be laughed off. (I ran into a lot of such ... special situations ... i got the nickname Anime Protagonist ... )

The main things i gained from this Programm are:
- A great Holiday with a lot of Fun with new Friends around the Globe
- Places in Japan i can call home
- Pictures to remember
- I matured a lot as a person (i used to think americans were fools - after meting some i thought they werent actually all that bad ... then Trump happened so yeah)(point is i learned that "American A" is not the same as "American B")
- I am confidant i could now survie in Japan on my own - nowhere close enough to "Live" there but i have learnt enough to survive there ... probably

Conclusion:
I recommend this to Everyne who A. has some spare money B. has an interest in Japan and C. wants to grow as a person
I do not recommend it to those who are A. very easily Tired B. extremly shy or C. can't handle making a leap of Faith (cause you travel alone to another country and that can be scary) However if you think that these do apply to you and you want to try this programm anyways try contacting WCI and the Staff will do their best to support you.

So I had a great time in Japan and it turned out that this program fitted me perfectly. For the last year before participating I've studied Japanese and it was a good way to put it into practice. The program doesn't require any knowledge in the language but if you do, or want to do you will get a lot of opportunities to practise while taking part in great communities. Anything from learning how to cook Japanese omelett to cutting bamboo in the forest. Weather you want to visit every shrine in sight or just want to stay around a camp fire with your host family and their friends, -turning into a dance party, this program is simply put full of opportunities and it is great. It is a great moral boost to be surrounded by 40 school children calling out your name. And the best part, except for all the nice people and delicious food, the only thing that is required from you is that you are decent and have an interest, how great isn't that? :D

The only downside to this program is that after weeks you will have to leave your family (not your host family but family- period) and friends. Thank ... what ever or whomever you want to thank, for the internet so that you could keep in touch. Loved it!

World Campus Japan really was one of the most intense and fun experiences of my life. I got to be with an international group and to know Japan not from the point of view of a tourist, but as a member of a local community. Living with host families really makes you emerge in the japanese culture, and learn all the aspects of it.

But more than that, WCI - Japan taught me that one to one, we can change the world. It showed me how great it was to get out of my comfort zone, try new things and help people. It showed me how great it was to mix with other people with diferent cultures and how much we can learn from it. We interacted with so many people and touched so many hearts... I was overwhelmed when it was over. It was a lifetime experience.

I totally recomend it :)

I never expected that the host family experience would be so great - was just thinking it would hamper our social time - but I have made friends for life! Staying with local families is THE way to see a place and really learn about life there. Hostels / hotels are the same around the world but a family home gives you safety and an insight to the traditions & customs of that culture.

The experience of students / participants from many other countries was great - I felt that not only did I travel to and learn about Japan - but so many other countries - I know I will travel to meet those close new friends in their home countries one day - have plans to already!

working together with local communities was not only a team effort, hands on learning and very rewarding but gave me confidence to begin a new career path. Overall this is a life changing and wonderful experience in a safe structured environment but yet with room to grow and find yourself!

I went on World Campus the summer of 2009, right before my exchange in Japan, the first time I would be living there, getting me great contacts and a chance to trial-by-fire. World Campus gave me a great opportunity to ease myself into it, while meeting some amazing people and getting to do things that make my friends jealous to this day. The chance to live in multiple Japanese households really gives you a unique perspective on life in Japan, really appreciating the local nuances inside what can seem a homogenous culture. Plus, they know all the cool places in their area that the guidebooks don't tell you about, like the ninja castle in Iga, not to mention the second-only-to-kobe-beef Iga beef! It was great for my Japanese as well, as class can only prepare you for a certain amount, especially the more natural Japanese you hear and use at home. The only negative was that I went for a month and a half (a half program back then) and people went a bit stir-crazy with all the events and planned stuff, but they do a great job in preparing you for that as well as reducing the length of the programs a bit. The two days off a week also really help :-) All in all, World Campus was a memorable experience for me and I highly recommend it to anyone who has the chance to go!