Program Reviews

I've participated in World Campus 3 times now, in 2014, 2016, and 2018. I really can't overstate how meaningful of an experience my time with World Campus has been.

When I first signed up for World Campus, I was only 18, and I had never even been on a plane by myself before, let alone left the country solo. I was excited, but I was also incredibly nervous. Would I make friends? Would I be safe? Would I get along with my host families? As soon as I arrived at the airport in Japan, I knew I would have nothing to worry about. Hiro greeted me warmly after walking me through every step of the traveling process, and as soon as I met my host family they treated me like I was one of their own children. All of the other participants were immediately warm and welcoming to me, and I realized that I had no reason to feel shy. I, an American, immediately made lifelong friends from places like Norway, Poland, Denmark, Canada, China, Sweden, and the UK.

The close bonds I made that first year have lasted and remained just as strong as they were when we met. I am so close to the host families that I stayed with during World Campus that when I returned to Japan for a year long study abroad in college, I spent the New Year's holidays at their home, welcomed in as part of their family. The kindness and bond I felt from my host families is like nothing I have ever felt before; it truly feels like family to me. Even with my imperfect Japanese, we stay in communication even now.

The cultural experiences World Campus hosted allowed me to make friends with Japanese people my age, as well as become close to members of the local community. I got to try things like traditional taiko drums, naginata, making sushi, and going to fireworks festivals. These are things I could never have tried at home, or even going to Japan as a tourist. That's the best part of World Campus to me; you're not just a tourist seeing Tokyo, you're experiencing Japanese culture and daily life the way the Japanese do, as well as being part of a family.

No matter if you can speak Japanese or not, and even if you've never been abroad before, I would recommend World Campus to everybody. It's a truly incredible program that has changed my life and the lives of other young participants, and I wouldn't trade my memories of it for the world.

I went with World Campus Japan twice, once as a participant and once as a councelor. This really is a program unlike I had ever seen before. You will experience things that are really exclusive. Some examples are talking with a politician, visiting the deity building, having fun while informally debating with local Japanese and hanging out with university students!

Besides this exclusiveness I've also been able to experience the most true-to-reality daily life and culture of the Japanese citizens. Thanks to the full-homestay program I had a great time and even now I'm still in contact with some of my hostfamilies. This home-stay aspect may sound scary. Living in someone else's house with complete different cultures and sometimes even some sort of language barrier? But don't let this hold you back. As I've noticed, I was welcomed with open armes, and the Japanese families I stayed with were very welcoming and easy going. Be nice to them, and they will be nice to you. Even with differences in food, temperature and way of sleeping, I can assure you, you will feel at home very quickly. Oh, and futons really aren't that bad!

Another great thing about this program is that it hosts people from all over the world, so besides Japanese culture, you will come in contact with many more! I'm proud to say that now I have friends from all over the world :).

World Campus Japan is an amazing program! I have never thought to experience Japan in such a unique way. All my expectations were topped, day by day.

I got so close with my host families and felt so at home, although I stayed only one week with each. They are really kind and interested in you and your culture and it is great to show them your country and the way you live. Moreover, you experience the japanese lifestyle in the best way. I felt like being part of them, as I saw everything in a non-touristic way.
You have the possibility to discover every domain of Japan, like their delicious food, pop culture, nature. I got the chance to go to Akihabara in Tokyo, to see shinto shrines and to talk to the Governor of Ibaraki! And japanese food is the best food I‘ ve ever eaten (I swear!) I missed it so much back home.
And you meet so many great and interesting people. I made good friends and it makes me happy that they‘re from all over the world! We got all very close and I felt like being part of one big family.
The progam helped me to get more openminded and I developed a lot, especially in interaction with other people and in overcoming the fear of talking in front of a lot of people. You really expand your comfort zone.

I can only recommend it as you gain so much from this amazing program. I will definitely do it again and I‘m looking forward to discovering Japan one more time!

I have been to nine different countries on various occasions, and among all of them, nothing even comes close to my experiences in Japan with World Campus. There is a good reason I have joined that program three times already.

Through traveling with World Campus I have stayed with 16 host families, all of whom welcome me back whenever I go to Japan. I have made friends with people from all over the world, including China, Sweden, The Netherlands, USA, Qatar and others. And perhaps most importantly, World Campus has allowed me to develop as a human being. All of this, despite not knowing a single word of Japanese before joining. One the other hand, the program has taught me how to communicate without a common language, and also taught me some Japanese.

Overall, what World Campus does right is their hands-on approach - learning by doing. Wouldn't it be cool to see a real samurai demonstrate how to use a katana? You know what would be even cooler? To then have the samurai hand you their sword and teach you how to use it. World Campus has offered me plenty such experiences. I didn't just get to watch an elementary school teacher teach their class, I got to join them teaching. I have practiced zen meditation with a real buddhist monk, and joined a traditional tea cermony organized by a true master. And I have experienced things I never had imagined even existed, such as how to do furoshiki - an old way of wrapping your belongings in practical and decorative Japanese cloth.

The core experience however, the one that really makes you feel that you get to see Japan from the inside, is being able to live with host families during your entire stay. By living with other families, I was able to observe and take part in daily routines, eat authentic homemade food that can't be found anywhere else, and truly feel like I was a part of the family. Through sharing culture from my own country, I also learned a lot about myself.

I heartly recommend this program to anyone looking for a unique, life changing and unforgettable experience!

WCI has been the best experience in my life and it totally got me as a sorprise.

I am a colombian student and I wanted to travel to Japan with my friend Natalia. It was an impulse, I just started to google summer camps and classes of japannese. I didn't know how, but I had to go to Japan. In one page I found WCI and it was PERFECT: the dates, the activities, all in english... It was even more than I was looking for.

We were able to travel to so different places in the countryside of Japan, and see cities and people. We were like rock stars jajaja. The japanese people is not used to see foreign people in places different than Tokyo. We appeared in television and in news papers. Everyday I had a TOTALLY NEW ESPERIENCE that reminded me as when I was little and they got to explain how the world works... something like that.

I went knowing NOTHING about japanese. I started to read my travel book in the plain just to learn two word hahaha and it was awesome how much I started to get. Maybe not to translate, but the last weeks I was getting the idea of what they were talking in japanese!

About the group of people in WCI, they were amazing! I am not that good at making friends, so I was relief I had Natalia (my colombian friend). After the first city, I was realizing I not just had the oppportunity to talk to all af the group, but that I was getting closer to them.

Well, for conclusion, if you like japan, or you are just curious of their culture, or if you just like to travel, and want a full inmerse experience with wonderful people, here is the place.

I feel there's so much more to say. If you have any questions, here is my mail if you would like to talk: nickyroserohotmail.com.

Nicole Rosero Samudio.

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.