Location
  • Japan
    • Tokyo
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Short Term, Spring, Summer, Winter
Subject Areas
Asian American Studies Cultural Studies Language Studies

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
High School Diploma Bachelors
Housing
Dormitory Host Family
Language
Japanese
Feb 10, 2021
Nov 11, 2024
82 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Head over to Tokyo to study Japanese! The KCP International Japanese Language School is multicultural and offers an Intensive Japanese Language course and a Japanese Culture and Society course. Between classes, students can take part in cultural immersion activities. These may include a tea ceremony, learning to play traditional instruments, cooking Japanese food, and more. Connect with students, explore Tokyo, and practice your Japanese today!

Video and Photos

Program Highlights

  • KCP is in Shinjuku but it’s off to the side in a quiet neighborhood. So you get both the extreme excitement of Tokyo’s busiest spot and a serene corner near several parks, all in your daily commute.
  • KCP is a Japanese school, run and staffed by Japanese—so it’s steeped in the Japanese way of life. What better way to immerse yourself?
  • The Culture and Society course, combined with the dorm or homestay context and with the extracurricular clubs, all make for a varied blend of experiences.
  • Teachers and staff at KCP are exceptionally dedicated and highly skilled at teaching you Japanese.
  • Class is intense. In 11 weeks, you can earn more Japanese credit than you would earn in an entire year at your home school.

Program Reviews

4.86 Rating
based on 28 reviews
  • 5 rating 85.71%
  • 4 rating 14.29%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.95
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.75
  • Housing 4.65
  • Safety 5
Showing 1 - 8 of 28 reviews
Default avatar
Brittany
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

KCP is an unforgettable experience

I attended KCP International after my first year taking Japanese at my university. In the beginning, I was nervous attending a language school, but I ended up enjoying the program. I will say with full confidence your Japanese will improve immensely. With the Summer short-term program, I could grasp conversational Japanese, and my skills are still utilized today. What sets KCP apart from the other programs is its dedication to teaching its students and the fully immersive environment that it creates in the classroom. First, the textbook they use is completely in Japanese so you learn to think in Japanese, and you don't immediately associate it with an English equivalent word. Secondly, they give you a proficiency test a week or two after the program starts which makes it so you're comfortable in the level you were placed into. Lastly, your classmates usually come from all over the world, so the language your classmates share is Japanese.

So if you're on the fence about whether to choose this program for either the start of your language journey or to further improve your Japanese, then please choose KCP International.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
I say give it your all, even if you are beginner level, use Japanese every day. I met one of my best friends during this program and she wasn't afraid to use Japanese or make mistakes. Honestly making mistakes in your language learning journey is the best learning tool. Just make so many memories and don't be afraid of new things and challenges.
Pros
  • You will improve on your Japanese conversations and have fun doing it
  • You make so many friends and there's so many fun experiences that KCP offers
  • You can join any clubs, and be a part of cultural excursions
Cons
  • It is an intensive program, you have to be ready to learn and devote at least a few hours after class to studying
  • The program eventually comes to an end
  • Sometimes the housing they place you in has strict curfews
1 person found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Edmund
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Seriously an unforgettable experience, I think about it everyday.

From the classmates to my Senseis, I have made life long friends with memories I cherish every single day. After my experience, I often recommend studying abroad with KCP to my fellow peers. Besides staying in Tokyo I went to Hokkaido, Osaka, and Kyoto during my free time. And at those places I have made core memories that have shaped who I am today. To me, this program was pivotal because after feeling regret of not traveling while growing up, I took it into my own hands to plan this trip. And the satisfaction of doing so is enough reason to recommend this program. Shoutout to Mr. Tanaka for making my travel process smoother, Mr. Kinoshita for helping me adjust to my new life, and lastly Mr. Saito for being the best friend I didn't know I needed.

4 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Michelle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Hands down the best experience of my entire life

I attended many years ago but KCP still remains the most enriching experience I have ever had. I had studied 4 years of Japanese at UMass but the unique immersive teaching style at KCP helped my skills grow more than I could imagine. Inside and outside of class with my international classmates and teachers was always an adventure and there was never I time I wasn't improving developing my language skills. The staff and students at KCP felt like family. I will cherish my experience for the rest of my life.

Pros
  • Wide range of students from several different countries
  • Amazing field trips and assemblies
  • Intensive immersion but helpful staff so I never felt lost or defeated
547 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Owen
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Time. Good School.

This was my first time in Asia. So everything was exciting and new. KCP is a great school which focuses on the language. That maybe sounds obvious, but it's not so much a "good to Japan and have fun" kind of school. If you're looking for that, I'd go elsewhere.

If you'd like you learn Japanese, and meet interesting people, go here. Keep in mind you'll have to make an effort to meet Japanese people, as the school is obviously, filled with non-Japanese.

Recommended if you want to learn Japanese.

607 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Samuel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The Best Study Abroad Experience

My time at KCP International Language School is something I still think about, even months after the program has ended. While there, I was able to accomplish so much that I had never expected to. Not only did I improve my Japanese language proficiency, but I was given the opportunity to explore a new country and make international friendships. Tokyo is such an amazing, accessible city that it's hard not to miss it once you leave. The school itself is in a great location, right in the heart of Shinjuku, and has plenty of great restaurants and cafes nearby. I spent a lot of my time with friends in the school cafeteria, studying for upcoming tests or helping each other with the homework. The school is also a great place to practice conversational Japanese with the other students.

KCP offers a lot of amazing experiences outside of the classroom, too. If you opt in, you'll be escorted through the different parts of Tokyo almost every weekend, giving you plenty of opportunities to see famous landmarks and historic locations. Another perk of being in the US program is the chance to spend a weekend in the Mt. Fuji area. The time I spent in the ryokan there is something I still think of fondly.

If you're able to go abroad and have real interest in studying language and culture, I highly recommend choosing KCP International. If your experience is anything like mine, you'll gain newfound confidence in speaking Japanese and many long-lasting friendships.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
The most unfamiliar thing I ate in Japan was actually Chinese cuisine. A night before final exams, some of my Chinese classmates took me out for Chinese hotpot. They showed me what to eat and how to cook it, which was pretty amazing in itself. I ended up trying duck feet, cow artery, and sheep brain (among other things)! Definitely an unforgettable meal.
600 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sergio
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Learn Japanese!

This program was amazing. For starters, this program is cheaper than the majority of other study abroad programs. You will also learn more Japanese than other study abroad programs because KCP focuses on language. You will be able to converse to a certain degree within 2 months tops! Accommodation wise, it was phenomenal. The dorms were clean and had everything you could ask for. Not to mention how close it is to the train station. Did I mention this is in the middle of all the great parts of Tokyo?! I do have to say that the workload can be busy, so I encourage potential applicants to prepare to study as the Japanese classes here will require it. The KCP staff were really helpful and helped students get into the Japanese lifestyle. They are more than willing to help but you have to ask them! Students are from all over the world and you will have a blast meeting them. Overall I had a great experience and am grateful for all the friends I made in Japan!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Unlike other programs, this one is very serious on teaching you the language, so I encourage people to make sure that they are prepared to study a decent amount of time. You will be able to converse to a degree after a few months and you might wish to stay longer, I assure you!
611 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Evangelina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

KCP Summer Short Term 2019

For the 8 week program, I learned a lot about Japanese culture and language. This was the most intensive language class I have taken and I loved every minute of it. Also in the first two weeks, the program took us on a bus trip to the next prefecture over to visit shrines and a peach farm!
The classes were intensive. In the beginning, I was unsure and not confident in speaking Japanese despite learning for 2 semesters already. The teachers are really encouraging and I learned a lot from grammar, to speaking, to Kanji! Since I already knew Chinese, it was really interesting to see the different way Kanji was written to Chinese. In the end, however, I was able to even converse at a local thrift store with the salesperson!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
Tokyo is full of never-ending adventures, so I definitely wished I explored more.
605 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Keira
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

KCP: A Life Changing Trip to Tokyo

Spending the summer in Tokyo, Japan was a life changing experience for many reasons. The KCP International Japanese Language School is a true gem and I consider myself incredibly blessed to have had this opportunity.

KCP provides an intensive language course (which is very manageable if you put the work in!) and many culturally immersive experiences. This school is a great way to learn the Japanese language thoroughly at a quick rate and gain a better understanding and experience of Japanese culture.

On top of the school experience, Tokyo in general is an amazing place to be. Every day in Tokyo was a brilliant new adventure and I cherish every moment I had there. I would recommend anyone to go to Tokyo.

Studying abroad in Japan changed my life for the better - if you get the chance to, go for it!

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Find a balance! The school work can be intense, but it is manageable. You don't want to spend your whole time in Japan with your face in a textbook. Make sure you also take plenty of time to explore and meet new people. Japan is full of adventures!
610 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Hey David! KCP can get you connected to a dormitory or homestay to live while you study. Additionally, the staff is awesome about helping students with both school and life navigating living in Tokyo.

All class instruction is in Japanese, but supplementary instruction may take place partly in English if needed.

Based on the eligibility page of their website, the only requirements are that you have to be at least 18 years old, you must be prepared to spend 3-6 hours to study outside of each class, and you must have completed high school.