CIS Abroad - January in Tokyo - J.F. Oberlin University

I was fortunate to join both the 2024 and 2025 January programs during my time in college. Both times the staff and faculty were excellent and offered a wonderful experience for everyone. While the schedule may seem tight at first glance there was ample time to explore the local areas and even travel further across Japan. The cultural excursions were also very informative and enjoyable, my favorite being the calligraphy lesson. Be prepared to use a lot of trains as it makes getting around a lot easier, but most areas are extremely walkable.

My brief summer abroad provided me with the opportunity for personal challenge and growth. This experience encouraged independence and sparked a curiosity to explore beyond the classroom. My favorite part was being able to immerse myself in the culture and connect with students from different backgrounds. This program made me realize that I am more capable than I had initially believed. A special thanks goes to the dedicated staff at CIS Abroad, who supported me throughout the entire process from applying to my arrival in Japan.

I have always dreamed of being able to visit Japan, and experience the vibrant culture first hand. Having the opportunity to not only study Japanese, but interact with Japanese students and local Japanese people was truly a once in a lifetime experience. The location we studied at was Seisen University, a gorgeous campus with historic buildings, located in a peaceful scenic neighborhood. The excursions we went on were really fun, and I was super excited to get to wear a kimono and participate in a Japanese Tea Ceremony. Of course the classes I took were for Japanese language. I learned so much, and have continued my studies on my own after the program. We learned grammar but also wrote Haikus with the vocabulary we learned. I am still close friends with several of the Seisen students who helped teach the class, and was thrilled to be able to see them when I returned on another trip. Now I didn't spend all my time in class, there was plenty of free time to explore the city of Tokyo and surrounding prefectures on my own. I even went to a Japanese outdoor hot spring and to Kamakura to see all the shrines and temples. If you want to experience a historic and vibrant culture that perfectly blends traditional beliefs with modern technology and lifestyles, I cannot stress enough how amazing the January in Japan program is!

I overall enjoyed my time in CIS Abroad's January in Japan program. As the title states, it was indeed my first time in Japan! The advisors were really cool people, and thanks to both the excursions we had, and their advice to us students about various aspects of the country (how the public transportation system works, many different places of interests to visit, etc.), I'm more knowledgeable about the country, so the next time I visit the country on my own, I'll have no trouble getting around!