I had the incredible opportunity to spend a month in Tokyo this summer through CIS Abroad, studying at JF Oberlin University. From start to finish, the experience was both rewarding and fun, and I can honestly say it exceeded my expectations.

The housing was comfortable, well-located, and made me feel at home during my time in Japan. The excursions were a highlight—each one gave me a chance to experience Japanese culture firsthand and create memories with fellow students. The staff were supportive, friendly, and always available to help, which made the transition to living and studying in another country smooth and enjoyable. JF Oberlin University itself was a fantastic host; the classes were engaging, and the environment fostered both learning and connection with local students.

If I had one recommendation, it would be to offer even more excursions, since they added so much value to the program. I found every outing to be enriching, and having more would only make the experience even better.

Overall, I would highly recommend CIS Abroad to anyone considering studying overseas. My time in Tokyo gave me not only academic growth but also personal memories that I’ll carry with me for a lifetime.

Before going to Japan with CIS Abroad I had been to Japan with my parents once before. This time around I wanted to spend my time seeing what it was like if I spent my daily life as if I was living in Japan. I was able to experience new things, meet new people, and have fun all at my own pace. I spent my time seeing what was around my hotel, going to Akihabara and shopping a ton, and going around with the new friends I made to different places. The staff was very helpful and the class, while not too challenging or informational, was fun and helped improve my experience with field trips.

My time in Tokyo, Japan, has been absolutely amazing. This experience has been both educational and enlightening. I studied at Toyo University, and every moment was filled with joy and happiness. The staff at CIS Abroad, both on-site and in the U.S., were accommodating and kind. The staff and students at Toyo were also incredibly friendly and welcoming. I made so many memories and life-long friends. I had so much fun both in and outside of the classroom. I am grateful for this amazing experience!

In my opinion, CIS Abroad makes studying abroad approachable and affordable for all students. I went to Tokyo, Japan for a month and took two courses. I felt supported throughout the whole process which made everything much less daunting than I thought it would be when I was first considering studying abroad. Tokyo itself has so much to offer and is very accessible for solo travelers due to how organized and safe everything is. One of the courses I took was Japanese, and it was highly immersive and helped me grow more confident in my speaking abilities.

I chose CISabroad because this program looked amazing and my school would only allow two people through the school. I did the program with my bestie Krystal and throughout the process we were guided by one of the advisors. CISabroad is very helpful and get back to you immediately. I enjoyed the fact that I didn't have to worry about housing and if I had any concerns there are people to help you. I had such a great time in Kyoto and I made so many friends in the University as well as the program! There are a lot of things to do in Kyoto like going to the Pokemon center or getting dinner at an Nepalese restaurant. I went to the Nepalese restaurant so many times and I highly recommend it, especially if CISabroad puts you in the Rapport residence because its a 5 minute walk from there. CISabroad provided fun activities for us to do and if I hadn't done this program I would miss out on some special spots in the Kansai region.

I studied at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies in Kyoto Japan. During my time there, CIS helped with anything and everything I needed. If they couldn't help, then they found the people that could. The school itself was the best I've ever attended. The facilities were up to date, the staff were helpful, the teachers were patient and knowledgeable. The dorms that I was placed in were more like small apartments, complete with their own bathroom and kitchenette. They were small, but very comfortable. As for fun time, there was a lot to do. There were plenty of things to discover, plus CIS prepared their own excursions for us. I met many different people, natives and foreigners alike, and made a lot of great friends. Overall, this was singlehandedly the best experience I've had, and I look forward to the spring semester.

This program was a lifesaver! My university requires Japanese major students to study abroad for at least one semester, however, I learned that due to complications that they would be only allowing two students to go through the school. Since my best friend Jenny and I wanted to be placed in the same school we decided it would be best to look for a third party program; and I am so glad we chose CISabroad! From the get-go the program was super organized. They had a portal set up so that I could see what paperwork I had to get done and when. Also, I was immediately set up with an advisor that I could get in contact with super easily throughout the whole process (this was extremely helpful when it came time to do visa applications!). Once I got to Japan, they gave us a fun orientation in Tokyo where we got to browse all of the local hotspots and get to know our site director, Jeff (he is amazing!). The whole time that we were there we could contact Jeff at literally any hour and he would get back to us super quickly. He also took us on excursions throughout the trip, like getting to see a Shinto ceremony at a shrine (that was closed only for us!), or feeding deer at Nara! It was absolutely amazing!

I've been a traveler at heart for as long as I can remember, and have always wanted to study abroad before I graduated college. CIS was able to make that a reality when I stumbled upon them in my school's study abroad fair last year- before I knew it, I was studying at Kyoto University of Foreign Studies in Kyoto, Japan!
From orientation in Tokyo to adjusting to life in beautiful Kyoto, this experience was really once in a lifetime. Classes are intensive and challenging regardless of what level you're placed in (I knew none of the language before arriving), and on top of other classes, you take 3 hours of comprehensive language every day. Despite the initial frightening language barrier with professors and basically everywhere else, the payoff was completely worth it- after 3 months, we went through an entire text book, and learned about 2 years worth of material in that time!
The experience completely changed me, as I now want to continue studying the language post graduation, and maybe even work in the country. Overall, the site directors put in their utmost effort to get everyone in the program involved in the local culture, and I had some unforgettable experiences and excursions through CIS and the school (Arashiyama, Nara, and even a dinner with a Geiko!), and enough time to take some major solo trips of my own. :) CIS Semester in Kyoto was hands down the most special experience I've had in university, and recommend it to anyone who's up for an adventure of their own!