CIEE College Study Abroad in Tokyo, Japan

Hi! I studied in Tokyo, Japan, and did a homestay! It was a pleasant experience to live in another country and see how others live their lives! Also, learning another language extends how many people you can interact with and how many incredible stories you can hear! I highly recommend it, and going through CIEE is a great choice! Also, the school I attended (Sophia University) was an excellent school to go too! They are adorable and international school-friendly! However, the Japanese class is a lot of work, so be ready to work, but learning another language and talking to others in their language is fulfilling!

Overall my experience with this program was great! It would have been nice to have better communication from CIEE staff prior to program but once in Japan I felt I didn't need that much because you have total freedom and there were not many instances for me personally where I felt I needed to reach out.
My time in Japan was amazing, I was able to explore so much of Tokyo and visit other parts of Japan like Hakone, Kyoto, Osaka and Kamakura. Made so many amazing friends and it was fun to experience Japan with them. I was sad to leave at the end of the 6 weeks and had so much more I wanted to do but its a great way to spend more time in Japan than you would on an ordinary trip. Japan is such an incredible country and I would recommend this to anyone who has any interest in Japan.

Living and working in Japan is a fantastic experience, and I'd encourage anyone even marginally interested in the culture to go. The length of time that you're there really lets you experience the culture more in the way that a local would as opposed to a tourist, which is a lot of fun. The hotel we stayed in was decent, the rooms were a bit small but you get used to it. My experience with the company I was interning for was great, the supervisors and people worked with me to help me learn and get my work done, all in all a fantastic experience. Would recommend.

My experience with the CIEE program is still ongoing, but so far it's pretty great! I'm a little more than halfway through the trip and I have already seen so many new things and been around to lots of places. On my very first full day in Tokyo, I made friends in the program and the four of us decided to go to a capybara cafe, which was easy to navigate to using the subway system and the overall walkability of Tokyo. The locals are super nice and helpful, especially around the school buildings and hotel. I can't wait to keep exploring and I would highly recommend this experience!

Coming to Japan had always been a dream of mine. Getting the opportunity to live out my dream with a safe and supportive community is a great way to truly get a feel for the country. The CIEE program is an excellent program for anyone that is hesitant about taking that first step outside their comfort zone. My advice for anyone is that you’ll never truly live if you can’t take the first step into the unknown, and CIEE will be there to help you every step of the way. Now go out there and have fun.

I did a semester abroad at Sophia Uni. in Tokyo with CIEE, and overall it was a great experience. The program provided many opportunities to travel around Tokyo with a group, and travel to destinations across Japan like Hiroshima, which other programs I've been on didn't do. Something CIEE did very well was reimburse students for cultural activities throughout the semester, and the staff did a great job keeping students informed on what activities were available and what complimentary tickets for exhibits and attractions they had on hand, which were plenty. Also, I liked the opportunity to write blog posts for CIEE and be paid for it, definitely helps to have more spending money while abroad. The staff were helpful when I had emergencies, and were always available when I had questions or concerns.

Japan is the first country I've traveled to and it's a big step from Minnesota. I did a homestay and I had actually started this adventure with a close friend and roommate. Things didnt work out and suddenly I was alone and far away from home. But staff at CIEE were right there beside me to help me put my happiness above all else and make the most of my time abroad. CIEE is more than just a program, it's a collective group of people who want the best for you and have gone through similar situations. My advice to those planning on travelling abroad is to lean on the support you're given with CIEE. Dont be shy to ask for help or just someone to talk or have ice cream with. Also, dont isolate yourself. Get to know some people in the program, your classes, around your living rooms. Have fun and let loose.

I'm not sugar coating anything when I say that I had the best time of my life here and would recommend it to a stranger, walking down the street, not even asking me, not caring in one single bit, that they should go to Japan. I've met lifelong friends that I cherish with every part of my life, and memories that will make me weep once I go back and no longer get to be in Tokyo. I will say a few things that might make you think twice about going: 1. No car, the trains are busy, but that can also make it fun. 2. There is only one Mexican place I'd actually recommend and that's "Chiles". Please go, the cook is Cuban, and will adore you if you speak in Spanish. 3. If you look a little different, you get stared at. It sucks, but have fun with it. You're a gaijin, might as well have a lot of fun with it. 4. Thrift stores just get old-fashion looking clothes and double the price. 5. They pickle everything you can imagine but they don't have actual dill or sour PICKLES.

I had a great time with the program, the trip to Hiroshima was one of the most rewarding, though bittersweet, of course. I stayed with a host family throughout the duration of my time in Japan, and I absolutely love them as if they are my own family. It was big with three children, and it wasn't abnormal for the kids to break out in song at any point in time (those were the best though - you'll never get serenaded more than in the Ito house). I don't think anyone wouldn't be able to have a very memorable time.