I recently had the opportunity to study abroad in Japan for two weeks plus 12 days of intermission through CIS Abroad, attending J.F. Oberlin University, and I’d like to share my honest experience to help future students make informed decisions.

Academic Experience:
I was able to take a sustainability class at J.F. Oberlin. The course was engaging, thought-provoking, and well-taught. I learned a lot in a short amount of time, and it deepened my interest in environmental studies and global sustainability efforts. I would highly recommend this class to anyone passionate about sustainability or looking for an academically enriching experience to get to know Japan better.

Program Challenges: Unfortunately, there were logistical and support issues that made the experience more difficult than it needed to be.

Housing Location: Our accommodations were located nearly an hour away from campus by public transportation. This daily commute was exhausting and cut into the time we could have used to explore or study.

Lack of Transportation Support: Despite the long commute, we were not provided with any transportation stipend, which meant I had to spend a significant amount of money out-of-pocket on trains and buses.

Accommodation Quality: The hotel we were placed in was not well-maintained. My room, for example, had dirty walls and didn’t feel very clean overall.

CIS Abroad Staff Support: I was especially disappointed with the lack of support from the CIS staff on the ground. I needed a TB skin test while abroad — something that had not been mentioned in any prior orientation — and when I asked for help locating clinics or hospitals, I was essentially left to figure it out on my own. For a program that promotes cultural immersion and student support, this was a major letdown.

Final Thoughts:
While the academic portion of the program was truly excellent and I’m grateful for the opportunity to study in Japan, I believe CIS Abroad needs to significantly improve its logistical planning and student support. Future students should be aware of potential issues related to housing distance, additional out-of-pocket expenses, and limited on-site assistance.

If you’re independent and comfortable navigating challenges on your own, this program will be a good fit.

I want to say that I didn't spend an entire semester in Japan at this university. I went on the summer program and spent two weeks at the school taking one Japanese language course. Those two weeks were really fun, but I was often sleep deprived which affected my ability to do well in classes and just functioning in day to day life. I didn't go out at night or go to any bars, typically just doing chores around the hotel like washing clothes or grabbing dinner from a nearby conbini.

CIS says you don't need to know Japanese to go on the program, but I think knowing how to at least read hiragana and knowing some kanji would be very helpful if you are a solo traveler. Knowing how to read the directions on the back of packages was really convenient and I didn't feel like a fish out of water navigating around the city. A lot of Japanese people will attempt to speak to you in English, but just making the smallest effort to know the language left some of the people I encountered pretty relieved. But a lot of people will just point or gesture to things, so the language barrier isn't too bad.

The class I took was a bit intensive, but I quite liked it. It challenged me to think about things differently and to engage with the language more. My professor was also nice. She spoke completely in Japanese for almost every class, only using English for important announcements or when everyone had blank stares. It was a bit stressful due to my aforementioned sleep deprivation but still really interesting and fun. Getting to school was also an experience. The train system in Japan is really amazing, and once you learn your train lines, it is super easy to get from one place to another. The downside is, there is a lot of walking. So, during the hotter months, be prepared to sweat a lot.

CIS also partnered with the school to have cultural enrichment events like a tea ceremony, calligraphy, and yukata wearing. I recommend going to everything even if you are super tired and sweaty from walking around all day. They were really fun and also a good way to meet other students abroad and make friends. There are also some Japanese students there, so talking to them is also a possibility. It was also a good way to try new things without having to pay for them yourself because it's already included in the program cost.

However, the one downside was the hotel. I was staying at a 2 star hotel, so don't expect anything fancy. My room wasn't dirty, but if you looked hard enough, you could see signs of wear on it and the items in it. Some might also consider it very cramped, but I thought it was cozy and appreciated that aspect about it. Although, my head would bump the cabinet over the sink if I didn't duck. Then the door near the laundry would often smell like poop. But this is more about the hotel than anything on CIS's part. When I arrived at the airport, CIS team members were very kind in helping me reach my accommodations and paid for my express train ticket to get there while also explaining to me how to navigate through the train stations. They understand that it is a culture shock and are willing to guide you through things on your first few days and answering any questions you have over the course of the program.

Basically, all this to say that I was really glad I got to go on this program and I wish I was able to stay longer because I made some cool friends during my time there. This program allowed me to experience a different way of life for a few weeks and helped me realize how capable I am to handle situations on my own. I also realized how much I love Japan and I want to visit again someday!