Japan: Hiroshima - Undergraduate and Graduate Studies

Academics:
Some students I know have struggled finding classes taught in English that are transferable to their home university, but I know others who have found classes that apply to their degree path. Sometimes, the "Language of Instruction" part on the Hiroshima University syllabus is a lie. It may say "Japanese/English" for some classes, but there is a chance those classes will be taught entirely in Japanese.

Living Situation:
The living situation is really you get what you pay for. The dorms are small and old, and you have to share showers or toilets with other students (depending on the type of dorm), but the dorms are extremely cheap. Cleaners come in once a week to clean the dorms. The Japanese are generally very clean, so the dorm living situation is really not too bad once you get used to it.

Cultural Immersion: It can be difficult for some students to make close Japanese friends. If you are not Japanese, you are immediately considered an outsider by some Japanese and have to work harder than the average Japanese person to become good friends with them. However, there are international exchange events and clubs that exist with the purpose of bringing Japanese and foreign students together.

Program Administration: I personally had no issues with administration before entering Japan and upon arrival. I think USAC and Hiroshima University did an excellent job helping students prepare for study abroad.

Health & Safety: Japan is extremely strict with COVID, so you can expect to wear a mask almost everywhere. Japanese take masks and sanitation very seriously, so you can also expect to see hand sanitizing stations everywhere. Crime rates in Japan are also very low, and many people feel safe walking alone in the middle of the night.

Community: Hiroshima University is located in Saijo, which is a somewhat rural area in Higashihiroshima in Hiroshima prefecture. Saijo Station is roughly 40 minutes away from Hiroshima Station by train. There is not much to do where the campus is located, but some students take frequent trips to Hiroshima City as that is where the closest city life is. You can also take the bullet train from Hiroshima Station to other big cities in Japan.

Overall, studying abroad in Japan was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have made many lifelong friends and improved my Japanese immensely. I would highly recommend anyone who is really interested in improving their Japanese and learning the Japanese way of life to study abroad.

I had chosen the USAC Hiroshima program because I heard that Hiroshima University is not only one of the best Universities in Japan but that it also has a very strong Japanese language program. In addition to that, but since Saijo is such a rural town, it is a great place to study as the English proficiency of the locals is about the same as the Japanese language proficiency of those who live in Nevada... Pretty much non-existent! So be sure to learn some Japanese or at least the alphabet so you can have a head start in the language when you arrive.
The housing is nothing special, it can feel a bit gross at times, but if taken with a grain of salt one can remember that the reason they came to this program is not for the housing but for the immersion into the local populace and the mastery of a second language. With the incredible affordability of the dorms and the state it’s in, you will only use it for a bed, shower, and food and spend most of your days out with friends and the local people.
Other than that, the festival in Kure or the Sake Festival in Saijo are just a taste of all the great things you can do to become a part of the cultural experience and traditions of Japan. Luckily, living in Hiroshima, you are so close to other great landmarks such as Miyajima or Matsuyama that there is no excuse not to explore a little bit. Even during holidays there is a ticket you can buy for the trains for traveling long distances, as for which I used to go to Kyoto.
Japan is an incredibly safe country; there is not much concern of crime. I actually lost my newly bought Ipod on the bus and got it back within a week or so. I’m positive that is a level of safety and kindness that is rarely found in the cities.
Overall, if you are interested in becoming fluent and what to experience as much of the culture as possible without being broken by housing costs, this is the same program that I have recommended to my friends and family as well as I am recommending to you as the reader. The only thing I would have re-done is instead of a semester I would have spent a year in Hiroshima. But then again, I don’t think a year would have been enough for me either because the experience is just that amazing.

The location wasn't where I thought it would be, Hiroshima University is actually located in Saijo, about 30 mins outside of Hiroshima - so that took a little getting used to. But it was better in the long run - more country, more traditional, and known for its Sake! It's a small city, so don't expect city life like Tokyo.

The program was pretty good, lots of opportunities, and they were very accommodating - I even took judo, which was run by a world champ, and ended up scaring me to death! But I would do it again. The Japanese classes also taught me a lot - in one year I went from being able to say "I like to swim" to "The travel company furnished us with all the details of the tour."
The living accommodations that were available during my experience did not include homestays(we lived in dorms, super cheap, great way to meet students, but small!), but the program did provide a few short homestays that were probably some of the most valuable experiences for me learning about Japan and its language. I was very grateful for them providing these. However, if I were to do it again, I would make sure I lived with a family - even though you don't have as much freedom, you really learn so much more, and much faster this way.

It's a great location being in the middle of the Island - you can easily get to Tokyo, Kyoto, and Fukushima, and if you wanted Okinawa or Hokkaido. Hiroshima city itself is huge - It has a great Castle, tons of shopping, and the A-Bomb museum. This Museum really teaches you about the importance of Peace, and what the Japanese people went through. No matter where you are in Japan, you have to visit this museum. And the program employees will do as much as they can helping you with travel plans!