Kansai Gaidai University

The way Japan is, there are so many places in very small spaces, so even after a year there are still unexplored corners, but not always the most open to illiterate foriegners. Don't miss the fall school festival. They say every university in Japan has one just like it, but I bet no where else in the world has anything that quite resembles it. Keep your ears open about festivals. Just go because it isn't like you can go "next time". Make friends, infiltrate, find the new clubs in the deep creveces of Shinsaibashi and Umeda until Lonely Planet just becomes some sappy substitute for your new urban orientation.

If you can, know at least some basic Japanese. It really will help as you go outside the campus. The staff at the university speaks good English and will help you. But other Japanese people's English are not very good and you might have some hard time communicating with them, not so much in Hirakata, but in other places.

Get a map of Japan in your native languiage before you come, specially with train routes, subways and JR because everything here is in Japanese.

Undertaking a home stay was a great experience. My host family and I got along together really well, and we did many different things together. They also took a strong personal interest in me, and my experiences in Japan. I was really fortunate to get to know them. Living with a family also helped to improve my Japanese rapidly. In addition, my host family's home was comfortable and conveniently located near my campus, the station, a few shops, restaurants and bars.