197 reviews
3.98 / 5 based on 197 reviews
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1
FlatlandDan
Housing
Type of housing: On campus
Arranged by: Home university
If returning, I would choose: On campus
Why?
Most of my friends who did homestay complained that they never got to spend time with their friends and had to be home early in the night. Also, the commute for some of them was awful. Seminar housing rules!!
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Personal comments
Please note that the seminar houses are a good 20 minute walk or 10 minute bike ride. So you need to get a bike. Seminar house one is the place to be. Everyone gets to know everyone else because it's so small. The rooms are fairly large and the beds are really comfortable. I haven't heard anyone complain about them. You have to share a room with another person and a fridge with 2 other rooms. Lots of pots and pans, but no ice trays in some. The bathrooms are good. lots of tables in the kitchens. I nice big commons room with a TV and VRC. Living in seminar house has salvaged my stay here....barely.
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2
Hans M
Expenses
Main source of funding:
A private grant
Other sources of funding:
Family<br>
Personal savings
Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options
Personal spending habits
You can eat relatively good food for really cheap in Japan, so that is not a big expense. The big expenses will come from your traveling (transportation costs a lot and adds up quickly..but it is so efficient and nice to use) and activities you do outside of school. If you just eat, go to school and sleep, it will be as cheap or cheaper than back home... but then your life will be really boring. There are so many delicious foods and restaurants to eat to, activities and trips to do as Kansai area is beautiful and also if you like nightlife as I did it can also be great but again..all of this is expensive!
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Overall, Travel, Nightlife:
was more expensive than at home.
Food, Housing, Telephone:
was the same price as at home.
Accessibility of student needs
Second-hand household items
Personal comments
If you move in, go buy most of your stuff to a dollar shop..crazy how many things you can find there. Also buy your furniture to a second hand shop, there is one in Hirakata. The quality of used items is really good in Japan. Otherwise there is an IKEA in Osaka too, but a bit far. Food at school cafeteria is pretty good and cheap. Also, in most big supermarkets, the food gets discounted heavily around 6-7 pm.. So if you can wait a little for your dinner, you will be able to eat lots of sushis every night hehe.
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0
Margarita D
Student life
Describe host city:
Students equally interact with the local and student community
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Activities: Takes place mostly within the university/student environment
Nightlife, Travel: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment
Personal social experience
Personal comments
If you want to party with the Japanese: Triangle is the hippest club, with weekly guest DJs/performers from all over the world. Events: any Zettai Mu party (look for fliers) is truly awesome if you are into the underground movement.
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0
Oskar S
Overall
I wish I had known...
In my opinion:
Most people loved it.
Important factors in my choice
(1) Unimportant – (4) Very important
Personal recommendation
not just hang out with the other exchange students! there are almost 10000 japanese students there who wants to be your friend!
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During my experience abroad, I ...
(1) Never – (4) A lot
Became familiar with another culture
Met people from other countries
Experienced a change in life
Advanced my studies & career
Final comments
everyone is so friendly in japan! it won't be any problems there!
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0
anonymous
Languages
Language of instruction: Japanese
Was learning Japanese a key decision factor?
Yes, I wanted to improve my Japanese
How much did you improve your Japanese?
My level before: Everyday knowledge (shopping, directions, etc.)
My level after: At ease in most situations
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
Whilst in Japan I took a good shot at trying to improve my Japanese language ability. Japanese language classes gave me a good base to work on my hyoujyungo (standard intonation), and outside of class and study, I would just go hang out with my Japanese and foreign friends, have fun and speak in Japanese.
I would try to speak in Japanese most of the time and would write down a new word when I heard it in note pad and then review this pad as vocabulary later. Although this will drive you crazy after a while, I found that I needed to submerse myself in the language in order to learn it. It all ended up being really worthwhile, in terms of not only learning the language, but meeting a lot of good people, and especially in getting to know my host family better.
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0
FlatlandDan
Languages
Language of instruction: English
Was learning English a key decision factor?
No, it wasn't.
Language difficulties
Administrative / Institutional
Personal comments
My speaking parter only wanted to learn english, but she was still a very cute and wonderful girl. I don't have any problem getting around, even though my Japanese is awful (the class hasn't taught me anything practical yet)
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