Kudan Institute of Japanese Language, Tokyo, Japan

The Kudan Japanese Language Institute welcomes high school and college students from around the world, as well as some middle school students for specific programs. Each student who comes to the school stays with a carefully-selected host family, learns under the guidance of an experienced teacher, and is able to explore the city through guided tours and planned excursions. Partnerships with local high schools and universities bring in Japanese youth who engage language students in conversation as well as teach them about the culture through the eyes of a person their own age. Regular classes include an intensive course, a conversation class, and reading and writing courses. However, there are also special holiday programs throughout the year along with specialty courses that teach Japanese through an element of the culture such as cooking, manga, or tea. Kudan takes advantage of all Tokyo has to offer and plans an exciting activities calendar for its students. One day students might find themselves learning about Japanese traditions while watching sumo wrestling, taking part in a tea ceremony, or learning calligraphy, and the next day channeling their inner child at Disney Tokyo. While the bustling city of Tokyo offers plenty of sites to see, such as the Tokyo Tower, the Tokyo Skytree, and the Senso-ji Temple, Kudan also plans excursions outside the city such as hiking on Mt. Takao or in Hakone. Whatever the activity, Kudon keeps in mind the interests of their students as well as ways to parlay excursions into fun learning experiences.