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Location
  • Japan
    • Tokyo
Term
Academic Year, Fall, Short Term, Spring, Summer, Winter
Subject Areas
Asian American Studies Cultural Studies Language Studies

Program Details

Program Type
Provider
Degree Level
High School Diploma Bachelors
Housing
Dormitory Host Family
Language
Japanese
Feb 10, 2021
Nov 16, 2022
Wish List
82 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Head over to Tokyo to study Japanese! The KCP International Japanese Language School is multicultural and offers an Intensive Japanese Language course and a Japanese Culture and Society course. Between classes, students can take part in cultural immersion activities. These may include a tea ceremony, learning to play traditional instruments, cooking Japanese food, and more. Connect with students, explore Tokyo, and practice your Japanese today!

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Video and Photos

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KCP students by the Kaminarimon, Asakusa.
KCP International building facade
KCP students in kimono attire
KCP students attend the tea ceremony session.
KCP students show off their calligraphy skills.
KCP students by the Ghibli Museum Robot Soldier
KCP students pose by the gassho-zukuri style houses in Gifu
KCP International's Japanese garden
KCP students make curry during Cooking Session
KCP students visit the bamboo forest at Kamakura

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Program Highlights

  • KCP is in Shinjuku but it’s off to the side in a quiet neighborhood. So you get both the extreme excitement of Tokyo’s busiest spot and a serene corner near several parks, all in your daily commute.
  • KCP is a Japanese school, run and staffed by Japanese—so it’s steeped in the Japanese way of life. What better way to immerse yourself?
  • The Culture and Society course, combined with the dorm or homestay context and with the extracurricular clubs, all make for a varied blend of experiences.
  • Teachers and staff at KCP are exceptionally dedicated and highly skilled at teaching you Japanese.
  • Class is intense. In 11 weeks, you can earn more Japanese credit than you would earn in an entire year at your home school.

Program Reviews

4.85 Rating
based on 26 reviews
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  • 5 rating 84.62%
  • 4 rating 15.38%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Academics 4.95
  • Support 4.85
  • Fun 4.75
  • Housing 4.65
  • Safety 4.95
Good for Students, Building your resume
Showing 25 - 26 of 26 reviews
Default avatar
David
39
Male
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Different Perspective

Apr 20, 2015

The program is extremely well put together and allows for a member to get as much as they want out of the program.The staff is extremely responsive to requests for help and information, but do not expect to merely show up for class and learn the language. The staff has no problem letting you fail if you do not ask for it (You are the one paying...). I don't mean that as a drawback, simply that if you are going to pay the cost, I recommend deciding before you go what your priorities are going to be.

The teachers, course-work, and lectures are excellent. Class composition-wise, Americans are in the minority and the majority of the students are Chinese and Koreans that are attempting to get into Japanese Universities.

To be honest, the reason I choose KCP is due to the the all-inclusive American Program package. There are cheaper routes to go, but if you want a hassle-free experience then you cannot go wrong with this program.

If you have the time, definitely recommend you do six-months. One semester is just to short to get into a full-rhythm.

What would you improve about this program?
More challenging homework. This is obviously coming from an American education experience, but the level of difficulty for homework completed versus the tests was a fairly large gap.
55 people found this review helpful.
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Default avatar
Steven
31
Male
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

KCP International Fall of 2014 experience

Apr 20, 2015

I really enjoyed my experience. The weather was great and I liked staying in Ikebukuro. I was able to go out and find places that I enjoyed eating at. Although the room itself was very small , it was fine for me. The benefits were being very close to the train station and being right in the heart of everything.
I enjoyed all the teachers and the support staff. I came in with 4 High School years of Japanese and managed very well. I enjoyed meeting many different people from different countries. , I was also able to use my Mandarin with new friends that I met. I would really like to go back again. This experience made me more confident to get on a plane and travel 15 hours from home. My world is now much bigger , and I have become a more well rounded person. Thanks KCP for a great experience .

What would you improve about this program?
Hello, Overall my experience was great I really enjoyed it. The only thing I may have done different was , keeping my level 3 instead of going to 2 . I tested into 3 but a few days into the course they suggested that 2 may be a better fit. I personally feel at this point because I am so quick to pick up on languages I should of stayed with 3 instead.

Besides having a few communication issues that were not exactly explained to me , I feel that I really enjoyed my total experience. I did feel it was a little bit hard for me to blend in and make friends, My goal was to become friends with people that lived in Japan but that was a little hard to do. The only way that I could really communicate was going into music stores and talking to the sales people. I did have 4 previous years of HS Japanese, but no University . But I felt I was ahead of most of the students that had University Japanese.

I am fortunate enough to know Mandarin so communicating with people from China was not an issue and I did make friends that way. I did at many times feel lonely. I guess it is all a part of the experience. I never at any time felt like I was unsafe. I felt very comfortable using transportation and making my way around to different areas. I am not one who drinks so many would go to bars and that was not something I was interested in. I do wish that they would of had some type of Gym or work out area for the KCP students. I did manage to find a local park that I could exercise in and I managed also in my dorm room which I stayed in Ikebukuro. I would recommend the KCP experience. I really wish I would of stayed longer then one semester. I felt all the teachers were very supportive and very nice.
49 people found this review helpful.
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Questions & Answers

Do they accept students with a high school diploma equivalent?
Answer this question
Do you have any accommodations for students?

Hey David! KCP can get you connected to a dormitory or homestay to live while you study. Additionally, the staff is awesome about helping students with both school and life navigating living in Tokyo.

By Keira Griffith on September 1, 2020
Are the classes fully in Japanese or in English? Is it a program for kids who don't know an inch of Japanese?

All class instruction is in Japanese, but supplementary instruction may take place partly in English if needed.

By Go Overseas on March 21, 2018
See all 2 answers
Do I need prior college experience to qualify?

Based on the eligibility page of their website, the only requirements are that you have to be at least 18 years old, you must be prepared to spend 3-6 hours to study outside of each class, and you must have completed high school.

By Carly Freeman on July 25, 2016
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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Sasha-Rae Moore

Program
KCP Intensive Japanese Language and Culture Program in Tokyo, Japan
Sasha-Rae Moore

Why did you choose this program?

I chose KCP because it gave me ease regarding tuition cost and inclusion, as well as provided a very immersive system to enhance Japanese language proficiency. Also, being around the hub of Shinjuku, KCP is in a great area and there's always something to do. KCP is also a very renowned school so even entering in level 1, you advance further than you would in your average Japanese class in America.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

My university assisted me with the everything but my airfare. Tuition cost total, room and board, meal plans and commute was all provided for me. And KCP provided support at all times. Myself, I had to organize the documents and airfare in order to complete the student application process. Regarding the Embassy, my school also helped and set up for me the necessary information so that I was listed as a student overseas in their registry.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If you choose KCP, go with a serious mindset on learning Japanese but also take time to explore and LIVE in Japan. Also, don't be afraid to meet new people at restaurants, izakaya's, clubs, etc. In Japan, coming from America, everything is extremely inexpensive except for clothes. So enjoy as much of the food and convenience stores as you can because there's always something new you missed the last time.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The average week consisted of leaving my apartment/dorm at about 11am to catch the first train from Kasai to Otemachi. From there, I'd switch to my second and final train to Shinjuku, and study/talk with friends in the lunchroom until 1pm, when class started.

Because I was entering as level two, our classes consisted of conversation, grammar, Kanji and an essay portion in every class. In one week, you had three different teachers who had specific focuses. For example: Mon - Teacher A (grammar), Tue - Teacher B (conversation), Wed - Teacher C (essay and Kanji), Thurs - Teacher B, Fri - Teacher C.

Class then ended at 4:45pm. By then it got pretty dark outside so you could either head home to complete homework or go out to eat/hang out with friends before it became too late.

On the weekends, we would usually have a culture excursion, which included a morning lecture and an afternoon venture to a city within Tokyo as a group for full immersion.

The rest is what you make of it with new friends and experiences.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was if I would keep my shy personality and be unable to open up to people I didn't know. However, I have very good Japanese friends regardless, so with their help and with the activities completed in class to know my classmates more, I was able to open up and probably be the most verbal of my peers. Going out and enjoying Japan for what it was gave me confidence.

Is this what you really want?

Before you choose KCP or any school abroad, really think about where you want to go in the future by participating. You can think of it as an opportunity to just have fun or a stepping stone to more opportunities for your future. Not everyone gets to study abroad but those who do and dive into the new culture without fear will tell you it's an experience you choose for yourself. Is it for a future job? School credits? Personal interest? Language proficiency?

Whatever the answer, really think about it. And if you don't know at the moment then follow your gut, follow your dream or goal or interest. See what the world is for yourself, then make the decision that will change your life forever.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Tomohisa Tanaka

Program
KCP Intensive Japanese Language and Culture Program in Tokyo, Japan
Job Title
On-site Program Director
Mr. Tanaka first encountered a foreign country, its people, and its culture during a three-year stay in the US as a child. In the process of learning English for survival, he became fond of American–English movies and humor. He started working for KCP as a student coordinator in 2001 and has worked for the program and its students since then. As a personal interest, he has trained in martial arts through the lens of katana.
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What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Tomohisa: For us it’s the dedication of faculty and staff. Given the mission of Japanese immersion, they run with it: they really go out of their way to support the goals of people who study at KCP.

Faculty respect students’ diversity while at the same time teaching them the Japanese language, culture, and ways of thinking.

KCP is a place where people from a number of different countries gather together and study. By studying with colleagues from different parts of the world, students get naturally motivated to understand not only about Japan but also about other countries and cultures.

Motivation is a tricky thing: you can’t teach it. But you can provide a setting where it arises on its own. KCP, with its exceptionally dedicated mentors, mandate for all-Japanese-all-the-time, and multi-cultural setting, has found a winning formula for accelerated Japanese learning.

What was your favorite traveling experience?

Tomohisa: A trip in Thailand was very challenging and fun. Since for much of the trip neither English nor Japanese were useful, I was able to channel the experience of my students. Finding my own ways was quite an adventure.

Walking through traditional downtowns for hours visiting temples and feeling the breath of the country was very stunning and absorbing. In the Thai language I knew only “Hello” and “Thank you.” It’s amazing how well those two words helped me communicate with people in town. I thank the patient, accepting people of Thailand! I also had the great joy of encountering some graduate students and people whom I know in the country. Unexpected reunions bring a sense of magic to a journey.

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of the KCP International team.

Tomohisa: Study at KCP is exceedingly intensive, which makes this place the best place to learn for those who are serious in studying Japanese. One day in the main office building I witnessed students from quite a few different countries all naturally using Japanese as common language in the school in their daily life—to each other and to KCP faculty and staff.

This has been repeated many times, but on this particular day, I first felt the supreme satisfaction of having helped these students make a sustained, deep cognitive effort to extend their language abilities well beyond what they thought was possible. It was powerful and remains so, every day!

It is also my profound pleasure to hear from students who completed their study at KCP that their study abroad experience was very memorable and productive even though they faced ups and downs in their study abroad life in Japan. I am glad to have taken part in such an important time in their lives.

What does the future hold for KCP International - any exciting new programs to share?

Tomohisa: KCP has just built a fabulous new main building on its campus. Of course it adds more space, which means more opportunities for new programs and expansion. Some of our new ventures include a program in teaching English as a second language, bringing more Japanese classes on campus, and faculty led programming. And the new building includes both a tea-ceremony room and a lovely rooftop garden, for a quiet retreat.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Tomohisa: I think the absolute most important factor in succeeding at what we do is our faculty and staff. They are by far our most important resource. The support staff is incredibly responsive to the needs of students—whether they are trying to attend an unusual event and need help, are sick and need medical care, or have some housing issues.

The teaching faculty receives the absolute highest marks from students for dedication, kindness, teaching ability, and focus on each student’s individual challenges. These are the components that KCP alumni mention the most frequently when describing the benefits of the program: that the faculty and staff really make it possible for students to achieve astounding Japanese language proficiency

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Location

Location:
Tokyo
Currency:
Japanese Yen
Weather:
Jan-Mar
57 F / 34 F
Apr-Jun
79 F / 48 F
Jul-Sep
88 F / 68 F
Oct-Dec
72 F / 39 F
Airports:
Narita International Airport
( NRT )
Haneda Airport
( HND )

Tokyo being one of the most densely populated urban areas in the world has created a metropolis focused on furthering technology. Even with the dense population, there are still many areas where you can see Japan's history and culture coming through.

About KCP International

KCP International Japanese Language School provides students with a unique opportunity to learn Japanese through immersion. While most students are from other parts of Asia and instruction is in Japanese, English-speaking staff are available to provide language support and help. It is a highly challenging, immersion program all within the Tokyo's...

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