Unforgettable Time in Hokkaido with Meiji Academy September 27, 2025
By Emilia M (Journalism, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich) - abroad from 03/02/2025 to 05/09/2025 with
Meiji Academy: Sapporo - Learn Japanese in Japan
Leveled up my Japanese with daily speaking boosted my confidence, listening got sharper, and I finally “think” in Japanese during simple conversations. Navigating life in Hokkaido taught me independence, problem-solving, and time management. Deepened cultural understanding from locals, I learned how culture shapes communication. Made friends from different countries that I still keep in touch.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was such a memorable experience with Meiji Academy. I really appreciated how supportive and welcoming the teachers were, they made even the toughest grammar points feel approachable. The classes were small, which meant I could practice speaking a lot and got personal feedback. I’d recommend Meiji Academy to anyone who wants an intensive yet friendly environment to study Japanese and enjoy life in northern Japan. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I organized the program by myself but a fellow teacher recommended me this institution due to their strong link with German-speaking educational institutions. They also have German staff support on-site. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I stayed at the female-sharehouse, which was awesome! Can't make any complaints except of how clean Japanese are:) |
| * Food: |
Overall very good, but couldn't get used to the local BBQ specialty called Jingisu Kan aka lamb... |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Outside of class, we had a lot of cutural activities and social gatherings. The school often encouraged us to explore, so I got to experience local food, nature, and culture alongside my studies. It was the perfect mix of learning and adventure. My time flew by quickly, but I feel like my Japanese has improved so much in that short time thanks to the language exchanges with local Japanese. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The health care system is very good in Japan and the school also provided me with an international travel insurance I took advantage of. |
| * Safety: |
Japan is safe at any time of the day. Especially Sapporo is very secure for females walking alone at night. I never felt intimidated or in danger. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
It just couldn't go better. Everything was well planned and the support from the school was top notch! |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Due to the Yen being so weak, Japan feels like a great bargain if you hold Euros or Dollars. I was out dining every night and still had enough budget left for weekend trips to nearby museums, parks or hot springs. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
We were encouraged using Japanese during lessons and also outside of classes. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Very Basic Beginner classes |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Make the most out of your time and explore Japan. There is so much to discover and the school will help you with connecting with locals, which I found especially helpful. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I would have gone to Japan and study with these guys earlier. My time there was so good. |
