Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Tokyo

Once a small fishing village, Tokyo is now a major international capital of culture, economy and politics. With a population of 12 million, the contrast of Tokyo’s history and modernity can be seen throughout the city and its wards in the fast-paced approach to urban life juxtaposed against its architecture, traditions, and landscape, all of which make it an ideal location for study abroad. Because of the suburban location of the School in Japan—in the Mitaka neighborhood, 30 minutes west of Tokyo—Middlebury students benefit from the advantages and opportunities of Tokyo while living and studying in a campus-like environment.

Middlebury's host institution, International Christian University (ICU), a non-denominational university founded in 1953, and with an enrollment of 2,900 students, boasts a national reputation for superior language instruction. It was the first liberal arts college in Japan and its academic offerings include Japanese language and literature, history, art history, psychology, linguistics, and international studies, among others. On-campus housing with Japanese roommates provides a personal view of Japanese culture and allows students to meet their Japanese peers through all student-run extracurricular activities and clubs.