Meiji Academy - Japanese Language & Culture (Hokkaido, Japan)

Don't search any further when considering how to spend your Summer in Japan, if you are looking for a school that takes care of all cultural, social and language gatherings they undertake! I've had a wonderful time with these guys and their lovely staff. Japan can get super hot&humid in the Summer and Hokkaido is the best escape place for all eager to fully enjoy Japan's beauty without melting down. haha

The best thing about Meiji's classes were the small groups, even though in Summer it can get a bit crowded (had 7 students in my Japanese level for two weeks!). For activities we went to local fireworks, street food festivals, kimono wearing walks and fun taiko drum playing. I couldn't imagine how I would go over all these cultural experiences without their guidance. I am seriously considering doing this Summer program again if I happen to go back next year (if my savings allow it haha).

Arigatoune Meiji and greetings to Nakanishi-sensei and Moemi-chan, miss you all!♡♡♡

3 weeks packed with wonderful people, interactive Japanese classes and an abundance of social activities to never get bored. My time at Meiji gave me a proper insight view of what it means to study Japanese language and culture in Japan. I've been to Japan once before in Tokyo and Osaka, but couldn't believe how much I missed due to not going to Hokkaido before. I think Sapporo and for sure Meiji is the best combo for learning Japanese in a proper local environment. Highly recommend!!

If you're looking for a fun, interactive way to learn communicative Japanese, look no further than Meiji Academy. I am confident that I achieved most of my learning goals I set for myself before embarking on Japan. Their 3-month course gave a good balance of learning the spoken language, engaging in grammar practices and also giving some extra time to prepare for the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test). It is important to note I did take private lessons in addition to the standard course to allow myself more focus on my priority goals to pass the JLPT.

My class was mixed with mostly people from Europe and one other Korean student. The classes are smaller than most schools I've attended, with only 6 students. The overall vibe is also less strict and they organize a lot of social events. I took the cultural activities of the Traditional modules for 4 weeks. I would recommend Meiji to anybody looking for a flexible, friendly, and easy-to-communicate provider.

During this Summer I had the chance to study in Hokkaido for just a week and stay with a lovely host family at the same time. I planned this trip originally for 2 weeks but due to my plans changing last minute and also doing some more sightseeing in the off-beaten path in Hokkaido I shortened it. The school and its teachers are wonderful and very committed to their jobs. I loved the flexibility and support I received from pre-departure all the way to a follow-up after my studies. Definitely recommend and would come back here again.

P.S.: Except of Hokkaido, Summer in Japan is SUPER HOT! So staying in the North was a good decision I made.

After staying in Hokkaido for 2 weeks with Meiji, I grasped a better understanding of the Japanese language and culture. This school gave me a lot of opportunities making friends from all over the world. I fully enjoyed the variety of events we had with local Japanese high school students in language exchange and social activities. My highlight was the bowling championship we did and I had so much fun with the Purikura photo booth we did afterwards.

One thing I didn't like was due to my advanced Japanese level my classes were scheduled in the afternoon instead of morning sessions. Other than that all went smooth.

I would totally go back to Meiji Academy Hokkaido again if I would have the chance again.

I was able to make really close friends from all over the world and got on so well with my host family too. (I still keep in touch with them and hope I can see them again next year.) The only thing I regret is not stayin for more than a week. This was my first big trip, and I was really nervous about leaving home for so long. Also, I didn’t get to visit all the places in Hokkaido. People don’t realise how huge Hokkaido is, and it takes ages to explore all the beautiful landscapes and the amazing shrines hidden there.

While I was there, I found out about soup curry and Jingisu Kan Barbeque (I know, I just had to mention it ‘cause it’s so typical of Hokkaido, and I can't get anything like it back home…). All in all, this trip was unreal, and I totally recommend this school for anyone going on their first trip to Japan!

I have always dreamed of going to Japan, but I was afraid of being far from home without help. Luckily, I discovered Meiji Academy, a school that helped me organize everything and solve practical problems.

I studied in Sapporo for three weeks, participating in activities such as wearing a kimono, the tea ceremony, and playing taiko drums. They also had staff who spoke Italian, which was very helpful. They also supported me while I was there, so I could experience the trip with serenity. I highly recommend Meiji Academy.

This was a last minute trip I did and I highly appreciated the extreme flexibility with organizing this short one-week study course and also apartment they found for me within walking distance from the school. This wasn't my first time in Japan but first time entering northern territory and this insider tip of Hokkaido. I had a great time with the teachers and my classmates. Unfortunately the week past over so quickly but I made a lot of good memories.

The best thing about the whole experience was Meiji's full flexibility and superior communication throughout the whole time. The email responses were quick and detailed, I've never felt that my questions were bothering. On the contrary, Moemi-san always encouraged me to ask if there was any concerns or worries I might have had. Great customer support and highly recommend this school!

I learned so much about Japanese language, culture and its people from this experience. It helped so much to dive deeper into the culture by having dedicated staff who managed all these wonderful events for us to embrace. I’m sure you will be amazed by how many friends you can make from the international language exchanges they organize. My apartment was well equipped and close to school so I was walking there in less than 10 mins which was very convenient for me.

There are so many fun and exciting things to do in Hokkaido and I recommend asking the staff for any tips and tricks to get around this unique city. Don’t stay at your home all the time and get out into the wild! I cannot stress enough how important it is to make friends and get out of your comfort zone. Meiji Arigatone!

I wholeheartedly recommend Meiji Academy to anybody looking for a fun time to fully enjoy Japan while making the most of their time learning Japanese from well-experienced teachers.

Pros
- Interactive lessons with a lot of speaking practices
- Vast variety of cultural events especially traditional activities were excellent
- Fun language exchanges with locals

Cons
- Class schedules can rotate weekly from morning to afternoon (my classes were in the morning for the most part)
- Staff is super friendly but sometimes cares too much about your well-being
- Watch out for food allergies, I had to inform them every time and restaurants can be a bit careless

I am grateful that I studied with Meiji Academy and all the great activities they organized for me. Here is my honest opinion about the whole two months I stayed with them. The pre departure communication, Japanese level assessment/interview, as well as detailed information about my whole time there was well communicated. My flight and airport pickup organized by Meiji went pretty sooth, aside of my liquid souvenir that broke during my flight from Los Angeles to Tokyo :(
On a side note, make sure to always double tape all your liquids for transatlantic flights!

My host family and also the sharehouse both organized by Meiji was an amazing experience and I made a lot of friends. The Japanese classes were also fun and I grew very close with my fellow classmates. I liked the activities a lot and had a blast during our Karaoke sessions and Izakaya bar hoping during weekends. I never thought there is so much to do and explore in a city such as Sapporo. It is definitely highly underrated and an insider tip for everybody looking beyond Tokyo and Kyoto as the major destinations to study Japanese.

Can't recommend Meiji enough! Great vibe, great passionate people!

Pros
- Super friendly locals, nice staff at Meiji
- Street food is yummy and offers great variety for everybody (even Vegetarians!)
- Cultural Activities are a great way to fully immerse yourself into the culture

Cons
- Sapporo's city life can be overwhelming and sometimes escaping into nature is needed
- Host Family is sometimes to engaging (nice but getting tired, especially communicating in Japanese all the time...)
- Eating out on a daily basis can get expensive, take advantage of konbinis and the nearby sandwich shop (Sandria)

As it was my first time ever going to Japan I was very worried about where to study and with which school. I contacted several schools and narrowed down my choices to Hokkaido. One reason was that the balance between bustling city life and peaceful nature seemed the best in Hokkaido. I contacted another school besides Meiji but the interaction and communication I had with the other one was less detailed and I felt that this one would be the right for me.

The Japanese level test performed online, followed by an interview to check my speaking abilities made sure they would properly place me in a level that would cater towards my needs. My level is JLPT N3 and I know from many fellow friends that most language schools might experience difficulties with advanced Japanese learners as me. I was lucky that Meiji's staff placed a lot of attention to details to meet my needs and they made sure to address my requirements. Important to mention that Communicative Japanese is a major part of their teaching philosophy. So if you want to focus more on the academic part of Japanese make sure to address it to the teachers and they will provide additional learning materials and homework for you (if demanded by you, otherwise they won't)

The activities provided by Meiji were abundant and almost everyday there was something going on. Most of the activities were free, but the cultural excursions do cost. The staff informed me in advance if costs apply for extracurricular activities so no bad surprises happened. I highly recommend doing the traditional culture module and conversational japanese. It made sure to address both of my demands. Overall I highly recommend Meiji Academy and already booked my studies for next year!

Where to start my story? I'll try to keep it short: 3 months were NOT ENOUGH!

The school, the staff, the locals, everything blended in perfectly!
I loved my classmates and had a blast studying with them. Classes were pretty smooth with a lot of speaking practices. Try to get Ebina-sensei and Nakanishi-sensei. My favorites but all the other teachers were also good. I think the events, parties and trips we did were epic. Sometimes finding a good balance between studying and social activities were difficult as these guys offer way too much events. haha

Make sure to check out nearby Susukino and Tanukikoji for parties on weekends. Meiji went with us sometimes for Karaoke nights, bowling games and Late Night Parfait Foodie Tours (sounds weird but it's really a Sapporo thing). My highlight was the Taiko Drum Playing Workshop followed by a crazy Anime Gaming bar we went in the evening. You were literally transported from traditional Japanese crafts to future Cyberpunk style anime cafe. Definitely a lot of fun, not just for Otakus!

My advice for everybody who considers studying in Japan. Forget the major cities as they are way overrated. Hokkaido is definitely a hidden gem that has to be found by more people.
Meiji arigatoune! See you next Summer again! Peace✌️

Meiji Academy Hokkaido delivered a concise and intensive language course packed with daily activities for the one week I was there. The teachers were friendly and patient, engaging us in group discussions about grammar we learned to apply in practice. Even after class and during breaks they are there for students to ask questions. I took advantage of it as I often studied after classes or when I returned from the cultural activities.

The emphasis heavily lies on speaking Japanese ONLY during classes. At first, I was worried it would work out but I soon discovered it was the most effective way of learning Japanese. The events are frequent and very well organized. I enjoyed the language exchange and katana sword fight workshop we had.

My only regret was booking homestay as I was not expecting to have curfews...my host family was super nice and very accommodating but asked me to be back by 10pm at night. Sometimes I wanted to party and stay out late but this was obviously not possible. Bear in mind this is common for Japanese host families. So next time I'll stay at the sharehouse!!!

I absolutely loved my 6 weeks at Meiji Academy in Sapporo last spring. Compared to other language schools, Meiji offers such a unique experience, especially for Western students (practically everyone there was from Europe or North America, except for a few Koreans and Taiwanese). The focus was much more on events, cultural activities, and extracurricular fun, which I really appreciated. If I study in Japan the social & cultural activities are very important for me.

The Japanese lessons were spot-on, concentrating on grammar practice in real-life situations with loads of practical speaking exercises. The small class sizes and the individual attention from the teachers were very much appreciated, making it so much easier to tackle any personal study challenges right away. It really made a difference being able to discuss things directly with the teachers.

If you’re thinking about studying there, I’d personally recommend staying for at least a month. It’s tough to see much progress in just a week or two, but the school does a fab job catering to whatever length of study you’re after. And bonus – there’s no strict deadline!

I can wholeheartedly recommend Meiji and I’m sure I’ll be back next year. Arigatou gozaimasu, Meiji Academy!

I studied for two weeks in Japan's Scandinavia also known as Hokkaido. The landscape really reminded me of Sweden or Norway but all signs and people (obviously) were Japanese. lol

Still the place felt very European and also had so much cultural immersion and activities offered that really felt different from any place I have been to Japan before. Meiji's classes are as always very much focussed on communicative Japanese and applicable speaking practise with a lot of discussions and role plays we had. I am so glad I did take the Conversational Japanese and Business Japanese module as they really prepare you very well for all different life situations in Japan.

It is important to mention this was my second time studying with Meiji. I studied before in Fukuoka and wanted to rediscover the positive Meiji experience I had before in their new campus up North. Honestly I prefer much MORE HOKKAIDO! The atmosphere, the beautiful nature and contrast of busy city life and wild nature is simply amazing.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Meiji Academy and Hokkaido in particular as there is so many activities and cultural excursions these guys always organize.

I just studied for one week with Meiji Academy Hokkaido but 4 classes per day, 2 private lessons and also the traditional culture module made this an unforgettable week fully packed with so many impressions. I only regret I didn’t take the conversational Japanese module as it was highly praised by my fellow classmates.

The free activities were also fun! I took part in the city tour, soup curry dinner and also went out to karaoke and an international pub with teachers and my classmates for the graduation party. All in all a great experience and I can highly recommend Meiji for every Japanese level learner.

My two weeks at Meiji Hokkaido were filled with immersive learning, many cultural activities and social events all the time. I am very thankful for the kind teachers and support I have received throughout my stay. I think the best thing about this school is the short-term studies they offer and study programs are open all year round. It is very convenient for people to sign up without any deadlines in place. Just make sure to apply in advance as they did not have a spot for me open at an earlier date before.

What I loved the most? Honestly, it was that NO ENGLISH was used! Everything was taught in Japanese!!
It felt like I’d been dropped straight into Japan's society. The teachers were absolutely brilliant always full of energy and had this incredible way of breaking down complex Japanese grammar and sentence structure using visuals and a bit of fun acting. They’d use body language, facial expressions, and get us involved in quirky discussions with our classmates, which made the lessons feel fresh and, well, pretty hilarious too (if that makes any sense).

The pace of the course was spot on! challenging enough with exercises that really pushed you out of your comfort zone. I had three private lessons along with the conversational Japanese modules, which were super helpful!

If I could give one bit of advice: try to study for at least 2-3 weeks. I picked up loads in the week I was there, but it was way too short!

The school's location is spot on. I stayed for about a month, but if you’re serious about learning Japanese and already have a basic grasp, I’d definitely recommend staying at least two months.

I came in with some advanced knowledge of Japanese, but I could polish up my past vocabulary and conversation skills while still studying advanced JLPT grammar. The teachers are fantastic. Even though they only use Japanese, don’t worry-you’ll be able to follow along with the help of visuals and mixed-language materials (like books with Japanese and English). It’s actually a bonus because you get to listen to and use Japanese for at least four intense lesons a day!

A big tip: try to speak Japanese with your classmates as much as you can. I did, especially since most of my classmates were either Taiwanese or Korean, and it really helped my Japanese improve. The staff at Meiji Academy are incredibly supportive! My tutor, Nakanishi-sensei and Nakamura-sensei were brilliant! I really appreciated the daily mini-tests (hiragana, katakana, kanji) and the big tests on Fridays. It keeps you on your toes and makes sure you’re actually learning. They can be a bit strict with writing, but I get it—they’re just making sure you meet a high standard.

Overall, I loved my time at Meiji, and I’m thinking about coming back for a longer stay. I’d really suggest going for a medium or long-term stay, though—if you only do less than a month, you might end up reviewing some parts you already knew.

Overall the school is very good and closely located to Susukino which is the main business and shopping district in Sapporo. I liked my class and teachers a lot. The focus on communication and speaking practice was something new for me. My stay was short but I got a good understanding of what it means studying in Japan. Next time I'll stay longer in Hokkaido.

I like a many things about Meiji Academy, like the school facilities, location, teaching methods, and many experienced teachers, so I give it full stars. Many Japan’s food culture is just amazing, with so many restaurants to try! But don’t worry I had time in the afternoon to explore the restaurants, haha.
The attention to students at Meiji was great, and the staff help me with all my questions for visa extension, Sapporo attractions and transport difficulties without problems.

When I got back to Italy, I already missed my apartment and the nice neighborhood I stayed in Sapporo. I think booking private apartment with the school is very affordable and conveniently close to school. You should make most of time and explore nearby places with Meiji events going to Otaru and Asahikawa was very interesting.

Before I go into any length I'll sum up my experience in three parts, Japanese classes, activities and accommodation.

CLASSES
It is important to mention that this school specializes in communicative Japanese and not academic Japanese (as they say it themselves). I've been to other schools in Japan and experiences this difference by myself. Meiji's focus is a lot on speaking practice and applicable Japanese in daily life situations. As with academic Japanese I have had at other schools, it was mostly textbook style rehearsal and strict grammar practices without applying them in conversations or just touch on it on the surface (textbook level). Another thing that positively caught my attention is the small classes of 3-6 students combined with the personal attention and development of students' learning progress. You need to tell it to the teacher but they will go out of their way to have with you a personal review session if you desire one discussing where your weaknesses are. I recommend including 1-2 private lessons as I did as it helped focusing on my area of improvement. In my case kanji is my biggest weakness -_-;;

ACTIVITIES
Meiji organizes a lot of free but also paid activities. Some of them are covered by their cultural modules they offer, so I did a good mix of these ones and also took advantage of the video game nights and boarding game parties we had. They also had language exchange events that were organized by a Japanese university student circle visiting the school sometimes.

ACCOMMODATION
I stayed in their sharehouse and it was one of the best decisions I've made. It was the first time for me staying in a student dorm style housing but the international environment was definitely helping against my homesickness that kicked in after a few weeks. For longer stays for more than 2 months I think I would choose the private apartment as it does give some type of privacy and is also well equiped from what I heard from other students.

I think if your focus is on not just studying but also experiencing Japanese culture and crafts then this school offers a good compromise on all these aspects.

Fun classes in a cozy environment with only a handful of students and extremely ambitious teachers that I still keep in touch with. My time at Meiji was short but intense. I'm planning coming back next Autumn as two weeks is really not enough but it gave me a very good idea how much fun this school is.

!!ATTENTION!!
This school is primarily focused on Western students with a handful Taiwanese and Singaporeans. So if you rather look for more of a cram school with intense academic Japanese studies and less cultural activities I would not recommend Meiji. Otherwise it will be fun with them for sure as they focus a lot of communicative Japanese which I prefer.

I spent 6 weeks in Sapporo this Summer which was an amazing experience that really pushed my Japanese to the next level.

The main course focused a lot on improving our conversation skills, applicable grammar for communication, and grammar in align with JLPT. The lessons developed into a lot of more complex Japanese which was challenging at first but became really rewarding once I got my head around it:)

But what made Meiji Academy special wasn’t just the classes—it was everything else we did outside of them. They organized a bunch of cool cultural activities, and I got to try on a Yukata, visit a traditional tea house known for “senchadou” with super cute Japanese sweets, and even go to a Ninja Village. We also tried a bit of a Katana sword fight called Iaido and went to watch a Kabuki play, which was seriously awesome. These activities weren’t just fun; they also helped me understand Japanese culture better.

I would totally recommend this course to anyone serious about learning Japanese. Great teachers, great location and Sapporo are just simply wow! Just a heads-up for beginners— don't worry about the classes being in Japanese and make sure to ask questions all the time. It cannot only help you but other students too!

I recently completed a ten-week Summer course with Meiji Academy here in Hokkaido. The course focused heavily on conversational practice, vocabulary, and grammar. I joined an advanced beginner class, which was ideal since I had been self-studying Japanese for the past two years. During the first few week, it was a lot of refreshing what I previously learned back in Canada, but concentrating on new vocabulary and advanced grammar sentences. I engaged in a lot of conversations about attending events, my hobbies, and describing other cultural activities we planed on doing. As the course progressed, we focused on more practical skills like offering, accepting, or declining invitations, and giving and receiving directions plus complex JLPT grammar.

The school also organized a wide range of extracurricular activities that made my summer unforgettable. I participated in a kimono-wearing event, a traditional tea ceremony, and even got the chance to try my hand at taiko drumming. Other activities included soba noodle making, a karate workshop, and attending a sumo match, all of which provided a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. These activities were not just enjoyable but also helped reinforce the language skills I was learning in class.

One of the most rewarding aspects of my time at Meiji was making friends with local Japanese university students and other locals I met during these events and excursions. These connections were invaluable, allowing me to practice my Japanese in real-life situations and making my experience in Sapporo even more meaningful.

I’m very thankful for this chance and I feel like the skills I gained have been incredibly beneficial for my ongoing Japanese language studies and have strengthened my ambition to work and live in Japan after graduating from university in the US.

Overall, I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in immersive Japanese language learning. The combination of excellent instruction, a great location, and diverse cultural activities made it a perfect fit for me. However, future students should be aware that classes allow for rolling admissions, so beginners might find it challenging if they join a class that’s already a few weeks into the curriculum. Other than that highly recommend the course and their furnished and affordable apartments!

I stumbled across Meiji Academy after I did some online researches and also found out that a couple of my senpais at my university also went with Meiji last year. The reviews were very positive but I wanted to make up my own mind as I was planning on studying for a prolonged period of 4 months with them. The email exchange went very smooth and the staff was very attentive in addressing all my queries I had. The Japanese online test prior to coming to Hokkaido as well as a video call interview I had with one of the teachers via Skype helped to correctly place me at my right Japanese level. The classes are very interactive and teachers are one of the best I had so far. The school does not give homework but if you feel like the pace or study progress goes to slow, the teachers will make sure to keep you busy with additional grammar and JLPT practices. Believe me! lol

The thing I really loved the most and that sticked to me was the cozy and warm community atmosphere that was all the time present. May it be the free language exchange events or cultural excursion we did. It always felt like a safe home environment that brought tears to my eyes after I eventually had to say good bye after my 4 months. I will hold these great memories and friends I made for the rest of my life and hope to come back someday in the future to Hokkaido again. Arigatoo gozaimashita Meiji!♡

Last Summer was super fun and I couldn't imagine a better way to have ended my summer break after high school in Japan. Meiji Academy offered me the best 2 months of my life with great international events where I met friends for life from around the world (still keeping in touch with them!) and fun cultural experiences and trips we did. The Summer course is great for anybody who wants to experience the real Japan and also enjoy all the great outdoor activities that Hokkaido has an abundance.

My Japanese improved quite a lot and it also shaped my future study outlook at that time last year (enrolled in Japanese major at uni *yaay*)

One thing that I saw was a bit of a drawback is the time limitation for host families. I was only able to stay 4 weeks but would have loved to do the whole two months. Still I didn't regret doing both; host family and sharehouse where I met a lot of Japanese local students which helped tremendously with my speaking skills. One thing I can say for sure, once Hokkaido always Hokkaido! ahaha

Going to a foreign country far away from home can be daunting and even scary, but Meiji made it an experience worth to take this big step. This was my first trip abroad and I felt really excited taking this journey. I did a lot of research and together with my mother and after contacting several schools we decided to go with Meiji, because of their very friendly and attentive staff that made sure to answer all the queries me and my mother had. They even scheduled two video calls with us to address all questions we had and checked my Japanese level before arrival. Actually they do the testing through an Japanese online test they make you take and then based on the results they scheduled the video call with me to test my speaking ability. I found the process a bit time-consuming but it turned out to be good for placing me according to my level.

I studied Japanese for quite some time but found the studies a bit frustrating as I did not have native Japanese speakers around me and my Japanese tutor was good but did not provide me with the needed Japanese speaking environment. Before I departed for Hokkaido I just passed the JLPT N5 and my goal was to take the N4 last Winter, which I did. Due to the intense studies at Meiji I had I made it through N4! I found the classes to be very interactive with a lot of grammar practices and group studies. We had separate class sessions solely focusing on applicable speaking and communicative approach when interacting with Japanese on different subjects. At the beginning it felt a bit too much but I think you need to get used to the environment and study style. For me it was the first time so I made sure to tell the teachers my struggle and they regularly followed up with me. I decided to take a few private lessons and also chose the Conversational Japanese course which helped a lot!

The biggest advice I can give to anybody is really to go out of your comfort zone and make the most of your time in Japan. Make sure to attend as much events and activities that Meiji or other local student circles offer and try to engage with Japanese people as much as you can.

For me it was a great and unforgettable memory visiting this beautiful city up in the north of Japan and I hope to see all of my lovely teachers and friends again. Thanks to all the amazing staff and friends I met during this trip that made it an unforgettable journey for me.

Studying in Hokkaido felt so surreal because you are in Japan but still has this European flair with large roads, Western style architecture and snow like back home in France.
I studied at Meiji for 4 weeks and felt it was too short ! The teachers were very experienced and the friendly staff was always willing to help me with any questions I had. We students even went with teachers and staff for lunch one day and for graduation we had a traditional nomikai and karaoke party. Thinking back how good fun all this is I think Hokkaido best place to study Japanese. I did the conversational module for all 4 weeks and also two weeks traditional culture activity which was so much fun. From kimono wearing and tea ceremony I made a lot of new memories. We also made origami and ikebana at one cultural center.

The classes are very small and I had only 3 other students in my class. So the teacher had a lot of time to focus on us and with only 4 students it was the perfect size to learn so much in that class. Main focus was on speaking and conversation practices with sometimes grammar sessions and regularly studying vocabulary and Kanji. I am still at N5 so I felt like I improved more than I ever studied Japanese in one year in France back. I recommend staying here for at least for two months as I was not able to see everything. Just too much interesting things to explore and Hokkaido is so big to travel around. I will definitely come back again. Merci Meiji!

During Summer of 2023, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in a 12-week Standard course with Conversational Japanese and Traditional Culture modules at Meiji Academy. This was my first trip to Asia and I was very much looking forward to it as I planned it for almost two years as it got delayed due to Covid.

TEACHERS AND STAFF
Meiji is all about the people you meet and greet there. Although it was a bit of a tricky start as I just got sick in the first week and missed almost four days of classes, I quickly felt’s much at ease. One thing was the follow up emails from Meiji’s staff asking me if I’m alright and also my host family that was very caring. The atmosphere at school is like being at home in a very cozy environment with many friendly students from all around the world. From all 8 teachers I had, I cannot think of one single teacher that was not fun to learn with. Some teachers were able to speak in English but some won’t which was at the beginning a bit struggling as I was a complete beginner. But I quickly grasped the concept of only using Japanese to learn the language…*phew*

JAPANESE CLASSES
The classroom was very comfortable as we were in small groups of around 2-5 students and the focus was on grammar classes in the first two lessons and then grammar and speaking practices afterwards with vocabulary and sentence building group exercises. As I have missed almost the whole first week, I dragged behind a bit in the second week but my teacher took the extra time even after classes giving me some advice and practices to do so I was at the end of the 2nd week on the same level as everybody else or even a bit further. hehe
The teachers were very patient with me giving advice on how to use the specific grammar we learned in the grammar practice we did. They were so mindful that they even followed up the next day with it, which almost made me blush because reminding everybody of the silly grammar sentences I made in the class the day before.
The Conversational Japanese module was a complete game changer as we heavily focused on casual Japanese meaning really the informal Japanese that is spoken between the locals. The setting was in small groups with a different topic, simple grammar, example sentences and Japanese students that helped out as volunteers together with Japanese teachers. This was really the fun part to take the Japanese out of the classroom and into the real world.

ACTIVITIES
I really recommend anybody to take at least 2 weeks in traditional culture as it was so much fun to have the cultural activities as a balance to the classes. We went out for Kimono Wearing, strolling around Sapporo and also did the tea ceremony which felt so mesmerizing and peaceful that you can’t really experience anywhere else in the world. The second week we went for Taiko Drum playing and also visited the Hokkaido Jingu Shrine learning about its history and strolling around Maruyama Park which is my favourite spot!
As much as I loved the extracurricular activities that Meiji organized directly or with partner student circles that they work with it sometimes felt to really differ of having almost every day an activity to some weeks where there were only 2 or 3 free activities in another week. Just make sure that the extra graduation dinners and other Karaoke events are not for free and you have to pay for your food and drinks! The best was the Summer Fireworks that take place every Summer season in Japan with massive shining colour rockets being shot into the sky and lightening up the beautiful night view. It makes me cry thinking back about how wonderful last Summer was. The biggest advice I can give to ALWAYS attend as much events you can and make effort connecting with the local Japanese as they are indeed very shy at the beginning but really open up once you get closer to them.

ACCOMMODATION
I did 4 weeks homestay and 8 weeks sharehouse as Meiji Academy does not allow longer homestays than four weeks (unfortunately). Apparently it is due to the popularity of host families, the small number and also the very young students don’t have any other option than staying with a host family. I can just say that my host family was wonderful and very caring. They could not speak any English at all but this was never a barrier of communication between us as their smile and endless curiosity for my background and culture really made me feel at ease all the time. The share house was for me the first time living in a student dormitory and a very interesting experience. Even though it was a mixed student house all male and female were strictly separated on floors except of one mixed floor. However you have your own private bedroom with all facilities and furniture. I think this was really the time where I made so many friends from all around the world at this place including many Japanese! Just make sure not to overeat at their yummy food parties they hold every weekend:)

All in all an unforgettable time and I really felt in love with Hokkaido and its people. Meiji Academy arrigatou gozaimashita:)

Initially I attended the 6 week standard course with additional modules of traditional culture and conversational Japanese back in July 2023, but I ended up extending my course for another 3 weeks because I simply loved it. I was able to take the placement test online before arriving in Japan, which was very convenient and also helped me to understand how much I knew.

The school is located right in the downtown area of Sapporo called Susukino. It is very convenient to go anywhere from shopping places, restaurants, cafes and a lot of Japanese entertainment facilities like game centers and anime shops (which was heaven for me!):P On my first day the staff were very helpful at placing me in my correct class and I did not have any problems to catch up with the teaching pace. One of the best things about Meiji Academy was the small number of students in classes. During my 9 weeks I had anywhere between 2-6 classmates but I heard that some Japanese levels can become a bit overcrowded during the Summer and have up to 9 students. So I would recommend to be careful and check with the school beforehand. The advantage of small classes was the one-to-one time and small group works we did. Class learning speed moved at a good pace and I never felt overwhelmed by all the grammar and vocabularies we had to memorize.

I stayed in their share house that they organize and it was super conveniently located just around 10 minutes by walk. Sapporo is easily accessible by foot so I recommend to stay in the sharehouse as there are a lot of food parties and gatherings done. The most memorable thing was the wide range of wonderful cultural events and the Hanabi Summer fireworks I was lucky to join. I also did kimono wearing, tea ceremony and a taiko drum lesson which was so much fun. And not to forget, the chocolate museum was amazing! So many beautiful and worthwhile activities to enroll for.

I hope I can go back soon and I highly recommend studying with Meiji Academy in Hokkaido. Arigato gozaimashita:)