GROUP PROGRAM

The students participating in this program live with a typical Japanese middle-class family in a suburb of the Tokyo Metropolitan Area, and attend a Japanese-language public junior high school as a foreign guest student Mondays to Fridays. The host families have children of their own attending the same school. On weekends, the students spend time with their host siblings and host families.

The program offers an excellent opportunity to fully immerse in Japanese life, and to improve Japanese language skills.

Junior High School Students, Japanese Language

Location:

Saitama, Japan

Duration:

3-8 weeks

• Location of the program: Suburban location of Saitama Prefecture (part of the Tokyo metropolitan area). You can expect infrastructure such as shopping malls, including movie theaters, bowling lanes, family restaurants, and other entertainment facilities, public transport by bus, the same type of stores and restaurants belonging to chains that are all over Japan, public parks, city offices and community centers with libraries, educational offers and public events, gyms and other sports facilities, NPOs and community initiatives doing cultural, environmental and other activities.

• Guest student at a public junior high school: The Japanese-speaking school offers education for students typically aged 12 to 15, covering grades 7 through 9. The curriculum includes the same range of subjects as any public junior high school in Japan, designed to provide a level of education that is preparing students for higher education and future careers.

• A school uniform is provided at no extra charge to the foreign guest student

• Facilities and Extracurricular Activities: Japanese junior high schools generally offer various clubs and sports teams, including cultural clubs (such as music, art, and tea ceremony) and athletic teams (such as baseball, soccer, and basketball), providing students with opportunities to develop diverse skills and interests.

• Community Engagement: The school engages with the local community through events and activities, fostering a strong relationship between students, parents, and residents. Such engagement is common in Japanese schools and contributes to a supportive educational environment.

• Accommodation: With a Japanese middle class host family that has a child attending the same public Junior high school. The families are typical Japanese middle class families. They typically consist of parents and one or two children, living in a comfortable yet modest home, which in a suburban area is usually a detached house. The houses are typically smaller than American family homes (around 800-1300 sq. ft.). There is typically not a lot of effort spent on home interior design and furnishing, and building quality is basic. Life is mostly indoor in fully air conditioned rooms. It is uncommon to sit on an outdoor verandah in the summertime. The rooms are typically a mix of Western-style rooms (洋室, yōshitsu) with beds and traditional tatami-mat rooms (和室, washitsu) used for multi-purpose activities. There is usually one bathroom for the whole family, which is separate from the toilet. The bath usually has a small bathtub (ofuro). Kitchens are usually small, but equipped with high-tech appliances. The Living/Dining Area often has a sofa and dinner table. It is the heart of the home where most time is spent. It often has a large wall-mounted TV, which is on most of the time, showing Japanese news, drama and entertainment programs. There is limited storage space in the house. The family usually has two Japanese cars, one mid-sized car for the husband, and one small kei car for the wife. 

• The guest student is usually accommodated in a private room.

• The focus of the life of the family is typically on education (parents emphasize studying, and children often have extra lessons), work, and community involvement (participation in neighborhood events and school activities). A Japanese middle-class family enjoys a structured, stable, and efficient lifestyle, valuing harmony, routine, and convenience.

• Work Day Morning Routine:

  • Parents and children wake up around 6:00-7:00 AM.

  • A typical breakfast includes rice, miso soup, grilled fish, natto (fermented soybeans), and tea, but many families opt for toast, coffee or cereals on busy mornings.

  • Children wear school uniforms, and parents dress for work.

  • The father often leaves first, commuting via train or car to work.

  • The mother, if not working, takes care of household chores and grocery shopping.

• School & Work:

  • Children walk or take public transport to school. School starts at 8:30 AM and ends around 3:30 PM.

  • After school, many students attend juku (cram school) or club activities.

  • Parents’ work schedules vary, but salarymen often work until late evening, while mothers might have part-time jobs (パート, pāto).

• Evening Routine:

  • Dinner is eaten together around 7:00-8:00 PM. Common meals include: Rice, miso soup, grilled meat or fish, vegetables, and pickles.

  • Sometimes, more Western-inspired meals like curry rice, pasta, or omurice (omelet rice).

  • Homework & TV: Kids finish school work while parents watch the news or dramas.

  • Bathtime: Instead of showers, families take turns soaking in the bath, often before bedtime. It is uncommon to take a shower in the morning.

  • Bedtime: Children sleep by 9:00-10:00 PM, while parents may stay up until 11:00 PM or later.

• Weekend & Leisure:

  • Shopping: Grocery shopping is done at local supermarkets or convenience stores.

  • Family outings: Visits to parks, malls, or shrines/temples.

  • Entertainment: Watching TV, playing games (Nintendo, PlayStation), or reading manga.

  • Social life: Some families go out for ramen, sushi, or yakiniku.

  • Housework: Weekends include deep cleaning and laundry.

Teacher

Junior High school Students (14-16 years)

4-40 PAX

April to (including) June

September to December

January and February 

Accommodation with a Japanese host family who has a child attending the same Junior High School

Full board included (Breakfast and Dinner at the family on weekdays; lunch at the school canteen; 3x per day at the family on weekends)

Pickup by public transport from Haneda/Narita; the school can be reached by walk/bike or public transport from the host family

Haneda/Narita Airport (Tokyo)

Arrangements & Support fee incl. online preparation session, dedicated support person on-site, regular fun activities (e.g. attending local festivals and events), airport pickup and drop-off (making use of public transport; accompanied by our staff; incl. tickets): 7-12 PAX (arriving and departing together): 740 USD per person + 10% consumption tax

Host family accommodation - incl breakfast and dinner: 30 USD per person per night (no consumption tax applies)

School daily contribution incl. lunch: 14 USD per person per day (no consumption tax applies)

Flight to Tokyo (Haneda/Narita)

A comprehensive risk assessment and emergency management plan is available