Study Abroad

Students are strongly recommended to study in Japan during their junior year (two semesters of Japanese are required), and excellent scholarships from the Japanese Ministry of Education are available.

In order to prepare students for a future of increased contact with Asia, Tufts in Japan offers students a full academic year or spring semester at Kanazawa University, a prestigious national institution in a picturesque city rich with history.  Kanazawa, one of the most beautiful cities in Japan, is located on the Japan Sea (facing Korea and China). It is an ancient castle town that during the Tokugawa Period (1600-1868) was the administrative center of the Kaga Domain, the largest and most affluent in the entire country. Kanazawa escaped the bombs of the Second World War with historical landmarks intact. Students can still visit the mansions and gardens of former samurai and tour the city’s two temples.

Like Boston, Kanazawa is a city of many parks and colleges. Emphasis has been placed on education, and the cultural level of the people is high. Students take classes at the newly rebuilt Kanazawa University, one of the leading national universities. By night, students are able to enjoy the lively night life of Korinbo. In addition to a number of sophisticated department stores, the city has a famous open market and wonderful food: anything from Mister Donuts to exquisite Kaga cuisine.

In short, Kanazawa is big enough to be interesting and small enough to be intimate and manageable, a perfect place to get started in Japan. Kyoto/Osaka, a more urban environment, is two hours away by train, and Tokyo is just an hour flight, or a four-to-five hour train ride.

Please visit Tufts in Japan at the Tufts Programs Abroad website for more information.