SCHOOL EXCHANGES

School exchanges for educational travel in Japan

Many schools while on educational travel in Japan have engaged in exchange programs with schools all around Japan. There are a wide range of school exchange programs which can meet a variety of aims such as cross-cultural communication, language learning, sports or art exchange, and more. Read more about school exchanges in Japan.

Examples of Exchange Programs

There are two types of school exchanges: “In-Person School Exchange,” which is where a student physically goes to the school, and “Online School Exchange,” which is where students interact with the partner school via the internet. There are various different programs for each of these exchange types.

IN-PERSON EXCHANGE

Discussion

Sport exchange

Cultural experience

Club activity experience

ONLINE SCHOOL EXCHANGE

Presentations

Discussions

Cultural Exchanges / Recent Status Report

Recreations Activities

See here to learn more about online school exchanges.

TIPS FOR ONLINE SCHOOL EXCHANGE

Benefits of School Exchange

Here are the four main benefits of school exchange.

1Increasing Learning Motivation

By paying a visit to a Japanese school and experiencing a foreign educational system. Students will be able to explore things in a new environment and a different culture. This will in turn lead to increased student motivation to learn. Thomas Fuller once said, “He that travels much knows much.” Traveling is always a great opportunity to learn more in a pleasant way.

2Deepening the Understanding of Japanese Culture

Students can actually learn more about Japanese culture through interactions with Japanese students. When encountering a foreign culture, one can always recognize the similarities and differences between the foreign culture and one’s own. It may also be a wonderful opportunity to think about the characteristics of one’s country, and things worth cherishing.

3Acquiring a Global Perspective

By meeting Japanese students of the same age, students have the chance to encounter values that are new to them, and this can foster in them a global perspective. This will deepen the students ability to thing from various angles, something essential for understanding the world.

4An Inspiring, Engaging Japanese-Learning Environment

The best way to master a foreign language is to go to a country where the language is spoken. For students learning Japanese, it is an excellent opportunity to exposed to and learn authentic living Japanese.

Japanese Educational System

For a smoother school exchange, it is necessary to learn more about Japanese educational system. School exchange programs are mostly held in secondary schools, including junior high schools and senior high schools in which students ages range from 12 to 18. During the exchange program, it is possible to take classes with Japanese students, and join club activities organized by the students themselves.

Learn about Japanese Educational System

The Process of School Exchange

Decide to Conduct Educational Travel in Japan

Decide a Visiting Date & Destination

Book Flights & Accommodations

Find Host Schools

Choose a Host School

Confirm the Host School

Local Government Tourism Bureau Education BureauMatching up Schools

Host School

Arrange the Exchange Program

Conduct the Exchange Program during Educational Travel

How to Arrange a School Exchange?

JNTO collaborates with local governments to support school exchanges during educational travel in Japan. After deciding the date and destination of visit as well as completing bookings of flights and accommodation, please contact JNTO to apply for a school exchange. We will assist with visiting and host school matching and introducing you schools which meet your needs.

Applying for School Exchange Visits

*JNTO is a tourism organization. We do not offer individual exchange programs.

Important points of school exchange

Please start to find a host school for school exchange as soon as possible.

Although the matching depends on schools and their locations, it takes about one or two months on average. We will stop accepting applications two months before the day of school exchange. Please ensure to start the process of finding a host school at least 3 months before your visit. Also, confirmed reservations for flights and accommodation are required when applying for a school exchange. Since schools in Japan tend to arrange their schedules for the following school year during December-March, we advise you to aim for that period and start planning as soon as possible.

The difficulty of matching with a host school varies from period to period.

The difficulty of matching depends on schools and their locations. In general, October and November exchanges are the easiest for matching. It may take a longer time during the turn of the academic year (March – April), during the summer vacation (July – August), and during the New Year holidays (late December – early January).

Please refrain from cancelling once the host school has been decided.

To avoid any inconvenience to host schools, please refrain from any cancellation without a valid reason once the match is determined. For the same reason, multiple applications for different host schools at the same time are also not allowed.