Genki Japanese and Culture School, Kyoto, Japan

Genki Japanese and Culture School emphasizes learning Japanese on an existential level, experiencing, feeling, and living Japanese culture, and learning the language as a way to do so. All three locations promise small class sizes of fewer than nine students, award-winning curriculum, and scheduling flexibility. Students of all levels are welcome, and the school helps secure whichever type of visa a student needs for their length of study. Genki classes are divided into input and output sessions, the former being the half of the class when students take in new vocabulary and grammar, and the latter consisting of practice and application. Core Japaneses classes can be combined with certain add-ons, such as traditional culture, pop culture, conversation, or private lessons. A variety of residence halls and apartments are available, or students can stay with a local host family in order to better immerse themselves in the language and culture. Though the Genki Kyoto campus is the newest, it already boasts three StudyTravel Star Awards, comfortable classrooms, and recreational facilities. While in Kyoto, students will be able to learn about ancient Japanese culture and history from famous Buddhist temples such as Kinkaku-ji and Kiyomizu-dera and from Shinto palaces and shrines such as Fushimi Inari Taisha. A walk in any direction from campus brings students to gardens, parks, temples, and shrines, and efficient public transportation enables students to reach all the famous sites quickly and easily. Whether it's enjoying the modern amenities of a large Japanese city or taking a walk through the bamboo and cherry blossoms at Arashiyama, students will never run out of ways to drink in Japanese culture in Kyoto.