Mobility specification

Country:Japan

Institution:Ryukoku University

City:Kyoto

Program:Faculty agreements

Activity type:Study

Academic year:2024/2025

MU faculty/department:Faculty of Arts / Japan Studies Seminar

Study level abroad:Bachelor

🎓Hit the books! How do you rate the university experience?

Can you enroll in a course where you can learn the local language?yes

Does the university offer enough courses in English?none

Are your credits converted?yes

Can you give an example?Yes, credits are recalculated in favour of Masaryk University. At Ryukoku University, each student must enroll in 16-20 credits worth of courses per semester (since most courses for international students are 1 credit and regular courses or special courses are 2 credits, this works out to 8-16 hours per week). The conversion is as follows: if the course is related to my major, it will count for 3 credits, if it is a general course, it will count for 2 credits.
In my case, it looked like this: in the spring semester, I took 11 courses - 7 (+1) of the required courses (1 credit each), 3 special courses for 2 credits each, and one general course from the faculty also for 2 credits.

The *course that takes twice as long (3 hours) and therefore is for 1×2 credits.

Was there anything in the teaching methods that surprised you?Honestly, nothing about the teaching surprised me, because I had already heard, seen and knew a lot about how teaching in Japan is done, mainly thanks to the experience of my predecessors. So there was nothing downright shocking for me. But I think it's worth mentioning that anyone going to study at a traditional Japanese university such as Ryukoku should be prepared for the fact that many of the courses designed for international students can be quite boring. This doesn't mean that the teachers are poorly prepared - on the contrary, you can see that they put in a lot of work. However, even subjects that look very interesting in name or content can be quite boring in the end, and homework is often not helpful in understanding the material. Of course, it depends a lot on the individual, but from what I heard from my classmates, they had exactly the same impression.

I have even noticed that the more difficult a subject is, the more interesting it tends to be - and by that I mean especially subjects that require a higher level of language than the student normally has. For example, I was placed in JEP5 level (about N2) and one of the most interesting subjects was 文法 JEP6 grammar. Therefore, I would recommend to anyone planning to study at this university that, if they reach JEP4 level and above (because from this level onwards you can already enrol in regular faculty courses), they should take interest in subjects other than those recommended for international students. For JEP4, I would recommend combining this - for example, 5 JEP courses and 5 regular courses, as language difficulties may arise. Fortunately, if during the first few weeks you find that your chosen subjects at your level are too easy or too difficult, you can swap them for subjects at a higher or lower level.

Another thing I enjoyed immensely is the large number of campus clubs - from alcohol-focused clubs, to traditional Japanese games, to various martial arts. I personally joined a dance club and attend two different dance styles, so I have three-hour practices twice a week. I highly recommend not missing the club fair in the first week of the semester - you're sure to find something you enjoy.

Does the university offer international students' programs and activities outside of lectures and seminars to help them integrate more quickly?Outside the classroom, the university offers quite a lot of different programs organized both by the university itself and by Japanese students who are members of various associations. The main focus of some of these societies is to organise events for international students - both for those who speak Japanese and for those who have come under the Erasmus programme and communicate more in English. During the spring semester there are often events such as barbecues, trips to temples, lunches or other gatherings.

The university itself also regularly sends out questionnaires and invites international students to participate in classes as communication partners in English. It is also possible to try teaching your own native language as part of this activity. I took part in this opportunity and taught Ukrainian for a month, which I really enjoyed and was a great new experience that I will definitely use in the future.

In which areas does the university offer support for students with special needs and strive to be inclusive?Psychological counseling
Barrier-free access to classrooms and dormitories
Support for LGBTQ+ students (e.g., safe spaces, counseling services)

💸Did you have to rob the bank?

Try to take a guess at what your monthly expenditures were:18000 CZK/month

Did you stay in dorms?yes

What about unexpected expenses? Did anything surprise you?In terms of costs, it may come as a surprise to people coming to Japan for the first time that all public transport has different prices, and these prices also depend on the length of the journey. A train or subway journey within the city can cost between 20 and 150 crowns. It can also be challenging for fruit and berry lovers as fruit is very expensive in Japan and is often sold individually or in packs of 2-3.

Do you have any tips on how to save money?When it comes to discounts, be prepared to download a bunch of different apps on your phone that allow you to collect points and redeem them for discounts later. These apps will also tell you about the latest promotions at a particular store. There are cheaper supermarkets near the dorms, such as Matsumoto or Gyomu Super. When it comes to electronics or clothing, it's better to head downtown, for example, to Avanti or Yodobashi Kamera malls.

🗺 Learn the ropes in a new city

How well did you manage to communicate in English?with gestures

How does public transport work in the city?runs like clockwork

And what about transport outside the city?runs like clockwork

Where to find connections? How to buy a ticket?The easiest way to find out how to get where to go is to use Google Maps. It usually shows the correct routes, transfers and different transport options and approximate prices.

As for tickets, you can get a transport card, such as Suica, ICOCA and the like, the first day you arrive in Japan. I recommend preparing cash and exchanging it for yen at the airport as soon as you arrive, as you won't be able to do without cash in Japan in the first few days. You can buy a transport card directly from the machine at the station - it's very easy and if you don't know what to do, you can ask the staff at the ticket office, they will be happy to help you.

The card is bought at the machine and the amount you pay for the card is immediately loaded as travel credit. The system works by holding the card up to the turnstile when you enter the station and the display will show the current balance on the card. When you exit, you reinsert the card and the travel amount is automatically deducted. If you happen to walk through the station entrance and find you don't have enough money on your card, there's no need to panic - you can continue your journey and simply top up your card at the machine before leaving your destination. Importantly, top-ups are cash only, as credit cards are usually not possible.

Did you deal with any health issues during your stay?no

🤠Help create the perfect bucket list

What is a must-see in the city?Kyoto was the second capital of Japan and the one that has held the status of capital for the longest time in the country's history. That's why you'll find a really large number of historical monuments here, such as the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), the Silver Pavilion (Ginkaku-ji), Kiyomizu-dera Temple and many more. There are also many parks and Shinto shrines.

Personally, if you go to Japan in the spring, I recommend you don't miss the sakura season and have a picnic in the Gion district, specifically at Yasaka Jinja, Hirano Jinja, or go to the evening light show at Nijō Kōen Park or Tō-ji Pagoda.

I recommend not being lazy and walking around Kyoto. Although the city may seem quite large, it is walking that allows you to get to know Kyoto best and enjoy its atmosphere.

You should also not miss the city of Uji, which is roughly halfway between Kyoto and Nara. In Uji you can enjoy traditional matcha tea, visit the Genji Museum and the famous Byōdō-in Temple.

If you head in the opposite direction, northwest of Kyoto, you can visit one of Japan's most famous and beautiful places, Amanohashidate - one of the three most beautiful views in the whole country.

What are the must-visit trip destinations?Osaka, Kobe, Nara, Hiroshima, Wakayama, Mie/Shiga/Aichi Prefecture, Hokkaido.

Share your best experience:So far, my best experiences have been in Osaka, where I have made several trips. Osaka has a much more lively and bustling big city atmosphere compared to Kyoto, which tends to be quieter, very touristy and historic - sometimes I find it too quiet and a bit boring.

I also really enjoyed my trip to Hiroshima and would definitely like to go back again. When I was there, my main goal was to visit Miyajima Island. The island has a beautiful view of the iconic Torii standing in the water. In early May, the sea level is still not that high, so you can walk to the gate and the water reaches about mid-thigh.

During my trip to the island, I also climbed Mount Misen, which had an amazing view of the entire island and Hiroshima itself. The atmosphere of Hiroshima reminded me of Osaka, but it's a smaller, more compact city with a 1950s historical feel.

💅A nugget of wisdom to make the life easier

Did you need to handle a visa?yes

Where can it be arranged?At the Japanese Embassy in Prague.

What is needed?Pre-arrange all necessary documents at the receiving university (it takes about 60 working days) + application form (which you fill in at the embassy) + two photos (3*4).

How long does it take approximately?Approximately 1 working week.

How did you get to the place?Plane

Is there anything to watch out for before the trip?Before buying a ticket, I recommend checking the airline's website for the baggage policy. Many airlines that fly from Europe to Japan are Chinese airlines and they often prohibit the carriage of powerbanks unless they meet their specific requirements.

If you're flying to Kyoto, you'll most likely land at Kansai Airport, which is about an hour away from downtown Osaka. Therefore, I recommend carrying about $100 in cash (or a credit card), which you can exchange for yen at the airport as soon as you arrive. Cash will come in handy not only for buying a transport card, but also in everyday life, as there are still many places in Japan where you can only pay in cash.

Also think ahead if you want to find a part-time job in Japan. This question will be asked at the airport on arrival. You will be given an ID card (Residence Card) on arrival and, if you apply for it, you will get a stamp in it straight away to allow you to work legally.

Can you pay by card?neutral

What not to forget when packing?You can buy both clothes and shoes relatively cheaply in Japan, so that shouldn't be a problem. However, if you want to save money, I recommend bringing a few short and long sleeve shirts, definitely sportswear and sneakers. If you are planning to come in the spring, when it is the rainy season, I also recommend bringing rubber boots or some waterproof shoes.

If you suffer from allergies or frequent illnesses, be sure to bring the necessary medication, at least for the beginning of your stay.

And what is very important - before you go to Japan, don't forget to get an adaptor for sockets. From my own experience, it's hard to find a good quality adapter in Japan at a reasonable price that will also work well.

🥳Summary

Whew, what a ride! 😮‍💨 Thanks so much for taking the time to complete our survey and for sharing your unique experience. Just one last thing. 🙏 How would you summarize your trip in one or two sentences?Not everything always goes according to plan, but that is the magic of the trip. Even hardships help create beautiful memories ✨