Study Abroad in Japan: Intensive Japanese Language & Culture Studies in Osaka – City & Daily Life

Osaka, Japan

Visitors are easily drawn to Osaka, Japan. This large city of over 3 million people is one of Japan’s economic centers. And, as CET Japan students will soon find, Osaka also boasts easy access to many other Japanese cities:

Kyoto, the cultural center of Japan: 30 minutes away. Trendy Kobe, a world trading port: 40 minutes away. Historic Nara: 60 minutes away. And Tokyo, the nation’s capital city? Just over two hours away by shinkansen, the famed bullet train.

But Osaka is known for reasons much more enticing than its size and accessibility: eating and laughing! This “nation’s kitchen,” as it is aptly known, is a mecca of inexpensive, tantalizing Japanese cuisine. And while students are tasting takoyaki (fried octopus balls), they can sit back and enjoy a local comedy show, as Osaka is also home to Japanese comedic arts.

With this background of good food and humor, it’s no wonder that Osakans are known for their friendliness and approachability, making Osaka the perfect place to improve Japanese language skills.

Osaka Gakuin University

CET Japan is based on the campus of Osaka Gakuin University (OGU). OGU was founded in 1940 as an accounting school. It now is a large university of eight undergraduate schools and six graduate programs.

The University occupies a prime location 15 minutes away from Osaka’s downtown hub. On campus, CET Japan students enjoy access to OGU’s many amenities: a library with over one million volumes, countless student clubs, computer labs, sports facilities, a health center and many gardens for strolling.

CET Center in Osaka

The CET Japan program office is housed in a building on the Osaka Gakuin University campus. The same building is also home to classrooms, the J-chat lounge and OGU’s International Center. Cafeterias, libraries and computer labs are all a short walk from the center.

Osaka Housing & Meals

CET Japan students share rooms with Japanese roommates in furnished apartments near campus. Apartments are typical of Japanese city life—they are quite small, but comfortable and make efficient use of limited space. Apartments come equipped with futons, a TV, internet, private or shared bathrooms, laundry facilities and a small kitchenette. Commutes to campus range from a short walk to a short train ride.

Meals are not included in the program fee. Some students prepare meals at home. Others eat at the OGU cafeteria or one of the many inexpensive eateries around campus.

Japanese Roommates

CET Japan students share rooms with a local roommate. Most roommates are from Osaka Gakuin University and selected by CET to participate in the program. Many have studied abroad themselves, would like to study abroad in the future, or are simply interested in cultural exchange.

Semester after semester, students tell us that having a local roommate is “one of the best parts of the program!” CET Japan roommates participate in the program in many ways: excursions, activities, summer language pledge. But many CET students and roommates develop friendships that extend well beyond these program activities, and well beyond their cultural differences.