Japan: Osaka

In cooperation with CET, Lewis & Clark College offers students a semester or full-year program on the campus of Osaka Gakuin University (OGU). Study focuses on language immersion and developing linguistic competency. The program provides a rigorous and intensive study of the language, and students are expected to spend a great deal of time on language study both in the classroom and outside of class. Independent study trips to other sites in Japan, as well as excursions to cultural sites of interest in and near Osaka, enhance the students’ understanding of life in contemporary Japan. Past excursions have included a trip to Mie to visit a re-created ninja village, pottery making in Kagawa, and a visit to the natural hot springs in Arima.

The program is based at Osaka Gakuin University. OGU is located near two train lines, and only 15 minutes away from downtown Osaka. Students have access to OGU’s great library, study lounges, sports facilities, and lovely campus. The CET Center is within the International Center building on campus. This is where students take their classes, link up with staff, meet for J-chat (Japanese conversation), or just hang out with peers.

Full Year Participation: Students applying for a full year will need to demonstrate academic success during their first semester abroad.  All students planning on a full-year of study will be asked via email during their first semester abroad to affirm their intention to continue into the next semester.  Approval is contingent upon approval of the student’s advisor and the Overseas Office.

Requirements Fulfilled:

General Education - This program fulfills the Global Perspectives general education requirement for students who successfully complete 8 or more semester credits.

Students who complete Japanese 201 or higher fulfill the World Language proficiency general education requirement.

Major/Minor Requirements - This program fulfills the overseas study recommendation for the Asian Studies minor and the overseas study requirement for the World Languages major with Japanese as the primary language. Select courses can be applied to the Japanese minor.

Credits: Credit earned varies based on courses completed but students may earn up to 19 credits. Overloads are not permitted.

Curriculum: 

Students will take either 6 or 12 credits of Japanese language classes. Students will choose from electives taught in either English or Japanese for the rest of their credits. These offerings include two studio art courses, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences. These classes are usually taught completely in English. Upper-intermediate and advanced students may also take J-Bridge classes (taught in Japanese, but at an appropriate level for non-native speakers). Each student’s Japanese course level will be determined by the results of a placement test taken at the beginning of the program.

JAPN 145: Japanese Language Pledge and Cultural Immersion (1 credit): Note: Only students taking the full language pledge will receive this credit.

• Please note that selecting 6 credits of Japanese language might affect the ability to minor. Students should speak with the Japanese Section before completing their course selection.
• Please note that the language pledge credit is only applied for a full language pledge. The partial language pledge does not qualify for the JAPN 145 credit.

Housing: Students share a furnished, off-campus living space with local roommates. Students’ Osaka homes are authentically Japanese—small, but comfortable, and located in a cozy, residential neighborhood. Each student’s housing is a short walk or train ride from campus. Residences have many layouts, but there is always one roommate for every one student…perfect for practicing Japanese. Local roommates are Osaka Gakuin University students selected by CET. The local students who are chosen as roommates are enthusiastic about the program, interested in international life, and excited to share their culture with a new foreign friend. Roommates abide by the same Japanese language pledge as the students do. English practice is not their goal. Instead, they may help students with homework, or teach them some Japanese slang. Students can learn everything they need to know about Japanese college life from their local roommate—the exact rules in your new favorite TV game show, the best 100-yen shop near campus, the newest must-have apps for your phone. Some roommates invite CET students back to their home for dinner or a weekend away, giving them a glimpse of Japanese family life, too.

For meals, students can take their pick of the city’s many cheap eateries, try out the campus cafeteria, or cook with their roommate in their shared kitchen. Grocery shopping is a great way to learn about the local community—local vendors have sustained the neighborhoods for decades. Don’t like to cook? Don’t worry. Japanese grocery stores carry a wide variety of ready-to-eat foods.

Cultural Activities: Each term, the program offers different activities that let students explore Osaka, learn about Japanese culture, practice their language skills, or just unwind with their classmates and roommates. Examples of cultural activities from past programs include practicing calligraphy, taking a biking tour of Kyoto, singing at karaoke, hiking a nature trail, learning to make sensu (handheld fans), exploring temples, and going on a city-wide scavenger hunt.

“Pay attention to the specific Japanese rules/regulations regarding travel, medical care, medicine, etc. And make sure you have your phone plan sorted out!”

“The course material had more of an emphasis on memorization than I was used to. The workload was also heavier than I was used to”

“I was happy being in Osaka, and while the program is technically not in Osaka city it is very easy to get there by train.”

“Being a trans or nonbinary individual on this program may be difficult because there may be very few people like you here. Despite this, it still felt like a safe place to be. It’s just that there is not much widespread awareness about other gender identities in Japanese society.”

2026-2027 Fee Breakdown*

Total Fee (includes Tuition, Program Fee, and Health & Wellness Fee): $44,791

Tuition: $35,329

Program Fee: $9,425

Health & Wellness Fee: $37**

Included in the program fee are room/housing, board/meals, and administrative fees. Not included are airfare, passport and visa expenses, primary insurance coverage, photographs, books, immunizations, and incidentals. 

*Fees are updated every February for the following academic year.

**The Health & Wellness Fee supports the operations of Wellness Services staff in delivering pre-program orientation services, as well as in providing health-related consultation regarding participant health needs. All students in the College of Arts and Sciences pay a mandatory fee of $37 per semester.

Stipend: Students will receive a stipend to cover the cost of meals and transportation costs not covered by the program fee.

Estimated Airfare (Round Trip PDX to KIX): $1,000 - $2,000

Estimated Travel Document Fees: $50-100*

Estimated Health Insurance Fee: $1,906

*This cost is for visa application fees and processing only. Students may need to travel to a consulate to submit their application, which would result in additional travel expenses. There is a consulate in Portland, so most students will not need to travel.

All students participating in overseas programs are automatically enrolled in iNext, a supplemental travel insurance program. The fee for iNext is covered in the program cost. However, students are also required to have comprehensive health insurance during their time abroad. All students participating in overseas programs, both abroad and domestic, are automatically enrolled in the College’s student health insurance program. Similar to a regular semester on-campus, students participating in overseas programs may waive enrollment in the student health insurance program if they have other comprehensive health insurance (e.g., through a parent, guardian or employer) that 1) provides coverage for them in the geographic region in which they will be studying and 2) includes mental health benefits. Find more information regarding health insurance & overseas programs.

Physical Requirements:

Before applying to this program, you should assess and determine if you are physically and/or emotionally able to participate in the following physical demands required by some of this program’s activities:

• Walking or hiking up to 5 miles in a day, sometimes for two or more days in a row, sometimes on hilly, uneven, or cobbled terrain
• Climbing and descending stairs
• Using public transportation, including often crowded buses or trains
• Navigating crowded streets and sidewalks
• Standing for long periods during tours and site visits
• Entering into older buildings with narrow and sometimes steep staircases, at times with limited or no access to elevators
• The possibility of warm/hot temperatures while residing in locations without air conditioning, and/or cold temperatures while residing in locations with a comfort for lower indoor temperatures
• The possibility of long, busy days with little downtime and infrequent days off from program activities

If you have questions or are concerned about these or any other program activities, please contact the Lewis & Clark College Overseas & Off-Campus Programs office (overseas@lclark.edu).

Application Process: This program has a dual application process. Student must first submit a Lewis & Clark Application. Once admitted by Lewis & Clark, the students will receive instructions for submitting their secondary application to CET.  Please keep a digital copy of your essays and other application materials as you will need to submit these similar materials again. Please note that this secondary application process can be as late as the semester preceding your scheduled participation. 

Learn more about our application process.

Travel: Students usually fly into Kansai International Airport (KIX), where they are met by CET staff and transported to their housing.

Visa: Students will be required to apply for a visa in order to participate. Most consulates require applicants to make a personal appearance to apply for a student visa. The nearest consulate serving the Portland jurisdiction is located in Portland, Oregon. More information will be provided upon admission to the program.

Country-Specific Health Information: View specific health information for people traveling to Japan.

State Department Country Information: Visit the State Department’s Japan page.