Summer Ancient + Modern Japan
Unique Experiences
Be Entranced by the Zen Rock Garden of Ryoanji Temple
and take in the contrast between the dazzling Golden Temple and more serene Silver Temple
Immerse Yourself in the Cultural Capital of Japan
with its rich cultural, religious, and artistic traditions and historic sites dating 1,200+ years
Indulge in Kyoto’s Famous Uji Green Tea
either as a drink or with green tea-flavored pastries, ice cream, and other desserts
Your Destination
Kyoto is Japan’s cultural heart, renowned for its rich history, serene temples, and stunning traditional architecture. In the summer, the city comes alive with vibrant festivals, lush gardens, and peaceful temples, offering a unique blend of ancient traditions and modern influences. Iconic landmarks like Kinkaku-ji (the Golden Pavilion) and Fushimi Inari Shrine shine in the warm summer light. Whether you’re studying language, history, the arts, or religious studies, Kyoto is the perfect place to study abroad.
Program Highlights
- Academic Courses: Choose from CIEE courses and online courses delivered by CIEE’s global partner, ASU, that align with your academic major.
- Immersive Experiences: Participate in visits to palaces, temples, museums, theaters, and more that bring your classroom studies to life.
- Academic Projects: Enroll in optional volunteer work to give back to the community through local organizations, youth centers, schools, and more.
Excursions & Activities
CIEE’s excursions and cultural activities in Kyoto will open doors for you to explore Japan’s rich diversity, language, culture, history, and timeless beauty in ways that will enhance your time abroad.
Samples of past excursions and activities:
- Hike up Mt. Hiei to World Heritage Site Enryaku-ji, the head temple of the Tendai Sect of Buddhism
- Enjoy a train ride to visit breathtaking temples like Jakko-in and Sanzen-in
- Take a day trip to Nara with its great seated Buddha in Todaiji temple
Please note: Activities are based on past programs and are subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.
Program Blogs
From Tatami Floors to Neon Nights: How Japan Became My Home Away from Home
Written by: Lisa Busby こんにちは！(Konnichiwa!) My name is Lisa, and I’m a student at Texas Lutheran University in Seguin, Texas. This summer, I studied abroad with CIEE Kyoto, taking courses... keep reading
What CIEE Gave Me
Written by: Natasha Schaeffer I’m sure you’ve heard people say that study abroad can change your life; I know I did, and I thought, “Yeah, I’m sure”. Studying abroad is... keep reading
CIEE Kyoto: Cultivating Significant Experiences for those Studying Abroad
Authored by J.M. Avila University students well along their academic journey may think to themselves: what exactly is the point of studying abroad? By the third or fourth year of... keep reading
Housing & Meals
Housing
CIEE Kyoto offers diverse housing options, including shared apartments located within a 20-minute commute of CIEE Kyoto. Our housing options are conveniently located within walking distance of restaurants, cafés, shops, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and public transportation.
Standard Housing: Includes a twin room in an apartment or hotel located within 20 minutes from CIEE Kyoto or a single room at a homestay within a 90-minute commute from CIEE Kyoto.
- Homestays: Homestays feature a kitchen, living room, and bathroom shared with a host family.
- Shared Apartments: Apartments boast kitchenettes, high-speed Wi-Fi, en-suite bathrooms, and laundry facilities.
- Hotels: Hotels feature high-speed Wi-Fi, en-suite bathrooms, televisions, shared desk space, shared laundry facilities, and a weekly cleaning service.
Select Housing: A single room in an apartment or hotel located within 20 minutes of CIEE Kyoto. Select housing requires an additional fee.
- Apartments: Apartments boast kitchenettes, high-speed Wi-Fi, en-suite bathrooms and laundry facilities.
- Hotels: Hotels feature high-speed Wi-Fi, en-suite bathrooms, , televisions, shared desk space, shared laundry facilities, and a weekly cleaning service.
Select Plus Housing: A single room in an apartment located within 5 minutes of CIEE Kyoto. Select Plus housing requires an additional fee.
- Apartment: Apartments boast kitchenettes, high-speed Wi-Fi, en-suite bathrooms and laundry facilities.
A note: The default criterion to assign housing is first-come, first-served; however, other factors may also be considered. If we cannot accommodate your first housing choice, we'll let you know before you arrive. Non-standard housing options require an additional fee that can be found in the program Dates and Fees.
Meals
- Shared Apartments: Meals are not included.
- Hotels: Meals are not included.
- Homestays: Breakfast and dinner are provided seven days per week
Academics
CIEE Kyoto: Study in the upscale office district of Karasuma Oike – a 15-minute walk from the city's main shopping street, Nijo Castle, Kamo River, and the former Imperial Palace. CIEE Kyoto features classrooms, a student lounge, a student life office, and an academic advising office.
Arizona State University (ASU): Brought to you by CIEE in partnership with ASU, enhance your international coursework with online classes that align with your degree requirements. ASU offers thousands of online courses in asynchronous 6-week sessions that fit within the CIEE academic calendar.
Course Information
Course Notes
- Courses are listed below by block and track; course list subject to change. Courses are in English unless otherwise noted.
Language Classes
- During course selection, students interested in a non-introductory language course will be required to take a language assessment to determine their proficiency level. Enrollment will be finalized on site and is based on assessment outcomes.
Summer Block I 2026
Summer Block II 2026
CIEE proudly partners with ASU to deliver asynchronous, 100% online coursework that aligns with your degree requirements from anywhere you study abroad.
CIEE and ASU offer courses online per program eligibility, at no additional charge. Be sure to review online courses with your home school advisor.
Check the CIEE Program Dates and ASU start dates below to maximize course options within your program!
Search ASU Online Courses BROWSE FAQs for more INFO
Note: This course listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute a contract between CIEE and any applicant, student, institution, or other party. The courses, as described, may be subject to change as a result of ongoing curricular revisions, assignment of lecturers and teaching staff, and program development. Courses may be canceled due to insufficient enrollment.
"(GI)" denotes courses that originated at CIEE's Global Institutes and that are offered at multiple CIEE sites.
Scholarships & Grants
CIEE offers scholarships and grants annually to help students like you make your study abroad dream a reality.
Students who apply to this program are eligible for the following scholarships and grants:
- Wollitzer Merit Scholarships in Area or Comparative Studies
- Ping Scholarships for Academic Excellence
- Global Access Initiative (GAIN) Grants
- CIEE Gilman Go Global Grant
- CIEE STEM Scholarship
To be considered, submit the CIEE Scholarships & Grants application within your CIEE program application.
Dates & Fees
You get more for every dollar when you study abroad with CIEE, because our high-quality programs include everything from excursions to insurance. There are no hidden charges, and no disappointing surprises when you arrive.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Fees & Housing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Block I 2026 6 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $7,450 | |
| Program Summer Blocks I, II 2026 12 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $14,900 | |
| Program Summer Block II 2026 6 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Fees & Housing $7,450 |
To help you budget, keep in mind that students are responsible for the cost of international airfare, local transportation, books and supplies, visas, and personal expenses. In addition, your college or university may charge additional fees for study abroad, or may require you to receive a transcript via CIEE's School of Record, which carries an additional fee of $500.
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $4,950 ** |
| Housing | $2,000 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $7,450 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $214 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 |
| Local Transportation | $150 |
| Books & Supplies | $100 |
| Personal expenses | $170 †† |
| Total Costs | $2,334 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals (breakfast and dinner). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $428 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Sim card requires one time fee of 25
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $10,400 ** |
| Housing | $4,000 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $14,900 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $428 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 |
| Local Transportation | $300 |
| Books & Supplies | $200 |
| Personal expenses | $340 †† |
| Total Costs | $2,968 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals (breakfast and dinner). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $428 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Sim card requires one time fee of 25
Program Fees
CIEE offers the most student support of any provider in its program fee, including an airport greeting, full-time leadership and support, orientation, cultural activities, local excursions, pre-departure advising, and CIEE iNext travel protection with benefits.
| Participation Confirmation | $300 * |
| Educational Costs | $4,950 ** |
| Housing | $2,000 *** |
| Insurance | $200 |
| Total Fees | $7,450 |
Financial Aid
CIEE offers the most grants and scholarships of any study abroad organization, including $8 million/year in travel grants, merit-based scholarships, institutional grants, and Gilman Go Global Grants.
Estimated Costs
Students are responsible and manage costs related to travel, meals, books, and personal expenses. Below are estimates for consideration.
| Meals not included in program fee | $214 † |
| International Airfare | $1,700 |
| Local Transportation | $150 |
| Books & Supplies | $100 |
| Personal expenses | $170 †† |
| Total Costs | $2,334 |
*non-refundable
**direct cost of education charged uniformly to all students
***Housing fees listed are for financial aid purposes only and should not be considered a basis for calculation of refunds.
†For students in homestays, families provide 2 meals (breakfast and dinner). For students in apartments, you should budget approx. $428 per month for groceries if you plan on making your own meals, and more if you plan on eating out regularly.
††Sim card requires one time fee of 25
What's Included
Tuition
Housing
Pre-departure Advising
Advising before you depart to set goals and answer questions
Optional on-site airport meet-and-greet
Orientation
Introduction to your program plus practical information about living in your host city
On-site Staff
Full-time program leadership and support in your city
Cultural and/or Co-curricular Activities
Excursions and/or Study Tours
Travel Protection
CIEE iNext travel protection
24/7 emergency on-site support
Our Staff
Conor Aherne
Center Director
Conor’s passion for Japan began 12 years ago when he studied abroad in Tokyo. He holds an MA in Japanese & Asian History from Saitama University and is a specialist in Kyoto history.
Izumi Wada
Senior Program Coordinator
Izumi was born in Kyoto and studied abroad in the US when she was in high school. She is passionate about helping students make their study abroad experience meaningful and fruitful (and baking bread on the weekend!).
Get Started
1
2
Connect With Your Campus Study Abroad Office
Share your plans and confirm you're on track to meet all required steps to go abroad.
3
Contact Us
Send us an email if you still have questions or need information about applying to this program.
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