Why choose Kyoto to learn Japanese?
Kyoto is more peaceful than Tokyo, ideal for deep cultural immersion while you learn Japanese.
A student city through and through, it lets you practise the language among locals who are used to foreign students.
Language courses
in Kyoto
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Kyoto
Japan
Study Japanese in the former imperial capital, the cultural heart of Japan.
Kyoto at a glance
Kyoto combines exceptional historic heritage with an active student life: a balanced setting in which to make progress in Japanese.
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The city in brief
Population
Population
1.46 million inhabitants
Living environment
Living environment
The former imperial capital of Japan, known for its temples, gardens and preserved traditions.
Map & landmarks
Kyoto lies in central Japan, on the island of Honshū, surrounded by hills that shelter many of its temples and shrines. The imperial capital for more than a thousand years, it has kept a historic centre rich in heritage, unlike most large Japanese cities rebuilt after the war. The climate is marked by hot, humid summers and cool winters, with pleasant seasons in between.
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City life and landmarks
History & culture
Founded in 794 as Heian-kyō, Kyoto was Japan’s imperial capital for more than a thousand years, until power moved to Tokyo in 1868. Spared by the bombing of the Second World War, it has kept a unique architectural heritage, with more than 2,000 temples and shrines, seventeen of them UNESCO World Heritage sites.
things to do / to see
During your language stay in Kyoto, visit the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji), the Fushimi Inari shrine with its thousands of torii gates, or the Gion district, famous for its geishas. Stroll through the Arashiyama bamboo grove on the edge of the city. Osaka and Nara are less than an hour away by train.
The city in practical terms
Kyoto is easy to get around by bicycle or bus, as the city is more compact than Tokyo. The cost of living is lower than in the capital, with plenty of student-friendly options thanks to the many universities.
Find my language stay in Kyoto
Our schools in Kyoto
1 school available
GenkiJACS Kyoto