I don't know how long I have been going through pros and cons in my head, and I can't just decide!
Here's the scenario; I'm going to Japan next year for studies and I'll be there for a year.

What I haven't decided yet it the location. I thought of Tokyo at first but then my brain said that Tokyo is very crowded and perhaps not a place to study a whole year. I started thinking of Osaka... but then my guidebook said that Osaka isin't the place to live since it's a industrial city and only has got night clubs and food places.. and not any of the cultural stuff.
And then I though of Kyoto, but it seemed waaay to cultural and hasn't got alot of the new things as well...
Isin't there anything in between? With both high tech things and cultural stuff like gardens, temples etc.. ?

Yeah... I wonder if it's better to go trough an University or regular language school?
Nobody has been in Osaka, Kyoto or Tokyo and could give their opinions?

If you are in college, I would go with a program through your school. If you try to do it through a different program, the credits probably won't transfer back to your school. In addition, you'd probably have to re-apply to your current school because if you use a program that isn't through your school, you will have to drop out (because you won't be there for a full year). I am currently in the process of getting everything worked out to study abroad.

My school only offers classes in Nagasaki (on the island of Kyushu). It's not my first choice as far as location goes, but I plan on traveling around Japan a little after I am done for the school year. It is the sight of one of the bombings during world war II so there is a lot of historical things from that era. Of course there are also lots of shrines and traditional japanese festivals. In addition it's becomming a very commercial city from what I hear. It has a population of about 7 million so it's a little over half the size of Tokyo, population-wise.

Yeah, I've thought of going through my University, but they only pick the best students and it's in year 3. I want to go now ;)
So I'm thinking of studying in a language school, although I don't know if they're any good. I can imagine you don't get the same "fun activities" as normal universities..

Are you interested in teaching english in Japan someday? If so, you could look at TEFL and TESOL classes in japan.

try Aoyama. they have a pretty nice university there. the Aoyama Gakuin University. I researched it since i want to go study there too :]
its not quite in my likeing but it might be in yours :]

why u not try keio uni.. like sho-baby.. my japanese friend said it is good in jpan.. i thought maybe like todai.. isn't it? ^^

hey what are you planning to study in Japan?
I want to go Japan and study as well- too lazy to learn the language though. My sister learnt the basic and she goes writing in kanji is hard!

Yeah Im into art and design and I think Japan has brilliant designers---anyone know how to get into a design school in Japan??...or getting a job there? haha..

Sorry Im going off-topic !!..But I think the whole 'studying in Japan' topic pretty interesting .

I don't really know. I am very interested in filmmaking and acting (Although acting might not the Japan's strongest area) and of course the language. That depends on what you'd want to get out of this experience... language or something that'll help you get a job in the future?

I too was thinking of a place/area to live, if i were to study in Japan, although it wouldn´t be with my univeristy since I´m studyin tourism and they go as far a Europe, but here in DR the Japanese Embassy has many nice programs, anyways i feel very tempted, but at the same i don´t know anyone over there and the study programs are admin and marketing based which wasnt lying in my mind at all but i´m always up for learning new things and i did swore to live there before i die.

Can anyone tell me about tourism in Japan?
Sorry if this is out of topic...if it is just ignore me ne...

aww man all this study and living in Japan talk making me REALLLYY want to go ..Yeah in the train ive been reading this book called "travel guide" or "Passport" to Japan...yeah just reading it makes me feel "closer" to achieving my "dream" haha..

Anyway I don't really know much on the subject/job "tourism" so sorry can't help you there...don't worry if you've gone off topic- were all here to help each other fulfill our "Japan Journeys" haha .

SPeakng of 'off-topic's...whens the cheapest to go Japan...Im planning to go feb- you think that'll be exepnsive?...
Im sorry Dulcidine for encouraging others and myself to go off topic on your thread!...