こんにちは。My name is Johanna and I am 25 years old. I’m currently living my dream in Japan and I’d like to tell you about my experiences in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Why Japan?
Japan is a great nation and I have always been interested in Japanese culture. I had contact with many Japanese people in my home town of Düsseldorf and I immediately noticed that these people are particularly respectful and friendly. I was also able to acquire some prior knowledge about Japan from stories, movies and books. However, my desire to live in Japan for a while was based particularly on my love of traditional Japanese cuisine. I was also curious to find out what everyday life is like for people on the other side of the world.

Booking
I came across the travel agency Nipponcademy through a Google search. I then contacted Max from Nipponcademy directly. Communication was always super quick and easy, so that I was able to book my trip and apply for a working holiday visa within a month. I made the decision to book the ISI language school in Tokyo and accommodation in the Share House for three months.
I am very satisfied with the choice to have commissioned Nipponcademy. I am now also supported by Nipponcademy during my stay in Japan. If I have any problems or uncertainties, I always get support.
In any case, I can warmly recommend all travelers to Japan to book through Nipponcademy!

Accommodation
I have been living in Tokyo for a month now. My accommodation is very nice, as all the rooms are newly renovated. I live in a so-called “share house” with a total of 12 people from different countries. You quickly come into contact with your neighbors, nonetheless it is always quiet and you have your privacy at all times. I have my own room, equipped with bed, bed linen, TV, clothes boxes, fridge, air conditioning and desk. I share the bathroom, washing machines & dryers and the kitchen with my flatmates. The housekeeping staff regularly clean the shared rooms. All cleaning and hygiene products are also provided by the housekeeping staff. I like my accommodation very much because it is centrally located, clean and quiet. In the immediate neighborhood there is a subway station, 7-Eleven’s, supermarkets, restaurants, post offices, and many other shopping facilities. To my great delight, there is also a beautiful, large park nearby.

Language school
My language school is located in the Takadanobaba district, about 30 minutes by subway from my accommodation. The language school is located in a newly renovated three-story building. The classrooms are friendly and bright and have space for around 15 students per room. There is also a cafeteria, study rooms and a library. We study during the week from Monday to Friday, either for three hours in the morning (08:50 – 12:00) or, as in my case, in the afternoon from 13:00 to 16:10. Each student is provided with the Minna-no-Nihongo textbooks and has access to the school’s learning website and an email inbox. This means that you are regularly informed by your teachers about events (e.g. Halloween Cosplay Event).
I enjoy learning Japanese at ISI because of the friendly and helpful staff. You also quickly come into contact with your fellow students from all over the world and make new friends. Everyday life as a language student is relatively strenuous, as you move quickly through the chapters. A certain amount of self-study, the completion of daily homework and preparation for the next learning unit are expected. Regular tests are used to check the level of knowledge.
I recommend that future students familiarize themselves with the hiragana and katakana alphabets before they start their trip to Japan. This makes it easier to get to grips with the Japanese language!

Everyday life
I feel totally at home here, which is 100% down to the people. Even though my language skills are still a bit fragmented and I am often totally overwhelmed by the impressions of the city, I feel very safe and secure here in everyday life because of the lovely people around me. At the airport, in the supermarket, in the citizens’ office or on the street, there are attentive Japanese people everywhere who will help you with problems until a solution is found. I have the feeling that many Japanese also understand English, but are a bit shy. If you have a small Japanese vocabulary, you’ll get a lot of praise.
I try to adapt to society as much as possible. You can learn a lot by observing people, for example, shoes are taken off in front of the changing rooms, handbags are never placed on the floor, cash is put in a basket when paying, you take your garbage home with you and you don’t eat or drink while walking. Small bows mean respectful interaction, sunglasses are considered too conspicuous, masks are worn everywhere and at all times, people keep quiet on the subway or only speak very softly… As a foreigner, you notice all these little things, but you internalize them very quickly.

Outlook
Tokyo is super diverse and it feels like you can explore a new part of the city every day and discover new fun and cute things. There are shopping and dining opportunities on every corner. If you have time on the weekend, I definitely recommend visiting the teamLab Museum, Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, the view from TokyoCityView, Shibuya Crossing, Tokyo Station and various parks! What’s more, the weather is still warm in October and you can explore the city by bike. I have realized that three months is not enough for me and I will definitely extend my stay by three months, or maybe even more… ?

(translated from German)