Overview
Terms available: Spring or full year only (early Feb to late June; Sep to late June)
GPA minimum: Minimum GPA required by host program: Based on WU approval.
Terms available: Fall only and only available for one semester of study (a full year is not possible).
Kobe is Japan’s 7th largest city and is located east of Osaka and Kyoto. A bay city, Kobe is one of the first cities in Japan to open trade with the West.
This program is located at Konan University, a small liberal arts university of 10,000 students located in the Okamoto area of Higashi-nada, on the slopes of Mount Rokkō in eastern Kobe. Konan University is about 15 minutes from downtown Kobe, 20 minutes from downtown Osaka, and 1 hour from Kyoto. Founded in 1951, Konan University’s educational philosophy rests on respect for the individual and a desire to lead students towards fulfilling their potential, and in so doing, to help them enjoy fuller and richer lives by discovering previously unrecognized talents.
Academics
Willamette only sends students to Konan for fall semester.
The “Year in Japan” program is composed of Japanese language classes in the morning and Japan Studies classes taught in English in the afternoon. The typical course load consists of intensive Japanese language plus two Japan Studies courses each semester. While Konan provides language instruction at all levels, Willamette only sends intermediate to advanced language students. You must have completed at least 4 semesters of Japanese language study (or equivalent) by the time you are schedule to attend Konan.
Program includes one or two overnight “study tours” in the Western region of Japan each semester.
What one students shared about the courses:
“The classes are tailored to both help us learn as best as we can and feel comfortable doing so, and keep us challenged! How thorough the language teachers here are with putting us in the correct level for Japanese learning really shows how much they care about our learning experience. And the elective classes are all so fun and interesting!”
Find Konan Year in Japan academic overview
Please note: the “Year in Japan” program is available ONLY as a single semester option during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Housing & Meals
Participating students experience a Japanese homestay, an excellent way to significantly improve their Japanese language competence while also learning first-hand about Japanese culture and traditions. Students are provided with a private room furnished with a Japanese futon or regular bedding and two meals (breakfast and dinner) on weekdays, and three meals on weekends and national holidays.
Dates
Konan University’s “Year in Japan” program is available as a one-semester, fall-only option for Willamette students. Fall semester runs early September through late December.
A full year program is not an option in this program for Willamette students.
Cost
Please see the Willamette Sponsored Programs Cost Matrix for detailed explanation of the cost of each program.
Scholarships
Please see the OIE scholarship page for location-specific scholarships (Freeman-ASIA and Bridging) you could be eligible to apply for when participating in this program. Each has specific qualifications and application requirements which are subject to change.
Pre-Departure Resources
- Konan University
- Konan “Year in Japan” program for fall-semester only study
- Kobe information
- Konan Year in Japan Application Process (do not complete this application until instructed by the OIE)
- Japan-American Society of Oregon
- News
- Local Weather
- Embassy of Japan: historical and government information
- CIA World Factbook
- Lonely Planet Guide