How to Find a Homestay in Japan

Planning on a making a trip to Japan to study the language? A homestay is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in a country’s culture while at the same time making friends that will last a lifetime. Moreover, with Japan’s astronomical living costs, a homestay might make perfect sense for students trying to keep an eye on their budget. Read on to learn more.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Contact your local high school, college, or university. There are thousands of homestay programs around the world. Some of these have been running successfully for years while others are little more than travel agents. You do not want to fly thousands of miles to discover your host family cares about little more than your wallet. Talk to professionals.
2. Talk to people in your community and find someone who has actually participated in a Japanese homestay program. Ask about the positives and negatives. You don’t want to go somewhere you’re going to dislike. If your community is small, check out online message boards.
3. Be honest when filling out your application. If you’re a homebody, don’t describe yourself as a super-athlete who will thrill your Japanese homestay family with feats of strength. Homestay organizations try hard to match up similar people. If you’re dishonest then your time in Japan could very well be miserable.
4. Choose your location in Japan carefully. While rural mountain towns look great on TV, they might not be ideal for a city person. If you have a romantic idea about Japan, try to temper it with a little reality. Are you the type of person who needs to get to a 7-11 everyday? Then make sure you don’t request a tiny island, even if you do want to learn how to surf.
5. Listen to your homestay organization. If they say the best gift to bring a Japanese family is something small from your hometown, then bring exactly that. Unless you have a doctorate in Japanese culture, the people at your homestay organization know best.
6. Apply early. A homestay isn’t something you plan for in a week. It takes time to set up. You will be affecting the lives of many people.
7. Prepare yourself to a cultural adjustment. Japanese homes are usually smaller than those in the West. Families often eat together every night. You will need to adapt, but that’s part of the fun.