Japanese Culture, History, and Language

Application Deadline: February 15, 2027

Course

UNI 460 | 3 credits
ECCE Global Awareness
Summer 2027 Course

Program Leaders

Dr. David Bertaina
History Professor

Dr. Sevilay Onal
Supply Chain and Operations Management Professor
Department Chair of Management, Marketing, and Operations (MMO)

Dates & Location

June 6 - June 21, 2026
Ashikaga, Japan

Ashikaga & Springfield:
Sister Cities since 1990

Requirements

  • Must be a UIS undergrad or graduate student in good academic standing.
  • UIS students of all majors are welcome to participate on this program.
  • No prior knowledge of Japanese required.
Three UIS students wearing colorful Yukatas

Overview

Summer 2026 group at Indigo dying experience at standing beside a river in Ashikaga, Japan
  • Bannaji Buddhist Temple
  • Engineering and Nursing Campuses at Ashikaga University
  • Several Japanese language lessons
  • Ashikaga Gakko - the oldest university in Japan
  • Visit to the Mayor's Office and City Hall
  • Winery tour
  • Nikko Nature Preserve & Shinto Temple complex
  • Bamboo Forest
  • Day trip to Tokyo
  • Kydo - traditional Japanese art of archy
  • Visit to English language learning class at Ashikaga University
  • Indigo dying experience
  • Tea Ceremony
  • Calligraphy

Housing

  • Students stay in single room hotel rooms
  • A buffet breakfast is included at the hotel
  • The hotel is a bus ride away from Ashikaga University
  • For one weekend students will live with a Japanese host family
Hotel restaurant view overlooking the river and town of Ashikaga, Japan.

Program Cost

Student group walking through the bamboo forest on a rainy day

Program Cost is $4,000 for Summer 2026. Cost includes the following:

  • International Airfare
  • All meals
  • Housing
  • Museum entry
  • Train/bus transportation

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses: $295 (passport, souvenirs and meals on the travel days)

UIS Tuition and fees are charged in addition to the listed program cost. Use the UIS Tuition Calculator to calculate the cost for Summer 2026 - 3 credit hours.

Scholarships

Welcome party posed photo in front of the food

Passport & Visa

  • Students will require a passport to participate on this program. 
  • For assistance securing a U.S. Passport, visit Travel.State.Gov.
  • U.S. citizens will NOT require a visa in order to participate in this program.
US Passport on top of an open US passport with an entry date stamp

Application

  • Students apply online via the EngageU Application.
  • The EngageU Application must be completed and submitted in one sitting.
  • Students must provide proof of a passport on the application.
  • Students must identify a person to serve as a "Recommender" to speak on behalf of their character. The Recommender will be prompted to answer a series of scalable questions. A recommendation letter is NOT needed.
  • The Application will then be routed to UIS approvers for review.

Location

Ashikaga, Japan - Ashikaga City Tourist Association

The information gathered below is from GoinGlobal. Take a deeper dive into the cultural advice via the GoinGlobal Country Guides.

  • Daily Life - understand the history, the people & values, views of time management along with the cuisine and meal etiquette
  • Communication - learn about appropriate communication methods, including negotiation & correspondence styles, language skills & vocabulary
  • Acting Like a Local - avoid acting like a tourist by learning these taboos & helpful hints
Map of Japan with a zoomed in area of Tokyo and Ashikaga University labeled.

Additional Information

Contact Lauren Roalkvan (lroal@uis.edu), Associate Director of Global Engagement, if you have questions or need more information.