Japanese Language, History and Culture - Ashikaga, Japan
Summer 2026

Course

UNI 460 | 3 credits
ECCE Global Awareness
Summer 2026 Course

Program Leaders

Dr. Peter Shapinsky
History Professor

Dr. Sudeep Sharma
Management Professor

Program Dates

June 7 - June 21, 2026
(2 week summer program)

Requirements

  • Must be a UIS undergrad or graduate student in good academic standing.
  • Students must have successfully completed at least 1 full year (2 semesters) at UIS before going abroad.
  • UIS students of all majors are welcome to participate on this program.

Overview

  • Instruction in Japanese language and culture on the campus of the Ashikaga University (AU), UIS sister university in Japan. 
  • Experiences Range from the Historical to the Contemporary. Each day will also include educational field trips:
    • The Mayor’s Office and City Hall
    • The Civil Engineering Dept. and Environmental Studies Program at AU
    • The Ashikaga Gakko, the oldest university in Japan
    • The Bannaji Buddhist Temple
    • A farm or factory
    • Multiple public schools
    • The Nikko Nature Preserve & Shinto Temple complex
    • Trip to Tokyo
  • Participants will also be able to experience
    • Japanese martial arts
    • flower arranging
  • Buddhist meditation
    • a tea ceremony
    • calligraphy
    • Japanese cuisine
Three UIS students wearing colorful Yukatas

Housing

  • Students will be staying in single room hotel rooms
  • The hotel is a bus ride away from Ashikaga University
  • For one weekend students will live with a Japanese host family
Group of UIS students and Japanese sensei for Kyudo session

Program Cost

Program Cost is TBD for Summer 2026. Cost includes the following:

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

Estimated out-of-pocket expenses: $300 (passport & souvenirs)

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.

Student group walking through the bamboo forest on a rainy day

Scholarships

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.
Welcome party posed photo in front of the food

Additional Program Information

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

Location