5th to 17th April 2026 | in conjunction with the Australia-Japan Society (ACT)
The Ishikawa Foundation for International Exchange (IFIE), in association with the Australia-Japan Society (ACT), has resumed the two-week residential courses in Japanese language/culture in Kanazawa.
Deadline for applications now extended to 26th Feb 2026.
The 2026 course will be the 45th course that has been run under this program.
The program is sponsored by the Ishikawa Prefectural Government.
The courses run for 2 weeks from a Sunday afternoon to the Friday evening two weeks later and include intensive language lessons, cultural activities and home stay accommodation with a Japanese family. This latter is one of the outstanding features of the program and certainly gives a boost to the participants’ language skills.
During the course, mornings are spent in formal language classes and, most afternoons, opportunities are provided to explore the local culture, either in organised classes and excursions or course participants are encourged to explore Kanazawa by themselves or with other members of the group.
The classes are tailored to the individual participant’s language skills – participants are assessed on the first day and placed in classes according to their language abilities. Beginner classes are available. There are excellent facilities and very helpful teachers at the Institute.
The total course cost per participant, including all course fees, books, cultural activities and accommodation for the duration of the course (but NOT including fares to and from Kanazawa, Japan), depending on fluctuations in the $/Yen ratio and the number of participants, is around $1,000 – $1,400. Participants are advised to allow about $40-$60 per day for day-to-day expenses (bus fares, lunches, souvenirs etc) so the total cost for the two week experience, by the time you have travelled to and from Kanazawa, is probably going to be around $3,500.
Applicants must be at least 20 years old, must be a member of an Australia – Japan Society OR an affiliated organisation OR join one – JETAA, JLTAA and MLTAA are considered to be affiliated organisations – and must be prepared to stay in Japan for the duration of the course.
This is a great chance to commence, refresh, improve or develop your Japanese language skills.
Contact the Coordinator of the program, Mr Michael Hodgkin, for a more detailed outline of the
program and for course/homestay application forms.
Michael Hodgkin | Coordinator IFIE Courses | c/o Australia Japan Society (ACT)
ajsifiecourses@gmail.com