Okazaki Castle, location of the tea ceremony class

You will enjoy living in the historic castle town of Okazaki, located in Aichi Prefecture in Central Japan. The castle was the birthplace and initial stronghold of the greatest 'shogun' Tokugawa Ieyasu (born 1542), the founder of modern Japan.

With a population of 380,000, Okazaki City is a prosperous town with modern hi-tech industries that has also maintained its traditions and festivals and has many heritage sites, historic shrines and temples including Hozoji - now more than 1200 years old.

More information about Okazaki is available from the Location file in the center homepage and the online guidebook. In short though, it is safer, cheaper and quieter than crowded cities like Tokyo or Osaka, and more suited for study and a taste of the traditional Japan.

For students, Okazaki has the advantage of being halfway between Tokyo and Osaka and convenient to both. It is also not too far from Kyoto and Nara to the west, Mt Fuji and Shizuoka to the east. It is easy to travel to each of these locations from here. Prices here are much less than Tokyo, Osaka or that of tourist traps like Kyoto, (rent for example is actually less than half that of Tokyo), the cost of living is therefore lower. Public transport is good, bicycles are probably the best and easiest mode of transportation. It is easy to buy or rent a bicycle and Yamasa staff will provide assistance.