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(This file is a print ready format. Printing a hard copy for your records is recommended)

Contents - Outline, Curriculum, Schedule, Costs, Application procedure, Payment method, Refunds.

1) Program Outline (2 weeks in Sapporo):

Class size is approximately 15 students per level. There is no maximum class size, but because Japanese language background/prior studies are taken into consideration with the application process, classes at any particular level rarely exceed 18 students.

AM schedule: 9:00 to 9:45, 9:50 to 10:35, 10:50 to 11:35 and 11:40 to 12:25
PM schedule: 13:00 to 13:45, 13:50 to 14:35, 14:50 to 15:35 and 15:40 to 16:25

As there are more levels than there are classrooms (9), depending on your level, classes will be held either in the morning or the afternoon. Each lesson is 45 minutes in duration commencing from 9am and finishing at 12:25pm, or from 13:00 and finishing at 16:25pm.

All classes are taught in Japanese only by qualified and experienced JFL teachers. All are native speakers of Japanese.

On the first day of the program (Monday January 26th), please arrive at the campus at 08:30am for placement testing and an orientation. Please arrive in Sapporo no later than 4pm on Sunday January 25th. If travelling across more than 6 time zones, or for a journey of more than 20 hours in total elapsed time, we advise arriving on January 23rd or 24th.
Please note that if you arrive earlier than the 23rd, you may need to spend 1 or 2 nights in hotel accommodation, due to lack of accommodation availability. Please ensure that you register your arrival details no later than January 4th.

Contents - Outline, Curriculum, Schedule, Costs, Application procedure, Payment method, Refunds.

2) Curriculum:

The focus of the curriculum is on grammar acquisition, reading, and improved oral and conversation skills. We teach only modern contemporary Japanese grammar (you will not for example be exposed to classical texts). The classes are taught in Japanese only and Romaji is not used in instruction.

Minimum Entry Requirements: For the winter programs the major consideration is your current level of Japanese. There is no beginner level class, meaning that you would need to have studied Japanese for approximately 100 hours, as well as read/write hiragana & katakana. It would be advisable to have learned a minimum of 50 kanji, and be able to understand the grammar used up to at least Lesson 15 of the curriculum taught by the Online Center. If you are unsure of whether your level is sufficient prior to application, please complete this online questionnaire and contact the Admissions Office for advice.

Please note that if you are a beginner, it is also possible to commence in Okazaki during November or December, and then transfer into the Sapporo Center in January. There are a number of class options available for beginners (in Okazaki), and a wide arrange of travel options including the Hakuba Ski Camp that is scheduled for the end of December.

All students entering the programs are graded via a placement test and placement interview on arrival. This ensures that faculty can place you in a class with students who have attained a similar score in the placement test and are of similar ability.

Classes are usually offered from:

Upper Beginner and
Intermediate levels and above.

Depending on the number of students in the class above or below your initial placement and the difference in the proficiency level, it is usually possible to change classes after consultation and re-assessment with your academic advisor.

Contents - Outline, Curriculum, Schedule, Costs, Application procedure, Payment method, Refunds.

3) Schedule:

Classes are held from Monday to Friday with some optional cultural activities held in the afternoon. (Please note that depending on your level, it is possible that your classes may be scheduled in the afternoons).

You need to be at the campus by 08:30am on January 26th. Please find the schedule for the program below. (Click here for printer friendly PDF version)

Contents - Outline, Curriculum, Schedule, Costs, Application procedure, Payment method, Refunds.

4) Program Fee/Costs:

JANUARY 26th START - FEBRUARY 6th FINISH (2 weeks in Sapporo):

This program fee includes all tuition and textbooks, and reimbursement of train fare from the Airport (Chitose airport) and taxi fare to your accommodation if required.

Most accommodations (guest house, dormitory, apartment) are within walking distance or 3 subway stops, commuting fares are not included, but would be up to 240 yen each way per day for guest house, dormitory or apartment accommodations.

Homestays will usually require a commute, with usual fares of up to 800 yen per day.

You would also need to budget spending money for sightseeing, entertainment and so on. More will be required if you plan to mix your Japanese language studies with a skiing and snowboarding holiday in Hokkaido. Please note that airfares to and from Sapporo are not included. Please note that early bird discounts are available (see below)

a) Guest House: For guest house accommodation, the program fee is 159,000 Japanese yen (click here for currency conversion (pop up file)

The guesthouse is quite modern, 24 hour access (no curfew), with good security. Meals are not included, but there is a shared kitchen for self-catering (please note that you have your own refrigerator in your private room). Accommodations include private room with desk, chair, heater (but shared bathroom etc). There is LAN internet in the lounge, and the common room has heating (and a fireplace). The walk to the Institute is about 15 minutes. You will need cold weather clothing and non-slip shoes or boots with good traction due to snow and ice. Riding a bicycle to classes is not recommended. Convenience stores, supermarket and post office (for international ATM) etc are close by.

b) Dormitory: For dormitory accommodation, the program fee is 169,000 Japanese yen (click here for currency conversion (pop up file)

There are several dormitories in use. Most have an 11pm curfew (some exceptions, usually only available to early applicants), good security, catered cooking (cafeteria style - do not choose this option if you are vegetarian or vegan etc), private room with desk, chair, heater (but shared bathroom etc). Internet is frequently limited, and usually only available to early applicants, common room with TV etc is available. All dormitories are either within walking distance or within 3 subway stops. You will need cold weather clothing and non-slip shoes or boots with good traction due to snow and ice. Riding a bicycle to classes is not recommended. All dormitories have convenience stores, supermarket and post office (for international ATM), and public transport etc close by.

c) Homestay: For a homestay, the program fee is 196,000 Japanese yen (click here for currency conversion (pop up file)

Homestays offer additional language learning and culture learning opportunities, however please note that there are rules, and that you will need to return to the homestay each evening before the evening meal, and may have fewer opportunities for socializing. We strongly advise that you do not choose this option as your first preference if you are vegetarian or vegan etc. In some homestays, the family are able to provide a private room, however in many cases the room in which a student sleeps each night is the family's washitsu (tatami mat) room, which by day is an area used by the family, and at night the place where a student can sleep on a futon. In many cases (more common in houses than in apartments) this room is where the family altar is located. For this and other reasons please remember that your sleeping area needs to be kept clean and tidy, a homestay in Japan is not like a bed-and-breakfast or hotel arrangement. If you are one of the lucky few students who receive your own bedroom, please keep it clean and orderly. Internet is frequently unavailable. You will need cold weather clothing and non-slip shoes or boots with good traction due to snow and ice. Homestays are not necessarily close to the Institute, so you will need to budget for train and/or subway fares of up to 1000 yen per day. For homestays breakfast and dinner is included. All homestays are within 1 hour of the campus.

d) Apartment: For self contained furnished apartment accommodation, the program fee is 277,000 Japanese yen (click here for currency conversion (pop up file)

Apartments offer privacy and comfort. All are fully furnished (bed, bedding, mirror, vacuum cleaner, clothes hangers, washing machine, private bathroom & toilet, TV, desk or table, chair or cushions). Meals are not included, but the apartment includes a private kitchen for self-catering including a microwave oven, refrigerator, hot water pot, rice cooker, dishes, bowls, gas or electric cooker, sink etc.

The apartments have good insulation and heating, and good security. Most apartments are located on or near the Tozai subway line, and are convenient for commuting to school or for exploring Sapporo. Internet is usually unavailable, however if early request and payment is made, we can usually arrange for the installation of internet access for a small fee. This is the recommended accommodation for couples, or for those with special dietary requirements. In the case of couples, it is usually possible for a discount to be obtained if the duration of residence is the same for both. If applying as a couple, please send an email to Admissions after your complete your application forms.

Contents - Outline, Curriculum, Schedule, Costs, Application procedure, Payment method, Refunds.

5) Application Forms and Enrolment procedure:

Application for the program is via the Online Application Form.

After you click the "send" button, your application will be processed automatically. You should receive an answer within 5 minutes as to whether you can be accepted, are on a waiting list, or are unable to join the Sapporo program. If accepted, you need to submit a passport sized photograph. The photograph can be either emailed to us or sent by post. Please do not simply scan your passport - what you need is a new photo, with a white background and reasonably good resolution. These can be either digital (jpeg or gif files) or analog (printed photos).
Click here to view samples of the kind of photo we need for your documents.

EMAIL: If sending by email, please use your passport number as the name for the attachment. The photo will need to be printed, so please use a reasonably high resolution (about 300 dpi). The file size should not exceed 50KB.

Please use the following address photos@yamasa.org

1) Please send 1 passport photo as approximately 413 X 413 pixel size (300 dpi preferred but not essential) if possible. If you don't know how to do this, then any size is OK.
2) Save the photograph using your passport number as the file name
(for example if your passport number is K0598181 then save the file as k0598181.jpg)
3) When sending your photo please send the following information as simple text:

Family Name
First Name
Nationality
Passport Number
Commencement Date

POSTAL MAIL If sending by post, please write your family name, passport number on the back of the photograph.

If you are sending passport photos by postal mail, please send 4 photos as 3.5 X 3.5 centimeter size if possible.

For postal mail please address the envelope as follows:

Admissions Office (Photos)
The Yamasa Institute,
1-2-1 Hanehigashi-machi,
Okazaki-shi, Aichi-ken,
JAPAN 444-0832

a) On the back of each photo, please write your family name and passport number.
b) Please include a letter/note with the following information:

Family Name
First Name
Nationality
Passport Number
Commencement Date

Contents - Outline, Curriculum, Schedule, Costs, Application procedure, Payment method, Refunds.

6) Payment Methods:

Payment of the program fee can be made by