University of Tsukuba

Tsukuba was a small town so there really wasnt many places to go of interest to me. Most of my time was spent with my girlfriend or friends at their homes or dorms. It is only an hour bus ride to Tokyo from Tsukuba so trips there can often help beat the monotany of Tsukuba life. As far as Tsukuba was concerned, Frontier bar happened to be the popular spot for foreign students. But again, many just chose to go to Tokyo.

If money is important to you, stay at the dorms. Some people manage to survive there for 4 or 5 years!!! It's really difficult to find an appartment to share with other students. Also try to cook your own food. If you're at the dorm and the kitchen is really nasty, get a micro-wave and/or an electric range (second hand will be much cheaper)

Housing at Tsukuba University needs renovation, but thanks to wonderful people I met there, it was the best time of my life.

It's really difficult for foreign students to choose the university where they want to study. Specially if you have a Japanese-funded scholarship (even if it's only partially Japanese, as mine is), you won't be able to study at a private university, which are much better (or so I've heard).

The best time to travel is March and April . And there are some useful web-sites which help to find cheap connection withing the entire country.

The Japanese Language course provided by the programme was enough to communicate in the academic environment, though fairly enough for daily activities.