WINTER COURSE

Experience the amazing snow of Northern Japan, and learn Japanese!
Akita Prefecture is a region with one of the highest snowfalls in the world.

Here is footage from our previous Winter Course:

Course Dates:

February 3rd - February 21st, 2025
(3 weeks)

Apply Now >

COURSE DETAILS:

Japanese lessons from Monday to Friday, 9AM - 12:30PM
Learn Japanese in an authentic Japanese classroom
The course is focused on learning practical conversational Japanese to help prepare you for real life situations
Organised activities/events after classes and on some weekends for students to practice what they have learned in class in real life
Many opportunities to immerse in the culture and
to interact with the locals

SAMPLE ACTIVITIES:

Fire Spinning Festival

Watch or take part in the breath-taking celebration from the Edo period.

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Namahage Sedo Festival

Learn about & experience a spectacle that is now part of UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

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Towada Winter Festival

Held at Lake Towada, highlights include a fireworks show overnight, lots of festival stalls serving food, and a kamakura (igloo) bar where they serve drinks in ice glasses.

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Farmstay

Meet the locals, experience and learn about their way of life.

Cook meals together with the locals and laugh all night long!

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Visit hidden onsens

Experience a Japanese hot spring in Winter, seeing the beautiful snowfall.

Kimono Experience

Put on the traditional Japanese garment & take spectacular photos.

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Meet & interact with local high school students

A special opportunity for exchanging conversation and making friends.

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Pottery Class

Make your own hand-made creation at the local pottery club.

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Bon fire night

Warm up with the amazing fire!

Katana Experience

Snow Monsters + Mount Moriyoshi

One of the only 3 places in Japan where ice coats trees to form giant, otherworldly sculptures. What makes this different is that you can take in the amazing views and ride a gondola to the top! See the Sea of Japan on the way.

Meet the Akita dogs

Meet and play with the adorable Akita dogs as you learn about the history and legends surrounding the breed.

Skiing / Snowboarding

February is the best time for skiing. There are several ski areas within easy driving distance. Courses for everyone from first-timers to hardcore back-country skiers.

Snow Shoeing

Be able to walk on the deep snow! Experience the majestic Winter wonderland surrounding you.

Calligraphy Class

Learn to write beautiful kanji

*Bento box making (Magewappa***)

Have a seasoned artisan teach you how to make your very own wooden magewappa bento box, that is made out of the Japanese cedar tree in Akita.

Lake Towada

Have a barbeque next to a huge beautiful lake that doesn’t freeze over the Winter.

Amekko-Ichi (Candy Festival)

An over 400 year old festival. Legend says that people who eat the candy sold at the many stalls will not catch a cold for the rest of winter. There are performances, an Akita dog parade & more.