The homestay experience is fully integrated into the AKP program. Your host family will be a cultural anchor for you, grounding what you learn both in class and in your own adventures in the context of daily life in Japan. They’ll offer you countless chances to communicate, explore, and experience Japan as a member of a Japanese family, and will connect you with your community as well as provide opportunities for cultural learning and discovery.
Prior to your arrival in Kyoto, AKP staff take painstaking care to match you with a family that can best support your needs and lifestyle, factoring in everything from diet to hobbies. Over the years, AKP has built up a large pool of generous, experienced host families, with new families joining the program every year.
It’s important to remember that host families come in all shapes and sizes. Some have children or pets; some are retired and living on their own. Some live in very traditional Japanese homes, while others are in Western housing. But all of them are dedicated to supporting your journey in Kyoto.
Though you might be concerned about the challenges involved with figuring out a new living arrangement, especially in Japanese, you’ll have the support of AKP’s Resident Director, AKP’s full-time Homestay Coordinator, and the language faculty. If you have a problem or even just want to learn how to tell your host family that you will be late for dinner, don’t hesitate to ask!
If living as part of a Japanese family sounds like part of your ideal experience abroad, don’t wait. Apply now to AKP.
