The duration of stay, costs, primary objectives, and the experiences gained from traveling and studying abroad are entirely different. This article will provide a detailed explanation of the differences between traveling and studying abroad.

Are your objectives for traveling or studying abroad clear?

If you are someone who is "undecided between traveling or studying abroad," you likely have a strong desire to learn Japanese.

The purpose of learning Japanese varies from person to person, such as:

• You want to work in a job that uses Japanese in the future.

• You want to interact with locals and foreigners.

• You think that being able to speak Japanese will make traveling more enjoyable.

If you are serious about learning to speak Japanese or want to work in Japan in the future, then studying abroad is an option. However, if your reason is to interact with local and foreign people, I think that travelling may be sufficient.

Therefore, if you have a clear purpose for wanting to learn Japanese, studying abroad is recommended, but if it is not that clear, I think you can choose to travel to Japan first.

Study abroad is a great way to broaden your future options.

If you do not have a clear purpose, it is better to travel and visit different places. It is an extraordinary feeling to experience a world you do not know when you travel to Japan, and you will also gain new insights.

Conversely, if you are motivated to learn Japanese and want to visit frequently in the future, or if you want to learn Japanese and work in Japan in the future, studying abroad is a good option.

You can meet people while studying abroad that you wouldn't encounter while traveling.

When you study abroad, some students are from your home country and some are from other countries.

It is relatively easy to interact with people you would not normally meet in your home country, or because you have something in common as 'students from the same school'.

Of course it is possible to interact with numerous people when travelling, but unless you act on your own, you will not be able to seize the opportunity. It is not so easy to find locals and people to interact with, unless you are a seasoned traveller.

There are many things you can gain from traveling as well.

If you are "able to plan and act on your own when travelling," then travelling in Japan offers more freedom.

If you are already familiar with Japan and have a certain level of Japanese language skills, travelling in Japan will allow you to make more effective use of your time and visit various places.

When studying abroad, the main objective is to learn the language, so there are restrictions when it comes to observing the language lesson times and school rules, whereas with travel you can decide everything yourself.

If you are a dynamic person, you can also experience local life and experience through travel, with a homestay or couchsurfing.

The advantage of traveling is that it can be done on a lower budget compared to studying abroad.

The disadvantages of studying abroad include the huge cost of long-term study abroad and the fact that short-term study abroad does not allow for much development of Japanese language skills.

In contrast, the advantage of travelling is that you don't have to pay school fees, so you can go on a relatively low budget.

Taking into account the costs and length of stay, travelling is a more casual, enjoyable and affordable way to visit Japan than studying abroad.

I wish I could learn Japanese while travelling in Japan...

I still can't narrow it down to either studying or travelling. Are there any tours where you can also learn Japanese while sightseeing in Japan? There are probably many people who are thinking about this.

For such people, we recommend ASA Japanese Language School's Japanese Culture Sightseeing Course.

Our Japanese culture and sightseeing course focuses on learning Japanese while experiencing traditional Japanese culture such as tea ceremony, calligraphy, ceramics, cooking, flower arrangement. This class is perfect for students that are interested in or want to experience the unique Japanese culture and history.

The two-week tour includes Japanese language lessons and a 3-day/2-night trip with sightseeing and cultural experiences.

In class, focuses on teaching reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills to students in a well-balanced manner. You are able to learn grammar and conversation comprehensively so that you can use it smoothly in everyday conversation in Japan. Classes are tailored to students with varying skills, such as those who are studying Japanese for the first time and those who want to master day-to-day Japanese expressions. Our classes aim to cater towards each student’s needs.

Why not learn Japanese while sightseeing?

ASA Japanese Language School's Japanese Culture and Tourism Course offers the best of both worlds - travel and study abroad. If you want to experience both travel and study in Japan, this is the course for you! This course is recommended for those who want to experience both travel and study in Japan.

Would you like to have a unique experience that you cannot have in your home country?

Please feel free to contact us by clicking here.