AdventurePlanned activity
G-Kart Experience
A supervised G-Kart experience is included in the tentative 2027 activity plan.
The venue, operator, age requirements, cost, and safety requirements are still being confirmed.
Multilingual Summer Camp • Yamanashi, Japan
Discover Japan. Connect Across Cultures. Grow Beyond Borders.
Students from Japan, the U.S., and around the world share outdoor adventure, Japanese culture, and real friendship — based in the Yatsugatake Highlands, with excursions across Yamanashi.
The next session is scheduled for June 27 - July 4, 2027. Applications are now open.
Home base: Yatsugatake/Kiyosato, Yamanashi • Mt. Fuji region excursions
Program at a glance
Who
Students aged 8 to 17 from Japan and abroad.
What
A multilingual residential cultural exchange and outdoor summer program.
When
Next session: June 27 - July 4, 2027.
Where
Yatsugatake/Kiyosato, Yamanashi, with Mt. Fuji region excursions.
Why
- To build self-confidence and self-reliance: stepping outside their comfort zone through outdoor adventures and cultural activities helps students build a unique sense of independence and trust in themselves.
- Cross-cultural communication and awareness: living and playing alongside peers from Japan and around the world helps your child see the world with broader lenses, building empathy, open-mindedness, and global perspectives.
- Leadership and Global friendship: overcoming team challenges in a diverse environment builds resilience and leadership skills for life.
The program promise
Japan Becomes the Classroom
Students learn differently when language, culture, teamwork, and discovery become part of everyday life. Fuji International Exchange moves beyond textbooks by giving participants opportunities to communicate, explore, create, contribute, and build friendships across cultures.
Explore
Outdoor experiences, field trips, nature, and new surroundings.
Connect
Real interaction with students from different cultures and backgrounds.
Create
Hands-on cultural experiences such as calligraphy, dance, and tea ceremony.
Lead
Teamwork, problem solving, independence, and confidence.
Featured experiences
Adventure, Culture & Connection
Examples of the outdoor adventures and hands-on Japanese cultural experiences students take part in. Activities vary by session.
AdventurePlanned activity
Highland Hiking & Nature
Guided walks through larch forest and open meadow, learning to read the landscape of Yatsugatake.
Route selection depends on group age, weather, and trail conditions on the day.
AdventurePast-program example
Sun Meadows Mountain Day
Lift-served highland views, open-air games, and team challenges above Kiyosato.
Venue availability and lift operation are confirmed each program year.
CulturePlanned activity
Nihon Buyo
Traditional Japanese dance taught as movement, rhythm, and story rather than performance for the camera.
Planned activity; instructor scheduling is confirmed before each session.
CulturePlanned activity
Japanese Calligraphy
Brush, ink, and paper — students write their own characters and learn what each stroke carries.
No prior Japanese ability needed; instruction is given in English, Japanese, and Portuguese.
ConnectionPlanned activity
Tea Ceremony & Exchange
A quiet counterpoint to the mountain days: preparing, offering, and receiving tea, then talking about what hospitality means at home.
Seating is on tatami; alternatives are arranged for students who need them.
Activities may vary by program year, participant age, weather, venue availability, and safety requirements. Not every participant takes part in every activity.
Location story
Based in Yatsugatake. Exploring Yamanashi.
Every student calls the green highlands of Yatsugatake and Kiyosato home for the week. From this base, they hike mountain trails, share meals with new friends, and travel out across Yamanashi — including the Mt. Fuji region — before returning each night to the same place and the same group.
The diagram is illustrative: it shows the region, not a fixed itinerary. Travel arrangements for each session are included in the pre-camp information emailed to accepted families.
Sun Meadows
Seisen-ryo (past-program venue)
Kiyosato / Yatsugatake home base
Tokyo arrival point
Mt. Fuji region excursion
- Solid marker: residential home base where students stay each night.
- Amber markers: day excursions the group travels to and returns from.
- Open marker: historical venue used by a past program.
Yatsugatake home base
Where They'll Call Home
Students live together at a single residential base in the Kiyosato highlands they'll call home for the week, traveling out from there each day. Past programs have been hosted at Seisen-ryo. The venue and accommodation can vary by session, so rooms, meals, and facilities are described in each session's pre-camp information.
Accommodation information for your session
- Exact building, room arrangement, and how students are grouped
- Adult supervision overnight
- Bathrooms and bathing arrangements
- Meal service and dining arrangements
- Dietary and allergy accommodations
- Site security, access, and accessibility
- Wi-Fi, phone availability, and laundry
- Transportation between the base and activities
A day at camp
A Day at Fuji International Exchange
Every day moves through the same rhythm — arrival and connection, highland adventure, hands-on Japanese culture, and evenings that turn strangers into friends. This is a sample day, not a confirmed schedule; the final itinerary is shared with enrolled families before departure.
Arrive & Connect→ Explore the Highlands→ Japanese Culture→ Adventure Together→ Lead & Collaborate→ Celebrate
01
Morning
Breakfast together, a group meeting, and a language warm-up before the day ahead.
02
Daytime
An outdoor excursion, cultural workshop, or collaborative challenge away from the base.
03
Afternoon
Reflection, recreation, or a small-group leadership activity.
04
Evening
Dinner, cultural exchange, journaling, games, and time to connect before tomorrow.
Parents and safety
Adventure for Them. Clear Answers for You.
Here is how we approach supervision, safety, and communication with families. Practical information for each session, such as accommodation, staffing, and travel, is shared with accepted families before camp.
Read the Parent & Safety GuideSupervision model
Students are supervised by program staff throughout the day and overnight at the residential base. Staffing and overnight supervision are planned around each session's group and accommodation.
Health and medication
Health information and medication instructions are collected on a secure form after enrollment, never through this website's public forms. Health and emergency information specific to each session is shared with families before camp.
Communication with families
Families receive pre-departure information, a named contact for the session, and updates during camp. Device and phone rules are agreed with families before arrival.
Weather alternatives
Mountain weather changes quickly. Outdoor activities have indoor or lower-altitude alternatives, and the day is adjusted rather than pushed through.
2026 Camp — Past Program
Moments from Fuji International Exchange
Scenes from the completed 2026 session, hosted at Seisen-ryo in Kiyosato. Dates, fees, and the application link from that year are no longer current.
About this archive
A look back at past programs. The 2026 program has ended, and its dates, prices, application deadline, and application form are archived; they are not offers for the coming session.
One camp, multiple perspectives
Find the Path That Fits Your Family
Traveling from Overseas
Support for families planning an international arrival, including clear meeting instructions, preparation resources, and optional arrival programming when offered.
International arrival detailsJoining from Japan
A convenient path for Japan-based and international-school families, with domestic meeting and transportation details.
Domestic arrival detailsSchools and Groups
Partnership opportunities for international schools, educators, and student groups.
Send a group inquiryApplications open
Apply for the Next Camp
Complete the family application to be considered for the next Fuji International Exchange session. Our team reviews every application and follows up with next steps.
Submitting an application does not guarantee placement. If your family is accepted, you will receive a personal invitation to complete registration.
This form must be submitted by a parent, guardian, educator, or other adult.
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We collect only what is needed to review your application and contact you about it. Please do not send medical details, passport information, or identity documents through this form.
Common questions
Answers Parents Ask For First
Location, supervision, and fee information also appear in full on the Program, Location & Stay, and Parents & Safety pages — never hidden inside an accordion alone.
Ask a QuestionStudents live at a residential base in the Yatsugatake / Kiyosato area of Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. The group travels out from there for day excursions across Yamanashi, including the Mt. Fuji region. The accommodation is not at Mt. Fuji.
Mt. Fuji is the landmark of the wider region the program explores, and it is where several excursions take place. The name refers to that region — not to the location of the accommodation, which is in the Yatsugatake Highlands.
Students aged 8 to 17, from Japan, the United States, and other countries, join the same session.
International arrival and group travel arrangements vary by session. Accepted families receive travel guidance and meeting instructions by email; please wait for that guidance before booking travel.
The program fee for each student and the deposit that holds a place are listed in Japanese yen on the Program page under Dates & Fees, together with the discount for brothers and sisters who attend together. Payment deadlines and refund and cancellation terms are in our Cancellation & Refund Policy.
Mountain weather changes quickly, so outdoor activities have indoor or lower-altitude alternatives. Staff adjust the day rather than push through, and families are told what changed.
A Bigger World Can Begin with One Summer.
Apply now to be considered for the next Fuji International Exchange program.