The program
A Residential Summer Program Built Around Real Communication
Students live together at a highland base in Yamanashi, travel out for outdoor and cultural experiences, and spend each day using English, Japanese, and Portuguese with people they have just met. This page explains how a session works, what is included, and how families prepare once they are accepted.
Program Summary
Fuji International Exchange is a multilingual residential program combining outdoor adventure, hands-on Japanese cultural workshops, and structured leadership and teamwork activities. Students from Japan, the United States, and other countries join the same group. Sessions are led by multilingual program staff, and every part of the day is designed so students from different language backgrounds can take part in English, Japanese, and Portuguese.
What Students Take Home
- Confidence communicating across a language barrier, in real situations rather than exercises.
- Practice at managing themselves — belongings, schedule, and choices — with staff nearby.
- First-hand experience of Japanese cultural practice, taught by people who live it.
- Teamwork and leadership habits built through shared challenges, not lectures.
Traveling to Camp from Overseas
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. Families are responsible for a valid passport and any required visa, and we ask that every participant is covered by travel and medical insurance. Preparation materials, packing guidance, and a named contact are shared with enrolled families ahead of departure.
Joining from Within Japan
Families already living in Japan can meet the group on-site or at a domestic meeting point. Meeting locations, times, and transport instructions are sent to families before camp. This route suits students at international schools in Japan as well as Japanese families looking for a multilingual summer experience.
Typically Included
- Residential accommodation for the full program
- Daily meals at the base and on excursion days
- Program activities and cultural workshops
- Group transportation between the base and activities
- Multilingual staff supervision throughout the program
Not Included or Still Pending
- International or domestic flights and rail to the meeting point — 2027 package treatment is still being finalized
- Travel and medical insurance — requirements and package coverage are still being finalized
- Personal spending money and souvenirs
- Personal clothing and outdoor gear from the packing list
A Sample Week at Camp
Here is an example of how a week at camp can unfold, day by day. Destinations and the order of activities vary by session, so this illustrates the kind of experiences students have rather than a fixed plan for the next session. Every day includes meals together, free time, and a short reflection journal.
Day 1: Arrival and welcome
The group travels together from Tokyo to the Yatsugatake highlands, settles in, and starts the week with an orientation and icebreaker games.
Day 2: Highland nature and Japanese culture
A morning outdoors in the highlands, an afternoon of Japanese culture workshops such as traditional dance, calligraphy, and tea ceremony, and a guided night nature walk.
Day 3: Horseback riding and Japanese sweets
A horseback riding experience in the morning, then a workshop making nerikiri, traditional Japanese sweets.
Day 4: A day by the lake
Cooking lunch together, a water-safety briefing, lakeside walks and water play, and an evening campfire with songs.
Day 5: On the water
Stand-up paddleboarding or canoeing, crafts and journal-making, and handheld sparklers by the lake in the evening.
Day 6: Mt. Fuji
An excursion to the Mt. Fuji region, with a museum visit and a walk at the Mt. Fuji Fifth Station.
Day 7: Lake activities and farewell
A choice of lake activities such as wakeboarding or cycling, a custom T-shirt dyeing workshop, a barbecue dinner, and the farewell party.
Day 8: Closing ceremony and return
Certificates and a group photo at the closing ceremony, then the group travels back to Tokyo and the airports.
This itinerary is a guide only. Activities, their order, and timing are subject to change at any time without notice, including for weather and safety.
Dates & Fees
Program fee per student, charged in Japanese yen.
- Deposit, to hold a place
- ¥20,000
- Remaining balance, due by May 14, 2027
- ¥350,000
- Total program fee
- ¥370,000
- Sibling discount, per child, when two or more brothers or sisters attend
- -¥10,000
Payment deadlines and refund and cancellation terms are listed in our policies. Read the Cancellation & Refund Policy
All prices are per student and charged in Japanese yen. Payment is by credit card through Stripe, which can show the amount in your own currency at checkout.
Apply NowHow Applying Will Work
Applying happens in two stages. A parent or guardian first submits a short family application with contact and student details. If your family is accepted, you will receive a personal invitation to complete registration.
- 1Family application — guardian contact details, each prospective student's age, and arrival pathway. Reviewed by our team; no payment or commitment at this stage.
- 2Registration, by invitation only — full guardian and student information, program agreements, and consents for each accepted student.
Health forms, passport copies, and other sensitive documents are never collected through a public form. They are requested later through secure, authenticated access with appropriate retention controls.