FAQs
For basic information about the program, please consult the Japan and Its Buddhist Traditions page.
For general AEA questions, please see our AEA FAQ page.
If you have additional questions, please contact us by calling (800) 874-7986.
Click a question below to see the answer:
General Program Questions
What are the dates of the Japan Program?
What is the typical program schedule like?
Is there an itinerary available describing Program activities?
Is there an academic assignment that needs to be completed prior to departure for Japan?
Is there a “Recommended Reading List” to help prepare students for their experience in Japan?
Will I (or my child, my student, etc.) be safe in Japan?
What will the weather be like while we are in Japan?
How much extra money should I bring?
What are our library resources?
Will we have opportunities to interact with Japanese young people?
Is there a limit to the number of students accepted into the Japan Program?
Accommodations and Food
What about our accommodations in Japan?
Since program students mostly stay in temple hostels will there be much privacy?
Will we have opportunities to have home stays with Japanese families?
What type of food will we have during the Program?
Meditation Questions
How many hours a day will be spent meditating?
Are there any retreats?
What are the specifics of practicing on this program?
Are various styles of meditation taught?
Communications
Will students be able to bring electronics such as computers?
Is there Internet access?
What about cell phones?
Travel Questions
Is it possible to tour around Japan either before or after the Program?
Is participation in Program field excursions required or optional?
Do I need to get a visa for Japan?
Should I purchase a Japan Rail Pass?
General Program Questions
Q. What are the dates of the Japan Program?
A: Although the exact dates vary by one or two days every year, the Japan Program typically starts at the very beginning of September and concludes at the end of November. In 2011, the Japan Program begins in Japan on Wednesday, August 24 and concludes on Sunday, November 20th. While students accepted into the program are expected to make their own transportation arrangements to and from Japan, they should not make flight arrangements until the final2012 program dates have been confirmed. As a general rule, students are expected to arrive at Kansai International Airport (KIX) near Osaka on the afternoon or early evening of the first day of the program and return from the same airport on the last day of the program.
Note, however, that coursework for the Japan Program actually begins two weeks prior to your departure for Japan, i.e., you will be formally registered at Antioch University two weeks prior to departure. (See our FAQ ”Is there an academic assignment that needs to be completed prior to departure for Japan?” for further information).
Back to Top
Q. What is the typical program schedule like? Do students have time to explore Kyoto and nearby cities on their own, and if so, approximately how much time?
A: Students typically begin the day with a 40-minute period of meditation at 5:30 am on weekdays. This is followed by a short sutra recitation service, temple cleaning and a vegetarian breakfast. Classes start at 8 am and are finished by 1 pm at the latest (and usually earlier).
Following lunch, typically at the student cafeteria of Buddhist-affiliated Ryukoku University, students are free to socialize with Japanese peers in the afternoon or visit the many wonderful museums, gardens, hiking trails and sights of Kyoto and environs. There is a late afternoon meditation period for interested students but participation is optional. Evening meals, featuring both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, are eaten together, typically at 6:30-7:00 pm. Evenings are normally free for study, homework, etc. Saturdays are completely free but Sundays are used for optional excursions to Buddhist-related sites in the Kyoto vicinity.
All Buddhist-related excursions and temple stays are included in the program cost.
In addition, we occasionally make extended visits to Zen and Shingon temples and monasteries for training as well as participate in a portion of the traditional Saigoku pilgrimage which runs through the ancient capitals of Japan, as well as the mountains of Yoshino, where much of the Japanese pilgrimage tradition began.
Finally, students have nearly three weeks to conduct independent research projects while traveling throughout Japan (if desired). The Japan Program provides a stipend for student meals and lodging during the research period but transportation costs (if any) are the responsibility of students.
Back to Top
Q. Is there an itinerary available describing program activities?
A: A draft itinerary for the 2012 Japan Program is not yet available.
Back to Top
Q. Is there an academic assignment that needs to be completed prior to departure for Japan?
A: The Japan Program begins two weeks prior to your departure for Japan. (You will be formally registered at Antioch University two weeks prior to departure.) During these two weeks (or earlier if you wish) you are expected to complete an independent research project, i.e., a Predeparture Assignment. This assignment culminates with a research essay in dialogue format, a hardcopy of which is to be submitted on the first day of the Orientation Program in Kyoto. Note that this assignment is not “busy-work,” but, rather, is designed to ensure that all students arrive in Kyoto with a basic knowledge of (pre-Japanese) Buddhist doctrines and practice. Specifically, your assignment consists of reading at least two books and writing an essay.
The recommended books (or their equivalents):
- Lopez, Donald S., Jr. The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to its History and Teachings. New York: HarperCollins, 2001.
- Rahula, Walpola. What the Buddha Taught. New York: Grove Press, 1974.
Complete information regarding this assignment will be provided after your acceptance to the program or is available upon request. Back to Top
Q. Is there a “Recommended Reading List” to help prepare students for their experience in Japan?
A: Yes. Open the Word document containing our “Recommended Reading List”.
Back to Top
Q. Will I (or my child, my student, etc.) be safe in Japan?
A: Please visit our Japan Health and Safety page for detailed information.
Back to Top
Q. What will the weather be like while we are in Japan?
A: When we arrive in Japan in late summer, the weather will be hot and muggy in Kyoto (mushiatsui in Japanese). Sultry, humid, moist-call it what you will-hot. You will want cool cotton clothing for this time. This said, the first Zen temple we will be staying in, i.e., Hokyoji, is located at a higher elevation so evenings may already be cool in September-October. October, however, will be nice, cool and clear, and when we take day trips to such places as Mt. Koya and Tenkawa-mura, the weather will be wonderful. By evening, however, it can be cool so you should bring a jacket along.
November will start to get colder and you will want a warm jacket. There will probably be some rain so you will also need a raincoat with a hood or an umbrella or both. While November can be chilly, we leave early enough to escape the Kyoto winter chill. Near our return to the U.S. at the end of the program, you will again want to layer your clothing for warm sunshine and a cooler temperature change.
Back to Top
Q. How much extra money should I bring?
A: If you have requested an info packet from AEA, you received a cost breakdown which specified a certain amount of money that you will need, above and beyond what you have already paid to the school. You should bring $600-$750 for special needs (dietary, entertainment, and gifts). In addition, you may need as much as $1,000 for expenses during the three-week, field research period (especially for transportation costs as well as phone calls, supplies, etc.). That said, the Program will provide you with a lump sum stipend for your food and lodging during the nearly three week research period that will allow you to stay in student hostel-style accommodations. Moreover, when we go on group field trips, the program provides your transportation, food and lodging as necessary.
Regrettably, Japan is one of the most expensive countries is the world, especially with the ongoing devaluation of the US dollar vis-Ã -vis the yen. Thus, when going out, you will pay somewhat more than you would in New York City. If possible, bring a total of at least $1,600. Back to Top
Q. What are our library resources?
A: Thanks to Antioch University’s sister-school relationship with Ryukoku University, you will have full access to their English-language holdings across three campuses, all of which can be accessed from any one campus. Apart from certain specialized topics, students in past years have found these bibliographic resources generally adequate for writing their major research paper. In addition, we have access to the Japan Foundation library that has resources on Japanese culture and history. There are also some very good bookstores in Kyoto and Osaka that have many English language texts, and the Program itself has a limited resource library. And, of course, there is always amazon.com. Back to Top
Q. Will we have opportunities to interact with Japanese young people?
A: You will be interacting with all aspects of Japanese society-temple clerics and lay practitioners, pilgrims, old and young living in Kyoto, and students at Ryukoku University. As for the latter, Ryukoku will hold a welcoming party for Program students toward the end of September when their fall semester begins. This will be an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with Japanese students, especially those studying Buddhism. Nevertheless, due to numerous program-related activities, social interaction with Japanese young people will be more limited than in a ‘typical’ study abroad program. Back to Top
Q. Is there a limit to the number of students accepted into the Japan and Its Buddhist Traditions program?
A: Due to restrictions in the availability of temple accommodations, the Japan Program can accept no more than twenty (20) students. Students are strongly encouraged to submit their applications by the deadline of March 30. Early acceptance may be available upon request. Back to Top
Accommodations and Food
Q. What about our accommodations in Japan?
A: At most temples, including the True Pure Land temple of Koshoji (our main residence in Kyoto), we will stay in large rooms, sometimes as few as three to five people to a room but sometimes more in accordance with the custom for temple pilgrims. There is a little closet space and at least one table in each room. The floor is tatami (beautifully woven straw mats). We sleep on futon (large, fluffy mattresses that are placed on the floor), with sheets and comforters provided by the temple. Note, however, that the bedding must be folded and placed back in special closets at the beginning of each day. As listed in our itinerary, we will also visit a number of temples belonging to the Zen and Shingon sects, some of which we will reside in for up to four days.
At each place we stay, we will have ofuro (a traditional Japanese bath), where you bathe outside the tub and then soak in the tub (like a Jacuzzi or hot tub). Ofuro are wonderful, one of the things you will miss when you return home. Our main temple, Koshoji, will provide students with a light, Japanese-style towel (tenugui) that can be used for both bathing and drying off. However, you are welcome to bring along a big fluffy (and heavy) bath towel if you wish.
While the toilets will almost always be of the running water variety, some of them will be Japanese-style that does take some getting used to. However, as you will discover, modern Japanese toilets on the Ryukoku University campus, in department stores, etc. have some innovative additions that make them even more sanitary than their US counterparts (so long as you know which buttons to push!) Back to Top
Q. Since program students mostly stay in temple hostels will there be much privacy?
A: Students will live in relatively large, traditional Japanese-style, tatami-mat rooms. Although male and female rooms are separate, students live communally within their separate rooms. In addition, students are provided with personal lockers in which to keep valuables, clothing, etc. Back to Top
Q. Will we have opportunities to have home stays with Japanese families?
A: Yes, the Program is typically able to place interested students with Japanese families in the Kyoto area for a few days during the nearly three-week research period. This is on a case-by-case basis and is not a Program requirement. Back to Top
Q. What type of food will we have during the program?
A: In Japan, an important part of adjusting to the culture is graciously accepting the food that is offered. This can be a challenge for some students. The food in the temples is traditional Japanese cooking, and in most cases we will be eating a rice-based diet along with miso (soy-bean paste) soup, cooked vegetables, tofu, and tsukemono (pickles).
While in residence at our base temple, Koshoji, in Kyoto, we will eat a vegetarian breakfast together as a group in the temple’s dining hall. On weekday evenings, both vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals will also be eaten together. That said, the program recognizes that some students are committed to being vegan, etc. which neither this temple nor very few other temples in Japan can accommodate. This is not to mention the fact that many students on this program are not necessarily vegetarian/vegan to begin with. Thus, to give students the greatest possible choice, students will, while in Kyoto, be given stipends for the weekends allowing them to select their own lunches and dinners on those days from a wide variety of choices, including Western and Japanese-style neighborhood restaurants, and specialty vegetarian/vegan restaurants, etc. Hopefully this will allow all students to find something that meets their dietary needs and interests. At certain times, however, e.g., while in residence at the Soto Zen monastery of Hokyoji, only vegetarian food will be available cooked by Zen practitioners. This is something we talk about in more detail during the initial Program Orientation at Koshoji.
Note that during the nearly three-week research period, students will be provided modest stipends for both lodging and food, allowing you to eat as you wish. Travel expenses during the research period, however, are the student’s responsibility. Back to Top
Meditation Questions
Q. How many hours a day will be spent meditating?
A: During the academic portion of the program, i.e., when we are in Kyoto, we meditate for one 40-minute period in the early morning and a second (optional) 40-minute period in the late afternoon. The meditation hall in the temple hostel, however, is open 24 hours a day and students are free and encouraged to meditate for as long as they wish. Further, when training outside of Kyoto in Zen and esoteric Shingon temples, required meditation periods are increased to as many as five sittings per day. Back to Top
Q. Are there any retreats?
A: The total of six days of training in both Soto and Rinzai Zen temples is similar to a retreat. In addition, interested students are encouraged and assisted to participate in retreats (usually Zen sesshin) during the nearly three-week research period. Back to Top
Q. What are the specifics of practicing on this program?
A: In general, the first three weeks are spent studying and practicing the two major Japanese Zen traditions, i.e., Soto and Rinzai. This is followed by three weeks of studying and practicing esoteric Shingon (very similar to Tibetan Buddhism) including a short experience of mountain asceticism. Next come two weeks of studying and practicing Pure Land Buddhism followed by a one-week introduction to Japan’s Buddhist and Shinto-influenced “new religions.” Finally, interested students have the opportunity to participate in a traditional Buddhist pilgrimage on the island of Shikoku and/or participate in training in other traditions during the nearly three-week research period. Back to Top
Q. Are various styles of meditation taught?
A: Students are taught two major styles of Zen meditation (as practiced in the Soto and Rinzai Zen sects) and two major visualization-oriented meditative styles as practiced in the esoteric Shingon school. In addition, some practitioners, especially in the Pure Land schools, regard ritual sutra chanting as a form of meditation. Back to Top
Communications
Q. Will students be able to bring electronics such as computers?
A: Computers (e.g., laptops) in our Kyoto temple hostel are allowed though students must take care to secure their laptops and other valuables at all times. Additionally, while devices for listening to music may be brought, students are required to listen to music using headsets, etc. so as not to disturb the temple atmosphere. Back to Top
Q. Is there Internet access?
A: Yes, students have full access six days a week, morning to night, to all of the facilities of the nearby Omiya campus of the Buddhist-affiliated Ryukoku University, including two large computer labs, a modern library, bookstore and dining facility. All of these facilities are located less than a five-minute walk from the temple hostel. Back to Top
Q. What about cell phones?
A: While you may bring or purchase/rent a cell phone in Japan, we must ask that you use it only outside of temple structures and in a manner that does not interfere with other students. Given the meditation-based nature of this program it would be far better to free yourself from dependence on a cell phone for at least this three-month period. If you do decide to bring a cell phone with you, check to make sure that it will work in Japan. Back to Top
Travel Questions
Q. Is it possible to tour around Japan either before or after the program?
A: As in the U.S., after 9/11, the Japanese Immigration Bureau has become much stricter about limiting short-term, foreign visitors to a 90 day, visa-free, residence in Japan. Given this, students should not plan to arrive in Japan more than one day prior to the formal beginning of the Program; otherwise, students will be unable to complete the 89-day Program before the expiry of their 90-day legal residence in Japan. That said, if students wish to visit other Asian countries either before or after the program they are welcome to do so. Note, too, that if you do visit a nearby country after the end of the Program, e.g., South Korea, China, etc., you would then be eligible for a second 90 day, visa-free residence in Japan. However, all such arrangements, including changes to your return airline ticket, must be made by interested students and are not the responsibility of the Japan program or staff. Back to Top
Q. Is participation in program field excursions required or optional?
A: In principle, participation is optional for one-day field excursions, many of which take place on Sundays. However, participation is required for longer excursions, e.g., for Zen monastic training, inasmuch as they are an integral part of the required course, “Practice and Theory of Buddhism.” Note that these longer excursions sometimes include weekends, and therefore this Program is not suitable for students who are unable, for whatever reason, to participate fully in weekend activities. Back to Top
Q. Do I need to get a visa for Japan?
A: No, not if you are a citizen of the U.S. Citizens of the U.S. and many other countries are allowed to reside in Japan for up to ninety days without a formal visa. The “Japan and Its Buddhist Traditions Program” is eighty-nine days long so you fall within the guidelines for a visa exemption. Note, however, that you must have a valid passport. Citizens of other countries should consult their Japanese Embassy website for entry requirements. AEA can assist you by providing documentation in regards to your participation in the program. We suggest you visit this website to determine if you will need a formal visa, based on your citizenship (we cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information). Back to Top
Q. Should I purchase a Japan Rail Pass?
A: Yes, in the event you plan to travel extensively during the nearly three-week long Program research period, either a 7 or 14-day rail pass would be a good buy. Note, however, that rail passes must be purchased outside of Japan. View details. Back to Top
