Kyoto and Doshisha University

Kyoto: Where Traditional Meets Modern

Since it was founded in 1989, KCJS has been based in Kyoto.

As the country’s old capital, Kyoto is brimming with historical monuments, temples and shrines that you may have read about in history textbooks or in literary works. The city has 17 UNESCO World Heritage sites placing you in the perfect location to explore the cultural heart of Japan.

While traditional styles remain strong, Kyoto also has a modern face. Among historical structures, you can find modern architectures such as brick buildings on Sanjo Street that reflect the influence from the West from Meiji to early Showa as well as the Kyoto Station Building that was opened as the gate to Kyoto in 1997. Having fostered innovative industries in its 1200-year history, Kyoto is now proud of being the home of information technology industries including Nintendo and Kyocera.

As a Kyoto resident and through field trips in your disciplinary courses, you will develop a special affinity for and a more nuanced understanding of the breadth and depth of its history.

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Partnership with Doshisha University

Since KCJS moved to the Imadegawa campus of Doshisha University in 2009, KCJS and Doshisha University have developed a strong partnership, for which KCJS students have access to on-campus facilities including the main library, computer labs, cafeteria, and university Co-op bookstore, stationery shop, travel agency, and convenience store.

The partnership also allows frequent interactions with Doshisha University students. Some of Doshisha University students enroll in KCJS disciplinary classes in the afternoons giving you the opportunity to study alongside local Japanese students. They also participate in our conversation partner program. Moreover, as a KCJS student, you may also have the opportunity through our Community Involvement Project or “CIP” to participate in a Doshisha “circle” or university club, and get to know your Japanese peers while also polishing your Japanese conversational skills.

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About Doshisha University

Location

KCJS is housed in the Fusokan building on the Imadegawa campus of Doshisha University, which is bounded on the south by the Kyoto Imperial Palace (Kyoto Gosho) and to the northeast by the Shokoku-ji Temple. There is a subway station (Imadegawa) directly underneath the campus, which makes your commute and trips to the city center very easy. City buses regularly stop in front of the campus, too.

History

Originally established in 1875 as Doshisha Eigakko (Academy) by Joseph Hardy Neesima, Doshisha University has always been regarded as one of the top private universities in Japan.

Currently, Doshisha University comprises 14 undergraduate and 16 graduate programs including two professional schools (the law school and graduate school of business) in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences. It has a student body of over 29,000 students.

For more information about Doshisha University, please visit the official website.

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