The Fushimi Inari Shrine is famous for thousands of vermilion torii gates straddling a network of trails. Photo by David Emrich on Unsplash.
Fast Facts
DATES: June 3 - July 2, 2026
GENERAL LOCATION: Kyoto, Japan
ENROLLMENT CAPACITY: 16
FOCUS: international reporting, photography
PROJECT COST: $6,395 + airfare
ACADEMIC CREDIT: Optional 3 units, $450
INCLUDES: shared room accommodations; welcome and farewell events; travel insurance. Academic Credit is optional. DOES NOT INCLUDE AIRFARE.
The Project
Once the imperial capital of Japan, Kyoto offers its visitors a window into the past through its serene temples and lavish gardens. In its unique Gion District, geishas still perform traditional arts. But students will also find a rich sampling of contemporary culture, including the Kyoto International Manga Museum, the Nintendo Museum, trendy restaurants and lively karaoke bars.
Working in teams with Japanese students from local universities, participants will delve into the life of this fascinating city by hunting for captivating stories and interviewing residents.
Students can earn three credits from our partner university, the University of Jamestown, at an additional cost. Credits are transferable and accepted as an upper-division journalism elective. The program also is open to recent graduates and graduate students.
Students will learn to:
- Research and develop compelling stories in an international setting
- Interview sources, with an interpreter by their sides
- Produce articles or multimedia projects for publication
- Explore a mix of traditional and modern Japanese cultural activities.
Mentored by a team of experienced journalists and professors, students will gain the confidence and skills to report cross-cultural stories from one of the most captivating cities in the world.
Cultural Activities
Students will experience a range of guided activities that highlight Kyoto’s unique culture and landscape, including:
- Explore the magical Arashiyama Bamboo Grove & meet the monkeys at Iwatayama Monkey Park
- Visit Kyoto’s most beautiful shrines and temples — perfect for history buffs and photo enthusiasts alike
- Wander busy street markets filled with vendors, artisans and mouthwatering food stalls
- Take part in a Japanese cooking lesson and taste their creations
Travel Opportunities
Students will have two three-day weekends free to explore Kyoto or visit stylish Tokyo, spiritual center Nara, the heartbreaking Hiroshima Peace Museum or the lush countryside that inspired Japanese filmmakers Miyazaki and Kurosawa. Train travel in Japan is easy and fast, and many major routes are served by bullet trains whisking passengers to their destinations at speeds up to 275 mph.
Housing
You’ll stay at a modern hotel in Kyoto that’s close to public transit, shopping streets and our classroom building. Rooms are shared doubles with A/C, kitchenette, washer, private bathroom + Wi-Fi. Prefer your own space? Single rooms are available for an additional $1,000.
Academic Credit (3-4)
Students have the option to earn three academic credits of an upper-division journalism elective for this course. The credits will be issued by the University of Jamestown, and we will work with you so they are easily transferable to your university. Transfer credit ultimately depends on a student’s home university. The cost for three academic credit is $450 (See the FAST FACTS at the top of the page for Program Cost).
NOTE: Students on a quarter system will be able to transfer as four(4) credits at no additional fee for ieiMedia courses that are listed as three(3) credits. Transfer credit ultimately depends on a student’s home university. Please check with your university for procedures to follow when transferring credits to your institution.
Students
The program is open to English-speaking college students and recent graduates from any school. Most of our students are journalism, creative writing or communications majors; those majoring in other subjects are welcome as well. Experience working for a college or professional publication is helpful but not required. The program is open to English-speaking students and recent graduates from around the world.Students from many universities have participated in past ieiMedia programs, including:
American University, Arizona State University, Baylor University, California State University Fullerton, California State University Long Beach, Carleton University, Colorado State University, Georgia College and State University, Georgetown University, Humboldt State University, Indiana University, Iowa State University, Ithaca College, James Madison University, Louisiana State University, New York University, Rider University, Rutgers University, Ryerson University, San Diego State University, San Francisco State University, State University of New York at New Paltz, Syracuse University, Temple University, Truman State University, UCLA, University of Arizona, University of British Columbia, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Kennesaw State University, University of Illinois, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, University of Northern Iowa, University of Southern California, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Virginia Tech, and Washington and Lee University. We’ve also had students from Japan, the United Kingdom, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad participate.
Graduates
Graduate students are also invited to apply. We’d be happy to talk with you about supervising an independent project that would qualify for graduate credit at your school – or to offer this experience as a graduate internship.
Faculty Director
Rachele Kanigel
Rachele Kanigel is a professor and former chair of the Journalism Department at San Francisco State University. She was a daily newspaper reporter for 15 years as well as a freelance correspondent for TIME Magazine. She has written for U.S. News & World Report, Health, Reader’s Digest, San Francisco Magazine and other magazines and websites. She is the author of The Student Newspaper Survival Guide and The Diversity Style Guide. In 2019 she spent 10 weeks as a Fulbright Specialist teaching and training faculty at Royal Thimphu College in the Himalayan nation of Bhutan. She has directed ieiMedia programs in Urbino, Perpignan and Jerusalem and is excited to help students explore Arles.
Faculty
Laird Harrison
Laird Harrison is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in magazines (TIME, Audubon, Reader’s Digest, People, Health), newspapers (San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Detroit Free Press); and Web sites (Reuters, Salon, MSNBC, CNN.com). He has produced video for Web sites of Smithsonian Magazine and WebMD, and audio for KQED and WUNC public media stations. He has taught journalism at San Francisco State University and the University of California, Berkeley Extension.
View complete faculty biographies on Our Professors under Current Faculty.
APPLICATION, PAYMENTS, AND WAITLISTS
APPLICATION DEADLINE: We are accepting applications for summer 2026 as long as spots remain available. Please review our application instructions and reach out to admissions@ieimedia.com if you have any questions. We are here to support you through the application process and are so excited to learn more about your interest in studying abroad with ieiMedia! If you have questions about applying, you can also start a conversation with us by clicking the Get Started button. Please refer to the Application Deadline Details for more information.
PAYMENT DEADLINES: see Payment, Cancelation and Refund Policy for information on deposit deadlines and amounts.
ENROLLMENT CAPACITY AND WAITLISTS: ieiMedia projects have a defined capacity limitation for applicants. Since there is a limited number of applicants who can attend, you can only be guaranteed a spot when you (1) have paid your Application Fee and (2) made payments on time according to the Costs and Payment Schedule. If a program has reached capacity OR you have not met the requirements for enrollments, you will be placed on the waitlist until requirements are met and capacity is available.
ACADEMIC CREDIT
Academic credits can be earned for this ieiMedia Project. Requesting course credit is optional. This course offers an option to earn upper-division journalism elective credits. The cost for academic credit is $150/credit. Students choosing this option must indicate so in their application. After applying, student will find procedures in our Student Portal to request academic credit through our school of record, University of Jamestown. NOTE: Students on a quarter system will be able to transfer as four(4) or eight(8) credits at no additional fee for ieiMedia courses that are listed as three(3) or six(6) credits respectively. Transfer credit ultimately depends on a student's home university. Please check with your university for procedures to follow when transferring credits to your institution.
Application Details, Travel Advisory, Financial Aid
Application Deadline Details
We are accepting applications for summer 2026 as long as spots remain available. Please review our application instructions and reach out to admissions@ieimedia.com if you have any questions. We are here to support you through the application process and are so excited to learn more about your interest in studying abroad with ieiMedia!
If you do not have the necessary access to submit your application, please reach out to admissions@ieimedia.com to speak with an advisor.
Get started now to reserve your place or contact the ieiMedia Director of Admissions at: admissions@ieimedia.com
Travel Advisory
ieiMedia will be monitoring The US Department of State Travel Advisories and will provide status updates to those who sign up for the project regarding important information.
Financial Aid
Students studying abroad for the summer term have limited financial aid options, but Pell grant recipients are encouraged to apply and receive our help in applying for a Gilman Study Abroad Scholarship which can award up to $5,000. Check with your school’s financial aid office and your study abroad offices to find out if other assistance is available. For more information on financial aid, get started by connecting with us here.
QUESTIONS? Contact the ieiMedia Director of Admissions at admissions@ieimedia.com You can also schedule an ieiMedia advising session.
Past information session recordings and slides can be viewed here.