Japan’s Study Abroad Revival in 2024

Japan’s dream of sending more of its young people out into the world is back on track.

After years of pandemic restrictions and uncertainty, Japanese students are once again packing their bags and boarding planes for study adventures abroad.

Official data from the Japan Association of Overseas Studies shows that 70,253 students went overseas last year. That is over four thousand more than in 2023 and close to ninety percent of the pre-pandemic peak. 

But the story is not just about numbers climbing. It is about how Japanese students are changing the way they approach international education.

Australia Takes the Top Spot

For the first time, Australia has taken the crown as the top study destination for Japanese students, nudging the United States into second place. 

Canada still holds a steady third position, and the United Kingdom is climbing with a notable increase of more than a thousand students compared to the previous year.

The Rise of Short Study Tours

Part of this shift comes from a new wave of short and structured study tours organised by schools and local governments. 

These are not the traditional year abroad experiences but rather one or two-week programs that combine language learning with cultural exchange.

They are more affordable, easier to fit into a busy academic schedule, and they often give students their first taste of life overseas.

Tatsu Hoshino from JAOS says these shorter trips are opening doors for many young people who never thought studying abroad was within their reach.

A Student’s First Taste of the World

Seventeen-year-old Haruka from Yokohama is one of them. She joined a two-week English program in Brisbane last summer through her high school. 

“It was my first time outside Japan,” she says. “I was nervous, but after a few days, I felt confident speaking English with my host family. Now I am thinking about studying for a whole year after graduation.”

A National Goal for the Next Decade

Japan’s Ministry of Education has set a big goal: to see half a million students go abroad every year by 2033. 

Officials believe school organised trips will be key to getting there, because they introduce international learning early and often plant the seed for longer overseas studies later on.

Asia’s Growing Appeal

Asian destinations are also making waves. The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea are attracting more Japanese students than before the pandemic.

 The Philippines, in particular, has gained popularity for its affordable and friendly English language programs. Families are even starting to combine holidays with short-term courses, turning travel into a learning experience.

A Changing Study Abroad Landscape

Right now, more than half of Japanese students who go abroad choose short-term language programs. Around one in five join structured study tours, and roughly one in ten commit to longer language programs of three months or more.

The recovery is more than a return to old patterns. It is a sign that Japanese students are embracing new ways of learning beyond their borders. 

There is a growing openness to different cultures, different lengths of stay, and different countries.

 With strong demand, supportive policy, and creative program options, the momentum is building for a new chapter in Japan’s global education journey.

If you want, I can now adapt this into a magazine-style feature with multiple student stories so it feels even more immersive and inspiring for readers who might be considering studying abroad themselves. That could work well for outreach campaigns.