Ritsumeikan University
Discover traditional Japanese culture
Quick facts
Location: Kyoto
University Type: Three separate campuses in Kyoto, Osaka and Shiga. Most exchange students will either be based in Kyoto and Osaka
City Size: Campuses based in Kyoto and Osaka. Kyoto is a smaller city for Japan with 1.5 million people and Osaka one of the biggest with over 35 million people
Climate: Temperate climate, with fairly mild sunny winters and hot humid summers.
Cost of living: Cheaper than Norwich
Local Language: Japanese
Be Inspired: Read Memoirs of a Geisha
What's Unique: Ritsumeikan University offers a wealth of support for exchange students including a buddy scheme to help you to settle in. The buddy scheme organises activities across the year for you to make friends and experience some traditional Japanese traditions.
Why choose Ritsumeikan
Ritsumeikan University, abbreviated to Rits, is a private university in Kyoto, Japan. Historically the school was seen as a liberal alternative to the state-run Kyoto University.
Today the university is one of the four leading private universities in western Japan. It offers a wide range of courses in advanced studies at its Kinugasa Campus in Kyoto and Biwako-Kusatsu Campus in Shiga.
There are hundreds of interesting places to visit in Kyoto, those easiest to access from campus include Kinkakuji - (The Golden Pavilion), one of the most popular sites in Kyoto; Ryoanji - a UNESCO world heritage site built in 1450, home to one of Japan's most famous rock gardens; Nijo Castle, built in 1601 and used as a residence for Tokugawa Shoguns; and Ishiyama Temple, the grounds of which are most impressive in the fall season when they become saturated with leaves of all shades of red, orange and yellow.
Ritsumeikan campus life can be pretty exciting. Highlights include the entrance ceremony held at Osaka Stadium, numerous international parties and various sporting events throughout the year. Another highlight is the multi-cultural student body which allows students to develop friendships with people from all around the globe.
Contact us
Contact us via email: studyabroad@uea.ac.uk