Kyoto International Students Information Site
If you are an international student new to Kyoto, the first thing you should do is sign up to the Kyoto International Students Information Site!
By doing so, you can receive invitations to free events such as classical concerts and "Kyogen" for example. You can also gain access to other useful information.
We also recommend you to enrich your study abroad experience through using the “Ryugakusei Okoshiyasu Pass”, which gives you free access to Nijo Castle, Kyoto Tower, Kyoto Zoo and many other places!
Log into the “kokoka Member Site”.
From the “kokoka Member Site” you can sign up for the “Kyoto International Students Information Site”, apply for the “PICNIK” (Program for InterCultural Nexus In Kyoto), and kokoka’s email newsletter.
Latest Information
★Information on free events, etc. To apply, you will need a “kokoka Member Site” ID. You can get the ID on this page. Please scroll down.
★Please check the schedule carefully before applying so that you do not have to cancel.
Day | The name of event | Time | Place | Application period | Who can participate | Notes | Application |
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April 21(Sun.) | NEW!Welcome Seminar and Party for Foreigners" | Seminar: 14:00~15:30 Party: 15:30-17:00 |
kokoka Kyoto International Community House | The application will be closed as soon as it reaches the maximum number of participants. First come, first served, 100 people |
Seminar: foreigners, who just came to Kyoto Party: everyone is welcome, reservation is required |
【Fee】: foreigners who will attend both the Seminar and the Party: free those who participate only in the Party: 500 yen ※Before you apply, please make sure to double-check your schedule. |
Apply |
March 24(Sun.) | 【Canceled due to rain】Kyoto Guide Club Tour "Hanami Walk on Nakaragi Path" | 9:30~13:30 | at the ticket gates of Kitaoji Station, Kyoto City Subway Karasuma Line, near exit 3(underground floor) |
【Canceled due to rain】The application will be closed as soon as it reaches the maximum number of participants. First come, first served |
Foreigners up to 20 people (first come, first served, reservation is required) |
Fee: free | Apply |
March 20(Wed./National Holiday)~April 2(Tue.) | "Kitano Odori" Free invitation for Iternational Students | ①14:00(Entrance at 13:00) ②16:30(Entrance at 15:30) The show will be performed twice a day, you can choose the day and time of performance you would like to attend. Duration of performance:approx. 80 min. |
Kamishichiken Kaburenjo (Kyoto city, Kamigyo-ku, Imadegawa-dori Shichihonmatsu Nishi-iru, Shinsei-cho 742) |
from March 19th(Tue)20:00~until capacity is reached reservation is required, first come, first served |
International Students from Designated schools who are 25 years old and younger up to 5 people (one person can apply for one ticket) |
【Fee】free At the day of the performance, please show your invitation and your Student ID Card at the venue After the free invitations reach capacity, international students under the age of 25 can use the international student discount at the reception desk at the venue to buy a ticket for half price (7,000 yen → 3,500 yen). For the details please click「Apply」 |
Apply |
March 15(Fri.) | The 687th Subscription Concert "Friday Night Special" | 19:30(Entrance at 18:30) | Kyoto Concert Hall, Main Hall |
~Feb. 20(Tue.) *the participants will be chosen by a lottery |
International Students from Designated schools up to 120 people (one person can apply for up to 2 tickets) |
Fee: free If you are chosen to participate, please show your student ID card and an invitaion letter at the reception desk. |
Apply |
Mar. 8(Fri.) | Kyoto Shimin Kyogen Performance | 19:00-21:00(Entrance at 18:30) | Kyoto Kanze Kaikan Theater (44, Okazaki Enshojicho, Sakyo-ku Kyoto-shi, Kyoto) | Reservation required. Feb.16(Fri.) - Feb. 21(Wed.) If the maximum number of people who want to attend the performance will exceed, the participants will be chosen by a draw. |
International Students from Designated schools up to 15 people (one person can apply for one ticket) |
Fee: free Language: Japanese If you are chosen to participate, please show your student ID card and an invitaion letter at the reception desk |
Apply |
Mar. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 | Gion Corner Winter Parformance(Kyomai Dance・Chanoyu (the Art of Preparing Tea)・Ikebana flower arrangement・Koto music・Bugaku dance・Kyogen etc. The show lasts approximately 1 hour.) | 18:00-/19:00- | Gion Corner (605-0074 Gionmachi Minamigawa, Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto) | come to kokoka at least 3 days before the performance (including the days when kokoka Kyoto International Comunity House is closed) *first come, first served basis |
International Students from Designated schools up to 8 people for each performance (up to 2 tickets for each person) |
Fee: free | Please come to kokoka Kyoto Intenational Community House to pick up a ticket. *Student ID is required to get the ticket/Reservation not accepted |
kokoka Family Program
The "kokoka Family Program" involves matching Kyoto families with international students to support their life in Kyoto.
PICNIK (Program for InterCultural Nexus in Kyoto)
Would you like to share your country’s culture with elementary and middle school students?
Ryugakusei Okoshiyasu Pass
What is the Ryugakusei Okoshiyasu Pass?
If you are an international student in Kyoto, in order to enrich your experience here you are able to enter various locations free of charge. When you visit a given location, you will need to show the “Ryugakusei Okoshiyasu Pass” (provided here) and your student ID card.
Eligibility | Designated Schools (Please check if you belong to a designated school to confirm eligibility) |
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Usable Period | July - August,January - February Locations able to visit throughout the year: Kyoto Tower (~2023/3/31, except 8/16 and 1/1), Garden Museum Hiei (4/23 (Saturday) - 12/4 (Sunday), closed on Thursday. Please contact directly for further information) |
Number of times it can be used | Unlimited |
Facilities | List of facilities you can enter |
Ryugakusei Okoshiyasu Pass for Japanese Students
If a Japanese student is with an international student and both belong to designated schools, then they too can gain free access to various locations free of charge. Please note that the number of Japanese students should be the same as, or less than the number of international students. At the entrance of the venue, the Japanese student will need to show their student ID card and display the Ryugakusei Okoshiyasu Pass (for Japanese students) to staff.
Facilities you can enter with the Ryugakusei Okoshiyasu Pass
- 1. Nijo Castle
- 2. Murin-an
- 3. Kyoto City KYOCERA Museum of Art (only the collection room)
- 4. Kyoto City Zoo
- 5. Kyoto International Manga Museum
- 6. Kyotomangekyo Museum
- 7. Kyoto Municipal Science Center For Youth
- 8. Kyoto Municipal Museum of School History
- 9. Otani University Museum
- 10. Kyoto Institute of Technology Museum and Archives
- 11. Kyoto University Museum
- 12. Kyoto Museum for World Peace
- 13. Forest of Life
- 14. Ryukoku Museum(series exhibition only)
- 15. Kyoto Botanical Gardens
- 16. Old Mitsui Family Shimogamo Villa
- 17. Tomomi Iwakura former secluded residence
- 18. Kyoto Tower("Nidec Kyoto Tower" :from April, 2024)l
- 19. Garden Museum Hiei
Designated Schools
Universities etc. | 1. | Ikenobo College |
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2. | Otani University | |
3. | Kyoto Kacho University and Kacho Junior College | |
4. | Kyoto University | |
5. | Kyoto University of foreign Studies・Kyoto Junior College of Foreign Languages | |
6. | Kyoto University of Education | |
7. | Kyoto College of Economics | |
8. | Kyoto Institute of Technology | |
9. | Kyoto Sangyo University | |
10. | Kyoto Women's University | |
11. | Kyoto City University of Arts | |
12. | Kyoto Seika University | |
13. | Kyoto University of Arts and Design | |
14. | Kyoto Tachibana University | |
15. | Kyoto Prefectual University | |
16. | Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine | |
17. | Kyoto Pharmaceutical University | |
18. | Kyoto Koka Women's University | |
19. | Kyoto Saga University of Arts | |
20. | Shuchiin University | |
21. | Doshisha University | |
22. | Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts | |
23. | Kyoto Notre Dame University | |
24. | Hanazono University | |
25. | Bukkyo University | |
26. | Ritsumeikan University | |
27. | Ryukoku University | |
28. | Kyoto College of Graduate Studies for Informatics | |
29. | Heian Jogakuin College | |
30. | Kyoto University of Advanced Science | |
31. | Kyoto Arts and Crafts University | |
32. | Kyoto College of Nursing | |
33. | Kyoto Study Center, the Open University of Japan | |
Japanese Language Schools | 1. | ARC Academy Kyoto |
2. | Kyoshin Language Academy Kyoto Chuo School | |
3. | Academy of Kansai Language School | |
4. | Kyoto International Academy of Japanese Language | |
5. | Kyoto Japanese Language Training Center | |
6. | KJLS Kyoto Japanese Language School | |
7. | Kyoto Institute of Culture and Language | |
8. | Kyoto Minsai Japanese Language School | |
9. | Kyoto Reigaku International Academy | |
10. | Kyoto YMCA College Japanese Course | |
11. | JCL Foreign Language School | |
12. | Nihongo Center | |
13. | Katugaku Shoin | |
14. | SCG Japan Language School | |
15. | Japan International Language Academy kyoto | |
16. | YIC Kyoto Japanese Academy | |
17. | ISI Language School, Kyoto | |
18. | Kamei Japanese Language School | |
19. | Kyoto Asuka Academy | |
20. | Kyoto Language and Culture Gakuin | |
Kyoto Prefecture Advanced Vocational Schools | 1. | Kyoto Architectual College |
2. | Kyoto Institute of Technology and Automobile Engineering | |
3. | Kyoto Computer Gakuin Kyoto Ekimae | |
4. | Kyoto Computer Gakuin Kamogawa | |
5. | Kyoto Computer Gakuin Rakuhoku | |
6. | Kyoto Institute of Automobile Technology | |
7. | Kyoto Butsugen Educational School | |
8. | Kyoto Barber & Beauty College | |
9. | Amuse Hair Beauty College | |
10. | Kyoto Beauty College | |
11. | YIC Kyoto Beauty College | |
12. | YIC Kyoto Pet General College | |
13. | Kyoto Culinary Institute | |
14. | Kyoto Pastary & Bakery Art College | |
15. | Kyoto College of Nutritional & Medical Sciences | |
16. | Kyoto College of Social Welfare | |
17. | Kyoto Medical Welfare College | |
18. | Kyoto YMCA International College of Welfare | |
19. | Kyoto Animal College | |
20. | Kyoto Institute of Design | |
21. | Kyoto College of Hotel, Tourism & Bridal Management | |
22. | Ohara College of Business and Bookkeeping | |
23. | Kyoto Shika Eisei Gakuin Senmon Gakko | |
24. | Kyoto Public Official & IT Accounting College | |
25. | Academie de Ballet de Kyoto | |
26. | Urasenke School of Tea | |
27. | Sundai Yobi gakko(Preparatory Schoo)l Kyoto School | |
28. | Kyoto Career College of Foreign Languages | |
29. | Kyoto Kawakami Fukushoku Senmon Gakko | |
30. | Knitted Fashion College | |
31. | Butsuryu Colege | |
32. | Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daini School of Nursing | |
33. | Kyoto College of Health and Hygiene | |
34. | Kinki Technical College of Nursing | |
35. | Kyoto College of Dental Hygienists & Technicians | |
36. | Kyoto Culture and Medicine College | |
37. | Kyoto College of Medical Health | |
38. | Japanese Red Cross Kyoto Daiichi School of Nursing | |
39. | Rakuwakai Kyoto Health School | |
40. | The Nursing Schol of Kyoto Medical Association | |
41. | Kyoto Chuo Nursing and Insurance College | |
42. | Kyoto Katsura Nursing School | |
43. | National Hospital Organization Kyoto Medical Center School of Nursing and Midwifery | |
44. | Kyoto Kinki Joho Upper Secondary Specialized Training Scool | |
45. | Kyoto Design & Technology | |
46. | Kyoto Prefectural Welfare Center for the Visual Imaratient |