Kyoto

QS Best Student Cities ranking

One of Japan’s leading destinations for both tourists and international students, second only to Tokyo, Kyoto is home to Kyoto University. Within the Best Student Cities index, Kyoto excels in the “desirability” category (a measure which looks at the overall quality of life in the city) as well as “employer activity” (an indicator of the reputation that universities in Kyoto have among international and domestic employers). Kyoto also benefits from a high score for affordability, due to comparatively reasonable living costs and mid-range tuition fees.

Serving as Japan’s capital city for a large chunk of its history, Kyoto is rich in traces of traditional Japanese culture, renowned for its beautiful Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines, ancient imperial residences, UNESCO-listed monuments and distinctive cuisine. It’s also a major hub for Japan’s television, film and electronics industries, with the likes of videogame behemoth Nintendo founded and headquartered here.

For those who want to study in Japan but feel overwhelmed by the size and pace of Tokyo, Kyoto offers the perfect balance of city life on a smaller scale, with plenty of opportunities to explore all aspects of Japanese culture – from traditional blossom-viewing parties and tea ceremonies, to all-night karaoke bars and an eclectic selection of pubs and clubs.

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QS ranked universities

Sources: QS World University Rankings; Global Liveability Ranking (The Economist’s Intelligence Unit); Big Mac Index (The Economist’s Intelligence Unit); iPad Index (Commsec); Cost of Living Survey (Mercer); Corruption Perceptions Index (Transparency International).