Home Sweet Home Stay

About the Home Sweet Home Stay program

Overview

In 1998, the Ministry of Education launched the Student Exchange Model Project toward comprehensively improving conditions for the exchange of international students in cooperation with private organizations.
Accordingly, Hokkaido has improved its systems for accepting, training and supporting international students in cooperation with related institutions. Also, new projects to promote exchange activities with international students and educational programs for the promotion of international understanding with the help of foreign students have been introduced. The Home Sweet Home Stay program was started as part of these endeavors.
The program aims to form a network Hokkaido municipalities toward providing opportunities for international students to experience home stays at various locations when they wish. This program enables students to experience Japanese life and culture, and it helps host families to participate in international exchanges, thereby contributing to the promotion of internationalization at the local level.
To apply, international students should obtain information on local areas through brochures or Web sites and submit an application to their university. They will receive information on a host family that is registered with an organization in the area the student wishes to visit. In this way, the system allows students to stay where they wish.
From April 2002 to March 2003, 26 international students experienced home stays around Hokkaido through this system.

International students studying at universities, colleges, junior colleges or professional schools in Hokkaido. (At present, students at universities outside Hokkaido are not eligible.)

See the "Information on Hokkaido Municipalities."

Up to five nights, in principle.

Free of charge (the host families volunteer to accept international students). However, students are required to bear the travel expenses to and from the host residence and expenses incurred in visiting local facilities. The payment of other costs should be determined by consulting with the host family.

(1) The visitors should always adhere to the policies of this program.

(2) Because the students are received not as guests but as members of the host family, they are expected to help in the family's work (e.g., by doing farm work) and to be active in local activities.

(3) The visitors should try to use public transportation (e.g., railway, bus) as much as possible during the home stay. They should pay the fares themselves.

(1) Application form
International Student
(2) Copy of the student ID.

Application:
International Student Dividion of your university.

Inquiries:
Sapporo International Communication Plaza, International Services Section
MN Bldg., Kita 1 Nishi 3, Chuo-ku, Sapporo
Tel: 011-211-2105 Fax: 011-232-3833
E-mail:homestay@plaza-sapporo.or.jp

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mon. through Fri. (closed Sat., Sun., and national holidays).

	International students studying at universities, colleges, junior colleges or professional schools in Hokkaido. (At present, students at universities outside Hokkaido are not eligible.)
	See the "Information on Hokkaido Municipalities."
	Up to five nights, in principle.
	Free of charge (the host families volunteer to accept international students). However, students are required to bear the travel expenses to and from the host residence and expenses incurred in visiting local facilities. The payment of other costs should be determined by consulting with the host family.
	(1)	The visitors should always adhere to the policies of this program.
	(2)	Because the students are received not as guests but as members of the host family, they are expected to help in the family's work (e.g., by doing farm work) and to be active in local activities.
	(3)	The visitors should try to use public transportation (e.g., railway, bus) as much as possible during the home stay. They should pay the fares themselves.
	(1) Application form International Student (2) Copy of the student ID.
	Application: International Student Dividion of your university. Inquiries: Sapporo International Communication Plaza, International Services Section MN Bldg., Kita 1 Nishi 3, Chuo-ku, Sapporo Tel: 011-211-2105 Fax: 011-232-3833 E-mail:homestay@plaza-sapporo.or.jp Hours: 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Mon. through Fri. (closed Sat., Sun., and national holidays).