World-class research and a surprisingly free academic culture

Kyoto University is famous in Japan for its independent spirit, and I feel it in my lab. Students are encouraged to follow their own questions, and my professor gives real freedom. Tuition for national universities is reasonable, and fee reductions are available for students with good grades and financial need. The international office runs orientation, Japanese classes and tutoring. Labs can be demanding, and many courses are in Japanese, so N2 or higher is very useful even in English programmes. Campus facilities are older than some private universities, but the research quality is outstanding.