Fukushima is a nice and a little quieter city then others. Due to a lesser density of people living here, it never feels crowded and is comfortably quiet in the evening and at night. Even though I just described it as less crowded, it is still a big city with everything you want from a big city, from shops to food, events and sometimes little shrines spread all over the city. Make sure to get a bike! Having a bike makes trips to the south way easier. The people here are incredibly nice and helpful. It started from the day I arrived in Fukushima-City, with people from the school and buddies welcoming me and showing me around. I quickly want to mention for everyone concerned, that radiation is obviously no danger in the city at all. The city of Fukushima is quite beautiful. There aren't too many skyscrapers blocking your view and because Fukushima is surrounded by Mountains, you often can see them in the horizon, beautifully green in the summer and with white tips in the winter. That is also a great opportunity for people who like to ski and snowboard. What is great, is that there are also a few onsen places nearby. Close to the city of Fukushima lies Iizaka, a very famous onsen town for which you can by a cheap train ticket that also gives you a free entrance in the onsen there. Also, Fukushima is a great town if you are interested in the Japanese culture, thanks to a lot of festivals being in and around Fukushima.
The university is relatively small, but with everything you could whish for. Mostly, I just used the cafeteria and the library outside of the common lecture rooms for classes. The teachers are enthusiastic and nice. If you got any problems, the teachers and the International Center can be consulted for help at any time. You also get buddies because the Fukushima University has a buddy system. Buddies are there to help you with all the questions you have, from paperwork or even if you just want to practice Japanese, it is incredibly nice to know someone is there to help you if you need it. The University is a little further away from the dormitories, but not too far. By foot you need around 20 mins to get to the station alone, and from the station you need to right 2 stations to arrive. I would also recommend getting one of the tickets that let you travel for free between Fukushima main station and the University station. That will also give you a free Suica-Card. Lastly, there are a lot of clubs. Try joining a club that you are interested in, even if you have no prior knowledge about the thing you want to do. I joined the Kyudo-Club and made a lot of friends. Don't be scared, they are really welcoming towards exchange students.
The dormitories are not too bad. You get to live right next to a river, very nice for taking a stroll. The rooms itself are small, but you have everything you need. Maybe except for a kitchen, but there is a better one down in the lounge. That is also the place where I spend a lot of my time. It's a big room to hang out. Lastly, living in the dorms is cheap. Incredibly affordable, plus you have a chance of receiving a scholarship.
In my spare time I tried to apply events. A lot of events are organized by the International Center. That includes hiking trips on mountains, tea ceremonies, apple picking and so on. Another school-organized trip I attended, which I would recommend everyone to take, is the trip to the powerplant. I always wanted to see the powerplant and learn more about it. What was especially touching, was seeing the area around the powerplant. Seeing empty and left alone houses was sadder than I thought, but interesting to see, nonetheless. Other then that, I also went hiking and attended the school festival. Also, I wanted to experience more of Japan, and planned a trip to Oosaka, which was quite affordable with the over-night-bus system.
Also, I want to shortly touch on the topic of food. The fruits in Fukushima are amazing. What really blew me away are the apples, the peaches and the grapes, best ones I ever had. Unfortunately, fruits in Japan are incredibly expensive. Other than that, there is also a famous Gyoza dish, called Enban-Gyoza. Make sure to try it! It's not very different from traditional Gyoza, but it is a little more crispy and very delicious. Going to restaurants in general is very affordable in Japan. You get incredible food for very cheap and free water everywhere you go. Also, for everyone traveling from western countries, you must live without your bread and cheap pizzas. There are ways to get them, but they are expensive and not really of good quality. In exchange for that, you get to eat good rice, but I still miss my bread.
As a closing note, I want to say that Fukushima is such a great and relaxing place to exist. It hits the sweet spot between having the luxuries of living in a city, but the feel of a big village, which is what I wanted.
福島大学への留学案内・年間スケジュール
