Guide to Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa University of Nutrition Sciences: Admissions, Tuition, Student Life & Careers

Thinking about studying food, health, and nutrition in Japan—but want a campus that feels personal, safe, and connected to local communities? Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa University of Nutrition Sciences (YPYUNS) is a small, public university nestled in the historic castle town of Yonezawa. With just one flagship undergraduate program and a focused master’s course, the university builds close ties between students and faculty while offering practical, community‑rooted learning. This guide pulls together facts, fees, climate, support services, and strengths international applicants care about—so you can decide whether Yonezawa could be your next academic home.

Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa University of Nutrition Sciences — Symbolic Photos (Free-to-use)

Quick‑Facts Table

Type (National/Public/Private)	Public (Prefectural)
Total Students	180 (as of May 1, 2025) — 18 men / 162 women Source (Official “Educational Information”)
Campuses	Main Campus: Yonezawa (6‑15‑1 Toorimachi, Yonezawa, Yamagata) Access & Map
Faculties/Schools	Faculty of Nutrition Sciences (Department of Nutrition Sciences); Graduate School of Health and Nutrition Sciences (Master’s) Undergraduate / Graduate
Tuition Fees	Tuition: ¥535,800/year (UG & Grad); Admission Fee: ¥282,000 (in‑prefecture) or ¥564,000 (out‑of‑prefecture). Typical first‑year total: ¥817,800–¥1,099,800. UG Fees / Graduate Fees
Gender Ratio	M 10% / F 90% (18 / 162) Official breakdown
Intl‑Student %	0% (current total) Official data
Students per Staff	≈9 : 1 (180 students / 20 teaching staff) Staff count (PDF)

Campus Maps

Main Campus (Yonezawa, Yamagata)

Address: 6-15-1 Toorimachi, Yonezawa-shi, Yamagata 992-0025, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa University of Nutrition Sciences was established in April 2014 as a specialized public university focused on training registered dietitians and nutrition professionals. It grew out of a long tradition in Yonezawa: the city hosted Yonezawa Women’s Junior College for decades, and when YPYUNS was founded the mission stayed anchored in community well‑being, food culture, and public service. The English “Philosophy and Purpose of Education and Research” page explains the university’s guiding idea clearly: cultivate people with “abundant humanity,” deep learning, and high‑level expertise who can contribute to community health through evidence‑based nutrition. English Overview

From the start, the university positioned itself as a compact, high‑contact learning environment—around 40–45 entrants per year—where faculty and students work closely in classes, labs, and fieldwork. Its history section highlights the path from the junior college era to the 4‑year university and the launch of a graduate school, while keeping a public mission: serve residents’ health through research and education, and share knowledge beyond campus. English Overview

Institutional quality is externally reviewed. The Japan University Accreditation Association (JUAA) granted accredited status to YPYUNS based on its 2020 evaluation; the recognition period spans April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2028. JUAA also published a 2024 “improvement report review” noting progress on follow‑up actions. JUAA 2020 Evaluation Result (PDF) / JUAA 2024 Improvement Report Review (PDF)

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Flagship: Faculty of Nutrition Sciences (Department of Nutrition Sciences)

YPYUNS is intentionally single‑minded at the undergraduate level: one faculty, one department. That focus brings depth. The curriculum builds step‑by‑step—from foundational courses in biochemistry and food science to applied dietetics, public health, and practicum—preparing students for Japan’s national registered dietitian exam and for practical roles in hospitals, municipalities, schools, and industry. Class sizes are small, and the contact time with faculty is high. Department page

Graduate Study with Individualized Mentorship

The Graduate School of Health and Nutrition Sciences (Master’s) admits a small cohort (capacity: 3) and supports flexible schedules, including certain classes delivered online—useful for working professionals around Yamagata. You’ll find two domains: Fundamental Health & Nutrition Sciences and Practical Health & Nutrition Sciences, reflecting both lab‑based and field/applied research. See the official curriculum outline and program brief for details and faculty research topics. Curriculum (Graduate) / Graduate Program Guide (PDF)

Community Outreach & Research Promotion Center

Beyond campus, the university runs a Center that connects faculty expertise with regional needs—nutrition education for residents, collaboration with Yamagata’s prefectural hospitals, and product development using local ingredients. The Center publishes yearly activity reports (with ISSN) and shares “Yamagata Recommended Recipes” developed in collaboration with student teams and hospital dietitians. Center overview & publications

Compact Scale, Strong Student–Faculty Ratio

With 180 students and 20 teaching staff, the learning ratio of roughly 9:1 is a hallmark of the university’s experience—especially helpful for hands‑on lab work, supervised practicum, and support for national exam preparation. Student totals / Faculty numbers (PDF)

Public‑University Value

Tuition is in line with public‑university standards in Japan. Annual tuition is ¥535,800 (undergraduate and graduate), and there’s an admission fee (lower for applicants with Yamagata in‑prefecture residency status). The university provides basic information on tuition and scholarships on the official site. UG: Tuition & Scholarships / Graduate: Tuition

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles that Welcome Overseas Students

Clubs and circles are shared or coordinated with the neighboring Yonezawa Women’s Junior College and sometimes with Yamagata University’s Engineering Faculty in the city, which broadens your social network. The “Student Life” page links to introductions and activities. Student Life

Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

On campus, you’ll find general student support through administrative offices and the Student Life section—covering tuition, academic guidance, and dormitory information (note: the dormitory is female‑only and shared with the junior college). In the city, the Yonezawa International Relations Association and city hall offer multilingual living guides and consultation windows. Dormitory (female‑only) / City’s Foreign‑Resident Portal

Language Exchange & Buddy‑Style Support (Community)

While the university has a small international population at present, Yonezawa City runs multilingual services and publishes the “YONEZAWAJIN” info bulletin in English and Chinese. For everyday issues (housing, health, paperwork), you can contact city staff or the Yonezawa International Relations Association for assistance in multiple languages. Yonezawa Living Guide (EN) / Multilingual Consultation / YONEZAWAJIN

Partner Institutions & Study‑Abroad Options

Historically, the institution’s roots include a sister‑school agreement with Arapahoe Community College (Colorado, USA) from the junior‑college era, and the university emphasizes practical, outward‑facing learning in food and health. Prospective graduate students should confirm current faculty‑level collaborations and conference participation directly with supervisors listed in the graduate pages. English Overview / Graduate Supervisors

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Yonezawa sits in an inland basin, which means four pronounced seasons: snowy winters, bright springs, hot summers, and clear autumns. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency’s normals for Yonezawa (1991–2020), typical monthly averages are around 2.6 °C (daily max) / −4.4 °C (daily min) in January, and around 25.3–22.0 °C (daily max) / ~15.0–9.7 °C (daily min) for summer months (June–August), with August being the warmest and January–February the coldest. Expect notable snowfall in winter and many sunny days from spring to autumn. JMA Monthly Normals (Yonezawa)

Lifestyle is safe and relaxed. The city and local NPOs offer multilingual information, emergency guidance, and everyday tips. Cost of living in Yonezawa is below major metro areas; JASSO’s national averages show typical monthly expenses for international students around ¥105,000 (excluding tuition/research costs), with housing lower outside Tokyo. JASSO: Living Costs & Prices / City Foreign‑Resident Info

International Student Statistics

As of May 1, 2025, the official statistics show 180 undergraduates in total and 0 international students. While that means you may be a pioneer, the city’s multilingual services help bridge everyday life. Official student numbers

Career & Graduate Prospects

YPYUNS graduates typically pursue careers as registered dietitians or nutrition professionals in hospitals, municipal health centers, schools, and food‑related companies. On the graduate side, the master’s program nurtures research and practical skills across two fields (fundamental and practical health & nutrition sciences), which are useful for R&D, public programs, or continued study. University pages outline career support, internships, and qualification pathways. Undergraduate program / Graduate aims & regulations

Useful Links (Official)

• School Search (JASSO “Study in Japan”): Yamagata Prefectural Yonezawa University of Nutrition Sciences
• University English pages: Philosophy & Overview / Access / Undergraduate / Graduate / UG Fees / Graduate Fees / Community Outreach & Research
• Official statistics: Students & Enrollment / Faculty numbers (PDF)
• City resources (EN & multi‑lingual): Yonezawa Living Guide (English) / Foreign‑Resident Portal
• Climate normals: JMA (Yonezawa)
• JUAA accreditation: 2020 Evaluation Result (PDF)