Japan Women's University Guide for International Students: Programs, Tuition, Campus Life, and Exchanges

Thinking about studying in Japan at a women’s university with a long history, small classes, and a green neighborhood in central Tokyo? Japan Women’s University (JWU) blends 120+ years of women’s higher education with modern STEAM and global programs. This guide walks you through essentials—academics, standout features, campus life, exchanges, climate, and career outcomes—so you can decide if JWU fits your goals. Every claim below links to official or credible sources, and we use Japanese yen (¥) for costs.

Quick‑Facts Table

Type (National/Public/Private)	Private Women’s University Official profile
Total Students	6,214 (as of May 1, 2024) Source
Campuses	Mejiro (Main), Nishi‑Ikuta Access
Faculties/Schools	Human Sciences & Design; Humanities; Science; Integrated Arts & Social Sciences; Transcultural Studies; Architecture & Design; Food & Nutritional Sciences (from Apr 2025). Faculties · Exchange Guide
수업료	¥720,000–¥1,020,000 per year (undergraduate; range varies by faculty) Source
Gender Ratio	≈100% women in degree programs; transgender women accepted (from Apr 2024) and male exchange students accepted (from Sep 2025). Source
Intl‑Student %	Not officially published; active exchange partnerships and inbound cohorts reported. International Admissions
Students per Staff	≈24:1 (6,214 students / 259 full‑time teachers) Source

Numbers in the table reflect the latest figures published by the university or its English materials. Where the university has not published a percentage (e.g., international student share), we indicate that the figure is not officially disclosed and link to the relevant office or guidance.

Campus Maps

Mission, History & Founding Story

Founded in 1901 by educational reformer Jinzo Naruse, Japan Women’s University (JWU) is one of Japan’s most storied institutions for women’s higher education. From its earliest days, JWU’s founding spirit centered on character building and empowering women to contribute to society—a pioneering stance at a time when access to higher education for women was limited. You can read the university’s own statement of its founding spirit and ethos here: Founding Spirit.

The university frames its direction through a clear vision and mission—“to create a society where everyone can keep learning and growing throughout their lives,” and “to provide people with diverse opportunities to enjoy learning and growing throughout their lives.” These are elaborated on the official page: Vision, Mission and Principles. The Three Principles of Education—Firm Conviction, Spontaneity and Creativity, and Service to Society—run through general education and professional training across faculties, continuing a thread from the founder’s original ideas to today’s programs.

JWU’s institutional profile also outlines key facts: more than six thousand students, 259 full‑time teachers, and seven faculties (with Food & Nutritional Sciences newly established in April 2025). See: University and Schools. Its main Mejiro Campus sits in central Tokyo between Ikebukuro, Takadanobaba, and Shinjuku—an area known for student life, culture, and easy transit. Directions: Access.

Mejiro Campus (Headquarters, Tokyo)

Address: 2-8-1 Mejirodai, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-8681, Japan

Nishi-Ikuta Campus (Kawasaki, Kanagawa)

Address: 1-1-1 Nishiikuta, Tama-ku, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 214-8565, Japan

Key Strengths & Unique Features

Global Liberal‑Arts Core with Integrated Education

JWU’s education model weaves together university‑wide foundational studies with specialized coursework and three cross‑cutting pillars—Global, STEAM, and Career education. This integrated approach lets students explore broadly (including English and global literacy) and then focus deeply in a major. See the university’s overview of integrated education: Integrated Education.

Flagship Faculties (Examples)

Faculty of Science

The Faculty of Science offers programs in Mathematics, Physics and Computer Science, and Chemical and Biological Sciences—paths that can suit students aiming at research, data and computing, healthcare and bioscience, or interdisciplinary tech roles. (See faculty list under University and Schools and in the Exchange Guide.)

Faculty of Architecture & Design

Architecture & Design emphasizes urban environments, housing, sustainable society, and internships with Japanese firms. The exchange guide lists English‑medium offerings (e.g., Architectural Design III, Sustainable Society and Architecture Design) and even unpaid internship pathways. Details: Exchange Guide (course samples).

Inclusive & Global Learning Environment

JWU’s inbound exchange program accepts students recommended by partner universities. New inclusivity policies note the acceptance of transgender women (female) from April 2024 and male exchange students from September 2025. See the university’s English guidance for exchange students: Guide for Exchange Students 2025–2026.

Central Tokyo Location, Walkable Neighborhood, Safety

The Mejiro Campus is 8–15 minutes on foot from multiple rail lines and a short bus ride from JR Mejiro Station. Official directions and bus routes are on the Access page. For a broad view of city safety, The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Safe Cities Index (2021 edition) ranks major global cities across digital, health, infrastructure, personal, and environmental security factors: Safe Cities Index 2021 (PDF).

Structured Global Education & English Support

JWU emphasizes English proficiency for study‑abroad readiness, with a particular focus on TOEFL®. See the official English Education page for details on how English learning is embedded across programs: English Education at JWU.

Student Life for International Students

Clubs & Circles that Welcome Exchange Students

The exchange guide highlights club activities with Japanese students—tea ceremony, kendo, dance, and more—plus cultural excursions (e.g., Asakusa and Kamakura), Bunraku and Kabuki tours, and campus festivals. See: Student Life (Guide, p.12+).

Dedicated Support (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

JWU’s International Office supports nomination, admissions, arrival, course registration, and student life. The guide explains dormitory options (women‑only on campus) and off‑campus share houses/homestays with typical monthly cost ranges. See: International Admissions (JP) 및 Exchange Guide.

Language‑Exchange & Study Buddy

All exchange students are matched with a “Study Buddy” to help with airport pick‑up, campus orientation, class procedures, and everyday language exchange. See: Study Buddy (Guide, p.13). JWU’s news pages also show international welcome events and student‑to‑student language activities: Welcome event (May 2024).

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options

JWU maintains multiple exchange partnerships—students often first enroll through their home institution’s exchange office and are nominated to JWU. For U.S. students, the University of Oregon’s GEO lists a JWU Exchange in Tokyo as a language‑intensive option with content courses and scholarships: UO GEO: JWU Exchange. JWU’s own faculties (e.g., Transcultural Studies) also embed short‑term and one‑semester/one‑year study‑abroad elements into their curriculum, emphasizing real intercultural experience: Faculty of Transcultural Studies.

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Tokyo’s climate features hot, humid summers and mild winters with limited snowfall in the city center. Over recent years, monthly means for Tokyo (WMO Station 47662) show August as the hottest month (mean near 27°C; average daily max near the low 30s °C) and January as the coolest (mean around 5–6°C). For official data and monthly normals, see the Japan Meteorological Agency’s English statistics tables: JMA Monthly Climate (Tokyo). When budgeting for everyday life, the government’s Study in Japan portal provides realistic estimates for housing and living costs (national averages and Tokyo levels): Living Costs (Study in Japan).

International Student Statistics

JWU reports inbound exchange and degree‑seeking students each year, with public news items showing the mix of origins and the campus welcome. For example, a May 2024 report noted new students from China, Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, and Turkey (26 students, including exchange students from partner institutions). See: JWU Times (May 2024). The precise percentage of international students across the full student body is not consistently published in English; prospective students should check with the International Office for the most recent figures: International Admissions.

Career & Graduate Prospects

JWU’s Career Support Office provides guidance, employer seminars, interview practice, and recurrent education pathways (for skill‑up or re‑entry after life events). Overview pages (JP) outline annual schedules, counseling, and support systems: Career Support (JP) · Career Events (JP) · Lifelong / Recurrent Education (JP).

Faculty materials and institutional brochures show consistently strong outcomes, often in the high‑90% employment range (varies by faculty and year). For example, a 2025 university pamphlet for employers lists outcomes by faculty for 2024 graduates, and departmental brochures show typical employer types and roles (e.g., major manufacturers, finance, public sector, education). See: University Pamphlet 2025 (JP, PDF) and an example departmental outcome sheet: Department outcomes (JP, PDF).