Tenri University in Nara: International Student Guide to Programs, Tuition, Support, Exchange & Careers

Thinking about studying in Japan but not sure where to start? Tenri University in Nara is a small, friendly private university with deep roots in language education, strong athletics (hello, world-class judo and championship rugby), and hands-on international programs that actually help you go abroad. Its main Somanouchi campus sits about an hour from Osaka and Kyoto, so you get a calm, green environment with big-city access. Below you’ll find quick facts, what makes Tenri unique, practical support for international students, study-abroad options, climate and lifestyle notes, and where graduates go. All links are vetted and open in a new tab for easy checking.

Quick Facts: Tenri University at a Glance

Type	Private University Source
Total Students	≈ 2,980 (UG 2,951; Grad 29) as of May 1, 2023 Official data (PDF).
Campuses	Main: Somanouchi; Others: Taiikugakubu (Physical Education), Bessho (Health Care). Campus & Access
Faculties / Schools	Faculty of Humanities (Religious Studies; Japanese Language & Literature; History & Culture; Psychology; Social Education; Social Welfare) Faculty of International Studies (Korean; Chinese; British & American Studies; Foreign Languages; Intercultural Studies; Japanese Studies for International Students) Faculty of Physical Education (Physical Education) Faculty of Health Care (Nursing Science; Clinical Laboratory Science). Academics
Tuition Fees (UG)	Approx. ¥980,000–¥1,665,000 / year (faculty-dependent; first-year vs 2nd–4th year differ). Tuition & Scholarships
Gender Ratio (Intl students)	Male 54 : Female 43 (May 1, 2023) Official stats (PDF)
Intl-Student % (Whole Univ.)	≈ 3.3% (97 / 2,980 in 2023). Sources: Intl. students (PDF), Total enrollment (PDF)
Students per Staff	17.9 students per full-time faculty (as of May 1, 2023). Source (PDF)

Note on tuition: the official page shows (per year) Humanities/Letters/International Studies ¥980,000 (1st year) then ¥1,030,000 (2nd–4th), Physical Education ¥1,050,000 → ¥1,100,000, Health Care ¥1,565,000 → ¥1,665,000. Details are on the university’s fee table. Official Tuition

Campus Maps

Maps and access will be inserted here later. For reference, the official page lists Somanouchi (main), Taiikugakubu (Physical Education), and Bessho (Health Care) campuses. Campus & Access (official)

Somanouchi Campus (Main, Tenri, Nara)

Address: 1050 Somanouchi, Tenri, Nara 632-8510, Japan

Faculty of Physical Education Campus (Tainosho-cho, Tenri)

Address: 80 Taisho-cho, Tenri, Nara 632-0071, Japan

Bessho Campus (Faculty of Health Care, Tenri)

Address: 80-1 Bessho-cho, Tenri, Nara 632-0018, Japan

Mission, History & Founding Story

Tenri University traces its roots to 1925, when Shozen Nakayama—Second Shinbashira of Tenrikyo—established the Tenri School of Foreign Language to train internationally minded graduates. From the beginning, the school leaned into languages and cross-cultural understanding, notably offering Korean at a time when private institutions rarely did so. After successive reorganizations, Tenri University was founded in 1949 and has continued to expand its academic profile while keeping an emphasis on service and global outlook. Founder & History (official)

Two distinctive academic resources came directly from this founding vision: the Tenri Central Library, one of Japan’s well-regarded collections for foreign language and cross-cultural studies, and the Tenri University Sankōkan Museum, known for global folklore and ethnographic materials. These institutions were envisioned as tools for students to research world cultures beyond the classroom. (See library and museum links on official pages.) Official background

Sport also runs through Tenri’s DNA: the founder actively promoted judo, rugby, and baseball, and those traditions matured into nationally prominent programs. In recent decades, Tenri has paired its athletic identity with practical student support and international exchange, building systems that help both Japanese and international students succeed on and off campus. Founder & History (official)

Approaching its centennial, the university integrated Tenri Health Care University in 2023 and reorganized departments by 2024—now operating four undergraduate faculties and several graduate programs—positioning itself for the next century of education and regional contribution. Official timeline

Key Strengths & Unique Features

World-Class Budo & Sports Culture (Rugby and Judo)

If you follow Japanese university sports, you’ve heard of Tenri. The rugby team captured the 57th All-Japan University Rugby Championship with a 55–28 win over Waseda—its first national title—showing the program’s rise at the national level. Match report. In judo, Tenri has produced multiple Olympic and world champions. Alumni include triple Olympic gold medalist Tadahiro Nomura (–60 kg) and double Olympic champion Shohei Ono (–73 kg). IJF on Nomura / IJF on Ono / Tenri Univ. overview

Facilities & Training Environment

The Taiikugakubu Campus concentrates the Faculty of Physical Education with a Budo Hall, Sports Center and weight training rooms; outdoor club grounds (rugby, soccer, baseball) are nearby. Campus & facilities (official)

Global Languages & Area Studies (Signature Strength)

Tenri’s historic core is language and culture. The Faculty of International Studies spans Korean, Chinese, British & American Studies, Foreign Languages, Intercultural Studies, plus a dedicated Japanese Studies for International Students department designed for degree-seeking international students who want structured Japanese-medium coursework with language support. Academics overview

Branch Campuses in Paris & New York

Tenri partners with the Tenri Language Center, Paris and the Tenri Cultural Institute of New York to run short intensives (e.g., ~3–4 week language programs) and even teaching practicums for Japanese-language teacher-training students. These ties give Tenri students structured, affordable first steps abroad. Branch campus details

Library & Museum Ecosystem for Area/Culture Research

The main campus houses the renowned Tenri Central Library and the Tenri University Sankōkan Museum, both integrated into coursework and independent study—great for students drawn to Asian studies, history, religion, and folklore. (Linked from official pages.) Campus facilities

Supportive Onboarding: Tutor System & iCAFé

International students are paired with Tenri student tutors who help with airport pickup, municipal registration, bank accounts/phone contracts, course sign-up and everyday life during the first month—exactly the practical support newcomers need. Tutor System (official)

The on-campus iCAFé is a casual language-exchange hub offering free conversation lessons (often English, but also French, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Indonesian, and Japanese depending on demand). It’s a low-pressure way to meet Japanese students and build daily fluency. iCAFé (official)

Student Life for Internationals

Clubs & Circles that Welcome Overseas Students

Sports are a big draw (rugby, judo, hockey, baseball and more), but you’ll also find arts and cultural circles. The admissions guide lists a broad lineup of athletic clubs (archery, aikido, American football, karate, kendo, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, wrestling, weightlifting, etc.). Admissions Guide (PDF)

Dedicated Support Offices (Visa, Housing, Counseling)

The Office of the International Exchange Center coordinates the Tutor System and iCAFé, and serves as your first stop for paperwork and day-to-day questions. Dormitory and financial aid pages are linked via the university’s “Facts” hub under student support and fee headings. Tutor System / Facts (hub)

Language-Exchange & Buddy Programs

Pair up through the Tutor System for your first month, then keep practicing through iCAFé’s free lessons (run by native or near-native “language tutors”). It’s a simple, friendly way to build community across languages and majors. iCAFé / Tutor details

Partner Institutions & Exchange Options (Outbound-Focused)

Tenri maintains exchange agreements with 50+ partner universities across 24+ countries/regions, enabling semester/year-long exchange and other cooperative programs. Regions include the Americas, Asia/Oceania, and Europe. Affiliations & Exchange Agreements (official). The overview page emphasizes a “100% of applicants can study abroad” target through multiple pathways (short intensives and partner exchanges). International Exchange (overview)

Local Climate & Lifestyle

Where you’ll live: Tenri city (Nara Prefecture) is a quiet, green area with easy access to Osaka and Kyoto (~1 hour). The Somanouchi campus is set on a spacious site; club grounds and the sports center sit nearby. Campus & Access

Weather at a Glance (Recent Years)

Using Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) monthly statistics for Nara Station (block 47759), recent summers have averaged around the high-20s°C to low-30s°C, while winters average in the mid-single digits. For example, average temperatures (°C) in July–August were 29.1–30.3 in 2023 and 29.4–30.1 in 2024; January averaged ~5–6°C in 2019–2025. JMA monthly climate stats

Year	Jan Mean (°C)	Aug Mean (°C)
2019	5.1	29.3
2020	7.5	30.5
2021	5.1	27.7
2022	4.2	29.0
2023	5.1	30.3
2024	6.0	30.1

Typical daily highs/lows: August around 32°C/24°C; January around 8°C/1°C in Nara-shi. These are representative averages to help you plan clothing and dorm life. WeatherSpark: Nara climate

“Attractive Environment” Highlights

You get a green, spacious main campus with library/museum access and club facilities, plus the calm feel of a smaller city—but Osaka and Kyoto are an easy hour away for internships, concerts or weekend trips. Access details

International Student Statistics

As of May 1, 2023, Tenri reported 96 undergraduate and 1 graduate international student (total 97). Undergrad gender split: 54 men, 42 women (grad: 0 men, 1 woman). Top countries for undergraduates: Vietnam (38), China (29), Taiwan (7), Korea/Tonga/Mongolia (4 each), Indonesia (3), New Zealand (2), plus the U.S., Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Mali, Myanmar, Lithuania (1 each)—14 countries in total. Official breakdown (PDF)

Metric (2023)	Value
Intl Students (UG / Grad)	96 / 1
Top UG Countries	Vietnam 38; China 29; Taiwan 7; Korea 4; Tonga 4; Mongolia 4; Indonesia 3; others 8
Gender (UG+Grad)	Male 54 : Female 43

Career & Graduate Prospects

What grads do: Outcomes vary by faculty—education/social fields (Humanities), global business/translation (International Studies), coaching/sport & fitness industry (Physical Education), and nursing/clinical laboratory roles (Health Care). The campus itself connects to strong local institutions (e.g., Tenri Hospital) and provides easy rail access to Osaka and Kyoto, widening internship and job networks. Location & access / Faculties & departments

Notable alumni & program proof points: Tenri’s athletic track record speaks for itself—triple Olympic judo champion Tadahiro Nomura and double Olympic champion Shohei Ono trained through Tenri systems; rugby captured a national university title. These legacies translate into coaching networks, club ties, and a competitive culture for student-athletes. Nomura (IJF) / Ono (IJF) / Rugby title

Data access note: Tenri publishes yearly career outcomes and enrollment statistics within its “Facts” pages. For the latest job placement tables (Japanese), check the “Career/Employment” item in the Facts hub. Facts (official hub)

Why Tenri Might Fit Your Japan Study Plan

If you want a compact campus with real support for international students (tutors + language exchange), an academic focus on languages and culture, and a serious sports scene, Tenri is a strong candidate. Tuition is transparent in ¥, faculty-student ratios are reasonable (17.9:1), and you’ll have nearby access to Osaka/Kyoto while living in a calmer city. Use the links above to verify specifics and check department syllabi and exchange pathways that match your goals. International Exchange / Academics / Tuition

Key References: Academics · Founder & History · Campus & Access · Exchange Agreements · International Exchange (overview) · Tuition (official) · International student stats (PDF) · Students per staff (PDF) · Enrollment totals (PDF) · JMA monthly climate (Nara) · WeatherSpark: Nara climate · Rugby title report · IJF: Nomura · IJF: Shohei Ono · Wikipedia (cross-check)