All 2026 summer participants will receive a guaranteed $3000 IAP scholarship towards the program fee.
Japan, Kyoto
Limited Capacity Program: This program can accept a limited number of students each term. In the past we have received more qualified applications than available spots. Review of applicants is based on these criteria. You may only have one application per term, however, please have an alternate program in mind in the event that you are not accepted to this program.
This program is part of UW-Madison Study Abroad's Summer Launch!
Join your fellow incoming first-year Badgers on this exciting summer program to Kyoto, Japan! Led by Professor Charo D’Etcheverry, UW Summer Launch in Japan: Supernatural and Surreal is a unique, engaging experience designed especially for incoming UW-Madison first-year students.
Through classroom learning, guided site visits around Kyoto, and an overnight excursion to Tokyo, you’ll focus on Japanese stories about ghost and monsters, tracing transformations across genres and eras to consider their continuing influence on Japan’s popular culture.
Students accepted to this program will participate as a cohort in a two-day pre-departure session then travel together to Japan and back to Madison. You'll start fall semester having built strong relationships with your internationally-minded peers and faculty mentor, and having completed 3 UW credits. There are no language prerequisites for this program.
This program is offered by UW-Madison in cooperation with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE).
This program takes place in a very hot, humid, and crowded environment. Getting to class involves navigating busy urban streets, walking for at least twenty minutes each way. Daily fieldtrips require extensive physical activity, whether walking to bus stops, riding crowded trains/subways, climbing frequent steps at temples and/or (for one fieldtrip) hiking narrow mountain paths. Japanese train stations also feature many stairs. In general, elevators are inconveniently situated or (at temples) simply non-existent. If you need any physical accommodations to navigate these terrains, we encourage you to meet with the Study Abroad Advisor for this program at the time of application to discuss any needs. The Study Abroad Advisor contact information is located in the Contacts tab below.
To explore all UW Study Abroad Launch program options:
- UW Global Launch: Year-long study abroad your freshman year
- UW Study Abroad Summer Launch: 3-week study abroad the summer before your freshman year
Note: You may only apply to and participate in one UW Study Abroad Launch program.
Learning Objectives
We have overall Goals and Expectations for Study Abroad Participants, covering the personal, academic and professional aspects of study abroad. Additionally on this program, you can:
- Use entertaining Japanese materials to practice college-level analytical reading, writing, and discussion; these are crucial academic skills at UW
- Reflect on and discuss the ethics of telling other people's stories, in your own culture and for a foreign audience
Diversity & Inclusion
We are committed to providing quality study abroad and domestic study away programs for every UW-Madison student. We work strategically to identify, address, and remove barriers that may prevent participation and to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for students. Our staff actively engages with students, faculty, and staff from diverse backgrounds and prioritizes the continuous development of our knowledge and cultural competence. We also recognize the importance of increasing access to study abroad for historically underrepresented student populations. We are committed to diversity and inclusion so that every student can engage with and understand their identity through a new lens and continue to develop and make progress on their personal, professional, and academic goals.
Sustainability
We recognize that the future of study abroad, domestic study away, and international internship programming requires a Commitment to Sustainability. We are devoted to examining, developing, and improving sustainability in all our endeavors, aligning with campus priorities and following through with UW-Madison's climate action and Resilience Commitment. Join our efforts and learn more about how to study abroad sustainably.
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Eligibility
- International students are not eligible to apply to this program.
- This program is for incoming Freshman students only. The program would take place prior to your first semester of study on campus.
- Incoming Freshman
- Open to UW-Madison degree-seeking students only
- Good academic and disciplinary standing
- At the time of application and the semester prior to participation, UW-Madison students must be currently enrolled. Transfer Students to UW-Madison need to be currently enrolled at their home institution
Advising Location
Program Structure
UW Signature
Subjects
Asian Languages & Cultures
Classroom Language
English
Housing
Hotels
Program Duration
Summer: late July - early August
Anticipated 2026 Dates: July 22- August 7
SOAR attendance: student's choice; schedule any time before the program start
Program Orientation on campus: July 20-21
Departure: July 21
Japan: July 22 - August 7
Return to campus: August 7
Application Deadline(s)
| Summer 2026 | 4/15/2026 | Cost Details |
Future durations will be posted at a later date.
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"This study abroad experience introduced me not only to new people and friends, but also what classes or courses will be like during my time in UW-Madison." Summer 2023 participant
This course treats supernaturally-themed texts, sites, and performances in Kyoto and beyond as windows onto Japanese popular culture over time. Daily reading, discussion, and journaling about beliefs, texts, and sites, combined with revised papers and formal presentations, will foster a deep understanding of the role played by the supernatural in Japanese culture.
Professor D’Etcheverry will be the primary instructor for the course. Upon successful completion of the program, you will earn 3 credits and be able to select one of the following approved equivalents:
- Asian Language and Culture 253: Japanese Popular Culture
- History 273: Study Abroad: Non-Western History
A note on daily life: For the first two weeks, expect to spend two hours in class weekday mornings, followed by afternoon visits to local temples, shrines, theaters, and museums. You will also have some free time integrated to catch up on homework and explore the city. The last week of the program, we'll have class for three hours most mornings, as you spend afternoons drafting the final paper--your personal response to supernatural Japan! Your instructor will support you throughout this project, with personal paper conferences as well as informal brainstorming sessions.
Days are long, filled with significant physical activity in the morning, followed by afternoon class and then more walking to find dinner. Occasionally, the order of class and fieldtrips will be reversed, but the total physical effort will remain the same. Upon return to the hotel at night, it is necessary to complete daily written assignments. All of this means that there is very little free time on this program, and that much of the day you will be hot, sweaty, and tired (especially with the jetlag). If it is important to you to be cool and well-rested, or to explore on your own, we encourage you to meet with the Study Abroad Advisor for this program at the time of application to discuss potential challenges and assess if this program is the right fit for you.
If this sounds exciting to you, we will do our best to help you navigate the physical challenges and constraints. Start this conversation early (at the time of application) with the Study Abroad Advisor so that accommodations can be discussed.
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that past students have taken on this program and the UW equivalents. Note: This list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses, departments or equivalents. Courses may not be available the semester you are abroad. You will receive instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance. View Course Equivalents
Program Leader
Charo D’Etcheverry
Professor, Department of Asian Languages & Cultures
Dr. Charo D'Etcheverry, Professor in the Department of Asian Languages & Cultures and Faculty Director of UW's International Learning Community, teaches a wide range of courses on Japanese literature and culture. She loves working with students of all ages and has been named an Honored Instructor three times by residents of University Housing. Dr. D'Etcheverry believes strongly in immersion-based learning. In addition to leading a Japan-funded trip for Badgers to Tokyo and Kyoto in 2013, she taught for a semester in Kyoto in 2018 and, closer to home, has taken students to hear ghost stories at Old World Wisconsin's Legends & Lore event.