Best College Programs for Japanese Language Enthusiasts?

I'm a high school junior interested in studying Japanese in college. Does anyone know which universities offer the best programs or have strong study abroad options in Japan? Any personal experiences or recommendations would be super helpful!

There are several strong programs across the US for studying Japanese. Here are some you might want to consider:

1. University of California, Berkeley and University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA): Both Berkeley and UCLA have strong East Asian Studies departments and offer an emphasis in Japanese language and culture studies.

2. University of Washington, Seattle: This school has a highly acclaimed Japanese program and is also home to the East Asia Library, one of the major research libraries for East Asian information in the United States.

3. Columbia University: With a robust Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures, students can delve deep into Japanese studies. Also, Columbia often hosts Japanese cultural events due to its location in the heart of NYC.

4. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor: The Center for Japanese Studies here is one of the oldest and well-regarded in the country.

Regarding study abroad options, many universities have partnerships with institutions in Japan. I encourage you to focus not only on the academic strength of the programs, but also the support they offer for study abroad opportunities. For example, Stanford University has a strong Japanese program and also runs the 'Bing Overseas Studies Program' that includes the opportunity to study at Kyoto University.

Remember, when deciding upon a program, consider your overall fit with the university as aside from the degree program. A strong Japanese program is great, but being at a university where you feel comfortable and supported outside of the program is also important.