As a high school student, taking part in a structured programme outside school can be a valuable way to explore your interests, build practical skills, and gain a clearer sense of your future. For students drawn to global commerce and innovation, business programs in Japan for high school students offer a particularly exciting opportunity to learn in a setting shaped by international trade, technology, and enterprise.

You may be introduced to areas such as marketing, budgeting, market research, and competitor analysis, while also building the leadership skills needed to launch your own ideas. Many programmes also combine university-style lectures, case study discussions, and collaboration with peers to help you explore real business challenges in a more applied way.

Why should you participate in a business program in Japan?

Japan stands out as a global leader in industries like technology, manufacturing, and international trade, making it a strong location for studying business. Cities like Tokyo and Osaka offer direct exposure to multinational companies, startup ecosystems, and established corporate structures. You will also see how precision, efficiency, and long-term strategic thinking are embedded in business practices. Additionally, you will gain exposure to structured coursework, interactive workshops, and Japan’s industrial ecosystem.

Working alongside students from different countries may also be part of the experience, helping you develop cross-cultural communication and teamwork skills, which are both essential in modern business environments. For both local and international students, business programs in Japan combine academic rigor with cultural immersion, offering you a clearer understanding of how global markets operate. 

That said, not all programs offer the same level of immersion and exposure. Some are career-focused, some are focused on university-level learning, and a few others combine both! To choose the right option, it is crucial to first shortlist programs that align with your schedule and goals. We have curated a list of 12 business programs in Japan for high school students to help you get started. We have focused on opportunities that offer structured learning, real-world exposure, and insight into university-level business education.

For adjacent opportunities, you can consider summer schools in Japan and online business programs.

12 Business Programs in Japan for High School Students

1. Soka University Academic Short Program for High School Students

Location: Soka University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
Cost: ¥180,000 (~1,125 USD)/student (includes accommodation, airport pickup, transportation, and entrance fees for program activities, and most meals)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Up to 30 participants
Dates: August 3-9 (6 nights / 7 days)
Application deadline: April 24th (or until capacity is reached)
Eligibility: High school students in grades 10-12; applications must be submitted by a school or institution, not by individual students, and a minimum of five students from the same school + one chaperone, is required. International students are eligible.

This is a seven-day residential program hosted by Soka University’s Faculty of International Liberal Arts, where you will join your school peers and assigned student buddies from the university throughout the stay. The academic portion is built around two days of guided fieldwork in Tokyo and Yokohama, exploring themes like pop culture and business, globalization, and urban development, followed by team presentations with faculty feedback.

Outside of classes, you will visit the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum, take part in Japanese cultural activities such as a summer festival experience and yukata try-on, and spend a full day at Tokyo DisneySea. All sessions and instructions are conducted in English. The program is designed for school groups, so your chaperone travels and stays with you for the entire duration.

Why it stands out: The program is only open to school groups, offering you a structured group travel experience where your whole cohort learns and explores Tokyo together.

2.Immerse Education’s Tokyo Business Management Summer School

Location: Central Tokyo, Japan
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; an average of 7 participants per class
Dates: Two weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: High school students worldwide, ages 15-18 

Immerse Education’s Career Insights Pathway is one of the most industry-focused business programs in Japan for high school students, introducing participants to professional environments through experiential learning in major global cities. Over the course of the two-week programme, you will take part in interactive workshops, company visits, and hands-on projects that simulate real-world workplace settings. You will explore corporate strategy, leadership, and international business, while receiving feedback and career advice from industry mentors and professionals.

Weekly one-on-one coaching sessions will help you refine your goals and develop confidence in presenting your work. The program concludes with a final presentation where you will share your findings and experiences with peers and professionals. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: You will build workplace and leadership skills while exploring the industrial and academic culture of Tokyo in person.

3. Japan Society’s Junior Fellows Leadership

Location: Tokyo metropolitan area + Tohoku (Northeast Japan); orientation in New York
Cost: $3,800; need-based financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10 students/year
Dates: June 30th – July 15th
Application deadline: February 27th; group interviews in April (invitation only)
Eligibility: U.S. high school students in grades 9-11; priority to students in the NY metropolitan area (NY, NJ, and CT)

The Junior Fellows Leadership program connects American students with Japan’s professional and civic landscape. Run by Japan Society in New York, the program takes a small group of high school students through a leadership-focused experience that includes time in both New York and Japan. You will start with an orientation and pre-departure workshops in New York, then travel to Japan for about two weeks, where you stay with a host family, visit a local high school and Aizu University, and participate in historical site visits.

Throughout the program, you will work in teams on a research project tied to one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, collecting survey data in both the U.S. and Japan for comparison. You will also meet with professionals from fields like business, government, media, and nonprofits through talks and company visits. After returning home, you will present your research at a reception in August and become part of the Junior Fellows Alumni Association.

Why it stands out: The program combines a homestay in Japan with a structured team research project tied to global sustainability goals, giving you both cultural immersion, business exposure, and research experience in a single summer.

4. Immerse Education’s Tokyo Economics Summer School

Location: Central Tokyo, Japan
Cost: Varies; summer school scholarship available through our bursary programme
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; small cohorts of around 7 participants per class
Dates: Two weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Multiple summer cohorts with rolling admissions
Eligibility: Domestic and international high school students, aged 13-18 

The Academic Insights Program allows high school students to experience university life firsthand. You will live on campus and study in small groups of 7 to 10 students, and learn from tutors from top universities. Over two weeks, you will learn about economic theory and policy through university-style sessions, hands-on exercises, and collaborative learning.

You will cover topics like supply and demand, fiscal systems, and international trade, which can help you prepare for future business and economics academics. At the end of the program, you will complete a personal project and receive written feedback along with a certificate of completion. You can find more details about the application here.

Why it stands out: It offers an in-person university-style learning experience in Tokyo, with opportunities to learn through projects and industry visits, and connect with a global peer cohort.

5. NUCB International College’s Summer Camp

Location: NUCB International College, Nisshin-shi, Aichi Prefecture (near Nagoya), Japan
Cost: ¥275,000 (~USD 1,720)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Varies by year.
Dates: July 20-28
Application deadline: Applications open January 31st; rolling review
Eligibility: Students, ages 13-15, with at least conversational English proficiency; international students are eligible.

NUCB International College’s Summer Camp stands out among business programs in Japan for high school students because it uses the Harvard-style case method, the same teaching approach used at leading business schools worldwide. You will work through business cases in a boarding environment, developing analytical reasoning, oral argumentation, and collaborative problem-solving alongside peers from across Japan and abroad.

Japanese language classes and field trips are also part of the experience. You will live in the school’s boarding facilities for the full duration of the program, getting a comprehensive preview of studying at an international university.

Why it stands out: It offers hands-on experience with the Harvard Business School Case Method inside an actual IB boarding school, offering a preview of what studying at an international school in Japan looks like.

6. Natsu Project’s Natsu Camp

Location: Tokyo, Japan
Cost/Stipend: ¥348,000 (~USD 2,176); need-based scholarships available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohorts
Dates: August 1–7
Application deadline: Priority: January 11st; Final: March 29th
Eligibility: High school students, ages 15-19; international students welcome

Natsu Camp is a seven-day residential program in Tokyo run by the Natsu Project, a Tokyo-based social enterprise. You will live with other students from around the world and explore six subject areas: entrepreneurship, music making, sustainable development, autonomous driving, international relations, and literature, through team-based projects and sessions led by mentors and guest speakers. Your days include expert-led classes, collaborative project work, career workshops, music creation sessions, and cultural field trips around Tokyo.

You will be guided by six mentors with backgrounds at institutions such as Stanford and Harvard, as well as five guest speakers, including university professors and entrepreneurs. Optional arrival support is available on the evening before the program begins for students who are traveling alone or for the first time.

Why it stands out: It allows you to explore your interests in diverse fields through project-based learning, along with letting you experience life in Tokyo.

7. Global Leadership Program Tokyo

Location: St. Mary’s International School, Tokyo (Setagaya-ku), Japan
Cost: ¥75,000 (~470 USD) for one week; ¥150,000 (~938 USD) for two weeks
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 28th – July 31st (Session A3) | August 4-7 (Session A4)
Application deadline: Not specified
Eligibility: Advanced high school and college students with English proficiency at a conversational level or above (a brief language assessment interview is conducted prior to the program); international students are eligible.

This is a non-residential program held at St. Mary’s International School in Tokyo, running for either one or two weeks across afternoon sessions. Each day, you will take part in global discussions on social issues and current events, guided by European staff and teaching assistants from a range of cultural backgrounds.

You will engage in team-building activities, English vocabulary and grammar review sessions, and a daily leadership exercise where you present the day’s schedule to your group. The experience can help you build leadership skills essential for business. The program is taught entirely in English and wraps up with a certificate of completion. 

Why it stands out: You will discuss global issues with peers from countries and backgrounds in and outside of Japan, building cross-cultural perspectives.

8. GTE® Summer​​ School

Location: Mobara (Chiba Prefecture) and Tokyo, Japan
Cost: ¥109,000 (~681 USD)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~40 students
Dates: July 28-31
Application deadline: June 26th
Eligibility: Junior high to high school students; international applicants should be able to communicate in basic Japanese and have intermediate English (B1 level or equivalent) fluency

Among the more entrepreneurship-focused business programs in Japan for high school students, this four-day residential experience helps you understand how startups work and how to build a business idea of your own. You attend lectures on topics such as marketing, finance, and problem-solving, then apply these ideas in team-based projects. During the programme, you work with students from different backgrounds to develop a business plan with support from college mentors and instructors.

Alongside academic sessions, you will take part in cultural and social activities such as Yosakoi dance, BBQ, and group events, which help you interact with peers and mentors. You also get exposure to both Japanese and English communication, as the program uses both languages throughout. 

Why it stands out: It combines an intensive startup-focused curriculum with a residential experience and a final pitch competition held at a professional business venue.

9. Temple University Japan High School Summer Program 

Location: Temple University’s Japan Campus, Tokyo, Japan + excursions to Nikko and nearby areas
Cost: ¥340,000 (~2126 USD) + ¥20,000 (125 USD) registration fee
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: July 29th – August 6th
Application deadline: May 1st (payment deadline for domestic students) | April 1st (for international students)
Eligibility: High school students entering grades 9-12; international students are eligible, and no prior Japanese language experience is required.

This eight-night summer program combines academic classes with cultural experiences in Japan. You will take Japanese language lessons at a level suited to you and choose an elective course, which can be a business or leadership track, modeled after university classes. Alongside academics, you will explore Tokyo through guided activities and take part in excursions, including an overnight trip and a visit to Tokyo DisneySea.

You will interact with both international participants and Japanese high school students through shared events and meals. The program is structured to balance classroom learning with cultural exposure, giving you a broader understanding of life in Japan. Throughout the program, staff and university students support you during classes and activities.

Why it stands out: It offers a structured mix of university-style classes and organized cultural excursions within a short, residential program in Tokyo.

10. CyberAgent High School Visit Program 

Location: CyberAgent, Inc. office, Tokyo, Japan; online or in-person experience
Cost: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Flexible; year-round availability
Application deadline: Applications are accepted from two weeks to three months prior to the desired date via a school or group; school-based applications are accepted.
Eligibility: Junior high and high school students across Japan; international students are not eligible.

This program allows you to engage in a company visit organized by CyberAgent, either online or in person at its Tokyo office. You will learn about CyberAgent’s business, services, and how the company functions through presentations and interactions with employees. You will also learn about the daily work within an internet company, which can help you explore potential roles and career paths.

During in-office visits, you will have access to a guided tour of the workplace, including meeting rooms and creative areas. You can speak to the staff and ask questions during a Q&A session to learn more about the company and its work. While not a traditional business program, this can be an opportunity to explore a real workplace in Japan and potential career paths.

Why it stands out: It allows you to visit a real company office and speak to professionals to learn how business is conducted and gain insights into Japan’s internet industry.

11. Sakura Science High School Program (SSHP)

Location: Multiple sites across Japan (including  Tsukuba, Tokyo, and Aichi)
Cost: Fully funded
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Typically one week in summer; dates vary by hosting institution
Application deadline: Varies by partner institution nomination window
Eligibility: High-achieving high school students nominated by schools or national science organizations from partner countries (typically in Asia)

The Sakura Science High School Program is a flagship international initiative offered by the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST) that invites high school students from Asia and beyond to Japan for a week of scientific and cultural exchange. The program is designed to offer exposure to Japan’s science, technology, and industrial landscape with a focus on global collaboration.

You will attend lectures by scientists and Nobel laureates, visit top research institutions, businesses, and universities, and engage in collaborative activities with Japanese and international peers. You will also explore Japanese culture through guided visits and trips to embassies in Japan, gaining insight into the country’s political and innovation ecosystem. 

Why it stands out: It allows you to join a global cohort of peers and connect with businesses and scientific organizations in Japan.

12. Entreplanet’s Global Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge (GYEC)

Location: Online (global event hosted by organizations in Japan and Indonesia)
Cost: ¥10,000 (~62 USD) /team
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 16th (Preliminary Round); June 20th (Final Round)
Application deadline: April 20th
Eligibility: High school students, ages 14-18; international students are eligible, but must apply in teams of 3-8 students from the same country

This online global entrepreneurship competition allows you to work in a team to solve a real-world problem. On the day of the challenge, you will receive a problem statement and have 12 hours to develop a business idea using science and technology. During this time, you will conduct research, create a business plan, and prepare a short video presentation in English.

Your team’s work will be evaluated based on criteria such as innovation, feasibility, marketing, and communication. If you advance, you will compete in a final round representing your country against teams from around the world. The experience focuses on applying your knowledge to real-world issues such as sustainability, education, and social impact. 

Why it stands out: It is a fast-paced, fully international competition where you get to build and present a complete business idea within just 12 hours.

Why Japan Could Shape Your Global Future

Japan offers more than a change of scenery, because it places you inside one of the world’s most influential business, technology, and innovation environments.

That is why business programs in Japan for high school students can be so valuable, combining academic challenge, cultural immersion, and practical insight into global industries.

As you explore leadership, entrepreneurship, economics, and international collaboration, you begin to build the confidence, perspective, and adaptability that future study and careers demand.

Want to see where this global mindset could take you next? Explore our Study Abroad blogs for inspiring ideas, practical guidance, and exciting possibilities beyond Japan.