Kanazawa University

Kanazawa University, one of Japan’s National Universities, can trace its history back to the opening of a small medical school in 1862. Originally a regional smallpox vaccination clinic, the school has grown over its 150-plus year history to become a leading centre for higher education.

The university campus lies in green hills to the east of the coastal city of Kanazawa, built on the shores of the Sea of Japan. The university hospital has its own campus in the city centre.

Kanazawa University has reorganised its faculties into three colleges with 16 schools in-keeping with its aim of being "a research university dedicated to education, while opening up its doors to both local and global society".

Kanazawa is an ancient castle city with a long history of education. The city is surrounded by the Japanese Alps and experiences heavy snows in winter perfect for skiing and snowboarding. There are also two nearby national parks and two rivers flow through the centre of Kanazawa.

Its beautiful location (only two-and-a-half hours from Tokyo by train) means there has always been a community of artists and craftsmen working in Kanazawa. Ancient castles and temples blend with the city’s modern infrastructure to create a charming place to study.

The university has many specialist institutes including the Advanced Science Research Centre, the University Hospital (which dates from the beginning of the university in 1862), the Institute for Nature and Environmental Technology and the Centre for Archaeological Research. Kanazawa welcomes foreign students and partners with many international institutions across the world.