For thirty years the Kyoto International Center for Female Foreign Students studying in Japan, located in Yamabana, Sakyo Ward, Kyoto City, has provided housing for female foreign students studying in Japan. The center is partially supported by donations from the people of Kyoto, but will be closing at the end of March 1997 due to financial difficulties. The center was started in 1967 to provide assistance to female foreign students studying in Japan. The center has 14 private room, communal showers and kitchens, as well as other facilities.
Financial assistance is also available.
The center is run by housewives from the neighborhood who volunteer their time. Many of the students who have stayed at the center have been Asian, but to date, approximately 320 women from more than 40 countries have used the center. There are currently 12 women from 6 countries staying at the center. However, several years ago the center began seeing new trends in student lifestyles. An increasing number of students preferred to live in high-class apartments, while other students were looking for even cheaper accommodations because they had to send money back to their home countries.