Overview
Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply to the Moving Boundaries courses?
The courses are open to architecture and design professionals, including architects, urban designers landscape architects, historians, artists, human scientists, environmental and health experts, lighting, interior and product designers, cognitive scientists and psychologists, sociologists, philosophers, neuroscientists and anthropologists, as well as educators, graduate and postdoctoral students in these disciplines from any part of the world.
In what language will the course be conducted?
Lectures, masterclasses, workshops, and roundtable discussions will all be conducted in English. Several supporting faculty speak other languages, and they may be able to help with translation occasionally (we cannot provide continuous translation).
Tuition will cover the full academic program: lectures, panel discussions, Q&A sessions, selected (not all) tours/visits, networking and social events, the Certificate of Completion, and post-program resources after the end of the program (lecture files and recordings, reading lists, abstract brochures, etc.) Travel expenses, lodging and meals are not included in tuition. Please note that there is no tuition refund, if any participant changes their mind about attending, after registration (except in case of medical emergency or visa problem).
What will tuition cover?
Can I receive credits for attending?
Credits for the program need to be approved by the university you are currently attending. Check with your academic advisor regarding the procedure for obtaining credits since some institutions require that credits be approved prior to enrolling in the program. Practicing architects may apply (on their own) for learning credits, but the outcome depends on your local chapter and cannot be guaranteed by MB. A Syllabus with a summary of all activities and list of course hours can be provided.
How do I get to Kyoto, Japan? Is a Visa required?
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Flights from all over the world arrive at the modern KIX (Kansai) airport, in Osaka, Japan. You will be able to travel from the airport to your hotel in Kyoto via train right from the airport. Participants from many regions will not require a visa to enter Japan. Please make sure to check the visa regulations for your country, well ahead of time. Also check the expiration date on your passport, to make sure that it is within the limits allowed for entry in Japan.
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What supplies will I need to bring?
A notebook, pens, and sketching materials should suffice, but we also recommend bringing a laptop computer or a tablet computer. We will not be working with digital modeling tools during this course. We also recommend that you bring adapters for your electronics, a powerful phone battery, extra charger, comfortable walking shoes and clothing to visit sacred sites, shoes which are easy to 'slip off' at temples, a hat, sunglasses, personal portable fan, water bottle, medicine, and an "e-SIM" for Japan for your cell phone. You will need some cash, as cards are not accepted everywhere.
Participants are responsible for financing their travel to Japan, lodging and meals. Tuition does not include travel expenses and arrangements. Participants may take advantage of the sign-up list in Google Drive, if interested in sharing a room, in order to minimize expenses. Participants are responsible for booking their room directly with the hotel or Airbnb host of their choice.
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Please plan to arrive in Kyoto, Japan, before 4pm on August 2 or on October 11 (depending on which program you registered for). If you wish to minimize the effects of jet lag, please consider arriving on August 1 (or on October 10) or earlier. The Program will conclude on August 11 or on October 20. Everyone will receive a Certificate of Completion on the last day of the program. For the August program: Optional "add-on" tours/visits will be offered to those who can stay on August 12, in Osaka and Kobe, for an extra charge. This "add-on" is not part of the official MB program, but MB will facilitate the visits. For the October program: Optional "add-on" visit will be organized to the Kurama Fire Festival, outside Kyoto, on October 22, for an extra charge. You are encouraged to pre-register if you can stay until October 23.
How will lodging and meals be arranged? When does the course start and end?
Tuition is $2,400 for professionals and $1,800 for fulltime graduate students. This price is for the entire 9.5 day program in both locations (Kyoto and Teshima). MB Alumni who signed up before the deadline took advantage of the $200 alumni discount. Please consider transportation, hotel and meals in your budget.
Additionally, participants may chose to attend just one part of the program: Part 1 or Part 2. Tuition for one part is more affordable (as are hotel/food expenses). See prices for Part 1 (or 2) at the top of each web page about Japan August or Japan October program.
How much will it cost to attend?
Yes, both Japan programs offer scholarships. Scholarships were awarded in December 2025. As the deadline has passed, no more scholarships are available at this time.
Does the course have a scholarship program?
What resources will be offered before and during the course?
All participants will have access to a file with abstracts of presentations one month before the course. They will also have access to the program yearbook, with biographies and contact information of all attendees, who agreed to share. After the course, participants will have access to selected presentation files and recordings from the course, for a period of 6 months. Additionally, participants will have access to faculty contact info, reading lists, supplementary resources and to a group communication platform (WhatsApp) , where they will be able to interact with one another and uphold their network, during and after the on-site program. They will also have access to the MB Alumni LinkedIn (private) group, MB Alumni Resources on the website, free webinars, and other events after the program concludes.
Who are the speakers and how much access will I have to them throughout the course?
You will have access to speakers during all course activities and social events, including occasional meals and coffee breaks, throughout the 10 days. Find the list of speakers and their bios on the MB Japan pages on this website. Several faculty members will attend the full course, while others will join for 6-7 of the days, either in the first or second part of the program.
Yes, there will be free time. Please consult the MB Japan pages on this site. Consider arriving one or two days early to settle in, and to recover from jetlag. We do encourage you to explore the local culture and cuisine. Please note that we will not visit Tokyo during this program. If you would like to visit additional cities, we encourage you to do so before or after the 10-day course. After lectures and social events finish, we encourage everyone to see (on their own) additional work by architects and landscape architects in Japan. MB will provide recommendations. There will be one free day in the middle of the course.
Will there be free time and can I explore other locations during the course?
Can I bring family or friends with me? Can they join the tours/visits or meals during the program?
Yes, family and friends may travel with you, and they are welcome to join social events (and self-organized meals) during the course, but they may not attend lectures, workshops or roundtable discussions. You may be able to bring one person to the temple and garden visits/tours, if you get an extra ticket for them, but please first ask us if space permits. If there is space on the bus, we will be glad to welcome family members. You may bring a plus one to the Welcome Lunch, space permitting. Please request a paylink for the extra lunch from your MB supporting team member. The Welcome Lunch on the second day of the program is included with your tuition.
Family and friends may stay with you in Kyoto, but lodging space is very limited on Teshima Island, so you might have to stay in the port of Uno or on Naoshima (instead of Teshima), if you are bringing family or friends for the last three days of the program.