Hmmmm... sounds like you need to come to Japan next Spring for some research and interviews!
 
It's an interesting question about Spring. I guess the old way was to use the Chinese calendar, where the New Year starts in Spring (which in some ways makes more sense... the renewal of life, etc). For most students, though, I imagine the important thing is 春休み, since one full school year is over and they will have no homework until the new year begins. For some, those university spring holidays are the first real vacations they've had, since their parents probably sent them to juku during that period all through their younger days.
 
I'm not sure it matters which universities you focus on, but if you want to get extra points for prestige, you would probably focus on the public ones. Or maybe you could do two of each and see if there is any difference in the way they answer? You could also see if there is any differences depending on the cost, etc. Kids at private universities might have to work during vacations, for instance.
 
I'll bet there are papers looking into this somewhere. The tourism industry is desperate to know what students are doing because they spend so much money. Also you might contact the youth hostel federation and see if they can give you any numbers about student members, or even numbers of students that stay at their hostels? Also I wonder if JR would have any statistics? You know there is the 青春十八切符 that's marketed to students, though kids these days... I'm not sure. They might just find someone with a car. A lot of students also come up to Hokkaido with motorcycles. The domestic ferries might be another place to get some numbers.
 
Anyway, just thinking out loud. Since acjama just escaped from school life, maybe he can give you some stories and contacts?

Quote from Hokousha on Sep 10^th, 2008, 7:06pm:

I'm afraid not so much. Nobeyama is surrounded by mountains from east, south and west, and by an extremely cold wind from the north. I was the only student at the Solar Observatory. And I didn't need to show student ID while travelling, only at movie theaters.
 
But the students at the Galaxy Observatory center were very keen on using highway buses instead of train. Highway bus companies have student discounts, they might have statistics. I'm afraid I'm using company time for surfing, I don't think I'll have time to look for links just yet.
 
Pretty big task for a bachelor's thesis. You'll get a Laudatur by merely trying.  

Because this thread is all about ME I can share my joy with you people!
 
I got informed today I passed an exam! Oh, my heart jumped to my throat when I was called to hear the results.
The result means: only one more test left and the thesis and I will become a Bachelor of Japanology
 
It would be just a piece of paper because I'm really one of those hetakuso.
 
But still!
I would be the first academic person in my family!
If grandmother just lived to see that!
 
So I got really exited, thinking: I will pass that final shiken, because I can see the light in the end of the tunnel (tunnel being: living in Vaasa)! The light will motivate me!
 
I got home, really tired.. smelling sesame oil (I broke a full bottle, but that is another story). Talked with friends in IRC, then surfed the open jobs in the town and then decided hurriedly to apply.    
 
Tadah! I can't sleep!
I'm too excited about everything. And maybe hungry...
 
Thank you for being so nice everybody.
 
I shall go now and see if there is anything interesting in the Internet with this lovely second-hand laptop of mine (it has a red apple on the cover).
 
I wonder if someone should be this happy on a day the flags are halfway up the poles, because of horrible mindless killings..
 
Tommorrow I shall repent hiding Sensei's red marker.
I've had my share of instant karma delivered by a bottle.
 
Ok la.
 
Aino
 

Japanology... Japanese language and culture. In one word
 
I have studied:
History before and after 1868
Theatre
Literature
Modern Japanese
Classical Japanese...
 
I have now the book Hokousha recomended!
Japanese Amazon is fast, and I could use my mothers visa to pay for it.
Looks good, that book! For starters..
 
Haa... Cheap tickets offered to Japan.
Should I!?!
 
 
 

Thank you!
 
Difficult to decide what time to go.
I would like to go when school term is on.
 
But.
There won't be any cheap tickets for April.
 
If I went in May.... I would miss a course here, I would like to attend..  
 
Maybe I should think about studying fuyuyasumi?
Do students travel then?
 

Too bad it's a bit late to reply to this. I hope you had great time. Are you still around here?
But I trust you are coming again. Then, I and my wife will treat you Japanese food.

Kamakura, yes. We can still feel ancient Japanese atmosphere there.  
Today I was shooting new documentary. We are now getting into the mood of shooting. Next week shooting movie director and visual designer's interview.
It's coming back to me to actually go out and shoot.. after working so long with animation inside my cozy apartment and locked door.
Did you check my animation yet? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dWYlZ2ciok