Hmmm if you can consider homestay programs yes, but if you were thinking of just simply going there only then you find accommodation/lodgings you need to atleast have a friend to invite you from there. Because in case you don`t know, to travel to Japan you need an invitation letter to go there if you have a friend or relatives there. Or else, you have to book a hotel in advance from Malaysia. And you have a to have atleast rm7k in your bank account to apply for visa. They wanna make sure you have accommodation and enough money to survive while you`re there. So far, have not heard of hostels for backpackers...hmm I`ll try find out for you ok? Gimme some time yah :p

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Added on September 15, 2011, 1:22 pm

Kyoto University! Wow! Good choice here! Ok, I have a friend who will be studying in Kyoto University as an exchange student this October. But she is currently studying in UM. So UM is sending her to Kyoto U for a year. This friend of mine also has no background of Japanese but its an exchange program so I`m not sure how it works really,

Ok to really answer your question, for undergrad courses, as far as i know, No. But for mastersdegree or phd YES! Coz I read about it last time! Plus, I had a senior doing his PHD in Kyoto U in English last time!

So it depends really, undergrad or grad school :p But universities like Waseda, Sophia, Asia, Hosei offers a few of undergrad degree courses in English! BUT very limited la...hmmm but japan is now training their youngsters to master english...so i`m not surprise if in the future there are more courses in English! keep praying yeah!