Saffy I went to Japan with a school group when I was your age (a decade ago) and while it was a good experience in general I wish I would have saved that trip for a few years later to experience the country with more freedom and less limitations. Obviously you will be restricted to the itinerary set by your teacher so there is a chance you might not get to see what you want to see and do what you want to do.

My recommendation to you is to start putting money aside now and by the time you get to the age where you can go by yourself, or with friends without a guardian you will be ready to go! But of course, if you really want to go now and you can get the money together by all means do it - there is nothing stopping you from going again later.

I went to Japan for 6 weeks for 2000 dollars and dumped 800 more on buying stuff (mostly things to carry out life normally). You're going to be paying almost twice as much as me and staying there for one third of the time!

no way you could have done that with airfare and acommodations

Depends, Airfair is roughly £900 (about $1500 at curent exchange rate) from the UK (probly cheaper in the US since it is closer to Japan). If staying with someone or a family it would be much cheaper than a hotel, so it can be done I guess. Plus prices were dirt cheaper in 2000 than they are today.

But I'm deaf so my options aren't as open, I know on this trip i will have an ability to comunicate

do people in japan have a japanese form of sign language?

I went to Japan only spending $1200 on airfare, and bringing $500 with me.

For 3 months. You can pull off quite a bit if you`re determined and up to a challenge.

Yes, there is a Japanese sign language system. It overlaps the US system in some places, and is different in others. I don`t know how widespread knowledge of sign language is, but there is closed captioning and news programs broadcast in sign language or with a sign language inset.

To be completely honest, as sign language is quite similar between the two systems, you may actually have an advantage when it comes to communication.

cool,

because it would be really hard for me to learn Japanese, I can speak a little english, but mostly i sign,
so I would just have to go with a program that has translators?

seems like bit much for a school trip even to japan. I'm going for 10 days with my school for 1600 mind you its homestay but 3400 extra seems a bit excessive just for staying in hotels.

People to People? and they want to send you to JAPAN? YES GO!!!!! My cousin was offered a trip to the U.K. by them and she went and had a great time, you should do it, as for raising the money, my cousin got a few sponsors to help, so you could try doing the same, but WOMAN GO!!!!!