This paper summarizes the results of a cross-sectional study on the influence of Japanese students’ study-abroad experience in Germany on their impressions (personal impressions and national stereotypes) of the host country. Of the two groups of students that were involved in the study, the impressions of Germany recorded by the students who had spent some time in Germany were more negative than those recorded by students who had no experience of studying abroad. However, the former seemed more interested in choosing a future career that dealt with Germany. Moreover, their associations with Germany were more diverse, and they were more sophisticated while handling characterizations. The two groups of students also differed in the extent to which they felt about being Japanese nationals. Furthermore, the students’ responses differed according to their length of stay in Germany. This was most obvious when comparisons were made with students who had never been to Germany.