What factors contribute to students' decision on study abroad? What factors contribute to students' choice of the host country? These questions remained a core area of interest of many scholars and practitioners. In recent years, the number of Japanese students who participated in short-term study abroad programs has dramatically increased. Previous studies found the motives relate to the economic strength of home county, students’ desire for professional and personal growth, but evidence also suggests some leisure motives. Using Mazzarol and Soutar's push-pull model, this paper explores the mobility and destination choice motives of Japanese university students. Conclusions are that international study mobility is driven by the home country's economic and social forces, but students' choice of a host country depends on the level of higher education and touristic attractiveness of host countries. Moreover, the government scholarship program called "Tobitate!"("Leap for tomorrow!"), which established in 2014, has a significant impact on the surge of study abroad.