A place for exchange

[Xinfu]

Situation:

A Japanese student wants to know why an exchange student chose Japan; how should he phrase the question? Are these natural English?:

-Why did you choose Japan as the place for exchange?
-Why did you choose Japan as the place for an/the exchange?

[Rusty]

Your second example is better than the first, and totally understandable.

More natural:
Why did you choose Japan for your exchange?

[Xinfu]

Thank you Rusty~