Japanese Language Schools in Tokyo
Akamonkai Japanese Language School
Founded: 1985
Location: Tokyo (Nippori)
Course duration: 3 weeks ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 70,000 JPY (3 weeks) ~ 1,478,000 JPY (2 years)
Official website: Click here
Akamonkai Japanese Language School offers a long-term general course, a university preparatory curriculum, short term courses (3 weeks to 3 months) and two long-term business courses. Aside from the on-campus options, there are also 3-month online courses as well as the option to attend an IT Programming Online school run by an affiliated company.
For additional student support, Akamonkai offers accommodation in school-owned dormitories as well as a total of 7 different scholarship programs.
Akamonkai’s main campus is located in the quiet area of Nippori, around 10 minutes on foot from Nippori station on the JR Yamanote line.
ALA Academy of Language Arts
Founded: 1984
Location: Tokyo (Iidabashi)
Course duration: 6 months ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 441,440 JPY (6 months) ~ 1,441,000 JPY (2 years)
Official website: Click here
ALA Academy of Language Arts offers group lessons and private lessons. Group lessons (ALA’s long-term course option) are held in 3-month terms. Students that attend the school for 9 months or longer and show excellent results in class are able to receive a scholarship from the school in the form of a discount for their final term.
ALA is located right next to Iidabashi station, accessible by 6 major train lines and near the famous Tokyo Dome baseball stadium.
ARC Academy
Founded: 1986
Location: Tokyo (Iidabashi, Shinjuku), Osaka, Kyoto
Course duration: 3 months ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 460,000 JPY (6 months) ~ 1,540,000 JPY (2 years)
Official website: Click here
ARC Academy offers a comprehensive long-term study abroad course as well as a 3-month short time course. There is also a 6-month intensive Business Japanese class and a special preparatory class for students who want to go to graduate school in Japan.
In addition to the main campuses in Tokyo, students can also choose to learn Japanese in the Osaka and Kyoto locations. The location of the campus has no effect on tuition fees.
In terms of housing support, ARC Academy is partners with various real estate agencies in Japan as well as an agency that facilitates homestays in Japan.
Genki Japanese & Culture School (GenkiJACS)
Founded: 2004
Location: Tokyo (Shinjuku), Kyoto, Fukuoka, Nagoya (partner school)
Course duration: 1 week ~ 1 year
Tuition fees: 33,000 JPY (1 week) ~ 990,000 JPY (1 year)
Official website: Click here
GenkiJACS is active in four locations across Japan, with the Nagoya location being managed by partner school IC Nagoya. The 1-year long-term course is only available at the Fukuoka and Nagoya locations. The school’s basic course – the Core Japanese Course – can be taken at a weekly basis at all locations. Other options include online lessons and add-on modules for conversation, traditional culture and pop-culture.
In contrast to some other schools, GenkiJACS accepts students who are under 18 years old. The school works with third-party providers to help find students find accommodation (homestays. private apartments, shared living).
Students at GenkiJACS also have the opportunity to do unpaid internships (both on-location and online) with the school’s partners in Tokyo and Fukuoka.
Intercultural Institute of Japan
Founded: 1977
Location: Tokyo (Akihabara/Ueno)
Course duration: 1 week ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 45,000 JPY (1 week) ~ 1,620,000 JPY (2 years)
Official website: Click here
Classes span 11 levels, from beginner to near-native. In addition to the 1- to 2-year long-time course, there are also multiple short-term options (starting at 1 week) and a variety of online classes.
The school offers accommodation for students at a school-owned dormitorry as supports students with finding rooms in guesthouses, share houses and private apartments. Homestays are also an option. Other support services include counseling for higher education, graduate school and some scholarships.
The school is located near Akihabara station, Tokyo’s main area for anime and other pop culture.
ISI Japanese Language School
Founded: 1992
Location: Tokyo (Ikebukuro, Takadanobaba, Harajuku), Kyoto, Nagano (Ueda)
Course duration: 2 weeks ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 163,250 JPY (short-term course) ~ 849,000 JPY (1 year)
Official website: Click here
The long-term course at ISI Japanese Language School covers eight levels, ranging from beginner to highly advanced level. Depending on the campus location, students can choose elective classes to prepare for university, grad school, and employment in Japan. The school also has online classes for students residing overseas.
ISI offers a wide range of campus locations, with three in Tokyo, one in Kyoto and one in Nagano, one of Japan’s main winter sport areas. Tuition fees vary depending on the campus location, with the Tokyo campuses being the most expensive and the Nagano campus the cheapest.
Japan Tokyo International School (JTIS)
Founded: 1986
Location: Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Course duration: 1 month ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 1,374,200 JPY (2 years)
Official website: Click here
JITS’s 2-year comprehensive course is aimed at learners who want to reach JLPT N1 level. Classes are divided into five levels (Beginner, Beginner-Intermediate, Intermediate-Advanced, and Advanced). The school also offers short-term courses for people on a short-term stay or currently living in Japan.
JTIS is located next to Nishi-Shinjuku station on the Marunouchi line, and can be reached in around 10 minutes on foot from the central Shinjuku station.
KAI Japanese Language School
Founded: 1987
Location: Tokyo (Shin-Okubo)
Course duration: 3 months ~ 1 year
Tuition fees: 278,000 JPY (3 months) ~ 942,000 JPY (1 year)
Official website: Click here
KAI Japanese Language School is located around 5 minutes away from Shin-Okubo station on the JR Yamanote Line.
In addition to the General Japanese Course, there are also short-term practical conversation and summer courses as well as a Business Japanese Course. The Business Course is aimed at language learners at JLPT N2 level and prepares students for the Japanese Business Proficiency Test (BJT).
Kudan Institute of Japanese Language
Founded: 1988
Location: Tokyo (Suidobashi)
Course duration: 2 weeks ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 835,000 JPY (1-year Intensive Course)
Official website: Click here
Instead of having a comprehensive course spanning between 1-2 years, Kudan Institute offers a flexible system where learners can choose between a wide variety of courses, the two basic ones being the conversation and intensive courses. The school also has specialty courses like a manga course, a tea ceremony course and a JLPT N2 preparation course.
Another unique feature of Kudan Institute is that the school offers homestay opportunities in Japan (for an additional fee).
Linguage Japanese Language School
Founded: 2017
Location: Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Course duration: 1 month ~ 1 year and 9 months
Tuition fees: 825,000 JPY（1 year comprehensive course)
Official website: Click here
Linguage is a relatively new Japanese Language School, located about 5 minutes away from Shinjuku station.
Linguage’s main focus is Japanese language education for students who would like to search for a job and work in Japan. In addition to general language skills, students are taught how to write Japanese CVs, present themselves in job interview, etc.
In addition to the regular comprehensive course, there are also Business Japanese intensive courses and a short-time courses starting at 1 month.
Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin
Founded:1967
Location: Tokyo (Yotsuya)
Course duration: 3 months ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 796,000 JPY / year (Regular Course)
Official website: Click here
Located a few minutes away from Yotsuya Station, Nicihbei Kaiwa Gakuin offers a regular and a part-time course. The courses cover three basic, three intermediate and two advanced language levels. In addition to classes, the school offers extracurricular activities. Since May 2021, the part-time classes can also be taken online.
Tuition fees are paid per term (3 months). Enrollment is possible at the start of each term, four times per year in April, July, October, and January.
Sendagaya Japanese Institute (SJI)
Founded: 1975
Location: Tokyo (Takadanobaba)
Course duration: 2 ~ 10 weeks
Tuition fees: 58,000 JPY ~ 190,000 JPY (Everyday Course)
Official website: Click here
The Sendagaya Japanese Institute is located near Takadanobaba station on the JR Yamanote line. The school’s main “Everyday Course” is taken on a 10-week term basis and covers basic Japanese language education from beginner to intermediate level.
Aside from the Everyday Course, other class options include a Business Japanese Course, a JLPT Preparation Course, as well as Group lessons. These courses are all short-term, between 10 and 30 lessons.
For students in the Everyday Course, the School also offers accommodation in student dormitories or with host families.
Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute
Founded: 1975
Location: Tokyo (Takadanobaba)
Course duration: 3 weeks ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 800,000 JPY (1 year) – 1,530,000 (2 years)
Official website: Click here
Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute offers a general course for beginners, intermediate, and advanced students as well as intensive courses for the three levels.
There are also special courses for general Business Japanese, Business Japanese for the tourism industry, and as a Teacher Training option that equips students at JLPT N1 level or higher with the skills to become a Japanese language teacher of their own. In other optional classes, students can prepare for the JLPT or exams required to enter Japanese universities.
Shinjuku Japanese Language Institute is located near Takadanobaba station on the JR Yamanote line.
Shinwa Foreign Language Academy
Founded: 1990
Location: Tokyo (Takadanobaba)
Course duration: 1 month – 2 years
Tuition fees: 825,000 JPY (1 year) – 1,573,000 (2 years)
Official website: Click here
Shinwa Foreign Language Academy focuses on preparing students for university in Japan. The school offers a number of scholarships to outstanding students that pass the Japanese university entry exam for foreign students (EJU) and recommends students to the scholarship program of Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. Students are able to receive extra guidance for university exams, interviews and research plans.
Shinwa Foreign Language Academy is located a few minutes on foot away from Takadanobaba station.
Tokyo Central Japanese Language School (TCJ
Founded: 1988
Location: Tokyo (Shinanomachi)
Course duration: 1 month ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 747,000 JPY / year (Student Visa Program Course)
Official website: Click here
Tokyo Central Japanese Language School offers both long-term courses (under the Student Visa Program) and shorter courses for students on the short-term visitor (tourist) visa. Online classes are available as well. Courses cover a range of 14 different language levels, from introductory to upper advanced.
The Student Visa Program Courses are purpose-specific and prepare students for university, graduate school or vocational school in Japan. Since 2018, TCJ also offers a job hunting course for students that plan to work in Japan after graduation.
As a special feature of their long-term programs, student visa holders at TCJ are also able to take up to two JLPT exams for free.
Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School (TGL)
Founded: 1986
Location: Tokyo (Kayabacho)
Course duration: 6 weeks ~ 1 year
Tuition fees: 440,000 JPY (6 months) – 800,000 (1 year) (Comprehensive Japanese Class)
Official website: Click here
Tokyo Galaxy Japanese Language School offers a wide variety of courses. Aside from the Comprehensive Japanese Class, there are courses for graduate school and university preparation, Business Japanese classes, Cultural Communication classes and Intermediate classes focusing on spoken Japanese.
Optional subjects for students at intermediate and higher levels include classes on pronunciation, Kansai dialect, Japanese society and TV media, literature, interpretation, and ikebana (among others).
The school offers accommodation in a student dormitory as well as a number of scholarships for outstanding students.
Tokyo International Japanese School (TIJS)
Founded: 1983
Location: Tokyo (Shinjuku)
Course duration: 2 weeks ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 620,000 JPY / year (Long Term Course)
Official website: Click here
Tokyo International Japanese School’s long-term course focuses on preparing language learners for university or graduate school in Japan. There is also a General/Short Term course that can be taken for 50,000 JPY per month. Other options include short-term winter and summer courses (between 2 weeks and 2 months) as well as special preparatory courses for the JLPT and Japanese university exams.
For student accommodation, the school offers single apartment and shared living options.
TIJS located in Shinjuku, right next to Shinjuku-Sanchome station and around 10 minutes on foot from Shinjuku sation.
Toyo Language School (TLS)
Founded: 1988
Location: Tokyo (Nishi-Kasai)
Course duration: 3 months ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 816,000 JPY / year (Long-Term Course)
Official website: Click here
Toyo Language School offers five different long-term courses preparing students for regular university, art university, grad school, vocational school, or employment in Japan. A special feature of TLS is that it’s a part of the Jikei Group of Colleges, which operates over 70 vocational schools all across Japan. Relations between TLS and those schools allow students an especially smooth transition.
In addition to the long-term courses, TLS also has short-term and online courses, each with 5 classes per week over 3 months.
The school is located in Edogawa ward in eastern Tokyo, around 10 minutes on foot from Nishi-Kasai station on the Tozai line.
Yoshida Institute of Japanese Language
Founded: 1986
Location: Tokyo (Nishi-Waseda)
Course duration: 3 months ~ 2 years
Tuition fees: 807,000 JPY / year (Long-Term Course
Official website: Click here
Yoshida Language Institute offers all the usual Japanese language study options that prepare students of all levels for university or other types of advanced education in Japan. For short-term visitors, there is a 3-month course option (174,000 JPY).
The school is located near Waseda University in western central Tokyo, right next to the Nishi-Waseda station on the Toden Arakawa Line.
Japanese Language Schools Outside of Tokyo
There’s an abundance of Japanese Language Schools in Japan, and Tokyo – although arguably the best place for job hunting – isn’t the only option. Here’s a short (non-exhaustive) list of schools in other parts of Japan.
*This list doesn’t include schools listed for the Tokyo area above that also have a location in areas outside of Tokyo
Nagoya Area
- Nagoya International Academy
- Nagoya International School of Japanese Language
- JSLN Japanese Language School
- Kamiyama Gakuin Japanese Language School
Osaka & Kyoto Area
- Osaka Japanese Language School
- Kansai College of Business and Language
- First Study
- Osaka Japanese Language Education Center
- Kyoto Japanese Language School
- Nihongo Center
- Kyoto Minsai Japanese Language School
- Kyoto Institute of Culture and Language
Fukuoka Area
- WAHAHA Japanese Language School
- Meiji Academy
- Fukuoka Japanese Language School
- Fukuoka Foreign Language College
- NILS Japanese Language School
