This article was written by the NIPPON VISA & LIFE editorial team based on information from public organizations such as the national government and local governments. Rules and fees may differ depending on the city, ward, town or village where you live.
If you want to learn Japanese at a low cost in Japan, look for a “Japanese language class” (nihongo kyoshitsu) in the area where you live. You can find one by searching the website of your city, ward, town or village or of an international exchange association, or by asking at the counter of your city office. If there is no class near you that you can attend, you can also learn on learning sites made by government organizations.
The Short Answer: 3 Places to Learn Japanese
| Where to learn | What it is like | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Local Japanese language class | Classes run by local governments, international exchange associations, NPOs and others. While learning Japanese, you can get information about daily life and make friends | Some classes are free. Cheaper than a Japanese language school |
| Japanese language school | Has courses that match your purpose and level, such as going on to further education, finding a job or preparing for exams | Tuition fees are required |
| Correspondence and distance learning | You learn at home using social media or e-learning (ways of learning on the internet) | Differs depending on the service |
Below, we mainly explain how to find a local Japanese language class.
What Is a Local Japanese Language Class?
The national government’s “Guidebook on Living and Working” introduces local Japanese language classes as follows.
- They are run by local governments, international exchange associations and NPOs
- They are held at places such as community centers (kominkan: public buildings where local people gather), schools, churches and volunteer centers
- In many cases, volunteers teach
- Some classes are free. The cost is lower than at a Japanese language school
- Classes are held once or twice a week, for 1 to 2 hours each time
At a Japanese language class, you can study Japanese while getting information about daily life and making friends.
The days, times, cost, level and teaching style differ from class to class. The description above is the general form.
How to Find a Japanese Language Class Near You
1. Search the Website of Your City, Ward, Town or Village
First, search the website of the city, ward, town or village where you live. When you search, try entering “(name of your city, ward, town or village) 日本語教室” (Japanese language class).
Some areas have pages where you can search for classes on a map or by conditions. Example: in Nagoya City, the Nagoya International Center (a public interest incorporated foundation) runs “なごにほ (Nagoniho),” a site where you can search for Japanese language classes in the city.
(Sources: Naka Ward, Nagoya City “Japanese Language Classes”)
2. Look at Lists from Prefectures and International Exchange Associations
Prefectures, or prefectural international exchange associations (organizations that support foreign residents), sometimes publish a list of the Japanese language classes in the prefecture.
The national government’s “Guidebook on Living and Working” includes a link to a document that collects the departments in charge of Japanese language education in each area and the pages listing Japanese language classes.
The links and contact details in this document may have changed. If you cannot reach them, search for the name of the prefecture together with “国際交流協会 日本語教室” (international exchange association Japanese language class).
3. Ask at the City Office or a Consultation Counter
If you cannot find a class on the internet, try asking at the office of your city, ward, town or village: “I would like to go to a Japanese language class” (nihongo kyoshitsu ni ikitai desu). Some cities, wards, towns and villages have consultation counters for foreign residents.
The first procedures to do at the city office are explained in Procedures at the City Office After You Arrive in Japan: The Basics of the Moving-in Notification, My Number, National Health Insurance, National Pension and Resident Tax.
What to Check Before You Apply
The “Guidebook on Living and Working” recommends checking the following things when you look for a Japanese language class.
| What to check | Example |
|---|---|
| Class name and organizer | Which organization runs the class |
| Place, contact details and how to contact | By phone, by email, or by going in person |
| Languages supported | Whether they can explain things in your native language |
| Period, number of sessions, days and time of day | Whether you can attend after work or on weekends |
| Eligibility | Whether there are conditions about the area where you live or work |
| Cost | Whether it is free, and whether you have to pay for teaching materials |
| Class format and size | Group lessons or one-on-one lessons |
| Level, teachers and content | Whether there is a class for people learning Japanese for the first time |
| Parking and childcare | Whether you can go by car, and whether you can leave your children there |
Also ask the class directly whether you can join partway through and whether you can observe a class.
If You Want to Study at a Japanese Language School
Japanese language schools have the following features.
- There are courses for different purposes, such as going on to further education, finding a job and preparing for exams
- You can study by level, from beginner to advanced
- You can choose the lesson format, such as classes, group lessons or private lessons
- Tuition fees are required
Since 2024, information on Japanese language schools accredited by the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (accredited Japanese language educational institutions) has been available in multiple languages on a government portal site.
When You Cannot Attend a Class: Government Learning Sites
If you are too busy with work or raising children to attend a class, you can also learn on the internet. There are sites made by government organizations.
つながるひろがる にほんごでのくらし (Tsunagaru Hirogaru Nihongo de no Kurashi, or “Tsunahiro”)
This is MEXT’s learning site for Japanese for daily life.
- You can learn with videos for each situation in daily life, such as greetings, shopping, banks, trains, the city office, disaster preparedness and raising children
- You can choose videos by your level, the situation you want to learn about, or keywords
- You can read explanations in languages such as English, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Thai, Portuguese, Nepali and Burmese
Site: つながるひろがる にほんごでのくらし
にほんご チェック！ (Nihongo Check!: Find Out Your Japanese Level)
This is a site for checking your own Japanese level by yourself. You read “can-do” statements (sentences like “I can …”) and answer how well you can do each one on a 4-point scale. The result is shown as one of 6 levels (A1 to C2). It is useful when you choose a class at a Japanese language class or set your learning goals.
It is available in 14 languages, including Japanese.
Site: にほんご チェック！
Other Learning Sites
The Immigration Services Agency’s “Portal Site for Supporting Foreign Residents’ Daily Lives” also lists other learning sites together, such as “Irodori: Japanese for Life in Japan” by the Japan Foundation (a national incorporated administrative agency that provides Japanese language education).
(Sources: Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” 8th Edition, Chapter 5, Sections 3-4 and 3-5 (PDF), Immigration Services Agency “Portal Site for Supporting Foreign Residents’ Daily Lives”)
If You Want to Learn Japanese for Work
The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare provides training for work (the Training Program for Foreign Workers’ Employment and Settlement Support) for long-term foreign residents such as people of Japanese descent (Nikkeijin). You can learn communication in Japanese workplaces, business manners, rules for working and more.
You apply at the Hello Work office that has jurisdiction over your area (example: the guidance from the Chiba Labour Bureau). Ask at Hello Work whether you are eligible and whether the training is held near you. How to use Hello Work is explained in How to Use Hello Work: Looking for a Job in Japan as a Foreign Resident (What to Bring, Job Seeker Registration, Interpreters, and Referral Letters).
(Sources: Chiba Labour Bureau “Employment of Foreign Nationals”)
When You Have a Problem and Common Questions
Are the Teachers at Japanese Language Classes Professional Japanese Teachers?
At local Japanese language classes, volunteers often teach. If you have a specific goal, such as preparing for an exam or going on to further education, also compare the courses at Japanese language schools.
What If I Want My Child to Learn Japanese?
If your child goes to a school in Japan, they may be able to receive Japanese language support at school. First, consult the school or the board of education of your city, ward, town or village. The procedures for entering school are explained in How to Enroll Your Foreign National Child in Elementary or Junior High School in Japan: Procedures, What to Bring and Costs at Public Schools.
How to Find Information
If you search for “(name of your city, ward, town or village) 日本語教室” or “(name of your prefecture) 国際交流協会 日本語教室,” you can often find lists or maps of classes. If it is difficult to search in Japanese, ask at the consultation counter for foreign residents at your city office.
Other procedures for raising children and education are summarized in The Basics of Raising Children in Japan: Pregnancy and Birth Procedures, Child Allowance, Checkups and Vaccinations, Nursery Schools and Kindergartens, Elementary and Junior High School.
Primary Sources Used for This Article
- Immigration Services Agency “Guidebook on Living and Working” 8th Edition (PDF)
- Immigration Services Agency “Portal Site for Supporting Foreign Residents’ Daily Lives”
- Departments in Charge of Japanese Language Education in Each Area and Lists of Japanese Language Classes in the Area (PDF)
- MEXT “つながるひろがる にほんごでのくらし” (Tsunagaru Hirogaru Nihongo de no Kurashi)
- にほんご チェック！ (Nihongo Check!)
- MEXT “Guide to Accredited Japanese Language Educational Institutions”
- Naka Ward, Nagoya City “Japanese Language Classes”
- Chiba Labour Bureau “Employment of Foreign Nationals”
This article is a translation of the original Japanese version.
