Cost of Studying in Japan from Nepal: Tuition, Living Expenses & First-Year Budget

Before you apply, it helps to know roughly how much a year in Japan can cost and when the money is needed. This guide separates the costs into three groups: what you pay before you leave, what you pay the school, and what you spend each month once you are in Japan. The figures come from the Japanese government's student guide (Study in Japan, run by JASSO). They are averages or ranges, not quotes, so always ask each school for its own fee list in writing.

All amounts are in Japanese yen. We do not convert them to Nepali rupees, because the exchange rate changes.

1. The three groups of costs

The government guide lists the expenses you should plan for. They fall into three groups.

• Before you leave Nepal: exam fees (such as JLPT), application and mailing costs, a passport if you need one, the visa application fee, airfare, and the admission and tuition fees the school asks you to pay in advance. A dormitory fee may also be due in advance.
• Paid to the school: an application or examination fee, an admission fee and tuition. Teaching materials and similar items may be charged separately.
• After you arrive: housing (including initial costs and furniture), commuting, food, utilities, insurance and medical costs, textbooks and everyday spending. If you need to stay in a hotel when you first arrive, that is an extra cost.

2. School fees

For Japanese language institutions, the government guide gives a range of about 610,000 to 1,900,000 yen for first-year admission and tuition. The guide notes that fees vary by course, and they also differ from school to school. Teaching materials and practical training may be charged separately.

For comparison, the same guide gives these first-year averages for other types of school.

A language school is usually the first step, not the last. If you plan to continue to a university or specialized college afterwards, those fees come later, so plan for them separately.

Fees differ from school to school, and some schools charge differently depending on where you live. Check each school's website and application guidelines. On Nihongo School Finder, a fee that we could not confirm from a source is shown as "Not verified" instead of being guessed. To compare fees, location and dormitory options side by side, browse Japanese language schools.

3. Costs to pay before you travel from Nepal

Some costs come before you arrive in Japan. The government guide does not give a single price for most of them, and many change, so we list what to plan for and when, and we do not print amounts we cannot confirm from an official source.

The timings in this table are the government's suggested schedule, given as a reference. When a school actually asks for payment, and how, differs from school to school, so follow your school's own instructions.

A few points about this table:

• Passport: check the current fee and processing time with the Nepali authority that issues passports.
• Visa: the application method and any fee depend on the latest instructions of the Embassy of Japan in Nepal. Follow its current notice, and do not rely on an older figure.
• Documents and postage: ask the school which documents it needs, and in which language. Translation, certification and courier fees depend on the provider you use.
• Airfare: prices change by season and booking time, so we do not give a figure. Buy the ticket after the visa is issued.
• Sending tuition: ask the school how it accepts payment and who pays the bank charges. Your bank may charge a fee, and the school may receive less than you sent if the charges are deducted along the way.
• Exchange rate: the amount in rupees that you need to pay a yen invoice changes with the exchange rate. Check it on the day you send the money, and keep a margin.
• Money to have on arrival: the school's fees are not the only money you need when you land. Plan for the first nights' lodging and housing start-up costs.

4. Monthly living costs

JASSO's 2023 survey of privately financed international students gives the average monthly cost of living, not including study costs. These figures cover all privately financed international students, not only those at language schools.

The government guide also breaks the national average of 105,000 yen into categories.

Rents in Tokyo and other large cities are higher than in rural areas, and it can be hard to find housing near school in a big city, which raises commuting costs. These are survey averages, and your own costs may be higher or lower.

5. Housing and the costs that come with it

Housing is the largest single item. About 70% of international students live in private houses or apartments. The government guide gives these average monthly rents.

The guide also suggests a rough target: around 30,000 to 40,000 yen a month for an apartment in a more rural area, and about 60,000 yen within Tokyo. For a JASSO student dormitory in Tokyo (the Japanese Language Education Center), the guide gives 28,000 yen a month.

Compare the two main options on more than the monthly rent.

• Student dormitory: a dormitory may keep your initial costs lower than a private apartment. Some dormitories do not charge key money (shiki-kin) or gratuity money (rei-kin), but you may still need to pay an entrance fee or a deposit. Rooms may come with furniture and appliances. Rooms are limited, so not every student can get one, and there may be rules and shared facilities. Check the total cost at move-in, not only the monthly rent.
• Private apartment: you may have to pay a deposit, gratuity money and a real estate agent's fee in advance, and buy furniture and appliances. You may be asked for a joint guarantor or to use a guarantor company. Some schools' staff can act as a joint guarantor for international students, and a guarantor may not be needed if you pay a guarantee fee instead. Ask the school what it offers.

6. Insurance

In principle, if your period of stay in Japan is more than three months and you are not covered by an employer's health insurance or similar, you join the National Health Insurance (also called Kokuho). You register at the municipal office where you live, after your residence registration. Insurance usually covers 70% of medical costs, so you pay 30% of the bill, and medical expenses not covered by insurance are paid in full.

The premium depends on the municipality, your previous year's income and your household, so it differs from person to person. Premiums can be reduced when income is low, and the municipality may ask you to file an income declaration. The rules differ by municipality, so ask the municipal office what you need to do.

Insurance for accidents and property damage is separate, and your school can tell you about the options. Ask whether the school's student accident insurance applies to you.

7. Scholarships

The government guide lists several kinds of scholarships. For privately financed students, JASSO runs the Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately Financed International Students. The guide gives 30,000 yen a month for students at Japanese language institutions, and 48,000 yen a month for universities, graduate schools and similar schools. It is generally paid for one year from April to March, or for six months from October to March.

For a language school student, the conditions on the guide are as follows.

• You are enrolled at a Japanese language institution with the aim of entering a Japanese university, graduate school, junior college, college of technology or specialized training college, and you plan to enter that higher education in the year after you receive the scholarship.
• Your status of residence is "Student".
• You apply after you arrive in Japan, through your school, by confirming with the person in charge. The number of students a school can recommend differs from school to school, so some schools may not be able to apply.
• You need a grade point average of at least 2.30 for the previous year, and you must keep it up while receiving the scholarship.
• The average monthly amount of money sent to you from abroad (not counting entrance and tuition fees) must be less than 90,000 yen, and you must not receive another scholarship that cannot be combined with it.

The scholarship is for students who are outstanding in academic achievement and character and who face financial difficulties. Scholarships are not guaranteed even if you apply. When you plan your budget, plan so that you can still live without a scholarship.

Some schools and local governments also offer their own tuition reductions or scholarships. Ask each school and your local municipal office.

8. Can part-time work cover tuition and living costs?

Part-time work can help, but it is not a way to pay for the whole stay.

• Permission is required: a student with the "Student" status of residence generally needs permission to engage in activities other than that permitted by the status of residence (shikaku-gai katsudo kyoka) before working. Those whose period of stay is more than three months may apply at the airport or other port of entry when they enter Japan for the first time.
• Hours: within 28 hours a week. During the long school holidays, up to eight hours a day. Check the latest rules with your school and the Immigration Services Agency.
• Not allowed: work in adult entertainment businesses is prohibited by law. Breaking the conditions may lead to punishment and even deportation.
• Your studies come first: the work must not affect your studies. JASSO says every year some international students cannot extend their period of stay because their school attendance is low after neglecting their studies for part-time work.
• It is meant to supplement: according to JASSO, the income is meant to supplement academic costs and necessary expenses, and not for saving or for sending money overseas.

JASSO's 2023 survey reports that about 65% of privately financed international students do part-time work, with average monthly earnings of about 81,000 yen. JASSO notes that it is not possible to cover all school and living expenses through part-time work alone, and it advises students to plan without relying on it. It also warns about study abroad brokers who claim students can earn 3,000 yen an hour, or 200,000 to 300,000 yen a month, and says these claims are false. Your own income depends on the job, your hours and your Japanese level, and it is not guaranteed.

9. Adding it up

You can estimate a year by adding the school fees and twelve months of living costs. The example below uses only the official figures above.

This is a reference calculation that adds school fees and the national average cost of living. It is not the minimum amount you need to study in Japan, and it is not the amount you must show as proof of funds.

This total does not include airfare, visa application costs, the cost of preparing documents, bank charges for sending money overseas, initial housing costs, or a reserve for emergencies. Include these extra costs in your own financial plan. In Tokyo, the monthly average is higher (130,000 yen), so twelve months would be 1,560,000 yen before school fees.

Schools usually ask for proof that you can pay for your studies, but the documents and amounts differ. Check the latest requirements of the school and the immigration authorities, and do not rely on a single figure you read elsewhere. For how this fits into the application process, see How to Study in Japan from Nepal.

10. Questions to ask each school

Send every school the same questions and compare the written answers.

• What is the total for the first year, and the total until graduation?
• What does that total include (application fee, admission fee, tuition, materials, dormitory)?
• When is each payment due, and can it be paid in installments?
• How do I send the money, and who pays the bank charges?
• What is refunded if I withdraw, or if my visa is not issued, and when?
• Is there a dormitory? What does a room cost, and what is the total at move-in?
• Can the school help with a joint guarantor and with finding housing?
• Does the school offer a tuition reduction or scholarship?

For a fuller checklist, see How to Choose a Japanese Language School.

Frequently asked questions

How much do I need in total to study in Japan from Nepal?

There is no single figure. As an example only, adding the first-year school fees of 610,000 to 1,900,000 yen and twelve months of living costs at the national average (1,260,000 yen) gives about 1,870,000 to 3,160,000 yen. This does not include airfare, visa costs, documents, bank charges, initial housing costs or a reserve, and it differs by school and city. Ask each school for its own total in writing.

When do I pay Japanese language school tuition?

The school decides, and the timing differs from school to school. The government's schedule is only a reference: it suggests paying admission and tuition about three months before the course starts, after you are accepted. Some schools ask for payment earlier or later, or in installments. Ask each school for its exact dates and payment method.

How different are living costs in Tokyo and other areas?

JASSO's survey gives an average monthly cost of living of 130,000 yen in Tokyo and 105,000 yen nationally. It is 82,000 yen in the Kyushu area and 80,000 yen in the Shikoku area. Average rent is 57,000 yen in Tokyo, 41,000 yen nationally and 29,000 yen in Kyushu. These are averages for all privately financed students.

Can I pay for tuition and living costs with a part-time job?

Not entirely. JASSO reports average monthly part-time earnings of about 81,000 yen and says it is not possible to cover all school and living expenses this way. You need permission to work, and the limit is 28 hours a week. Plan your budget without relying on it.

Is tuition refunded if my visa is not issued?

It depends on the school's refund policy. Ask each school in writing, before you pay, what is refunded if your visa is not issued or if you withdraw, how much, and when.

How much money do I need to show as proof of funds?

This guide does not give a fixed amount. The documents and amounts depend on the school and on the immigration authorities, and they can change. Ask the school what it requires, and check the latest information.

What to do next

Browse Japanese language schools on this site and compare fees, locations and dormitory options. If you need help narrowing your list, contact us. Nihongo School Finder is free to use. We may receive referral fees from schools, and we do not guarantee admission or visas.