How to Choose a Japanese Language School

Many Japanese language schools look similar online, so it helps to compare them with the same checklist. This guide goes through the points that matter, in the order we suggest checking them, and ends with a table you can copy to compare schools side by side. It is based on information from the Japanese government's student guide (Study in Japan), the Ministry of Education (MEXT) and the Immigration Services Agency. Fees, dates and rules change, so confirm every detail with the school itself. For the whole process from application to arrival, read How to Study in Japan from Nepal.

1. Check that the school can accept international students

To get the "Student" status of residence at a Japanese language school, you must choose an institution that is allowed to accept international students. Japan's system for language schools is changing, so check two things: the school and the course.

• A new certification system. In April 2024, MEXT started to certify Japanese language institutions. Certification is given to the institution, but MEXT reviews it separately for each type of course: courses for students who come to Japan to study (the "Student" status), courses for work, and courses for daily life.
• What matters for the "Student" status. According to MEXT, an institution that has been certified for the course for study is the one that can accept students who stay on the "Student" status.
• A transition period. Schools that were previously approved by the Ministry of Justice are covered by transitional rules, so both kinds of schools exist now. MEXT says that these schools must be certified for the course for study by 31 March 2029 if they want to keep accepting students on the "Student" status.

Before you apply, check the latest information from MEXT and the Immigration Services Agency, and ask the school in writing whether the course you want can accept students on the "Student" status. Do not rely only on what a school or an agent tells you.

2. Match the school to your goal

Japanese language institutes differ in purpose. The Japanese government's guide describes three main types:

• Japanese language schools: run by incorporated educational institutions, companies and other sponsors. Besides basic courses, they offer university preparation and business Japanese. They mainly start in April and October, and some start in January or July.
• Japanese language programs in specialized training colleges: offered inside vocational schools approved by the prefectural governor. They start in April and October.
• Programs at private universities and junior colleges for international students: usually designed to prepare international students for study in Japan. Some recommend students for admission to partner universities or junior colleges, and some offer technical training such as caregiving. They start in spring (around April) and autumn (September or October).

Then decide what you need most. This table shows what to check first for each goal.

Graduating from a Japanese language school does not by itself guarantee a job or a work visa in Japan.

3. Compare costs on the same basis

The Japanese government's guide gives an approximate range of 610,000 to 1,900,000 yen for Japanese language institutions. This comes from a table of average admission and tuition fees for the first year, and the guide notes that fees may vary by course. Fees for teaching materials, practical training and similar items may be required separately, and examination fees may also apply. Admission fees and tuition vary from school to school.

When you compare schools, compare costs over the same period of study. It is important to check the total cost for one year and the total cost until graduation separately. According to MEXT's certification standards, a course for students who come to Japan to study normally lasts at least one year, and some courses of six months or more are allowed under certain conditions, so the full cost can be very different from the first-year cost.

Ask each school for these items, in the same order:

• application or examination fee
• admission fee
• tuition for one year
• tuition until graduation
• teaching materials and other required fees
• dormitory and housing costs
• when each payment is due, and whether you can pay in installments
• what is refunded, and when, if you cancel or your visa is not issued

Do not guess an amount that a school has not given you. On this site, any fee without a source is shown as "Not verified".

4. Think about where the school is

Rent depends heavily on the area. In the 2023 JASSO lifestyle survey of privately financed international students, which Study in Japan cites, average rent was about 41,000 yen a month nationally and about 57,000 yen in Tokyo. Average monthly living costs, not including the cost of study, were about 105,000 yen nationally.

These figures are averages for privately financed international students in general, not only for language school students, and they do not guarantee what rent will be today. Rents in Tokyo and other large cities are higher than in rural areas, and in large cities it can also be hard to find housing near school, which raises commuting costs.

5. Find out how you will live

According to Study in Japan, about 70% of international students live in private houses or apartments, and dormitories run by local governments and universities are the minority. Compare the options:

• Dormitory: it may cost less to start than a private apartment, and rooms are sometimes furnished with furniture and appliances. But the number of rooms is limited, and there can be shared facilities and rules for daily life.
• Private apartment: you have more freedom, but you may need upfront payments such as a deposit of a few months' rent, key money and agent fees. You may also be asked for a joint guarantor or to use a guarantee company, and you may have to buy furniture and appliances yourself.

If you need a guarantor, ask your school what it offers. JEES runs a program called 留学生住宅総合補償, which can be used when school staff act as the joint guarantor for a student renting private housing in Japan. Ask your school whether it can be used for you.

6. Japanese Language School Comparison Checklist

Copy this table into a note or spreadsheet, and fill in one column for each school using the school's written answers. Leave a cell empty if the school has not told you, rather than guessing.

Questions to send to each school:

• Is the school certified by MEXT for the course for study, or covered by the transitional rules for schools previously approved by the Ministry of Justice? Does the course I want accept students on the "Student" status?
• What are all the fees, for one year and until graduation, and when is each one due?
• What is the refund policy if I cancel or my visa is not issued?
• What are the class levels and the number of students in a class?
• Do you offer JLPT or EJU preparation, and where do your graduates go after the course?
• Do you have a dormitory? How are rooms allocated, and what does it cost?
• Can the school help me find housing or act as a guarantor?
• Which intake months can I start in, and what is the deadline to apply?

7. How to Choose a Reliable Study Abroad Agent

Handling the process yourself may save money and help you improve your language skills, but a good agent can help if you are busy or worried about language. The Japanese government's guide notes that some agents charge excessive fees or give wrong information, so compare several. A reliable agent:

• states its fees clearly
• asks about your wishes and suggests schools that fit them
• never suggests forged documents and does not rush your application
• explains the risks and difficulties as well as the benefits
• does not give guarantees about admission or visas that it cannot support

Whoever helps you, ask the school the questions above yourself.

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. Schools may pay us a referral fee. We do not guarantee admission or visa approval.