Kurashiki Language Academy（倉敷外語学院）

About the school

A Japanese-language school in Achi, Kurashiki, about 5 minutes' walk from JR Kurashiki Station. Run by Lapis Co., Ltd. (established 2009). Notified by the Ministry of Justice in August 2011 and opened in October the same year. Capacity 500 (increased in October 2024): 300 in the 2-year further-study course and 200 in the 1-year 6-month course. The further-study rate is said to be 98% (from opening to the end of April 2022). A nursing care course is also offered, and there are many care facilities nearby.

Fees

Annual tuition

¥600,000

Fee basis

Official admission guide (Japanese-language PDF dated 23 January 2025); first-year tuition only (tax inclusion not stated). First-year total ¥770,000 (admission fee ¥70,000 + tuition ¥600,000 + miscellaneous expenses ¥100,000). The ¥22,000 application screening fee is separate. The first payment total is ¥792,000 plus bank charges. The second year of the 2-year course is ¥700,000, and the second year (6 months) of the 1.5-year course is ¥350,000.

Admission fee

¥70,000Application guidelines (dated January 2025). Tax-included/tax-excluded not stated. The ¥22,000 application screening fee is separate. Dormitory: dormitory entry fee ¥90,000 + 6 months ¥180,000 (¥270,000)

Application / screening fee

¥22,000

Dormitory

YesFrom ¥30,000 per month

Dormitory & housing

Student dormitories available (4-5 locations within cycling distance. 2 people per room, 6-month contract, utilities at actual cost, no meals, furniture, bedding and cooking utensils provided).

Admission requirements

Intake months

• April24 months(2 yrs)
• October18 months(1 yr 6 mo)

Study period

Further-study 2-year course (April) and further-study 1-year 6-month course (October). The periodic inspection report gives 1,600 hours for the 2-year course and 1,200 hours for the 1.5-year course.

Admission requirements

Completion of 12 or more years of school education, aged 18 or over at enrollment (in principle 30 or under and less than 5 years since graduating from the last school), 150 or more hours of Japanese study with N5 or above or J-TEST level F or above (expected acquisition accepted), clear purpose of study and career path, financial support guarantee, no history of COE non-issuance at another school, etc. No nationality-specific conditions are listed.

Japanese level requirement

N5 or above, or J-TEST grade F or above (may be obtained later), and 150 or more hours of study. Interview, document screening and a Japanese test are held.

Graduation & further-study support

Examples of destinations: Okayama University graduate school, Okayama University of Science, Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts, Yell Gakuen and others. JLPT pass results (2020-2021): N1 2, N2 23, N3 73. First part-time job referral, airport pick-up, support with city office procedures and opening a bank account. A care course for students aiming to become certified care workers.

Accreditation

Certified school of the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education, and Ministry of Justice appropriate school (the inspection report as of 1 April 2026 states appropriate school for 3 consecutive years). Ministry of Justice notification approval: August 2011. Transition to Certified Japanese Language Institution (certified by the Minister of Education) could not be confirmed.

Nepal applicants

The official website states no country restrictions (no country-specific document requirements could be confirmed either).

Language support

Classes are taught in Japanese. Website available in Japanese, English, Vietnamese and Chinese (no Nepali). Staff support languages are not stated officially.