Waseda Bunkakan Japanese Language Course（早稲田文化館日本語科）

About the school

A Japanese-language school in Yanagibashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo. 5 minutes' walk from Asakusabashi Station (JR Sobu Line, Toei Asakusa Line) and 10 minutes' walk from Akihabara. Run by Asia Challenge Co., Ltd. (representative director Kazue Takezoe). A large school with capacity of 1,070 in three buildings (A, B and C). Building C has a further-study guidance room and an interview room. Focuses on further-study guidance and cites results in national and private universities and graduate schools. Basic philosophy is to develop people who contribute to Japanese-language proficiency and to cultural and mutual understanding.

Fees

Annual tuition

¥790,000

Fee basis

Fee table for April 2027 entry (the official page is an image). For all courses, tuition for the first year is ¥790,000 (including tax; the page states "all costs include tax"). The first-year subtotal including various costs is ¥983,000 (tuition ¥790,000 + facilities ¥10,000 + equipment ¥10,000 + materials ¥30,000 + extracurricular activities ¥30,000 + insurance ¥10,000 + health management ¥3,000). The ¥30,000 screening fee and ¥70,000 admission fee are separate.

Admission fee

¥70,000Tuition table for April 2027 entry. Tax included (stated as all amounts tax included). The ¥30,000 screening fee is separate (non-refundable). After the Certificate of Eligibility is issued, the full entrance fee and about 6 months of tuition are paid.

Application / screening fee

¥30,000

Dormitory

To be confirmed

Dormitory & housing

The official enrolment procedure and tuition pages do not mention dormitories (please ask us).

Admission requirements

Intake months

• April24 months(2 yrs)12 months(1 yr)
• July21 months(1 yr 9 mo)
• October18 months(1 yr 6 mo)

Study period

Further-study 2 years (April) / further-study 1 year 9 months (July) / further-study 1 year 6 months (October) / further-study 1 year (April). All are courses aimed at entering Japanese universities and graduate schools (from April 2027).

Admission requirements

Required Japanese ability at application differs by course: the 2-year and 1 year 9 month advancement courses require 150 hours of Japanese study (excluding self-study), the 1 year 6 month advancement course requires passing the A1 (N5 equivalent) test, and the 1-year advancement course requires passing the B1 (N3 equivalent) test. Years of schooling, age and financial support amounts are not specifically stated on the official enrollment procedure page (admission guidelines in preparation). Documents differ by nationality and visa type, and there are 2 application forms, for kanji-using and non-kanji-using regions. Half a year's admission fee and tuition is paid 1 month before enrollment.

Japanese level requirement

2 years / 1 year 9 months: 150 hours of study. 1 year 6 months: pass at A1 (N5 level). 1 year: pass at B1 (N3 level). Screening is by documents, then a Japanese conversation test and an interview in the applicant's native language.

Graduation & further-study support

An advancement staff member is assigned to each class. During the exam period, for 2 months, one-to-one career guidance of about 30 minutes once a week and interview practice. Coaching on statements of purpose and research plans, an advancement consultation room, and an advancement briefing and trial class around June each year. Examples of advancement results: University of Tokyo, Kobe University, University of Tsukuba, Waseda, Keio, Sophia, MARCH and others, and art and music universities. Designated schools, scholarships and job support are not stated on the official page.

Accreditation

Not confirmed (the school overview and course pages do not mention accreditation. Certified Japanese Language Institution and Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education certification were not shown on the official pages).

Nepal applicants

The official website states no country restrictions and no Nepali-language support. The enrolment procedure page says application documents differ by nationality and visa type, and distinguishes application forms for kanji-using and non-kanji-using countries. Selection is by a Japanese conversation test and an interview in the applicant's native language.

Language support

Classes are taught in Japanese. The website has a multilingual switch (a Chinese version was confirmed; Weibo is present). No mention of Nepali support. Staff support languages are not stated officially.