Best Japanese schools in Tokyo by category - student age group, value for money
Tokyo's language schools ranking
Tokyo ratings & opinions
How our students rated their experience in Tokyo
What our students said about Tokyo
I found Tokyo very pleasant, even though the city is so huge and busy. I have never felt as safe in any city as I did in Tokyo, and I have travelled a lot.
Germany
Great city would definitely reccomend visiting it but would not reccomend living in the city as it becomes quite depressing after a while.
Transportation is more expensive than Korea, so if you go to a language school, I would recommend that you consider which area is cheaper.
South Korea
What school directors said about Tokyo
Tokyo will give you the chance to feel the Japanese language while enjoying the unique Japanese subculture, such as foods, animation, and games!
Most recent student reviews of language schools in Tokyo
Super nice team - both in the office and the teachers. You can always get in touch if you have any questions or problems. I learnt a lot, even though it was only 2 weeks.
9 April 2024
Course: Standard Japanese - 2 weeks
Student age: 44 years
You are placed in a class with people who are at the same level.
7 February 2024
Course: Standard Japanese - 18 weeks
Student age: 27 years
Switching teachers everyday, make studying more interesting.
Teachers on lesson speak only Japanese
21 November 2023
Course: Standard Japanese - 2 weeks
Student age: 25 years
Very nice teachers, relaxed lessons
8 August 2023
Course: Japanese Language Course Short-Term - 4 weeks
Student age: 17 years
Classes are small and lessons are interactive, so everyone gets to actively participate.
27 September 2022
Course: Standard Japanese - 3 weeks
Student age: 42 years
Small group study and teaching methodology. It's very dynamic
8 February 2020
Course: Standard Japanese - 3 weeks
Student age: 23 years
To have class only on the morning or the afternoon was enjoyable.
11 July 2019
Course: Japanese Language Course Short-Term - 3 weeks
Student age: 20 years
Very well organized, very nice and helpful staff!!!
27 May 2019
Course: Short-Term Course - 6 weeks
Student age: 34 years
It was smaller than I had expected and very high school like. But I had no difficulites to stay and study.
26 May 2019
Course: Japanese Language Course Short-Term - 2 weeks
Student age: 23 years
If you already have an N5 Japanese level or you can read Hiragana and Katakana, I totally recommend JCLI, everything during the class is in Japanese and it makes it more interesting to learn. Also most of the classmates don't speak English, so It becomes an excellent opportunity to really practice and learn Japanese every single day.
Enjoy the reception and assistant office workers who are excellent at helping - even in English and Spanish (which really worked well for me.) All the teachers and classmates are really friendly and even if you cannot talk fluently with everybody, they will still help you a lot; same goes for every place in Japan.
17 December 2018
Course: Short-Term Course - 8 weeks
Student age: 30 years
The teachers were very motivated and friendly. I made a lot of progress in learning the language.
The location of the school right in shinjuku is great, it is pretty amazing that it is in one of the busiest districts of Tokyo but it is very calm in the school area because it is located right next to a shrine.
12 November 2018
Course: Standard Japanese - 5 weeks
Student age: 27 years
Kindness of the staff, very high level teaching, much time dedicated to conversation.
Large number of Europeans makes it possible to abuse the English language inside the school
4 November 2018
Course: Standard Japanese - 2 weeks
Student age: 28 years
The teachers made the lessons pleasant with humor and competence.
Satisfied all round.
30 October 2018
Course: Standard Japanese - 4 weeks
Student age: 24 years
I found the teacher's lessons very helpful
In my opinion, even if this school offers it, it is not necessarily suitable for one-month courses. They simply put the students in the three-month courses and assume all prior knowledge. In addition, the language level assessment is not necessarily carried out correctly. This is not a problem for longer stays, but I, for example, was in an N4 course and did repetitions for the whole month. The school did not respond to my personal request. Only when Tanja, my advisor here, approached the school, did I get a reaction. Even then I was asked why I "involved" Tanja and that "if need be" I could go to a higher level course. So of course I stayed in mine to avoid complications.
So all-in-all: great teachers, super nice classmates, but organization, especially in regard to the course time, not particularly good.
30 October 2018
Course: Short-Term Course - 4 weeks
Student age: 20 years
professionalism and preparation of teachers
it is not good as a study holiday, the afternoon lessons make you lose the whole day.
29 August 2018
Course: Japanese Language Course Short-Term - 2 weeks
Student age: 33 years
Good atmosphere
I would say very dissatisfied with the quality of the courses. It was a beginner courses with no real beginners. All had some notions and the courses were mainly based on writing. I paid 3 weeks of classes for nothing since those who were present had either started learning in their country or "redoubled ". Completely ineffective. Great disappointment. I did not expect so much contempt for the student.
27 August 2018
Course: Short-Term Course - 3 weeks
Student age: 15 years
The lessons, the fact that we speak a lot in Japanese during the lessons and the staff
30 July 2018
Course: Standard Japanese - 4 weeks
Student age: 19 years
Information about Tokyo
- Extremely clean city.
- Very safe.
- Good mix of modern skyscrapers and ancient
- Really exciting array of food.
- High priced, small accommodation options.
- Highly dense population.
Key Facts about Tokyo
- Price index excluding rent: 83* (17% cheaper than New York)
- Price index including rent: 71* (29% cheaper than New York)
- Price index food only:92* (8% cheaper than New York)
- Big Mac price (Japan average):
437.47 ¥ (45% cheaper than in USA)
- Residential voltage: 100 V
- Frequency: 60 Hz / 50 Hz
Weather in Tokyo
Events in Tokyo
03 July 2024 - 07 July 2024Also known as the Star Festival, this event is held every year in Tokyo at the beginning of July to celebrate the legend of Altair and Vega, two stars in love with each other who can only meet once a year in the Milky Way. Thousands of people parade in traditional, colourful costumes to dance, beat drums and plunge the city into a festive and joyful atmosphere.
August 2024The full name of this event which takes place every August is the Harajuku Omotesando Genki Matsuri Super Yosakoi Festival. It is a festival of the traditional Yosakoi dance, where troops of dancers perform their exuberant and colourful choreographies in a joyful atmosphere.
10 August 2024 - 11 August 2024The main sumo wrestling event, the Sumo Grand Tournament is held in 4 mayor Japanese cities every year. It attracts thousands of fans, both Japanese and tourists with a passion for this singular sport uniting respect, honour and tradition. Tokyo hosts 3 tournaments every year, in January, May and September.
26 September 2024 - 29 September 2024The Tokyo Game Show, or TGS, is one of the largest in the world, and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. This trade show is open to the general public only on the last two days of the event when they organise many different activities for game lovers, including workshops and cosplay contests.
What to do in Tokyo
Arrival airports
Public transportation to city center:
Every 10 minutes, 25 minutes.
Main stops: Haneda Airport Terminal 1, Hamamatsucho
Every 60 minutes, 40 minutes.
Main stops: Haneda Airport Terminal 1, Tokyo Station Yaesu North Exit
Taxi: 15 minutes drive to city center of Tokyo
Public transportation to city center:
Every 60 minutes, 60 minutes.
Main stops: Narita Airport Terminal 2, Tokyo
Every 20 minutes, 65 minutes.
Main stops: Narita Airport Terminal 2, Tokyo Station Yaesu Exit
Taxi: 50 minutes drive to city center of Tokyo
Q&A - Questions and answers about Tokyo
- My son Wes would like to go to Japan to learn the language. He is 15 years old.“After researching the options, I must inform you that the minimum age for regular schools is 16 or 18 years old. Your son is not yet 16 during the course period, so he cannot yet participate in a course here.
What can be done is, for example, study and live with a teacher at home at two organisations: Study & Live Tokyo or Influent Tokyo.
Online classes are also possible at Genki.”Robin Rebecca Pietersma, LanguageCourse.Net - May 22, 2023I would like to attend a long-term course (half a year) in Tokyo. Do all schools in Japan offer long-term courses?“Unfortunately, not all schools offer long-term courses. In Tokyo, I would recommend the Genki School or the ISI Language School. However, you should register early for both schools, as places for long-term courses are very limited. ”Lisa Saskia Schiwy, LanguageCourse.Net - Mar 17, 2023Is there a school in Tokyo with a programme aimed at University students?“The school Sendagaya in Tokyo offers a University Preparatory Course (minimum 24 weeks). Is this what you are looking for?
If not, let me know. We can also check if you can follow a general Japanese course and combine it with some private lessons in which you can focus on University Preparation. ”Robin Rebecca Pietersma, LanguageCourse.Net - Feb 15, 2023I am looking for a Japanese language school close to Akabane, Kita-ku, Tokyo.“If I look at the map this seems to be JCLI Japanese Language School.”Robin Rebecca Pietersma, LanguageCourse.Net - Jan 11, 2023FAQ about schools in Tokyo
- I would like to learn about the Japanese Junior Summer Camp programme in August 2023. It will be a half-day or full-day programme for 2-3 weeks for 2 students aged 10 and 12.
Please tell me the course content, time and cost.“The only Japanese Junior Summer Camp for children under the age of 13 is offered by Home Language International in Tokyo, it's the one-on-one classes while living at a teacher's home.
You can click on the course name to see the time and cost of the course.
One-on-one lessons can be tailored to students' needs and interests.”Susan Wang, Language Travel Consultant from LanguageCourse.Net - Mar 13, 2023Didn't find what you are looking for?Interested in a specific type of course? See our reviews of Japanese courses & camps for teenager and children in Tokyo or other 19 different Japanese course types in Tokyo.Interested in language travel to other cities? Have a look at Japanese language schools in other cities in Japan such as Fukuoka, Gyoda, Kobe, Kyoto, Nagano ..., Nagoya, Nishinomiya, Ogori, Osaka, Sapporo, Shinjuku, Utsunomiya, Yokohama or see our list of all schools in Japan. You may also want to consult options outside Japan for learning Japanese.Show more