If you decide to study Japanese while staying in Japan, it’s important to choose the right school given your precious time and budget. In this article, we’ll introduce the five best schools offering a variety of courses and support to meet any of your needs. Get ready for a new, exciting challenge and seize your dream in Japan!
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ISI Language School (Tokyo / Kyoto / Nagano)
ISI Language School Official Website
Courses and Curriculums
Established in 1977 and certified by third-party international organizations with a proven track record, ISI Language School offers you a full lineup of programs and classes including a short-term general conversation class, a university preparation class, a full-year academic program, and evening classes for businesspeople, just to name a few. Some of the programs are also offered online, so you can start your learning experience even before leaving your country. If you are quite serious and don’t want to waste a minute of your time, private lessons with fully custom-made study plans can be an option.
Facility / Location
Being one of the biggest Japanese language schools in Japan, ISI Language School with 5 locations accommodates over 2,000 students from various countries and regions. Each facility includes a library, study rooms, a café, free wi-fi etc., enabling the students to study effectively and stay comfortably for a long time.
Staff
If you have any problems or concerns about your study, daily life, or your future career, your homeroom teacher and career advisors are always there to help. Many of them are bilingual or multilingual, so you can just make yourself feel at home and talk about anything to the staff in the school.
Support/Opportunities
In order to be perfectly ready for a regular life in Japan, it is important to learn about its unique culture and people. Each campus organizes various activities after school providing you with cultural exchange opportunities (e.g., Yukata experience, Japanese drum experience, etc.) The school can also offer you a ‘Student House’ where you can stay with your classmates, a homestay opportunity to live with a Japanese family, guest houses and weekly apartments as you need.
Human Academy Japanese Language School (Tokyo / Osaka / Shanghai)
Human Academy Japanese Language School Official Website
Courses and Curriculums
Human Academy Japanese Language School offers a variety of courses categorized in by style (different locations and on/off site), level and situation. On top of regular lifestyle Japanese, business Japanese and working holiday classes in groups or private, the school offers an intensive JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test*) course covering all the four subjects to pass the exam. With its original textbooks, each curriculum is carefully designed, and the lessons are quite interactive with a lot of role plays and dialogue practice.
*Read “What Is JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test)? 5 Levels and How to Apply” to learn more about JLPT
Facility / Location
Each campus includes classrooms for group and private lessons for over 2,000 students in total, a library, a study room, a PC room with free wi-fi, and meeting booths to make a student life easy and comfortable.
Staff
There are a total of 190+ teachers and support staff in 3 locations, many of whom are bilingual or multilingual, to support your student life every day. You can consult with them on not only your study plan but also your future academic or career plans, and also attend guidance sessions or workshops following their advice based on a proven track record of higher education enrollment and future employment history which the school is proud of.
Support/Opportunities
A lot of activities and seasonal events are planned throughout the year, including a tea ceremony experience, manga creation, Tanabata or Star festival activities, etc. to immerse yourself in Japanese culture from all angles. There are also intensive classes and mock tests to help you get ready for JLPT and EJU (Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students). The school also prepares student houses and various types of apartments for you, or even introduces a host family depending on your preference.
KAI Japanese Language School (Tokyo)
KAI Japanese Language School Official Website
Courses and Curriculums
Digitalized lessons are what makes KAI Japanese Language School special. Students taking general courses are lent an iPad where they can find the school’s original learning materials including videos and quizzes on their special learning platform. Prepared with a full line up of general and business Japanese classes, the school recommends a free consultation and level check with their advisors to find the right course matching your goals and timeline.
Facility
The classrooms are equipped with monitors and free wi-fi for students and teachers to make use of ICT including iPads and PCs to accelerate the learning process and productivity. Located in Shin-Okubo, near Shinjuku, you can enjoy hanging out with classmates to and find newly opened cafes or traditional Japanese izakaya together after school.
Staff
More than 60% of the teachers at KAI Japanese Language School have 5+ years of teaching experience, with many dedicating themselves to practical research on Japanese education. A total of 50 teachers there are always eager to help you reach your language goals. There are also qualified career consultants working in the office so you can consult about your future career plans as needed.
Support/Opportunities
On top of various cultural experiences provided in some classes, the school holds some events and contests (e.g., a speech contest, a New Year card contest, etc.) to encourage the students to get involved. Several options for student accommodations are offered including home stays, share houses or furnished apartments for short stays. There is also support available on VISA applications, several types of scholarships and the insurance you may need during your stay.
Tokyo World Japanese Language School (Tokyo)
Tokyo World Japanese Language School Official Website
Courses and Curriculums
Besides various levels and situations the classes are set for, what makes Tokyo World Japanese Language School outstanding are its preparatory courses for undergraduate/graduate studies. All the skills needed to pass EIJ and JLPT 1 or 2 will surely be improved through the half-day courses here, and you can even fully prepare for your research journey aiming towards an MA degree. Each lesson in both the general and business Japanese courses provides you with practical skills such as writing an email properly and understanding up-to-date terms and expressions.
Facility / Location
Established in 1989, Tokyo World Japanese Language School has three locations with large numbers of classrooms to accommodate over 1,700 students. All of the buildings are located in Shinjuku, the busiest area in central Tokyo, and students can easily find themselves entertained with new and modern cafes and restaurants during lunchtime, or shopping malls and department stores after school every day.
Staff
Along with 120 certified Japanese teachers specializing in Japanese language education, the school employs staff who are bilingual or multilingual in English, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, etc. Just stop by at the school office and you’ll find the staff fluent in your first language (and Japanese, of course!).
Support/Opportunities
The school offers dormitories and share houses in several locations, with each requiring just about 30 minutes to commute here. Various cultural events and tours are planned for you to freely attend. The school also holds entrance and graduation ceremonies and regular speech contests to acknowledge and celebrate your achievements.
Intercultural Institute of Japan (Tokyo / Overseas)
Intercultural Institute of Japan Official Website
Courses and Curriculums
Intercultural Institute of Japan has a variety of courses with different levels, for different needs and timetables. Early morning, evening and Saturday lessons are often preferable for businesspeople, while private lessons or specialized lessons (featuring Keigo or writing emails, for example) might be more helpful for those who have urgent and specific needs. As the school also offers courses for prospective Japanese teachers, it actually trains them to provide qualified Japanese lessons aligned with its curriculum and textbooks, some of which are published by the school itself.
Facility / Location
Established in 1977, Intercultural Institute of Japan has 10+ locations worldwide including in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Vietnam etc. The Japanese campus is located in Akihabara, where you can find places to experience Japanese pop culture as well as traditional temples and a famous zoological garden and museums within walking distance.
Staff
From opening a bank account and dealing with illness to solving your academic or work problems, the staff here can assist you to begin your stay in Japan without fear or stress. There are also regular interview sessions every semester to make sure you are not behind in your class.
Support/Opportunities
Events and workshops offer experiences of unique, and traditional Japanese culture activities including tea ceremony, setsubun (bean throwing), making rice cakes etc. Student houses, private apartments and homestay options are offered at reasonable prices depending on your preference.
Summary
We have introduced the five biggest and best Japanese language schools found in Tokyo and other areas in Japan. Decide what you are aiming for, and choose the school that suits your needs to maximize your learning and cultural experiences during your stay in the country!
This media series provides a wide range of information about the Japanese language and Japanese culture for those who are interested in traveling to or living in Japan. Add us to your reading list and stay tuned!