Have you ever thought about taking an intensive course in Japan? Staying from 2 months to 2 years with a student visa attending a school daily solely for the purpose of learning Japanese? In addition to universities, Japan is made up of thousands of different language schools that cater to foreigners. There are so many different schools that it becomes difficult to know which one to choose. Thinking of helping those who wish to study Japanese in Japan, we wrote this article.

Before choosing the school you want to attend, you need to take into account that classes are usually taught entirely in Japanese and sometimes in English. It is not necessary to know English or Japanese; they use a method to teach anyone from any language, however, some schools provide support in Portuguese. Some schools offer accommodation and help with obtaining a student visa. Prices can vary and easily exceed 20,000 reais per year.

Some schools, in addition to the intensive Japanese course, offer cultural classes or other subjects like manga and illustration. Classes are usually daily and last from 3 to 4 hours. You should consider the location; Tokyo has several schools that are expensive, but it is easy to find part-time jobs. The most important thing is to know what your needs are!

Language schools - Where to take a Japanese course in Japan?

Choosing a Language School in Japan

Japanese schools can be divided into 3 groups:

  • Large and expensive school;
  • Small and expensive school;
  • Cheap school;

Most large schools and universities are expensive due to their expenses and location. Some small schools are also expensive because they pay private teachers for more intensive classes. Cheap schools tend to be small and hire private teachers and do not divide the class by levels. The cheaper the classes, the less effective they will be. There are Japanese courses that can get you to N1 in a year, while others won’t even get you to N3. Schools that allow enrollment at any time of the year tend to be chaotic in July and August.

In addition to traditional language schools, some universities have departments that teach Japanese, but they are more expensive. You can also obtain scholarships for learning Japanese and not just for studying at universities. Another option is to pay private tutors who charge around 2000 yen per hour, but this usually does not help with the visa.

Choosing a Japanese school in Japan is not easy, especially the payment and visa process if you have no knowledge of English. Research all the details and information calmly before choosing the school you want.

Language schools - Where to take a Japanese course in Japan?

The Best Japanese Schools in Japan

Are you wondering which is the best Japanese school in Japan to study? When you search on Google about this, you come across booking-style sites that display various Japanese schools with exorbitant prices. It is easy to find schools that cost only 20,000 a year, while searching on Google through these sites I found schools that charged more than 100,000 reais for 6 months. I will leave a list of sites below so you can do your research and decide among the best and most well-known language schools in Japan:

KAI Japanese Language School – Students from 40 countries attend this school located in Shinjuku – Tokyo. The courses last about 3 months to 2 years and also have shorter courses. A great option for those looking for support in Portuguese, and classes usually cost 25,000 reais per year.

Shinjuku Nihongo Gakkou – SNG School was founded in 1975 and is now an institution recognized by the Tokyo government as a vocational school. It serves students from over 40 nationalities including Portuguese. Prices vary around 22,000 reais per year, and this school is good enough to get you to JLPT N1.

Genki Japanese and Culture School Tokyo – Considered one of the best Japanese schools in Japan located in Shinjuku. Classes are held with few students, a maximum of 8 students. Its annual price is usually around 30,000 reais. They also have a school in Fukuoka.

This Japanese Language School – Located in Kichijoji, Tokyo, JLS offers lessons based on everyday activities so you can apply what you learn directly to your daily life.

TCJ – Tokyo Central Japanese Language School – Located in Shinjuku, founded in 1988 and serves students from over 40 countries. This school offers annual courses for 22,000 reais.

Hokkaido Japanese Language School – for those looking for a different option, this school is located in Hokkaido.

ECC – Kokusai College – Language school located in Osaka.

Go-Nihongo – On this site you can find other language schools in Japan.

Unfortunately, not everyone can take an in-person Japanese course. If it is not possible for you, we recommend an online Japanese course.

Kevin Henrique

Kevin Henrique

Asian culture expert with over 10 years of experience, focusing on Japan, Korea, anime, and gaming. A self-taught writer and traveler dedicated to teaching Japanese, sharing travel tips, and exploring deep, fascinating trivia.

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