Here’s how to find—and book—cheap language schools in Japan. ☆ From menga to cosplay to anime, Japanese culture has spread around the world inspiring millions of young people to adopt new hobbies and interests. There is something addictive about the Japanese culture! Once you’re hooked, you can’t get enough of this amazing country and we see flocks of students interested in studying Japanese in Tokyo or other cities in Japan.
Tokyo is one of the most popular cities for language study in Japan. It’s full of bustling streets, vibrant culture, and amazing cuisine!
While there is no shortage of students interested in studying the Japanese language, there is a shortage of affordable programs. Once you fall in love with the language and culture of Japan, nothing can satisfy your craving more than learning Japanese in Japan. But then you see the price tag…
Calling all lovers of Japan! GoAbroad is here to help you find the cheapest Japanese language school in Japan and give you all the insider tips for keeping your study abroad in Japan program affordable.
Can I study Japanese in Japan for free?
Let me just cut right to the chase… No, you can’t study Japanese in Japan for free. I know, this news stings at first. It has always been your dream to learn Japanese in Japan but your budget never really allowed for it and now you’re worried your dream is crushed forever.
There are a few reasons why you can’t find free Japanese language study programs in Japan. First of all, Japan is an expensive country for travel in general. It has a high cost of living, large demand for tourism, and is a very developed country, all of which are factors that drive up the cost of travel in Japan.
Japan is a beautiful country, but it has a very high cost of living, especially in the bigger cities.
Another reason why there are no free programs is because Japanese is a complex language to learn and teach, requiring skilled and trained teachers to instruct the classes. That training and skill doesn’t come for free! The teachers need and deserve to make a living wage for their work teaching Japanese, and that cost is paid for by the international students who come to study Japanese in Japan.
7 tips to lessen your costs of studying Japanese in Japan
Thankfully, all hope is not lost. There are ways to find cheap language schools in Japan and keep down the cost of learning Japanese in Japan. We don’t want the yen to deter you from having this amazing opportunity because it truly is a transformative experience. Here are our seven suggestions for lessening the cost of language study in Japan.
1. Consider summer programs
Studying Japanese in Japan in the summer is a great way to reduce the cost of your language study because the shorter lengths of summer programs makes the cost cheaper. Don’t let the shorter length make you think it isn’t worth it! You might be surprised by how much Japanese you can learn in only a few short weeks through full immersion practice. Summer programs are also a great opportunity to test the waters and make sure you actually enjoy living in Japan before committing to a full semester or year abroad.
Not only is a summer program in Japan more cost effective, it’s also one of the most beautiful times of year to travel and sightsee!
Here are four options for affordable options for studying Japanese in Japan in the summer:
- CIEE Summer Japanese Studies in Tokyo
- JaLS Japanese Language School Seasonal Programs in Sapporo
- Greenheart Travel Summer Japanese Language Camp in Fukuoka
2. Apply for scholarships
Who doesn’t love a good scholarship?!? Whether you plan on studying Japanese in Tokyo or a smaller, far-flung city, there’s a scholarship out there for you. Students are all too familiar with the process of seeking out and applying for scholarships to help subsidize the cost of university study including the cost of studying Japanese in Japan. There are lots of university and private scholarships available to students seeking an international experience! If you apply for combination of scholarship options, you might even be able to cover the full cost of your Japanese language program.
[Browse ALL Language Scholarships Abroad]
3. Study in a Japan university
With the cost of universities in the United States being incredibly high, you might be surprised by the cost of universities in Japan. They are surprisingly affordable by American standards and still offer incredible quality for your education. Studying Japanese in a Japan university could be a great option for lessening your costs of learning the language—even if you choose a short term program that lasts a year or less (or find a university that will let you study Japanese in Japan in the summer). Attending a Japanese university allows you to really immerse yourself in the language and culture of this amazing country while still advancing your skills and career path. With four years of study at a Japanese university, you will be fully fluent by the end of your degree!
One of the best ways to really immerse yourself in the culture (and save some money!) is to study Japanese in a Japan university.
Here are four options for the cheapest Japanese language schools in Japan:
4. Plan a budget & stick to it
For the average traveler, it is recommended to budget approximately $75-$100 per day in Japan, which can add up in a hurry! This budget can easily go up to $200-$400 per day if you aren’t careful and diligent about monitoring your spending. We know this seems obvious, but creating a realistic budget for yourself is a great way to lessen the cost of studying Japanese in Japan because it forces you to pay attention to each and every dollar that you spend. We so often hear about students who arrive in Japan without a budget and wind up spending way more money than they expected because they didn’t have a plan for themselves.
To create a good budget, we recommend listing out all possible expenses that might come up while you’re in Japan. First think about fixed costs like accommodation, language courses, transportation, and food, as well as more discretionary spending like travel, souvenirs and communication. There are a lot of blog and travel resources online to help you analyze the specific costs related to Japan, so make sure to do your research ahead of time when creating your budget!
Before you head off to Japan, plan a budget that you know you can afford and try your best to stick to it!
5. Choose one of the cheap language schools in Japan
Even though Japan is a pricey country to visit, there are cheap options available. These types of language study in Japan programs typically offer barebones inclusions, so make sure you know what you are signing up for so that you don’t encounter hidden expenses. These cheap language schools allow you to build out your own program price by finding cheaper accommodation or meal options when they aren’t included in the program fee. Yes, that age old phrase of you get what you pay for may be true, but hey! You’re still learning Japanese in Japan so how bad could it be.
Here are four options for affordable Japanese university programs in Japan:
- KCP International Japanese Language School in Tokyo
- Genki Japanese Language School in Fukuoka
- Language Vacation Japanese Course in Okazaki City
- Center for Study Abroad Language School in Kobe
6. Maximize pre-departure study
Another awesome way to lessen the cost of studying Japanese in Japan is to do the legwork of studying before you go. There are plenty of free or cheaper language learning tools, such as DuoLingo or Rosetta Stone, that can help you learn a lot of the language before you even step foot off the plane. This allows you to shorten your stay in Japan and hit the ground running with your studies so that you don’t waste time learning things in the classroom that you could have learned online.
Try your best to learn as much Japanese as you can before your trip! 頑張って (Good luck!)
7. Live the budget traveler lifestyle
Once you arrive in Japan, you can keep your out-of-pocket expenses to a minimum by living a budget traveler lifestyle. This means sticking to free or cheap activities during your free time and seeking out affordable options for food, transportation, and accommodation.
One way to keep your living costs down would be to work for your bed or to stay in cheap accommodations like hostels or capsule hotels. Another affordable option is to stay with a host family. Living with a host family is also a great way to improve your language acquisition, since you will be practicing with native speakers after your classes. Win win!
For transportation, buses tend to be cheaper than trains in Japan and public transportation is readily available throughout the country. You can always choose to walk to class each day to reduce your transportation budget!
When it comes to food, it can be hard to resist spending a lot of money on all the deliciousness that surrounds you, but never forget your budget! Japan has surprisingly affordable (and delicious!) food options like sushi trains or convenience stores. You can also buy ingredients at cheap grocery stores and then cook at home.
It’ll cost you, but your time won’t be wasted
It may cost a bit of money to live in Japan, but we don’t think you’ll regret it!
The reality is that if your heart is set on Japan, it is going to cost you a pretty penny. All of our tips will help keep the cost down, but there is no way to avoid paying at least some amount for a Japanese language program in Japan.
Thankfully, all the expense will be worth it! Learning Japanese in Japan is an incredible experience. You will come home from your program with new cultural exchange skills, lots a new friends, and a totally new appreciation for the amazing Japanese language and culture, whether you choose cheap language schools in Japan or splurge on something more intensive. This transformative experience will stay with you for the rest of your life!
Regardless of which of these budget-saving tips you try, we hope that your experience studying Japanese in Japan will be everything you hoped. With a little extra research and planning, you can keep your costs to a minimum while maximizing your experience in Japan!
Subscribe for More Tips to Save on Experiences Abroad in Japan
Look for the Perfect Language Program Abroad Now
Start Your Search
