Question 1

intro

Accepted Answer

The Japanese language is closely tied to Japanese culture in its traditions, customs, and social norms. Considering Japan&rsquo;s strong presence in the global economy, those who take time to learn Japanese will find it extremely valuable for business. Though less than five percent of the world natively speaks Japanese, it is ranked as the ninth most popular language in the world! Don&rsquo;t let its alphabet scare you away from learning this powerful, peaceful, and very structured language in its birthplace.

Question 2

Best Cities

Accepted Answer

From language schools to private tutoring, there are many places to study languages in Japan. Some of the most popular cities for studying in Japan are Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka.
Tokyo. As Japan&rsquo;s capital and largest city, Tokyo houses several hundred colleges and universities, many of which offer Japanese language courses. If a bustling metropolitan environment is the experience you&rsquo;re looking for, there&rsquo;s no better city to study languages abroad. The variety of businesses, subcultures, and sheer amount of people in Tokyo allow language learners a wide scope of activities to practice language skills.
Kyoto. Considered the cultural capital of Japan, Kyoto offers language study abroad in a more traditional environment. Studying languages in Kyoto enables language students to visit many well-known historical and cultural sites in the Kansai region. Another benefit of studying in Kyoto is that it can be slightly more inexpensive than Tokyo, and even nearby Osaka. Kyoto is also home to some of Japan&rsquo;s top-ranked universities.
Osaka. Known to be the economical hub of Japan, studying in Osaka offers up opportunities to experience more of the language of business, and features some of Japan&rsquo;s most famous food specialities. Osaka is also much more metropolitan than its nearby neighbor Kyoto.

Question 3

Popular Languages

Accepted Answer

Though Japan might be little in area, its selection of languages to study is wide.
The primary language foreigners study in Japan is Japanese. The Okinawan or Ryukyuan dialect is the next most spoken &ldquo;language&rdquo; in Japan; however, it is mostly spoken and taught on the island of Okinawa. In northern Japan, you can also expose yourself to the Ainu language&mdash;although, it&rsquo;s endangered, so finding places to study outside of Hokkaido University can be difficult.
Korean is another option for language learning in Japan. Given Japan&rsquo;s proximity to the Korean peninsula, as well as its long history and foreign relations with Korea, it only makes sense that the Korean language has flourished in parts of Japan. Studying Korean in Japan may seem counterintuitive, but it&rsquo;s a great option for those who are up for a challenge.
Demand for English language skills continues to climb globally, and studying English is a huge market for Japanese nationals. There are many language companies, schools, and even government programs that promote studying English. So, if English is not your native language, you could easily find English language programs in Japan too.

Question 4

Ways to Study Languages in Japan

Accepted Answer

Base your program selection on your language level and aspirations. Through immersion, you can make a lot of progress with language proficiency and have endless places to practice. For those wanting a lighter version of language study abroad, non-institution based programming may be the better fit based on structure, requirements, and the activities that can accompany learning. Keep in mind that there can be additional requirements necessary to be admitted to higher-level language courses in Japan or more competitive programs. 
The most common environments for studying languages in Japan are at universities and colleges, language schools, and private classes. The benefit to institutions is that credit can be more easily transferred back to your home university. However, if you want individual attention and lessons that match your exact language level, private lessons are great. These will cost a bit more, but they can also be used to complement a formal class if you are looking to make leaps and bounds in your language learning. A balance of both comes in group classes, which contain structure and some customization with a lower cost.

Question 5

GoAbroad’s Inside Scoop

Accepted Answer

Depending on the type of language study program in Japan you join, living arrangements can range from a homestay (great for more immersive programs) or a dorm, to a shared apartment. If you&rsquo;re arranging your own language courses in Japan, you may have to find your own housing. Many apartments in Japan are small and quite expensive, so it can save you money if you go through a vetted program that&rsquo;s able to provide housing within program fees. It&rsquo;s important to note that many popular locations for language study in Japan are big cities, where cost of living can be high.
No matter what language you choose to study in Japan, it&rsquo;s inevitable that you will encounter the Japanese language is some capacity. It&rsquo;s important to know that the structure and sounds in Japanese are organized, easy to understand, and follow a pattern. No other country has Japanese as the official language, so it&rsquo;s the best place to practice and fully immerse yourself. In many smaller towns there isn&rsquo;t exposure to English, so you&rsquo;ll be forced to utilize Japanese. Using honorific language, politeness, and indirect communication are all a part of spoken Japanese formalities. If you&rsquo;re not careful, you could offend someone.