LTL Language School | Learn Japanese in Japan

2026 so far has been a year of adventure and my month at LTL Osaka was a definitely a stand out experience! The initial application process was straightforward. The Director of Studies, Hiyori Ito, was extremely responsive and great at answering my questions. I felt like I had a connection to the programme right from the beginning. Going into my first day I was extremely nervous. Prior to LTL, I had no experience with Japanese output as I’d only studied the language from textbooks. Despite this, the LTL learning approach was accommodating to my skill level – adapting to where my strengths and weakness were across listening, reading, speaking and writing. LTL employs a conversational approach to learning. Using the textbook as a guide, we covered new grammar and vocabulary points with the majority of the learning being conducted in Japanese. At first this was quite intense but with the teachers help it becomes the best method of learning through exposure. All the teachers were friendly and approachable. I elected to do both group and one-on-one sessions. My daily schedule was slightly overwhelming so I don’t recommend it for everyone but for people who work well in a fast paced environment, I felt it expedited my learning experience tremendously. In the group class we worked through the majority of the Genki 2. I had previously gone through this textbook but it was really beneficial to revisit the grammar constructions and vocabulary with a teacher present. Things I never fully understood the first time, now I feel like I’ve really solidified. Furthermore, being able to delve into the textbook’s content alongside other students allowed me to practice outputting the grammar in a safe and enjoyable environment. In addition to the group classes, I participated in one-on-one classes every afternoon. This was a valuable asset. Throughout the one-on-one classes I set the priority of developing my conversation skill as I felt that was most vital for daily interactions. Due to these sessions being less structured, I was able to revisit basic grammar as well as use what I had learn in the group classes. These classes ended up being my favourite. Over the month I had developed a strong repot with many teachers. From a personal standpoint, I think LTL is best suited for people looking to have a passionate learning experience, focusing more so on developing your ability to speak real Japanese rather than passing the JLPT (it’s definitely visible through LTL but not the main goal). LTL conjures a more relaxed environment, feeling less like a strict school and more like an hyper-invested language club! Outside of class, Hiyori regularly plans group activities such as trips around Osaka or group dinners. Additionally, thanks to the close-nit feeling from the other students during my tenure at the school, we would made plans together for food or drink. On school days during lesson breaks and lunch breaks both teachers and students would hang out in the spacious common area. By not separating the students and teachers it created more opportunity to practice Japanese as well as letting us get to know each other, teacher and student, in a less formal setting. I’d like to highlight a few teachers who really made an impact on me during my time in Osaka: Naomi, Nanaho and Sae Sensei made group classes a joy. We engaged in lots of fun discourse around the textbook. As well as lots of laugher playing vocabulary games and learning about Japanese culture. A massive thank you to Satoko and Hiroko Sensei for creating such friendly atmospheres during our one-on-one classes. I can firmly attribute much of my Japanese progression to their help. Every class was fun yet contained the perfect balance of conversation and teaching. By the end of my time at LTL I felt as if my conversational flow had drastically improved thanks to the consistent and attentive corrections to my speaking made by Hiroko and Satoko. We had many long discussions about a variety of topics but it never felt intimidating due to the pace of the conversation as well as us stopping to discuss grammar and vocabulary throughout. As a place to live and study for an extended period of time I can wholeheartedly recommend Osaka. The city is very well connected by public transport, the underground system is convenient and affordable. Furthermore, for weekend trips Osaka is perfectly central in the Kansai-region offering amazing excursions to surrounding areas such as Kobe, Nara and the various waking trails or tradition villages. Lastly, but maybe most importantly, during my time studying I also engaged in the homestay programme. Without a doubt this was the highlight of my time in Osaka. Getting to experience life with a family abroad is an eye opening experience and something I’d definitely want to do again. When being inducted to LTL, if you select to do a homestay, you can provider preferences for what kind of house you want to stay in, such as ‘being with other students or alone’ or ‘the families level of English’ – in my case, I was the only foreigner with a family where they spoke little English. After the month I truly felt I’d made a connection with the host family. Many nights after dinner we’d talk for hours, with a little help from google translate, on all manor of topics and discussing each-other’s culture. I’d play video games with the kids and join them on weekend trips to the river or out for food. The entire time I felt so warmly welcomed and accommodated both in my language ability and in comfort around the house. Being able to communicate with them became a massive motivator for me to put more effort into my studies! Many thanks again to the LTL Osaka team!

Photos

I had the honor of joining LTL as one of the first students at their newly opened Osaka school, and from day one, I felt right at home. The teachers and staff are warm, welcoming, and genuinely engaged with their students. I’d studied Japanese for several months back home before arriving, but I learned more in just two weeks at LTL (4 hours of group classes plus 2 hours of individual lessons daily) than I had in all that time. I also appreciated that they rotate teachers rather than assigning just one — it kept things exciting, since I got to learn from different teaching styles and perspectives. Learning doesn’t stop when class ends. LTL organizes plenty of excursions and get-togethers to practice Japanese with locals — festival outings, dinners, a beach trip, origami, calligraphy, and more. Classes group students of the same proficiency level but from a range of backgrounds and ages, which made studying even more enjoyable since I was learning about other cultures alongside the language. Accommodation-wise, I stayed in a private apartment, while some classmates opted for a host family — both seemed to work out well, and everyone I spoke to was happy with their choice

I started going to LTL Osaka in the beginning of July 2026. From the beginning, Hiyori Ito, the Director of Studies, was very helpful and was ready to answer any questions that I had as I arrived in Japan. Hiyori planned one to two weekly events with students that ranged from a field trip or a meal with students. This made it really easy to make friends and experience Japanese culture in a way I wouldn't have had the opportunity without these adventures. Additionally, I learned so much from the teachers at LTL Osaka. Going in, I had finished the first 6 lessons of Genki I textbook, and quickly finished the textbook after about 2-3 weeks. Although the pace is fast, I found it very easy to adjust. I had the privilege of having one-on-one lessons where I was in more control of what I learned, and what I wanted to focus on. Sometimes if I felt that I had not grasped a concept completely, I would just have a review day with a teacher, or if I wanted to just practice my Japanese and have a conversation, that was an option too. I would recommend this school if your goal with the Japanese language is to gain conversational skills, immerse yourself in the culture, learn more about the grammar, or even for those who are traveling. LTL really allows you to customize your learning experience, even when you start, which was one of the main selling points for me when I was considering LTL among other schools. If your goal is to pass the JLPT in as little time as possible, that is still achievable with LTL, however, I think that one would need to do a lot of outside studying as well. Despite all of the teachers at LTL being exceptional, the ones that I would like to highlight are Nanaho, Kagawa, Tanaka, and Junichi. Each one brought their own unique teaching style which really exposed me to the various aspects of the Japanese language and culture. With Nanaho sensei, we focused on vocabulary and she ensured that I understood a grammar point. If I was confused I was not afraid to ask her a question and found it very easy to talk to her. We laughed all the time and she would even join me in dancing to songs on our 10 minute breaks. In Kagawa sensei’s class, we only talked in Japanese. She talked at a slower pace and used vocabulary words that I knew, so that I could understand her. I got a lot of Japanese conversation practice with her, often not using the exercises within a textbook, instead putting them into a real world context. Tanaka sensei really helped me understand and practice short forms in Japanese and we often ended the last hour to thirty minutes focusing on kanji. I remember laughing all the time and having a very positive experience with her. I have to attribute a large part of my flow improvement to Junichi sensei. When first speaking, he noticed that I had trouble with the flow of the Japanese language. He helped me through speech exercises and helped me find the rhythm within the language. All of these teachers were outstanding and I enjoyed having various teachers because each one taught in their own way and helped me improve in many different aspects. Furthermore, I stayed with a host family for the duration of my time at LTL. One of my concerns when going into this journey was whether or not the homestay would be clean and safe. The homestay exceeded my expectations and Hiyori would always ask me about what was happening in the homestay and if I needed anything. I could not recommend this program enough. If you are considering attending LTL Osaka school, I think that this could be the best decision in your Japanese language journey. I would love to return in the future.

Photos

Ich kann LTL in Tokio (Akihabara) uneingeschränkt empfehlen! Schade, dass ich „nur“ 5 Sterne vergeben kann! Die Lehrerinnen, die ich in meinem 2-wöchigen – wirklich sehr intensivem - Bildungsurlaub kennen gelernt habe, sind sehr engagiert + professionel und schaffen eine motivierende Lernatmosphäre. Der Unterricht war abwechslungsreich, praxisnah und perfekt auf die Bedürfnisse der Students abgestimmt. Ein besonderes Dankeschön geht an meine unvermüdlichen Lehrerinnen Naho, Kayo, Miyu, Yuko, Kumiko und Emiko (der Dank geht auch an alle, die ich hier möglicherweise vergessen habe!), die mir insbesondere im nachmittäglichen Einzelunterricht mit unendlicher Geduld nicht nur ihre Sprache, sondern auch viel über den japanischen Alltag und ihre Kultur mitgegeben haben. Hervor zu heben ist auch die freundliche und kompetente Unterstützung durch das gesamte LTL-Team, das bei organisatorischen Fragen und außerschulischen Aktivitäten immer supernett und hilfsbereit war. Ein besonderes Highlight war für mich auch mein Homestay. Meine Gastmutter, Nobu, war unglaublich herzlich und hat mich vom ersten Tag an willkommen geheißen. Für mich als Japanisch-Anfängerin war es von großem Vorteil, dass Nobu sehr gut englisch spricht. Durch das Zusammenleben in der Familie konnte ich nicht nur meine Sprachkenntnisse im Alltag verbessern, sondern auch die japanische Kultur und den Familienalltag auf eine authentische Weise kennenlernen. Die Familie war stets hilfsbereit, offen für Gespräche und hat meinen Aufenthalt zu einer unvergesslichen Erfahrung gemacht. Beim nächsten Mal will ich unbedingt wieder bei Nobu und ihren Kindern wohnen! Ich hatte sogar ein für japanische Verhältnisse riesiges und dennoch gemütliches Zimmer und würde generell eine Gastfamilie immer einem engen, lauten Boardinghouse vorziehen! … auch, wenn das mit einem längeren Weg zur Sprachschule verbunden ist. Insgesamt konnte ich sprachlich und persönlich sehr viel mitnehmen. Eine hervorragende Erfahrung, die meine Erwartungen übertroffen hat. Wer in Tokio eine hochwertige Sprachschule sucht, ist hier genau richtig! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐+ Viele Grüße aus Deutschland!

I studied LTL Japanese Language School Tokyo and had a great experience. The teachers were attentive, classes engaging, good study methods and I made fast progress in speaking and understanding. Highly recommended.

Das Team der LTL Sprachachule Tokyo ist ein lustiger und bunter Haufen mit vielen unterschiedlichen Interessen, was im Hinblick auf den Unterricht super ist! Wenn man die Lehrer zeitnahe informiert, gehen sie auf Wünsche und Forderungen ohne Weiteres ein. So kann man sich also auch mit Wortschatz, Phrasen und Redewendungen seines eigenen Interessengebiets eindecken lassen, denn man ist keineswegs an das Lehrbuch gebunden. Der Stoff, der in der Stunde durchgenommen wird, wie viel und auf welche Weise kann von der Gruppe/einem selbst bestimmt werden und ist daher hervorragend für Personen, die aus eigener Motivation lernen können und wollen. Die negative Seite dieser Flexibilität ist, dass es schwer werden kann die richtige Gruppe zu finden. Es wird durchaus versucht Schüler mit unterschiedlichen Sprachleveln unterschiedlichen Gruppen zuzuteilen, jedoch passiert dies mit Hilfe von Einschätzung des Lehrers und vorallem des Schülers selbst. Dies kann manches Mal den Lernprogress des Unterrichts verlangsamen. Auf der einen Seite ist es wirklich super, dass es im regelmäßigen Abstand Events/Ausflüge gibt, die man besuchen kann. Auf der anderen Seite wirkt die Art und Weise, wie man davon erfährt bzw. dazu motiviert wird leicht chaotisch und/oder ist manches Mal zu kurzfristig. Da der Altersdurchschnitt relativ jung ist, denke ich, dass in diesem Bereich möglicherweise mehr Struktur nicht schaden könnte. Beispielsweise könnte man am Vortag/Vormittag Listen durchgeben, mit denen man sich (un)verbindlich für das anstehende Event anmeldet. Auf diese Weise müsste man nach dem Unterricht nicht die Schüler anwerben sondern zählt nur einmal durch ohne großes Durcheinander. Abgesehen von den paar angesprochenen Mängeln habe ich mich während meines zweimonatigen Aufenthalts gut aufgehoben gefühlt! Man wird immer mit einem strahlenden Lächeln und einer familiären Atmosphäre an der Rezeption begrüßt und auch während des Anmeldeverfahrens wurde mir mit viel Geduld bei meinen Problemen geholfen. Ich bin sehr froh diese Schule gefunden zu haben und kann sie herzlich weiterempfehlen.

The Teacher and the hole stuf where so kind and patient. The klases are smal so i had a lot of practice, that was realy good to emproof my japanese skils. The locstion is great And the afternoonaktivities the best. I just recomend it. I learn so much in a so short time

Estudié japonés durante 6 meses en LTL Tokyo y la experiencia fue increíble. Recomiendo mucho el programa Small Group & Individual, especialmente si eres principiante o nivel básico–intermedio, ya que las 2 horas extra de 1on1 ayudan muchísimo para practicar conversación y ganar confianza. El ambiente en la escuela es muy acogedor y en las clases de Small Group por la mañana conocí a gente de muchos países diferentes. Viví en dos homestays con familias diferentes, en zonas muy interesantes de Tokio, la experiencia con la comida fue excelente y tuve muchas oportunidades para practicar japonés todos los días. El staff de la escuela es muy amable, siempre dispuesto a ayudar y muy divertido. Recomiendo LTL Tokyo totalmente. Jonhue

Photos

Before coming to LTL i was super nervous because i didn’t know anyone, but when i first arrived, the environment and people there were so welcoming, and the classes were very engaging. highly recommend 😁

I studied 3 weeks at LTL school in tokyo and it was a great! I learned allot with the super nice and devoted teachers. Even though I was 0 level they helped me with extra classes and I am super grateful for that. Apart from the academics, my costudents were great and made really good friends from all over the world. The teacher also took us to the best local non touristixc restaurants which were delicious. We also had amazing visits to the city in group activities. Highly recommended!

My 15yo son attended the Tokyo Summer Camp for two weeks in June/July 2025 and he loved it! He enjoyed the language instruction and variety of planned activities. He also made good friends with fellow students and his homestay took him to several places to experience Tokyo as a local. It is well-worth the cost of the program and we plan to have him attend again next summer!

The LTL school in Tokyo, Japan, has helped me tremendously to improve my everyday and also formal written language skills. All three teachers were empathetic, yet demanding of focus and will to learn. The other staff made it their very successful job to get every obstacle out of the way and provide events, accomodation and cultural insights whenever possible. I am grateful and would have happily prolonged my stay and learning.

Our son Alexis joined the 3-week summer program in Tokyo and had an amazing experience. The teachers were professional and supportive, and the classes were both fun and effective. He made great progress in Japanese and really enjoyed studying with other students. The afternoon and Saturday activities were also amazing — they gave him the chance to explore Tokyo and practice the language in real situations. He also made new friends from around the world that he will keep in touch with.The school’s support was excellent throughout, and everything went very smoothly. We highly recommend LTL Tokyo to anyone looking for a welcoming and motivating environment to learn Japanese!

I spent 1 month in Japan Tokyo studying Japanese at LTL language school and staying with host family. I did group classes, 1on1 classes and Safari classes. The teachers are excellent, everyone was so kind and friendly! LTL became my family! We had also many fun socal activities (eg origami making, calligraphy, going to a festival). My host family was so adorable and caring and the homemade food very delicious (still dreaming of it). Totally recommending choosing LTL for your studies! Last year I studied in China, Beijing for 1 month at LTL school Mandarine Chinese, this year Japanese in Tokyo. Next year going to LTL Seoul school for Korean classes and then to Hanoi! I have gone to over 15 language schools around the world and LTL is my favourite one!!

Photos

This year our 13yr old son traveled alone to Tokyo to attend the LTL Tokyo summer Camp! Of course we were nervous sending our son around the world alone but it was the best decision we made as parents. The LTL staff did everything to ease our concerns. We had virtual meetings where all our questions were answered and Ranko’s level could be evaluated. Their attention to every detail of his stay was top notch. Our son enjoyed being immersed in the culture while learning Japanese. Focused class time combined with amazing interactive excursions made this camp an amazing experience. I highly recommend it.

My time in Japan has truly been one of the most unforgettable and meaningful experiences of my life. This was my very first trip to Japan, and to be honest, at the beginning I was quite nervous. Traveling to a country with such a unique language, culture, and lifestyle felt overwhelming — I didn’t know what to expect. But from the moment I arrived, all my worries started to fade. One of the most important things that made my experience so incredible was my host family. They were absolutely wonderful — warm, patient, and always willing to help me practice Japanese. Thanks to them, I was able to learn not only the language, but also understand the everyday life and values of Japanese culture. They taught me so much, and I’ll always be deeply grateful for the time we shared together. I truly felt at home. At the language school, the teachers were equally amazing. Each one of them had their own teaching style, but all of them were kind, professional, and attentive. They took the time to understand my level and learning needs, and supported me not only with grammar and vocabulary, but also with daily conversation practice, which really boosted my confidence. They even helped me prepare for an important exam, and thanks to their guidance, I felt much more capable and prepared. Aside from the lessons, the school offered a variety of cultural activities that made this experience even more enriching. I had the chance to try Japanese calligraphy, participate in a tea ceremony where we made and enjoyed matcha, and explore traditional arts that I had only ever seen in books or online. Every activity was fun, meaningful, and beautifully organized. We also went on excursions to some incredible places like Kawagoe and Enoshima. These trips gave me the opportunity to not only practice Japanese in real-life situations but also to learn about history, nature, and local traditions. And most importantly — I made so many new friends. Looking back, I’m just incredibly thankful — to the school, the teachers, my host family, and all the organizers who made this journey possible. This experience gave me not just better Japanese skills, but also a deeper understanding of the culture, and a lot of beautiful memories that I will carry with me forever. 🇯🇵🫶🏼

I had 4h every working day for 2 weeks. It was so great, I took another 2 weeks a month later on my 3 month japan trip. At this time LTL had no class rooms and no other students on my level. So in the first 2 weeks we learned 1:1 in star bucks and co. I liked this very much, beeing much more in touch to the real people/situations (ordering coffee myself for example), than in a classroom. The last hour was 'cultural program' (shrines/temples/ikebukuro...) where I spoke with my teacher as much as possible in English. This was great and the reason why we went to a different coffee shop every day. Yuki-Sama was a really great teacher and layed the fundament for talking to so much people in the small towns on my solo trip later. On the second 2-weeks I had class by Haru-Sama, another good teacher, also 1:1, but now at the temporal LTL place. In summary: Best note for LTL Tokio.

Our two sons (ages 6 and 8) recently participated in the LTL Japanese School program in Tokyo, and it was an absolutely wonderful experience. The morning Japanese lessons were engaging and age-appropriate, and the afternoon activities were experiential and fun—ranging from kimono wearing to visits to cat cafes, as well as cultural and historical outings. It was a great introduction to Japan and its rich traditions, all thoughtfully curated for young learners. What really stood out was the attentiveness of the staff. They responded quickly and thoughtfully to all our questions and special requests as parents, creating an environment where we could truly feel at ease leaving our children in their care. Thanks to the detailed support and warm atmosphere, our kids not only learned but had a lot of fun every day. We highly recommend LTL for families looking for a safe, enriching, and joyful language experience for their children.

The child had an amazing time at the summer camp—it was a unique experience. They not only learned Japanese but also took part in activities that allowed them to experience Japan, all while making friends from different countries. It was truly a perfect summer.

I joined the Tokyo Summer Camp small group this year. Teacher Kosei was always kind, helpful, and incredibly supportive. Whether it was during our daily activities, field trips, or just around the classroom, Teacher Kosei made everyone feel welcome and included. He was super organized, always cheerful, and made sure everything ran smoothly. I’m really thankful for all the effort Teacher Kosei put into making our experience so fun and memorable!