How much does Japanese language school cost in Japan?
Last checked: 2026-11-06
First-year fees at a Japanese language school run from about 610,000 to 1,900,000 yen, according to Study in Japan. That covers admission and tuition only. With average living costs, our worked budget for one year comes to about 2.1 million yen.
What schools actually charge
We looked at two published fee lists, both in Tokyo. They are examples, not a ranking or a market average.
| Yoshida Institute, 1 year | JASSO Tokyo center, 1 year | |
|---|---|---|
| Intake | From the October 2026 term | April 2027 |
| Application or selection fee | 25,000 yen | 20,000 yen |
| Admission fee | 98,000 yen | Included below |
| Tuition | 684,000 yen | Included below |
| Other school fees | 36,000 yen | Included below |
| Total | 843,000 yen | 842,867 yen |
The JASSO total is our own sum of the 822,867 yen course fees and the 20,000 yen selection fee. It covers admission, tuition, materials, facilities and activities. Yoshida's operating fee covers activities, student insurance, facilities and main textbooks, but not JLPT or EJU textbooks. Yoshida said its October and January courses had reached capacity on the date above.
Worked example: a one-year budget
This is our own calculation. It uses the national average living cost of 105,000 yen a month from the 2023 JASSO survey, which excludes study costs.
| Item | Low end of fees | Example school | High end of fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| School fees, first year | 610,000 yen | 843,000 yen | 1,900,000 yen |
| Living costs, 12 months | 1,260,000 yen | 1,260,000 yen | 1,260,000 yen |
| Total | 1,870,000 yen | 2,103,000 yen | 3,160,000 yen |
| Total with Tokyo rent | 2,062,000 yen | 2,295,000 yen | 3,352,000 yen |
The Tokyo line adds 192,000 yen. That is the gap between Tokyo rent of 57,000 yen and the national average of 41,000 yen, for 12 months. It changes rent only.
Not included: flights, visa costs, moving-in costs, and any money you earn. Study in Japan also says exam fees, materials and practical training may be charged separately.
One year or longer?
Here we compare the two schools at 18 months, using our own sums.
| School | 18-month school fees |
|---|---|
| Yoshida Institute: 1 year plus 6-month continuation | 1,203,000 yen |
| JASSO Tokyo center: 1.5-year course, with selection fee | 1,212,337 yen |
Yoshida's 6-month continuation lists no insurance in its operating fee, so the two are not exactly alike. Living costs add 1,890,000 yen for 18 months at the national average.
Questions to ask a school
- What is the total for the first year, and what is not included?
- Do fees change for my intake? Yoshida's did for October 2026.
- Can I pay in stages? The JASSO center does not accept installments.
- What happens if my visa is refused or I withdraw? Yoshida's application fee is not refunded, and the JASSO center says fees paid are generally not refunded.
- Does the course prepare me for university or for daily life?
Do you need a JLPT level first?
The JLPT site says N5 or higher meets the language requirement for Japanese language schools that take Student visa holders. The JFT-Basic can also be used. Your school may ask for more. See which JLPT level you need for Japan.
Can a scholarship help?
JASSO's Honors Scholarship pays 30,000 yen a month to chosen students at language schools. If that ran for 12 months, it would be 360,000 yen, or about 17% of our 2,103,000 yen budget. The page does not state the period for language schools, and places are limited. Do not plan your budget on it. See MEXT and JASSO scholarships.
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