Language School

Quick Answer Cost per hour of actual speaking: online tutoring wins by a landslide (¥1,500–3,000/hour of 100% you-time vs ¥2,500–4,000/classroom-hour where you speak maybe 8 minutes). Language schools win on structure, immersion pace, and student visas. For working adults already in Japan: online tutor 2x/week + self-study is the highest-ROI setup. For full-time study or a visa: language school. You’ve decided to get serious about Japanese, and the money question arrives immediately: a language school quotes ¥800,000 a year, an online tutor costs the price of a lunch per session — and everyone you ask gives you the answer that matches whatever they did. ...

Quick Answer Which Japanese language school is right for you? If you’re coming to Japan specifically to study Japanese full-time → an accredited Japanese language school (¥700,000–1,200,000/year, student visa). If you’re already living and working in Japan and want to improve → NOVA or a private conversation school (no visa required, ¥8,000–15,000/month, 300+ locations). If you want flexible self-study + speaking practice → online tutors on italki (¥1,500–4,000/hour, no commitment). The biggest mistake: choosing a full-time school when you just need conversation practice. ...