Reviewed by the XROSS HOUSE team — a Tokyo-based operator of share houses and furnished apartments across 11 prefectures in Japan, with more than 50,000 residents housed to date.
- A long course on a Student visa and a short course of up to 90 days are very different paths: only the long one lets you apply for permission to work part-time.
- Choose a school by course length, class size, location, support and written fees, not by brochure photos alone.
- Start about six months before your intake. The school applies for your Certificate of Eligibility, and many schools start classes in January, April, July and October.
- New in 2026: the "150 hours of study" route can no longer be used alone as proof of Japanese ability. You need a test certificate or a school interview.
- Book your home early. A share house is the common first choice for language students, and a furnished apartment suits those who want privacy.
Planning a language course? Talk to our team about housing
Long-term vs short-term study at a Japanese language school
Your first decision is how long you will stay. It decides your visa, your costs and your rights.
| Item | Long-term course (Student visa) | Short-term course (up to 90 days) |
|---|---|---|
| Typical length | Several months to two years, in terms | A few weeks, up to 90 days |
| Status of residence | "Student", with a Certificate of Eligibility | Temporary visitor (rules depend on your nationality) |
| Part-time work | Possible only with separate permission | Not allowed |
| Who handles the paperwork | The school applies for the Certificate of Eligibility for you | Usually no Certificate of Eligibility is needed |
| Best for | Reaching a working level, preparing for university or a job in Japan | Trying Japan, a summer or winter course, a first taste of the language |
If you want to learn Japanese in Japan for a year or more, plan for the Student route. For the full visa process, see our Japan student visa guide. This article focuses on choosing a school and finding a home.
How to choose a Japanese language school
Many schools teach Japanese in Japan, and they differ more than their websites suggest. The Study in Japan portal run by JASSO is a good place to start looking. Then compare schools on these points.
- Your goal: daily conversation, a JLPT level, university entrance or a job. Courses are built around different goals.
- Class size and level system: ask how many students are in a class and how placement tests work.
- Student mix: a class with many nationalities pushes you to use Japanese. In a class where most students share one language, it is easy to slip back into it.
- Location and commute: a 20-minute train ride you can handle every day beats a famous campus an hour away.
- Support: look for help with housing, health insurance, part-time job rules and life after graduation.
- Written fees: ask for an itemized fee list that shows tuition, admission fee, materials and any other charges.
Tokyo, Osaka, Fukuoka: how the city changes your study life
The city you pick shapes your daily routine as much as the school does. Tokyo has the widest choice of schools and part-time jobs, but housing and commuting take more of your budget. Osaka and Fukuoka are big cities too, with their own school choice and a different pace of life. Smaller cities can offer calmer study and fewer English speakers, which helps your Japanese but asks more of you on day one. For a cost comparison, read our cost of living in Japan guide.
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Application timeline and intake months
Many language schools start new classes in January, April, July and October, though this varies by school. Long-term applicants should begin about six months before the start date. The school applies for your Certificate of Eligibility at an immigration office in Japan, so you do not file it yourself.
- About six months before: shortlist schools, request brochures and fee lists, and check each intake date.
- Next: send your application documents to the school you chose.
- After screening: the school applies for your Certificate of Eligibility. Prepare your funding documents in the meantime.
- Once the certificate arrives: apply for your visa at the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country.
- Before you fly: book flights and your first home.
- Arrival: register your address at the city office within 14 days and join National Health Insurance. See our National Health Insurance guide.
Exact timing depends on the school and the embassy, so confirm every date with them.
Ask about move-in dates for your intake
2026 change: proving your Japanese ability
If you plan to enrol in a Japanese language institution, read this section before you apply. The Immigration Services Agency has changed how Japanese ability is proved.
| Item | What the announcement says |
|---|---|
| What changed | Proof by "150 or more hours of Japanese study" can no longer be used alone |
| What is now needed | A test certificate (for example JLPT) or an interview conducted by the school |
| Required level | A1 on the Japanese Language Education Reference Framework, roughly JLPT N5 as a reference |
| Certificate of Eligibility applications | Applies to students planning to enrol from October 2026 |
| Change or renewal applications | Applies to applications filed from 1 July 2026 |
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (as of October 2026)
We cannot judge whether a particular person meets the requirement. Ask your school which proof it accepts, and check the announcement above for the latest details.
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Working part-time while you study
A Student visa does not allow work by itself. You need "Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted". With that permission, the general limit is 28 hours a week, and up to 8 hours a day during the school's long vacations.
Source: Immigration Services Agency of Japan (as of October 2026)
People on a short-term stay as a visitor cannot work at all. Even with permission, do not rely on part-time income to cover your living costs. Jobs take time to find, and shifts compete with homework. Our guide to part-time student income and living costs shows how students plan around this.
Budgeting for a language course
Tuition varies a lot between schools, so we do not give a figure here. Ask each school for an itemized fee list in writing and compare the same items side by side. Then add your own living costs.
- Tuition and school fees: admission fee, tuition, materials, trips and exam fees, as listed by the school.
- Housing: a registration fee at move-in, then monthly rent and any common fee.
- National Health Insurance: required for residents staying three months or more.
- Guarantee fees: for individual housing contracts, covered in the guarantor section below.
- Daily life: food, transport, phone and a buffer for the first month.
Our cost of living in Japan guide breaks a typical month into categories.
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Where to live while you study
There are four common options. Each suits a different type of student.
| Option | Good points | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| School dormitory | Arranged by the school, close to class, other students nearby | Limited places, set rules, may be far from the city centre |
| Homestay | Meals and daily Japanese with a host family | House rules, curfews, less independence, hard for longer stays |
| Share house | Private room, furnished, shared kitchen and lounge, easy to meet people | Shared bathroom and kitchen, so some house manners are needed |
| Furnished apartment | Your own flat with its own kitchen and bathroom, furniture and appliances included | You live alone, so you meet fewer people at home |
A normal Japanese rental is usually a poor fit for newcomers. Initial costs for a typical Japanese rental, deposit, key money and agency fee, often add up to several months' rent. The flat usually comes empty, so you also buy a bed, a fridge and a washing machine. For a three-month course, that is hard to justify. Our guide to long-term stay options in Tokyo compares the choices in more detail.
Why many language students choose a share house
XROSS HOUSE does not introduce or apply to language schools on your behalf. We help with the next question: where you will live. Many language students choose a share house, and the reasons are practical.
- Your own room: every resident has a private room, with furniture and appliances already inside. The kitchen, bathroom and shower, and lounge are shared.
- Low start-up cost: at XROSS HOUSE, the initial cost is a registration fee of ¥30,000, and there is no deposit or agency fee. For individual contracts, a guarantee company fee is charged separately.
- Classmates and neighbours: you can practise Japanese and English in the kitchen after class, and ask residents for help with local life.
- Fast move-in: you can apply about one month before the move-in date, and the earliest move-in is 7 days after applying.
- Stays that match your terms: you can stay from one month, and leave with one month's notice, which helps when a course ends early or your plans change. Some discount campaigns come with a minimum stay, so check the conditions in your estimate if you use one.
- Room to change your mind: if you switch schools or move to another city after a term, XROSS HOUSE charges no transfer fee to move between our properties, even across prefectures. If you joined a guarantee company, it re-screens you and charges its own fee.
- Locations: we operate in 11 prefectures, including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Fukuoka. There are also women-only properties.
Furnished apartments: when privacy comes first
A furnished apartment is your own private flat with furniture and appliances. It suits students who study late, bring a partner, or simply like their own space. The registration fee is ¥30,000 under a current campaign (normally ¥50,000), and there is no deposit or agency fee. A guarantee company fee is charged separately for individual contracts.
Before you sign, ask for a written estimate that lists the monthly costs and the move-out costs as well as the registration fee, so you can compare the full picture. See our fees page for current details. If you need help choosing, tell us your school's location and start date, and we will suggest options.
Get an estimate for your student housing
Guarantor and guarantee company
- No personal joint guarantor is needed.
- Individual contracts generally require joining a rent guarantee company. An initial guarantee fee and a monthly guarantee fee are charged separately, on top of the registration fee. The amounts are given in your estimate.
- If you pay everything from the initial costs through to the move-out costs in full at move-in, you do not need to join a guarantee company.
If a school, sponsor or employer arranges your housing, XROSS HOUSE also offers corporate contracts. Our team can talk you through your options in English and other languages.
FAQ: Japanese language schools in Japan
What is the difference between a Japanese language school and a university Japanese course?
A language school focuses on Japanese itself, with classes most weekdays and several intakes a year. A university course is usually part of a degree or exchange programme and may have fewer class hours. Ask each institution for its timetable and entry rules.
Can I still use 150 hours of study as proof of Japanese ability?
Not on its own. The Immigration Services Agency says a test certificate or a school interview is now required, at a level roughly equal to JLPT N5. This applies to Certificate of Eligibility applications for students planning to enrol from October 2026. See the announcement (as of October 2026).
Can I work part-time while studying at a Japanese language school?
Students on a Student visa can work only with "Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted". The general limit is 28 hours a week, and up to 8 hours a day during long school vacations. Short-term visitors cannot work. See the official page (as of October 2026).
How long does it take to learn Japanese in Japan?
It depends on your starting level, your study hours and how much Japanese you use outside class. Living in Japan gives you daily practice, but progress is personal. Ask the school how its levels are organised and what a typical term covers.
Where should I stay during a three-month language course?
A school dormitory or homestay is convenient if your school offers one. A share house or a furnished apartment gives you more independence and no need to buy furniture. XROSS HOUSE has both, with a minimum stay of 1 month.
Is a school dormitory or a share house better for a language student?
A dormitory is close to class and arranged by the school, but places are limited. A share house gives you a private room, a wider choice of areas and neighbours from different backgrounds. Compare the commute, the rules and the monthly costs of both.
Do I need a Japanese guarantor to rent a home as a language student?
Not at XROSS HOUSE. No personal joint guarantor is needed. Individual contracts generally require joining a rent guarantee company, with an initial and a monthly guarantee fee charged separately. If you pay everything from the initial costs to the move-out costs in full at move-in, joining is not required. More answers are on our FAQ page.
Ask our English-speaking team about your move
A good language course starts with a school that fits your goal and a home that lets you rest after class. Choose the school first, then pick your housing as soon as your start date is clear. If you want to compare a share house and a furnished apartment before you fly, our team can help in English.
