Can Beginners Attend a Japanese Language School in Japan?

Yes, a beginner can attend a Japanese language school in Japan. Most schools run classes for people who are new to the language. The catch is that almost all of them expect you to read hiragana and katakana before the first lesson, and on long courses the teacher will speak Japanese from the start. This guide answers the questions beginners ask most: what counts as a beginner, how placement works, what classes feel like, how much help you get in English, how heavy the course is, where to live and how to settle in. It was checked on 21 October 2026, and school rules change, so confirm everything with the school you choose.

The short answer

• Yes: most language schools offer beginner classes, and many welcome people who have never studied Japanese.
• Almost all schools expect hiragana and katakana before day one, or ask you to learn at least hiragana before you arrive. Textbooks and the board use kana straight away.
• Long-term courses are usually taught in Japanese from the first lesson. Short courses are often lighter and sometimes use more English.
• Many schools require or strongly recommend some prior study, and some ask for about 150 hours for a Student visa. This varies by school and nationality and has been changing, so ask your school what proof it needs.

Our guide to what level of Japanese you need before studying in Japan covers visas, universities and the other study paths in detail, so this post does not repeat them and concentrates on the beginner experience.

What the official sources confirm, checked on 21 October 2026: the Study in Japan site says that a Student status of residence for a language school requires a school designated by the Minister of Justice, that admission periods are typically April and October with some schools also starting in January or July, and that required documents and admission requirements differ from school to school. The page does not describe beginner rules or an hours requirement, so the 150-hour figure above comes from what schools and agencies say, not from that page.

A school we checked on the same day, GenkiJACS, says on its teaching page that all students must be able to read hiragana, and that its placement is decided from an online level test. Its home page adds that complete beginners can only start on certain Mondays. That is one school's rule, not a national one, but it shows what to look for.

What beginner means to a school

Schools use the word differently from everyday speech. It helps to know which kind of beginner you are, because it decides your first class and how hard the first month feels.

Placement tests and interviews

• Most schools sort students by level with a written test, often covering kana, vocabulary and basic grammar, followed by a short interview in simple Japanese. Some schools set the test online before you arrive.
• The interview is usually short and simple. It checks whether you can say your name, where you are from and a few easy sentences. It is not an exam you pass or fail.
• Being placed in a low class is normal and not a judgement. A class that is slightly easy is better than one that leaves you lost.
• You can often move up during the term if the class is too easy. Ask your teacher or the office staff how that works.
• A zero beginner can honestly say so. A school would rather place you correctly than discover the gap in week two.

The direct method: classes in Japanese only

Many schools teach with the direct method, which means the teacher explains Japanese using Japanese. It sounds frightening for a beginner, but it is built for exactly that situation, and the first week usually feels easier than expected because the language is tiny and everything is repeated.

• Why it works: you hear and speak Japanese for hours a day, so your ear and your mouth adjust faster than if the teacher translated every sentence.
• The first week: expect greetings, your name, numbers, classroom objects and a lot of repeating after the teacher. You will understand more than you think because the vocabulary is controlled.
• How teachers help: gestures, pictures, objects, drawings and short drills. If you do not understand, the teacher usually acts it out or draws it rather than switching language.
• What you do: listen, repeat, answer questions in pairs and write short sentences. Be ready to speak in every lesson.

English and other-language support

Support in languages other than Japanese is real but limited, and it depends on the school and the person. Do not plan around it.

• Office and admissions staff often speak English, because they handle enrolment, visas and housing. Ask which languages the office covers before you apply.
• Teachers may not. Many teachers are trained to teach in Japanese only and may not speak English, or may choose not to use it in class.
• Portuguese is almost never available. Portuguese speakers should expect Japanese in class and English, if anything, in the office.
• A translation app and a pocket notebook with key words go a long way. Use them outside class, not as a replacement for the teacher.

Course intensity

Long courses are demanding and short ones are lighter. These figures are common patterns, not rules, so ask the school for its own timetable.

GenkiJACS describes its core course as two grammar lessons and two lessons on speaking, listening, writing or reading every weekday, which shows how full a typical day can be. Plan time for homework and review after class, not only for the lessons themselves.

Accommodation for beginners

Adapting to life in Japan

The language is only part of the change. A few daily habits are worth knowing about before you land.

• Garbage sorting: rubbish is sorted into categories with fixed collection days, and the rules differ from town to town. Ask your housing contact for the local calendar on your first day.
• Trains: stations are busy but clear. Be quiet on trains, let people off first and keep your phone on silent.
• Convenience stores (konbini): they sell food, pay bills and print documents, so they are useful for a beginner and good listening practice.
• Bank and phone setup: only on long-term stays. Ask your school for help, because the process usually needs your residence card and an address.
• Politeness: bow slightly, say thank you often and do not worry about tiny mistakes. People appreciate the effort.
• Loneliness: many students feel a dip in weeks two and three, when the excitement fades and the homework builds. It is common and it passes.

To meet Japanese people, try a language exchange, join a club or circle activity, or volunteer for a local event. Ask your school whether it organises activities, since many do. A weekly routine with the same people helps more than a single big event.

Common beginner worries

• I am too old. Adult beginners are common in language schools, and classes often include students of many ages. Your motivation matters more than your age.
• I am shy. The structure helps: classes use pair work and set drills, so you speak in small steps. Ask your teacher for extra speaking practice if you want it.
• I cannot read anything. That is the starting point for many people, and kana can be learned in a few weeks. Use the six-week plan below and ask your school which characters it expects.
• I will be the worst in class. You will be placed with people at a similar level, and almost everyone feels behind at some point. Compare yourself with last month, not with a classmate.
• I do not know anyone. That is true for almost every new student. The first week of class is the easiest time to make friends, because everyone is in the same position.

A six-week plan before you fly

Our tips on how to memorise kana faster and the comparison of hiragana and katakana help with weeks one and two. For the grammar weeks, see how long it takes to study for JLPT N5, work through the Japanese lessons, and practice handwriting with the kana writing practice tool. Before you fly, the essential Japanese phrases for travelling in Japan cover the first days.

Japanese classroom words

Related guides

If you are choosing how long to go, read Japanese language school: 2 weeks, 1 month or long term. For money, see studying Japanese in Japan: how much does it cost. For visas and other paths, see what level of Japanese you need before studying in Japan.

Official information

Pages checked on 21 October 2026: Study in Japan's page on Japanese language institutes for designation by the Minister of Justice, admission periods and the fact that requirements differ by school; and, as one school's example, GenkiJACS's teaching method page for its hiragana requirement and online level test, and its home page for the start dates of complete beginners. We could not load an official page that states an hours requirement for a Student visa, so ask the school and check the Immigration Services Agency before you apply.