I was just wondering if anyone here has studied for a period of time at a Japanese language school in Japan?
If you have: where was it, how long was it for, was it expensive, how was your experience, and what was the application process like? (So many questions, I’m sorry!)
Many thanks in advance for any advice and information! 
Well, I didn’t study in a language school but I had planned to in the past. Depending on what you consider “expensive”, it may or may not be. Last time I checked, on Oarai International Exchange Academy in Ibaraki prefecture, the 2 year course is 1,230,000円.For more information, you can check their website here: Oarai International Exchange Academy. I hope it helps. 
I am currently studying at one. It’s called GenkiJACS http://genkijacs.com/ and is pretty expensive. What school fits your needs really depends on you though, and without knowing more about what you want to get out of your studies (for example a 2 year prep for Uni or just 2 weeks for a trip to Japan), it is really hard to recommend you any :D.
I went to KAI in Shin-Okubo, Tokyo. I’m gonna quote what I wrote in a different topic:
All in all, I feel it was a really good experience. Teachers were nice, classes small (about 6 - 10 students), and the school ocassionally arranged various kind of activities. It was a bit expensive, but totally worth it. I’m considering maybe going back and continuing in the future.
I studied at 日米会話学院 in Yotsuya, Tokyo for a year. It was great but expensive as hell. Students were from all over the place. Teachers were some of the best I’ve ever had. I used to take 3 OT English teaching shifts per month to make ends meet, and I didn’t go out or do much of anything besides work and school. Looking back, it was tough but one of the best periods of my life.
As for the application process: I walked into the office, told them I wanted to join, took the placement test, sat in on a class, paid tuition and started the next day.
I did. 3 days on Arc Academy just for the trial period.
The teachers are fantastic. But too expensive for my pocket at the time. (~¥33.000/month)
Anyway, if you have the money I cannot recommend more.
I’m probably looking 3-6 weeks initially, tbh!
There’s a language degree I can do here in Australia that has a compulsory year abroad studying Japanese as part of the course. But a degree is a big commitment though, and expensive! I’ll definitely look into this though! Thank you for sharing!
I haven’t but I watched 日本人の知らない日本語 and that’s basically the same thing, right?
Have a look at the Hokkaido Japanese language School in Sapporo.
Have studied here a couple of times now. I like the place.
Should be cheaper than those southern schools too!
I came across this one in a Google search just last night and thought it looked good too! Good to know it comes recommended! How long were you there when you did study?
Can’t remember exactly, but it was a couple of times over a few months. Long enough to finish the first minna no nihongo book anyway.
I also had private lessons there which were useful for me.
Personally, I didn’t do any of the cultural activities that they offered, but they looked well organised and fun.
Oh cool. Did you have accommation through the school?
I went to another one in Sapporo, Hokkaido called IAY (International Academy) International Academy IAY Japanese Language Courses
From the website it doesn’t look like much, but it’s a great little school with classes of around 10 (similar to JALs above) and the teachers were professional yet welcoming and friendly. I completed the 2 year visa course which got me to around JLPT 2 (but I have only taken 3). We went through みんなの日本語 1&2, 中級から学ぶ日本語 then finally 学ぼう！にほんご books 1&2. It was pretty expensive, but being in an environment with Japanese people helped massively I think. In fact, even more speaking lessons would have been good… I struggled a little as I have Dyslexia and my classmates where either Chinese or Taiwanese (and one Korean guy I sat next to) so they really had a head start with the meanings of the Kanji - so if I can do it others can! The application process was quite thorough, but that was maybe due to the length of the course I was taking.
I would say only come if you are serious about studying Japanese and are passionate about it, though. I love the language and never regretted it but I definitely realised that people who aren’t serious would soon regret it. I’m not trying to put anyone off, but it does get hard and if you aren’t committed then you can lose motivation very quickly I think
Hey,
I’ve been to Yamasa language school in Okazaki (Aichi prefecture) for a three-weeks course a couple of years ago: Study Japanese in Japan at a Japanese language school - The Yamasa Institute. It was really great! For prices, better check their website, but I found it pretty fair back then. You can also get accommodation of various types for your stay through them. I stayed with a host family and this was definitely the best decision. My host parents were very nice, and they also took me on day trips sometimes (the school offers some over the weekends, too) and of course it gives you way more possibilities to chat with “real” Japanese people.
The school offers a variety of courses, depending on what you want to focus on and how long you want to stay. They also changed their program a bit, so take all I say with a grain of salt, as my information might be outdated. I took the SILAC course, which is focused on conversational skills. You can also enhance your main program with e.g. additional private lessons, if you like. In the beginning, there is a placement test to determine which level you are taking. The teachers were great, and my class was really small (between 3-6 people throughout my stay; beginner level classes were a bit larger, but still not large), which makes for a great learning atmosphere.
I can definitely recommend Yamasa, I learned so much, and I would absolutely go there again.
I was in System Toyo Gaigo in Tokyo (It seems they changed locations since I was there though). I paid for a semester (don’t remember how much though), but you can visit their website www.systemtoyo.com
The pace of the classes was insane, but I was placed in an advanced course there after an interview. I studied together with Asian students who were aspiring to take the N2 and N1 exams so they could study in a Japanese university later. The people that knew me said I improved my Japanese a lot during the 4 months I studied there. They help you to get a part time job once you are enrolled in the school; I couldn’t get one so in the end I went back to my country because of money and because I had been in Japan for quite some time before studying Japanese there; but I think it was a pretty good experience overall.
nope. I was already living in Sapporo so I didn’t really need any of their other services.
A few friends who stayed at home stay’s, organised through the school, really enjoyed that though!
I’m from Japan myself. And the best school where I had to learn a foreign language was in Moscow. It has something to do with the general attitude ещ дшау and amazing Russian mentality. So if there’s another language next to Japan I urge you to learn Russian and do it in this russian language school Moscow
I’m from Japan too and I want to say that is not very prolific to try to learn any language only by yourself. Even native speakers spend almost ten years studying their own language in school or college. So https://homework-lab.com/ was very useful for me since I could always get help with doing my homework anytime any place. I do a lot better now, also use this site sometimes for learning another subjects (yep, there are many of them in this place).
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