Are you looking for a Japanese language school near you, but can’t find one? Many Japanese language schools are located in Large cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya. But what about the more rural areas?

In this article, I want to focus on the people who live nearby Tokyo. I will introduce to you the 10 best Japanese schools near Tokyo.

I’m including schools located in the Kanto region such as Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, and Yamanashi.

I know many people live in this area, looking for job opportunities in Tokyo, or preparing for university entrance exams in Tokyo. I hope this article helps you find a school that suits your needs and goals.

*Please note that this article contains affiliate links.

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1. Futaba College of Foreign Languages (Chiba)

The first School on this list is Futaba College of Foreign Languages. This School is located in Chiba city, Chiba prefecture.

The courses that this school offers are divided depending on the purpose of studying. For example, there are courses for those who want to get into a Japanese university as well as courses for people who are looking for a job. They also have more basic courses for those who just want to be able to have regular Japanese conversations.

▶Official Website: http://www.futabacollege.com/ENG/

2. Kanrin Japanese School (Kanagawa)

Kanrin Japanese School is another Japanese language school near Tokyo. It is located near Aobadai station (青葉台駅) in Yokohama city, Kanagawa prefecture.

Their courses are divided based on your needs and goals. Some examples include Basic courses, University preparatory courses, Art college preparatory classes, and EJU preparatory classes. There’s also the BYOP (build your own program) where you can choose what you want to study.

▶Official Website: https://kanrin.school/

3. Saitama Japanese Language School (Saitama)

Next on the list is Saitama Japanese Language School. As you may imagine, this school is located in Saitama prefecture. More specifically, Omiya city.

The course this school offers is simple and straightforward. It is an 18-month long course that is divided into 4 levels (6 months for each level).

They have a solid record when it comes to students advancing into Japanese universities or even graduate school.

They also have short courses and programs.

▶Official Website: https://www.s-jls.com/en/

4. UNITAS Japanese Language School (Yamanashi)

UNITAS Japanese Language School is the next school on this list. It is located in Kofu city, Yamanashi prefecture.

Courses that you can take here include: University Preparatory Course, General Course, and EJU preparation course. There are also Short Term Courses as well as Private & semi-private classes.

They also offer apartments for their students at relatively affordable prices.

UNITAS also has a campus in Shinjuku, Tokyo as well.

▶Official Website: http://www.unitas-ej.com/e/school_kofu.html

5. Hitachi Language School (Ibaraki)

Hitachi Language School is another Japanese language school located in the near areas around Tokyo. It is located in Mito city, Ibaraki prefecture.

The school was established in 2006, making it a relatively new school.

The standard course that they offer consists of 4 levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced, and higher education) and it takes about 6 months to pass each level. They also offer a short-term course (3 months) which is mainly for Working Holiday Visa holders or Dependent Visa holders.

▶Official Website: https://hitachigakuin.jp/en/

6. Central International Culture Academy (Chiba)

The next school on the list is Central International Culture Academy. This school is located in Chiba city, Chiba prefecture.

They offer mainly two types of courses which are the long-term courses (half-year to two years) and the short-term courses (3-month courses).

In addition to regular classes, they also offer extracurricular lessons as well as extracurricular activities.

▶Official Website: http://www.cicacademy.net/?ckattempt=1

7. Kanagawa Japanese Language School (Kanagawa)

Kanagawa Japanese Language School is a relatively new school on this list, being inaugurated in the year 2020. It is located in Ebina city, Kanagawa prefecture.

They offer mainly 2 courses which are the 1.5-year course and the 2-year course.

This school also offers counseling for their students regarding applying for higher education, getting a job, and other things having to do with living in Japan.

▶Official Website: https://kanagawa-japanese.com/

8. Saitama International School (Saitama)

Saitama International School is the next school on our list. It is located in Kumagaya city, Saitama prefecture.

The courses that they offer are mainly for people who are aiming at applying for higher education such as vocational-technical school, university, or graduate school.

There are four courses from which you can choose which are: 2-year course, 1 year 9 months course, 1 year 6 months course, and 1 year 3 months course.

▶Official Website: http://en.saisc.jp/index.html

9. St. Mary Japanese Language School (Tochigi)

The next school on our list represents the prefecture of Tochigi. It is the St. Mary Japanese Language School which is located in Utsunomiya city.

Opened in 1882, this is one of the long-running schools on this list.

They offer three courses which are the preliminary curriculum course, the advanced course, and the JLPT/measures for international student exam.

They also have extracurricular activities so that students get to know and learn about Japanese culture and tradition.

▶Official Website: http://stmary-u.jp/?lang=en

10. Fuji Language School (Gunma)

Lastly, on this list, is the Fuji Language School. This school is located in Maebashi city, Gunma prefecture.

The course lengths are flexible: you can choose from short-term courses (1 to 3 months) or long-term courses (6 months to 2 years).

The school also offers a dormitory for their students which is located just one minute from the school.

Other than their main courses, they also offer classes for residents of any age.

▶Official Website: https://fujils.com/en/

+1. Tokyo Central Japanese Language School (Tokyo)

I would like to make an additional mention of Tokyo Central Japanese Language School (TCJ).  This school, although located in Tokyo, has options that may be appealing to people living out of Tokyo. Tokyo Central Japanese Language School stands out for its exceptional flexibility and comprehensive online offerings.

Celebrating over 35 years of excellence in Japanese language education and hosting students from over 80 countries, TCJ is designed to accommodate a variety of learning preferences and schedules. Whether you’re interested in a long-term study, advancing your career in Japan, or seeking to pass the JLPT, TCJ has a course for you.

Notably, TCJ offers robust online courses, allowing students from anywhere to engage in quality Japanese language education. For those with daytime commitments in Tokyo or elsewhere, TCJ provides evening classes and the option for private lessons, ensuring that even the busiest learners can find a suitable schedule.

Begin with a free counseling session, available through TCJ’s website, to customize a learning plan that aligns with your personal goals and time constraints.

TCJ began its Zero Beginner Classes in April with a Daytime Intensive Class running Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 12:20 PM JST, focusing on comprehensive skill development and JLPT preparation from N3 level. A Light Daytime Class also began on May 13, with classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM JST (Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9:00 PM to 11:00 PM EST), exclusively online.

Additionally, a Business Japanese Class is available Tuesday to Thursday, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM JST, catering to all levels from complete beginners to advanced, with a focus on conversational skills, kanji, and JLPT prep.

▶Official Website: https://tcj-education.com/

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I hope this article was helpful for you. As you can see, Japanese language school options out of Tokyo are not that abundant, but there are good options. And there’s also the option of taking online courses such as the last school on this list.

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