Define the course you are seeking

Osaka’s guide points readers to the Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education for Japanese-language school information. Use that directory as a place to identify providers, then ask each school about its actual course and application process. A listing alone does not show that every course fits your goals or circumstances.

Write down why you want to study: daily communication, further education, work-related language or an examination. Add the days and hours you can attend, your present level and any budget limit. Ask how the school assesses placement and whether the timetable includes the skills you most need.

Compare the full commitment

Request a written breakdown of tuition and other charges, the teaching period, class size and withdrawal or refund rules. Ask what materials are supplied and which costs are additional. If a course is linked to a particular examination, distinguish practice for that examination from any separate registration you must complete.

For an application involving residence permission, ask the responsible official authority about the immigration requirements and obtain the school’s current document checklist. Do not treat a school offer as immigration approval. If possible, attend an information session or observe a class under the provider’s arrangements. Keep notes from each conversation in the same format so the comparison reflects your needs rather than only a promotional description or a familiar school name.

Adapted and rewritten by Japanese.Pink from the City of Osaka’s Japanese Language Schools. The wording and organization have been edited. Source checked: 9 November 2026.