Japanese lessons · Updated September 2026Ad · Affiliate links
Learn Japanese while you live here
Cities run free or cheap Japanese classes for residents, the government has a free online course, and online tutors fit around work. Pick by budget and schedule.
On this page
Where can foreign residents learn Japanese?
| Option | Cost | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Free online courses | Free | Starting out, any schedule |
| City classes | Free to about ¥10,000 a term | Weekly practice near home |
| Language schools | School fees | Structured courses; part time on work courses |
| Online tutors | Per lesson, in US dollars | One-to-one, around your work hours |
Taking the JLPT? Our JLPT guide covers the five levels, test dates, fees, results and which level a visa needs, with a page for each level from N5 to N1.
Free online Japanese courses
Tsunahiro (つながるひろがる にほんごでのくらし)
- Free video lessons for daily-life Japanese
- Made for foreign residents with no class nearby
IRODORI: Japanese for Life in Japan
- Free textbook and audio, beginner to pre-intermediate
- Free online course (needs an account)
Japanese classes run by cities
Wards, cities, international associations and volunteers run these classes. Most meet once or twice a week, and many ask that you live or work in the area.
Tokyo community classes
- Search by ward or city
- 167 classes in the 23 wards, 85 in the Tama area, 12 online
- Usually once or twice a week
Yokohama classes (YOKE)
- Live or work in Yokohama, age 16 or older
- Search all Yokohama classes by ward or train line
Osaka classes
- Live or work in Osaka City, age 16 or older
- Prefecture-wide class search for other towns
Nagoya classes (NIC)
- Age 16 or older, Nagoya residents first
- Sundays, 10 lessons of 90 minutes a term
Japanese language schools for working residents
Certified Japanese language schools
- Official list searchable by course, prefecture and fee
- Work courses (就労, for working people) allow part-time study, for example one evening a week
Online Japanese tutors
italki
- One-to-one lessons by video with a teacher you choose
- Up to 3 trial lessons, one per teacher
- Pay per lesson, no subscription needed
- Charged in US dollars; you cannot pay in yen
- Credits you buy are not refunded
- No canceling within 24 hours of a lesson, except emergencies
- Professional teachers are certified; community tutors are native or fluent speakers, often cheaper
Find a Japanese teacher on italki
Opens italki's site (Japanese; English version too)
Japanese lessons FAQ
Where can I take Japanese classes in Tokyo?
Wards, cities and volunteer groups run 167 classes in the 23 wards and 85 in the Tama area, free or cheap, usually once or twice a week. The Tokyo Japanese Classes site lists them by ward.
Are there free Japanese lessons for foreign residents?
Yes. The government course Tsunahiro and the Japan Foundation course IRODORI are free online, and many city classes are free or cost a few thousand yen a term.
Can I go to a Japanese language school on a work visa?
Yes, part time. Certified schools can run work courses that meet, for example, one evening a week. Student-visa courses need 760 hours a year, which is full time.
How much is an online Japanese tutor?
On italki, each teacher sets their own price in US dollars, and many offer a discounted trial lesson. You can book up to three trials, one per teacher, and choose each teacher yourself.
Source
Quoted from official pages.
Class counts, fees and rules come from the city, government and italki pages linked on each card, read on September 28, 2026. We may earn a commission if you sign up with italki through our link; free options are listed first. How this site is checked.