When I first came to Japan I studied at a Japanese language school for a year and a half. I made a video about what that experience was like which you can see here.
One of the most asked topics for that video was about money.
I received a lot of questions such as: “What did your costs look like?”, “Outside of school, what were your monthly expenses?”, and “How much did you roughly spend during the 1.5 years in Japan?”
Since I know a lot of people are looking to come to Japan via the student route, here is everything you need to know about the costs associated with studying abroad in Japan.
This post answers the following questions:
- How Expensive is Japanese Language School?
- Can You Have a Job While On a Student Visa?
- How to Save Money as a Student in Japan?
You can watch the video here if you prefer viewing to reading.
Want to learn more? See these posts about my Experience at a Japanese language school and How I passed JLPT N2 after 1.5 years of studies.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.
How Expensive is Japanese Language School?
To address the BIG question of “How much does it cost to study abroad in Japan”, I’ll share real numbers about school prices and living expenses.
Keep in mind that how much it ultimately costs will depend on each individual’s scenario.
School tuition varies from institution to institution, and the cost of living changes from region to region. Also, lifestyle differences will make an impact as well.
Even compared to when I went to school just a few years ago, prices have increased quite a bit. In some cases, more than double!
The main expenses related to studying abroad in Japan are as follows:
See below for a breakdown of each of these categories.
School Expenses
School expenses include registration fees, course fees, and materials.
For most schools, this information should be readily accessible on their home page. If not, contact the school and request their pricelist or estimate.
According to the 2024 price list for the school I went to called GenkiJACS, the 1-year school tuition fee is 1,120,000 yen (about $8,000).
This amount includes the registration fee of 16,000 yen as well as the material fees for items like textbooks and handouts.
You can check out the price list for yourself online. (GenkiJACS Pricelist).
Note that these prices are for 2024 and are likely to change (increase) moving forward. Compared to when I attended in 2021, there has already been a 13% increase.
School expenses come out to a total of ¥1,12,000 yen which is about $8,000 USD
Housing Expenses
The next big ticket item is housing.
When I went to school, I used my school’s accommodation services to find housing.
The school charged a one-time accommodation fee for handling the research and doing the main contractual items. The listed price for this service in 2024 is 20,000 yen
Depending on the type of housing you have, the monthly cost and living conditions will vary.
Options include living with a host family and doing a homestay, staying in a share house, or living in a private apartment.
Home Stay
Living with a host family, you get a private bedroom in a home shared with a family. This means you’ll most likely get more opportunities to practice Japanese outside of school, be able to integrate with a new community, and have a sense of family while living in a new country. Breakfast and Dinner are also Included.
In some cases, homestays can be located further away from the central areas which can add to transportation costs and commute time.
You can’t pick and choose your homestay family and there might be certain rules and family etiquette that can take getting used to.
The weekly price for staying with a family in Fukokua as of 2024 is 25,000 yen (Compared to 35,000 yen in Tokyo and 30,000 in Kyoto.)
Share House
Share houses offer a different experience than homestays as you live in a building with other residents.
You have your own bedroom but share public spaces like lounges, kitchens, and bathrooms with others. Share houses are usually more cost-friendly than living in a private residence and allow for more social interaction – if that is your thing.
Experiences can be positive or negative depending on fellow residents and the degree of privacy you are comfortable with. Weekly pricing decreases with longer contracts.
For a one-year contract, the weekly price is 12,000 yen or ¥624,000 for a year. Meals are not included so you’ll have to cover eating expenses on your own whether that means eating out, making your own meals, or a combination of both.
Private Apartment
Finally, we have private apartments. Here, you have the privacy of your own bedroom and bathroom but the costs can be much greater.
Note that the size of a studio apartment in Japan can be quite small.
My apartment was considered a standard studio size at 21 square meters. The room came with an AC unit, a single bed, and a desk. There was also a small cooking stove and a shower.
Internet, utility fees, and weekday breakfasts and dinners were also included.
Not all places are as convenient and inclusive as what I had so I consider myself lucky!
Again the prices for private accommodation depend on the region, but in Fukouka for a 1-year contract, Genki’s 2024 price is listed as 32,000 yen/week or ¥1,664,000 for a year.
When I studied, I did a homestay for 3 months and then lived in a private apartment for the rest of my time.
I checked the prices I paid during my time of study (which was during COVID-19 and 3 years ago) but I was surprised to see that the housing costs have increased more than 85%-100% since I attended.
The cost of going to language school in Japan has increased quite a bit in just a few years.
What about finding housing yourself?
Of course, you can also opt to find housing yourself which could save some money, but there can be challenges with this, especially on a student visa.
For example, it can be difficult to make housing contracts without a long-term visa or a job in Japan.
Additionally, standard housing contracts require various upfront fees including key money, insurance, cleaning fees, and deposits that can equal multiple months of rent.
Also, unless you get a furnished apartment, you will have to purchase standard items like curtains, lights, furniture, and appliances since these aren’t traditionally included in apartment rentals.
If you are able to find your own place, the monthly cost will likely be much cheaper than going through school housing.
In Fukuoka, you can get a nice private apartment from 40,000-60,000 yen a month which is less than half the price of school-placed housing.
Other Housing Expenses
Depending on your situation, you might also need to pay for items like internet, gas, water, and electricity.
Luckily, the place I lived in had all of these included in the monthly cost.
If this isn’t the case for you, expect additional monthly expenses like 5,000 -7,000 yen for internet, 2,000 yen for gas, 2,000-5,000 yen for electricity, and 2,000 yen for water.
For a student in Fukuoka who uses the housing placement service and lives in a private apartment (with utilities included), their housing would be around ¥1,684,000 yen or $12,000 USD for the year.
School Commute
Another potentially big area of expense can be the commute to school.
Depending on where you live, transportation costs to commute to school every day can add up.
When I lived with a host family, I was far from the school so I had a daily 20-minute train commute that cost 280 yen each way.
This added up to 560 yen per day or 2,800 yen per week for a 5-day school commute
Once I moved to an apartment that was closer to school, I could either walk 40 minutes (for free), bike for 15 minutes, or take the bus and walk for about 200 yen each way)
If you don’t own a bike you can look into bike share services like Fukouka’s Chari Chari bikes, which charges 7 yen per minute.
If you can purchase or get a second-hand bike, it is a cost-effective option for school commutes in addition to walking.
How much you will pay for transportation depends on where you live and can range from 0 yen to over ¥145,600 yen a year or about $1,000
Food and Drink Expenses
The next section is food and drink and includes eating out and buying groceries.
It’s hard to estimate costs here since everything depends on the eating and buying habits of the individual and the specific accommodation situation since meals might already be included in the housing plan.
As rough estimates, in Fukuoka, you can get a decent lunch outside from 500 – 1000 yen. (This includes simple bentos, lunch sets, a bowl of ramen, or a few items from the conveni).
Dinners out will tend to cost a bit more. On the lower end would be 1,000 yen for a single item from a restaurant. Expect to pay 3,000 yen if you go to an izakaya or order more items at a restaurant. And If you dine somewhere more fancy like at a yakiniku or course meal place, expect to pay 5,000 yen or more.
If you’re planning to cook yourself, don’t be surprised that groceries aren’t exactly cheap either.
Some basic costs include a pack of 10 eggs for 300 yen, 2 chicken thighs for 600 yen, a container of yogurt for 200 yen, and 2kg of rice for 1,500 yen.
If you’re someone like me who also likes cafes and bars, those drinks will add up too.
Expect a standard coffee, tea, or beer to generally cost around 600 yen.
If you eat out for lunch and dinner every day with a mix of lower and middle-cost meals and visit a cafe once a week, this could cost around 889,200 yen per year or $6,200.
Leisure and Fun Expenses
The next expense to account for is leisure and fun!
Of course, you’re coming to Japan to learn the language, but what better way to solidify your learning than getting out into the real world, meeting people, seeing the area, and enjoying broader Japan?
Leisure and fun activities range from relatively free (like hiking, attending events, going to the beach, seeing fireworks), to moderately priced (like going to a concert or doing a craft experience), to more expensive, (like going on an overnight or longer trip).
There are lots of activities you can do around in Kyushu and beyond like the ones below:
- Hike Mt. Tachibanayama
- Solo Camp in Kanatake
- Go to an Onsen
- Bike in Itoshima
- Go to a Seafood Market in Shimonoseki
- Explore Yanagawa
- Experience Traditional Crafts
- Visit Zamami Island in Okinawa
And if you’re wondering, “What the heck is Fukuoka and why does Marisa keep talking about it?” Then you may want to check out my new book – a photo book and visual introduction to the Kyushu region.
In the pages, you can see just how beautiful the area is and why it might be worth making Kyushu your study home as well!
Costs for leisure and fun vary widely, so keep that in mind as you budget for your time abroad.
Miscellaneous Expenses
Finally, there are several miscellaneous expenses to briefly cover as well.
Depending on your housing, you might need to purchase “daily essentials” like a futon mattress, sheets, and a pillow.
You’ll also need to consider the cost of buying consumable items like shampoo, body wash, sunscreen, and toothpaste.
If you plan to cook for yourself, you’ll also need items like a frying pan, spatula, condiments, dishware, and utensils.
There are also expenses relating to having a cell phone (3,000 yen/month), travel insurance (250 yen/day), and health insurance (2,000 yen/ month).
These miscellaneous costs can add up to at least $1,000 / year.
Total Expenses
So to recap the main categories of expenses, we have:
- School: $8,000
- Housing: $12,000
- Commute: $1,000
- Food and Drink: $6,200
- Leisure and Fun: (determined individually)
- Miscellaneous: $1,000 +
So how much does it cost to study abroad in Japan?
For a student in Fukuoka (who studies at GenkiJACS), lives in their own apartment, takes the train to school, eats out modestly for their meals, goes to a cafe once a week, and buys the basic daily essentials, the cost estimate would be about $28,000 USD. (Not including extra spending for leisure and fun and other purchases).
You can see that the biggest expenses here come from the school-related fees and housing. These will change greatly depending on the school you choose, where you are located, and the type of housing you get.
Now that we know a bit more about the money you will spend, what about the money you can make?
Can You Have a Job While On a Student Visa?
This next section is about having a part-time job.
While studies should be the main focus during your time abroad, you can generally work up to 28 hours per week while on a student visa. (The rules are more nuanced than this, but this is the general guideline.)
If you start missing classes because of work, you can get in trouble and have issues with your school and visa. Remember- the main reason to be in a student in Japan is to learn and attend school.
Having a part-time job is generally not recommended until you have reached a higher level of Japanese and are accustomed to the school schedule and life of living abroad.
In order to work, you need to get permission from immigration and report your work to the school so they can make sure you are following the rules.
The amount you can make depends on the job and your skills, but for general shift positions that pay minimum wage, you can expect around 1,000-1,500 yen/hour.
For reference, these are minimum wages across the country that will take effect starting October 2024.
- Fukuoka: 992 yen
- Tokyo: 1,163 yen
- Osaka: 1,114 yen
If you work the maximum amount allowed of 28 hours a week, (which is generally not encouraged) at 1,200 yen per hour, you can make about 1,747,200 yen or $12,000 USD. (Not accounting for taxes and other deductions)
So yes, you are allowed to work on a student visa (if you get the right permissions and if the work doesn’t impact your studies).
However, without a high level of Japanese, the opportunities and wages may be limited.
How to Save Money as a Student in Japan?
Finally, this last section is about Saving Money!
Here are some ways to reduce costs and save money as a student in Japan.
Commuter Discounts
If you have a set commute each day, you can usually apply for a commuter pass that offers some sort of discount or “all you can ride” benefits within a specific route.
Student Discounts
Many places offer discounts for students like at museums, sightseeing spots, restaurants, and bars. Keep your student ID on you to claim these perks!
Buy Used
If you’re only going to be in Japan for a short amount of time, do you need a new desk? A new chair? A new dresser? Maybe not.
Unless you have long-term plans to be in Japan after graduating, I suggest embracing a minimal lifestyle. Secondhand shops are very popular in Japan and have a surprisingly large amount of high-quality items that can be found much cheaper than new ones.
Join Local Facebook Groups
There are always people moving in and out, especially in early spring so you can find great deals for home items listed on pages like these. Sometimes, people give items away for free!
Ask Other Students
Students who are graduating and moving back to their home countries may be looking for easy ways to get rid of their items. So it’s a good way to keep things out of landfills and reduce costs too!
Shop at Dollar Stores
Dollar stores like Daiso and Seria are great places for getting simple items cheaply. Many times I can find the same item at the dollar store for a lower price than at a regular store. Be careful though, since it’s easy to buy things you don’t need at these kinds of places.
Conclusion
And that about wraps up this post!
I hope this overview gave you a clearer idea of some of the costs associated with studying and living abroad in Japan.
If you still have questions, feel free to write them in the comments below, and if you haven’t already, follow my YouTube Channel and Instagram for more travel and tips on living in Japan.
Good luck with your Japanese studies and Japan adventure!
For more information on studying abroad in Japan, check out these posts: