We are an internationally recognized Japanese language school based in Shinjuku, Tokyo. Teaching a diverse range of students from all over the world, we offer flexible and varied Japanese language courses, for all needs and learning objectives. Classes can even be joined from abroad, not just when living in Japan. Notably, our Japanese language courses are based on the small unit learning method and the 4-skills assessment system. Please note that our ROC (residents/overseas/corporate) division is different from the study abroad course.

This is led by our highly-qualified teaching staff, many of whom were taught at our teacher training academy in Osaka or Tokyo. During all courses, they offer a myriad of teaching support, including digital support material and out of class events. Since 1988, we have been helping students to learn Japanese and achieve their targets of fluency, employment, and more. 

Looking for and choosing where to learn Japanese is not easy. There are a large number of different schools out there, each offering different courses, teaching methods, overall quality of teaching and more. The good news is that we have written a useful guide below. It is for anyone looking to find the right school and begin (or continue) their Japanese language learning journey.  

It is important to do this before anything else. Without identifying your motivations, you will not be able to choose the best Japanese school for you, as each school has different strengths. For example, if you are a business executive looking to get employed in Japan, you will want a school that can support you in achieving this. 

Some Japanese language schools are better at supporting specific motivations than others. Plus, knowing your overall motivations, and keeping them at the back of your mind as a target, will help you to achieve success in the long run and keep your own motivation to learn.

At TCJ, we offer guided tours (a private consultation with a TCJ staff member). During this meeting, we can discuss your motivations for learning Japanese and help you to choose a specific Japanese language class at our school. We cater for all needs, objectives and motivations, and if you are finding it difficult to clarify your purpose for learning, we can help.

Each Japanese language school is different and knowing their qualities is necessary. We recommend listing what you are looking for in a school and what you are not. The more qualities you know you want and do not want, the easier it will be to find and choose the right place for you.

Our school has many qualities and there are a variety of reasons why our students choose to study with us (e.g. the high quality of our teaching or the flexibility of our classes). For a full list of reasons,  please see our article on Reasons why business professionals choose TCJ as their language school.

The majority of us out there lead busy lives, juggling work, study, family and friends simultaneously. To then begin learning Japanese on top of your existing lifestyle can be challenging for some. Therefore, it is important to establish earlier on how many hours you can commit to learning Japanese each week. The more you can commit, the quicker you will learn the language. However, particularly busy people should be realistic on what their weekly diary will allow.

We offer a completely flexible learning structure at TCJ, for all needs and time schedules. Classes can be attended at all times of the day and they can be in-person, online or both (hybrid). If you have a particularly demanding schedule, we even offer private tuition that can be scheduled whenever you want during the week.

If you are a learner that likes taking classes in person, then the location of the Japanese language school is important. Having a shorter travel time is better for most people and so it is important to know how long it will take you from work or home to travel there. Others may prioritize the atmosphere of the school’s location and want somewhere with a garden or comfortable building.

Whichever camp you fit into, you will be pleased to know that our school offers both an excellent location and an atmosphere conducive to learning. Our Japanese language school is located in Shinjuku, in the heart of Tokyo. It is easily accessible for anyone living or working in the center of the city. Plus, it is in a quiet area overlooking the outer gardens of Meiji Shrine, making it an ideal place for study.

Once you have done the above, it is time to start looking into some schools. Google or Yahoo! JAPAN is a great place to start conducting your research. Very quickly you will be able to have a look at two or three Japanese language schools and their websites. We recommend exploring each establishment’s site to understand:

• Where they are located and whether close to work or home
• The variety of classes they offer (group, private or outcome based)
• The flexibility of their class structure (online, in-person or hybrid)
• What they specialize in (e.g. teaching business professionals)
• If they have international accreditation marks or are approved by the Japanese government
• Their method of teaching (e.g. the small unit learning method)
• The quality of their teachers (do they train their teachers at the school?)
• The support they offer outside of class (e.g. digital material)

When measured against your motivations and the qualities you want in a school, you should quickly be able to determine whether the school is right for you. If it is not, simply move on to the next one. 

Another tip is to read any student testimonials and social media content you can find linked through the school’s website. For testimonials, you can read what past students enjoyed about learning there and find out how the place supported their motivations and objectives. 

If it matches your own, then you may have found the school for you. On the other hand, if a school does not display student testimonials at all, then this should be treated as a red flag and it may be best to strike them off your list.

Social media content is another indication of whether a Japanese language school is right for you. By reading and looking through the content, you will be able to get a sense of what the school is like and how professional they are.

TCJ Official Facebook

TCJ Official Instagram

TCJ official Youtube

We have had the pleasure of teaching thousands of students since we began. If you would like to read why our students love learning with us, please see some testimonials here:

Testimonial a)

Testimonial b)

Testimonial c)

Testimonial d)

Testimonial e)

Word of mouth is another excellent way to tell if a school is right for you, before making your final decision. By speaking to friends, family and colleagues, you should be able to find out which places come recommended and which do not. For example, a school that comes highly recommended from a colleague in a similar situation to you could be the right one.

We hope you have enjoyed our guide on how to choose the best Japanese language school. If you are interested in what we do, we’d love to help you. At TCJ, we offer a wide range of courses. These include ones for foreign residents, intensive courses, job hunting, JLPT, Kanji, and more. Please get in touch if you require more information. Whatever your requirements, we can find the right Japanese language course for you.