Language school in Japan: costs, the visa and the new rules from October 2026

For many people, life in Japan starts in a classroom: language school has been the classic entry route for decades. You get a student visa, study Japanese every morning and are allowed to work on the side. But this exact route is being rewritten right now. From October 2026 you must formally prove Japanese ability before you even enter the country. In this article you will learn how the language school route works, what it costs and what the new rules change in practice.

How the language school route works

The process is well established: you apply to an accredited language school in Japan, and the school applies for your Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) with the immigration authorities. Processing usually takes one to three months. With the CoE in hand, you then collect your student visa, called ryugaku in Japanese, from the Japanese mission in your country. The school acts as your sponsor, and you yourself have almost no direct contact with the authorities in Japan.

New from October 2026: a certificate instead of study hours

For years, a certificate confirming 150 hours of Japanese lessons was enough to meet the minimum language requirement. That era is over. For entries from October 2026 onwards, Japan demands real proof. For renewals and changes of status, the new rule has already applied since 1 July 2026.

• 🌸An official test certificate, for example JLPT N5 or a recognised NAT-Test result.
• 🌸Alternatively, a formal interview or exam conducted by your future language school, documented and reported to the authorities.
• 🌸Exemption: anyone who already holds a university degree is exempt from this language check.

Stricter financial checks and part time job monitoring

Alongside the language proof, Japan is also tightening the financial side. Applicants will face stricter checks on their funds, with liquid assets of up to ¥2 million. The authorities want to make sure nobody enters the country who would have to fund their entire life in Japan through part time work. Because part time work stays capped: a maximum of 28 hours per week, and language schools must check every three months that their students stay within this limit.

What does a year of language school cost?

For one year at a Japanese language school, budget roughly ¥700,000 to 900,000 in school fees. On top of that come your living costs, which vary a lot depending on the city. Here is the overall picture.

Is language school still worth it?

Yes, more than ever, if you use it right. Language school is the fastest way to live in Japan legally, study intensively and build a local network, whether for a later degree or your first job. The new rules do not make the route harder, they just shift the starting point: part of the work, namely the N5 basics, now happens before departure instead of after. Take that seriously and you will arrive better prepared and get far more out of the expensive lessons on site.

Frequently asked questions

Language school remains the most proven route into Japan, it just starts at home from 2026 onwards. If you know your kana and have the N5 material down, you have the proof for your visa in hand and can jump straight into the classes that actually move you forward once you arrive. With Sakuraflow you can build exactly these foundations day by day, long before you board the plane.