Learning Japanese is an enriching venture. By learning the language, you will come able to understand Japanese media and interact with Japanese people, open new career opportunities, learn about Japanese culture, and indeed, gain a whole new perspective through the lens of different language. The rewards of learning Japanese are endless, and there are several ways to go about undertaking this venture such as self-study, majoring in Japanese at university, or attending a language school in Japan. As is the case with most ventures, cost is an important consideration.
An average cost of learning Japanese via self-study is $1,662 USD per year for 4 years. An average cost of a 4-year major in Japanese at a university in an English-speaking country is $13,766 USD per year. Attending a Japanese language school in Japan for 1 year has an average cost of $8,060 USD.
With self-study, you have the freedom being on your own schedule and choosing your resources, but it is likely that you have other priorities that you need to focus on as well such as your job or a university major in an unrelated area of study. You will be learning Japanese in your free time, and you will need to be disciplined about consistently making time to study. So, while self-study is the most economical option, depending on how much time you make, it could take longer to learn Japanese than other options.
By taking a Japanese degree program at university, you are at a high level of commitment and will be working full-time on learning the language. This option for learning Japanese is the most expensive on average, but by the end of your program you will earn your degree, which can be used as a valuable credential for future academic and career opportunities.
Attending a Japanese language school in Japan is the fastest way to learn and of course comes with the benefit of being in Japan! A typical program to go from beginner to advanced typically spans about 2 years. Although you won’t be getting a degree, attending a dedicated language school and being fully immersed in the language will undoubtedly fast-track your learning, and maybe even help you get into a university in Japan if that is your goal.
Cost to Learn Japanese via Self-Study
As mentioned, self-study is a lower cost route to learning Japanese, but the time it takes to reach a high level of proficiency will vary according to the amount of time you dedicate to learning. You can make the most of your study time by investing in good resources that will keep you on track to continuously make gains.
Considering a 4-year timeframe, an average cost to learn Japanese via self-study to a reasonably high proficiency is $1,662 USD per year. The cost will vary according to the resources used such as textbooks, kanji learning tools, listening practice materials, and private speaking lessons with a teacher.
Specifically, I have the following recommendations for learning resources: for textbooks, Genki for beginners and Tobira for intermediate learners. For JLPT test preparation, Sou Matome and Shin Kanzen Master series. For listening practice, JapanesePod101.com. And for kanji training, Wanikani and a kanji drawing app such as KanjiBox for iphone or Kanji Study for Android.
Below is a yearly breakdown of costs over 4 years of self-study. It is a rough timeline to bring you to the JLPT N1 level. This is an aggressive timeline, and it may take you longer to reach N1, which is fine, there is no need to rush. Note: the cost information below is in USD and was gathered at the time of writing this article. The current costs may be different.
Year 1
| Genki Textbooks | $150 |
| JapanesePod101.com annual premium subscription | $180 |
| Wanikani annual subscription | $89 |
| Kanji drawing app | $10* |
| Twice weekly private tutoring lessons via italki | $1200 |
| Total | $1629 |
Year 2
| Tobira Textbooks | $145 |
| JapanesePod101.com annual premium subscription | $180 |
| Wanikani annual subscription | $89 |
| Sou Matome N3 JLPT preparation books | $108 |
| Registration for JLPT N3 exam | $60 |
| Twice weekly private tutoring lessons via italki | $1200 |
| Total | $1782 |
Year 3
| Shin Kanzen Master N2 JLPT preparation books | $90 |
| JapanesePod101.com annual premium subscription | $180 |
| Wanikani annual subscription | $89 |
| Registration for JLPT N2 exam | $60 |
| Twice weekly private tutoring lessons via italki | $1200 |
| Total | $1619 |
Year 4
| Shin Kanzen Master N1 JLPT preparation books | $90 |
| JapanesePod101.com annual premium subscription | $180 |
| Wanikani annual subscription | $89 |
| Registration for JLPT N1 exam | $60 |
| Twice weekly private tutoring lessons via italki | $1200 |
| Total | $1619 |
For more in-depth details on why you should consider using the textbook resources recommended above and the benefit you will gain from them, I write about Genki here, Tobira here, and I touched on Sou Matome for JLPT N3 here.
The variable with the most influence on the total cost is private tutoring lessons on italki. The $1200 figure represents two hour-long lessons per week over 50 weeks at $12 per lesson with an italki community tutor. There are two types of teachers on italki, community tutors and professional teachers. Their average costs are:
- Community tutor average cost per 1 hour lesson: $12
- Professional teacher average cost per 1 hour lesson: $19.5
Let’s take a closer look at some additional scenarios which highlight the variability of your investment in italki, again based on hour-long lessons over 50 weeks.
- Three lessons per week with a professional teacher: $2925
- One lesson per week with a community tutor: $600
Investing in speaking practice with a native speaking teacher is one of the best investments you can make to improve your Japanese. Regardless of the type, choosing the right teacher for you is important. I write in detail about finding your teacher and making the most of your investment in italki here.
Overall, I have found that investing in the above-mentioned resources have paid huge dividends for my Japanese language learning. But if you happen to be in a situation where funds are really limited, eliminating all costs, and learning Japanese completely free is also possible. I write about it here.
Cost to Learn Japanese at University in Your Home Country
If you are committed to learning Japanese and your goal is to make using it an important part of your future career, selecting it as your university major may be a good choice. Investing in your education and earning a degree is important, but like all degrees, a degree in Japanese comes at a cost.
An average cost of learning Japanese by majoring in it at a university in an English-speaking country is $13,766 USD per year. Variance in cost is significant depending on the student’s home country with the USA being among the highest and Australia being among the lowest with its subsidized system.
Majoring in Japanese falls into the category of a degree in foreign language studies. Below are average yearly costs to obtain an undergraduate degree in the broader category containing arts, foreign languages, humanities, and social studies at various universities in four English speaking countries: USA, Canada, UK, and Australia. The average cost information is in USD and was gathered at the time of writing this article. The current average costs may be different.
Average yearly costs in USD of an undergraduate degree in Japanese:
| USA | $15,489 |
| Canada | $6,815 |
| UK | $12,997 |
| Australia | $3,816 |
The above averages include tuition, textbooks, and additional student fees where applicable. Other costs associated with attending university are not included. They are yearly costs for full-time students. Most degree programs, if undertaken full-time, are completed in four years.
The figure of $13,766 quoted above is a weighted average of the four countries based on country population. The USA has the most influence with both the highest fees and highest population. It also has the greatest variance in tuition among universities within the country.
Australia is an interesting case. Most students qualify for and are subsidized by the Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) system [1], but if not, then the tuition fee of a bachelor’s degree in Japanese can be about 7 times higher than the tuition fee with the CSP subsidy [2].
Going to university and pursuing a degree can be a very enjoyable and rewarding experience. And the experience can be made all the richer if your university offers opportunities for you to study abroad in Japan. Many universities do offer such opportunities and in some Japanese major programs, studying one year abroad in Japan is mandatory. This is especially true with programs in the UK.
By the end, you will be able to earn a degree in a subject for which you have a lot of passion, and hopefully use the credential to open doors to career opportunities for which the ability to speak Japanese is both prized and required.
Cost to Learn Japanese at a Language School in Japan
You have probably heard that the best way to learn a language is through immersion. Well, living in Japan and having opportunities to engage in everyday society is the ultimate Japanese immersion. Again, if you are committed to learning Japanese, then going to Japan to attend a language school can be great way to learn, not to mention an amazing life experience. But as is the case when investing in your education through formal schooling, there is a cost which you need to prepare for.
An average cost to attend a Japanese language school in Japan for one year of study is $8,060 USD. Cost varies from school to school and will be lower or higher for shorter and longer periods of study respectively. Travel, accommodation, and other living costs will add substantially to the total cost.
According to the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO),
Japanese Language Schools are schools established by incorporated educational institutions and limited (Ltd.) companies. There are over 600 Japanese schools in Japan, with approximately 60,000 students studying Japanese.
studyinjapan
Periods of study at Japanese language schools vary from about 1 month to 2 years. If undertaking a longer period of study, such as 1-2 years, if you work at your studies diligently, you could learn Japanese from absolute beginner to an advanced level.
For shorter periods of study, you can choose a course appropriate for your level. It can be hard to judge your level, so it would be good to contact the school in advance to undertake an assessment such that you can get placed in a course at the right level.
Among the options to learn Japanese, going to Japan to study will probably provide you with the richest overall experience. And living in Japan is so much fun! But of course, there is the added cost of traveling to Japan, living costs during your stay, and the added complexity of securing a visa with the appropriate resident status.
Some costs that you will need to consider and budget for when studying in Japan include:
- Airfare (to get to Japan)
- Rent
- Food
- Utilities
- Phone and internet
- Local transportation
- Entertainment
- Insurance (Japan National Insurance + extra personal travel insurance)
Resources with examples of budget breakdowns for studying in Japan:
- JASSO’s Living Cost and Price
- Osaka University’s Average Monthly Expense for International Students
- The Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies’ Sample Student Budgets
With so many language school options all over Japan to choose from, be sure to do thorough research and choose your school wisely. Try to have a good idea of your current level of Japanese and what your ultimate goals are in learning the language. It might also be a good idea to choose a school that can help you with things like visa processes and accommodation. Some schools can help you find accommodation, some have dormitories, and some even offer homestay with Japanese families.
Resources to help you find your language school in Japan:
- studyinjapan.go.jp …a government-approved information site for studying in Japan operated by the Japan Student Services Organization…
- Go! Go! Nihon …We offer free support for student visa and language school applications, as well as accommodation support, in eight languages to give more people than ever the opportunity to live & study in Japan…
Note: The average cost figure of $8060 quoted above, for many of the schools examined, includes costs in addition to tuition such as: registration fees, textbooks, and insurance. Other costs to live and study in Japan are not included. Also note that the figure is in USD and information to calculate it was gathered at the time of writing this article. The current cost information may be different. See Appendix 2 for the list of schools examined to calculate the yearly average cost of attending a language school in Japan.
Appendix 1: List of universities examined to calculate the yearly average cost of obtaining a degree in arts, foreign languages, humanities, and social studies
USA Universities
- The Pennsylvania State University
- University of Washington
- Michigan State University
- University of Georgia
Canadian Universities
UK Universities*
*A book cost of £390 per year was added to the calculation referring to the guidance from Cardiff University.
Australian Universities*
*A book cost of $500×2 AUD was added to the calculation referring to the guidance from the University of Sydney.
Appendix 2: List of language schools examined to calculate the yearly average cost of attending a language school in Japan
- ISI Japanese Language School
- ECC Kokusai College of Foreign Languages
- Fukuoka Foreign Language College
- Kansai College of Business and Language
- Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Japanese Language Institute
- KAI Japanese Language School
- Genki Japanese & Culture School
- KCP International Japanese Language School
- Coto Japanese Academy
Citations
[1] Australian Government, Department of Education, Skills and Employment. (2021). 2022 Commonwealth supported places and HECS‑HELP information booklet.
[2] Based on the comparison of the 2022 yearly tuition fee in Arts, Foreign Languages, Humanities, Social Studies at the University of Melbourne. Tuition fee with CSP: $3,985 AUD, tuition fee without CSP (fee-paying students): $28,960 AUD.