Learn Japanese While Living in Japan
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If you’re already in Japan, now is a great time to learn Japanese. Whether you’re working, studying or living long-term, learning the language helps you enjoy daily life, make friends and feel more at home. Here’s how to start learning and keep going.
Join a Japanese Language School
Many schools offer part-time lessons in the morning, evening or on weekends. This is great for people who work or have other responsibilities.
Tips:
- Look for flexible schedules
- Ask about monthly payments or short courses
- Try a free trial class first
- Websites like GaijinPot Study and Go! Go! Nihon can help you find schools.
Photo credit: Japan Times, “Japanese Language School”
Try Free Classes from Your City
Many city halls and community centers offer free or cheap Japanese lessons. They are often taught by volunteers and are good for beginners.
Benefits:
- Budget-friendly
- Good for basic speaking and listening
- You can meet other learners and local people
Ask your ward office or local international center for information.
Photo credit: Kyodo News, “Free Japanese Language Classes”
Practice Japanese in Everyday Life
Japan is the best place to learn because you can use Japanese every day—at the store, train station or with neighbors.
Best practices:
- Speak as much Japanese as you can
- Keep a notebook of new words
- Watch TV or YouTube in Japanese
- Read simple books, signs and menus
Photo credit: Covue, “Using Japanese in your daily life”
Use Language Learning Apps
Apps are great for learning anytime, anywhere. You can study on the train, during breaks or before bed.
Top apps for learning Japanese:
- Duolingo – Fun and easy lessons for beginners
- Anki – Great for memorizing kanji and vocabulary
- Tandem – Talk with native Japanese speakers
- HelloTalk – Chat with Japanese people and correct each other’s messages
- LingoDeer – Grammar-focused lessons with clear explanations
Meet Japanese Speakers
Talking with native speakers helps you improve fast. Join language exchange groups or attend local events.
Tips:
- Search for language events near your location
- Offer to help someone with your language in return
- Don’t worry about mistakes, just try!
Set Small Goals
You don’t have to be perfect. Start with small, clear goals like:
- Learning hiragana and katakana
- Passing the JLPT N5 or N4
- Having a 5-minute conversation in Japanese
- Learning 10 kanji per week
Learning Japanese while living in Japan is a big advantage. Use schools, local programs, apps and daily practice to improve step by step. The most important thing is to stay curious and keep trying. Every word you learn brings you closer to feeling truly at home in Japan.
Stay connected to your loved ones back home
Even with your busy life in Japan, working, studying, or both, it’s still easy to stay close to your loved ones back home. Smiles Mobile Remittance, Japan’s “absolute number one” mobile remittance app, lets you send money anytime, anywhere using just your smartphone. Whether you’re on a quick break between classes or heading home after work, Smiles offers fast, safe, and simple service with excellent exchange rates and 24/7 multilingual customer support. With its easy-to-use app and friendly support, Smiles helps you care for your family while you focus on building your future in Japan.
If you want to know more about learning Japanese, check out these blogs from Smiles:
