Costs in Japan

So, how much will it cost you to study in Japan? A fortune? Well, not quite, but you should try and work out what your likely expenses are going to be. Even if you are already living in Japan, it can be useful to work out where your money is going to - keeping control of your expenditure can help you prolong your stay in Japan.

Tuition

Tuition fees vary by school of course. Those in areas where there is more competition, for example Tokyo, tend to be cheaper, although the competition generally does not have the effect of making the schools any better. Be wary of very cheap schools - but be wary of all Japanese Language Schools. Don't make any hasty decisions on the basis of price alone.

In general, you will be paying between 600,000 yen and 1,000,000 yen for tuition alone for one year, although for this money the number of hours you get in the classroom will vary. Some schools might appear cheaper on the surface, but offer less hours than an apparently more expensive school. Also remember that you may also be paying more for smaller class sizes, better teaching and better infrastructure.

Short term courses vary, and you will probably pay between 80,000 and 140,000 yen per month tuition. Again, do not just assume that because the tuition fee is lower, you get better value for money. Check the number of class hours, what is counted as a class hour (in some cases, orientations, graduation ceremonies etc are all included), and so on.

Accommodation

This can be one of the most expensive aspects of study in Japan, and not initially apparent when you are looking at a school. The problem with accommodation is not always just the rent, but the associated charges. You should always take into account whether your school provides you with accommodation, or whether you will have to find it yourself. If you look for your own accommodation, which in itself poses its own problems, you should be aware that the charges for entering an apartment can be very steep in Japan. The entrance charges for renting an apartment average 4 months' rent (but can be up to 6 months'), and you probably won't see any of that back when you leave. Schools that can provide you with good accommodation should be considered seriously. Check the accommodation page for details, but as a rough guide expect to pay around 50,000 yen to 80,000 yen per month rent for a single one-room apartment with private facilities.

Living expenses

This may not figure clearly in your initial calculations, but if you are not careful, you can easily spend far more than you need to. Obviously, life in the larger cities may be more fun, but everything will cost you that little bit more. Food and related expenses can be in the range of a couple of hundred yen to 1000 yen per meal or even more - most set lunches will cost you about 500 to 700 yen, but the price will vary depending on where in Japan you are. Transport can quickly add a lot to your expenses: consider carefully how much it will cost you getting to and from school. All in all, you should budget for about 15,000 yen per week living expenses (not including tuition and accommodation) for long-term stays, and about 20,000 yen per week for shorter stays. The amount, of course, will vary considerably according to your lifestyle.

Other expenses

You should try to find out what other expenses the school, or life in that area will incur. These may include all or some of the following:

• Text books and other study materials
• Charges for compulsory lessons/excursions/events
• Extra charges/non-returnable deposits related to accommodation
• Transport costs from accommodation to school
• Insurance and other expenses related to health

A last word would be to check refund policies carefully. Most schools do not have them - that is, they do not refund anything.