Black background with large white letters spelling 'ICA' and smaller letters below saying 'ASK SAPPORO'.

ICA International Conversation Academy Ask Sapporo is located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, with a capacity of 80 students (as of July 2025), and opened in April 2018. With an educational philosophy of "Sharing words, connecting hearts," the school supports students who wish to find employment in Japan. It offers a Business Course, which is rare among Japanese language schools, and aims to enable students to communicate smoothly not only in everyday life but also in business situations. In addition to general Japanese, students will learn Japanese for job interviews and after working at a company, and will also learn and give presentations on various themes related to Japanese society and culture.

Front of a modern building with a sign that reads Care Future Hokkaido AskGate Japanese Language School in English and Japanese. The building has a gray and beige facade with large windows, and there are electrical wires crossing the view.
 
Text that reads 'SAPPORO' in bold white letters on a black background.

  • Sapporo is the largest city in Hokkaido, a region rich in nature. It is good size, modern city, but with a calm vibe. It is also a great location where you can enjoy both the mountains and the sea. Hokkaido is also a popular tourist destination, so many students use their school holidays to travel to various places within Hokkaido, such as Niseko, a ski resort popular around the world, Biei Furano, known for its beautiful and mysterious scenery, and Shiretoko, a World Heritage Site.

  • Although the school is small with a capacity of 80 students, it has had students from approximately 20 countries enrolled in the past. With students from various regions, not only will your Japanese language skills improve outside of class time, but you will also naturally develop the skills of "intercultural understanding" and "intercultural adjustment" that are necessary for finding employment in Japan.

  • We have staff with extensive experience in Japanese language education, so you can rest assured that you can ask for advice on not only daily life but also studies. Some staff members can speak English. More than half of our teachers have teaching experience of over 10 years. We will fully support students in their studies and daily lives.

Price

  • All are Business Courses:

    ★ 1 year and 6 month course, October enrollment: (Application fee ¥22,000 / Entrance fee ¥44,000 / Tuition ¥907,500 / Materials and equipment fee ¥84,500)
    Total: ¥1,058,000


    ★2-year course, April enrollment: (Application fee ¥22,000 / Entrance fee ¥44,000 / Tuition ¥1,210,000 / Materials and equipment fee ¥116,200)
    Total: ¥1,392,200

    *The 5% discount applies only to the first year's tuition fees.

  • None

  • Classes are held only on weekdays, with 4 lessons of 45 minutes per day, for a total of 20 lessons per week. Depending on your Japanese level and the time of enrollment, you will be assigned to either

    morning classes (9:00-12:40)
    afternoon classes (13:30-17:10)

Group of people in winter clothing and helmets standing on an indoor ice skating rink, holding hockey sticks, with curling stones in front of them, inside a venue named Hokkaido Bank Curling Stadium.

  • Enrollment period: April
    Target audience: Students who can write hiragana, katakana, and have basic Japanese language skills. Please study basic Japanese for you come to Japan.
    Goal: Aim to reach A2.1 level in the first three months.
    There is an online learning support system, so you can prepare and review in your spare time.
    Kanji textbooks are not just materials for memorizing how to read and write. We use textbooks that are designed with the intention of "using" kanji in daily life. Therefore, kanji will not just be knowledge, but will also develop practical skills.

  • Employment Japanese
    Students will learn Japanese for job hunting, job hunting customs and employment conditions in Japan. Also focusing on Japanese corporate culture and communicating with people both inside and outside the company.
    Japanese Affairs
    Students will learn about various themes such as Japanese society, the environment, traditional culture, and lifestyle. They will also compare the situation with their home countries, exchange opinions, and give presentations on the themes.

    We also provide preparation for the JLPT N3 and N2 exams. The goal is to pass N3 in December of the first year and N2 in July of the second year.

  • The school can also help students with finding a part-time job to fund their studies. They also post available local part-time jobs, and prepare you for the interview.

  • In the "Employment Japanese" class: Guidance on how to take an interview and how to write a resume. We do group guidance: Career guidance, guidance on types of work visas and job hunting schedules, and support for participation in job-hunting events for international students

Housing

  • Rent starts from 30,000 yen for a single room. Basic furniture such as a refrigerator and bed and Wi-Fi are included.

  • No need to deal with the hassle of rental contracts in Japan! The school will rent an apartment from a real estate company and rent it to students.

Access

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ICA Ask Japanese Institute