Logo of KJLS Kyoto Japanese Language School in black and white.

KJLS (Kyoto Japanese Language School) was founded in 1950, and is the second oldest Japanese language school in Japan. Situated near the Kyoto Gosho Imperial Palace, KJLS is conveniently located in the heart of Kyoto, the treasure trove of Japanese culture. KJLS offers educational opportunities for international students, business people, diplomats and their families, as well as short-term casual language learners. Small sized classes (13-18 students) are ideal for making friends, receiving individual attention, and getting answers to any questions you have. Jeff Berglund, the principal of KJLS, is a graduate of this school (1969) and with more than half a century of living in Kyoto and nearly 400 video clips about Kyoto on the internet, is a role model for our students.

Front view of a multi-story concrete building with multiple windows, bicycles parked outside, and a sign in Japanese indicating it is a Christian center in Kyoto.
 
The image features the word 'KYOTO' in bold, white letters on a black background.

  • Heritage Sites, and more than 70 traditional Japanese crafts, Kyoto is still thought of as the cultural and spiritual capital of Japan. Laid out in a grid pattern with streets running east and west, north and south, it is really easy to get around in Kyoto. KJLS is conveniently located along one of the two main subway lines. The ancient capital of Nara as well as the vibrant cities of Osaka and Kobe are located within less than an hour by train from Kyoto. Kyoto has an almost magical appeal that will surely capture your heart.

  • KJLS welcomes students from all over the world and we have students from over 20 countries, with slightly more students from Europe and the North America. Kyoto is really popular with both domestic and international travelers, with more than 50 million tourists visiting Kyoto in 2023. Kyoto is not too big and not too small, with a population of nearly one and a half million and an area of more than 827 square kilometers. Kyoto has 36 four-year universities and two-year colleges, which are very popular with international students. Kyoto truly has an "international" atmosphere.

  • The teachers of KJLS are fantastic! Using the "direct method" of teaching Japanese in Japanese, each student feels comfortable using Japanese at their own level. Kyoto Japanese Language School is unique in having a bilingual American principal who not only graduated from this school, but also has resided in Kyoto for more than a half century. The English-speaking staff can help you with visa matters, finding a place to live, getting a part-time job, or any other issues that may arise during your time at KJLS.

Price

  • Intensive course/Long term

    6 months: 484,200 yen
    12 months: 880,400 yen
    18 months: 1,276,600 yen
    24 months: 1,672,800 yen

    *The prices above include screening fee, registration fee, tuition fee (textbooks, educational material fee, on an excursion, welfare costs, facilities and class activity fee, and insurance fee)
    *Enrollment start date April and October

  • Intensive course/Short term: Student visa not needed. Tourist visa is adequate.

    10 weeks : 247,500 yen

    The price above includes registration fee and tuition fee (textbooks, educational material fee, on an excursion, welfare costs, facilities and class activity fee.)
    Tourist visa students cannot receive national health insurance. Please have tourist insurance that can be used in Japan.

    Summer Intensive course: This course is held for two weeks every year from late July to early August. Please enter Japan on visas such as Temporary Visitor visa (Tourist visa)

    2 weeks : 88,000 yen

    The price above includes registration fee and tuition fee (textbooks, educational material fee, on an excursion, welfare costs, facilities and class activity fee.) Tourist visa students cannot receive national health insurance. Please have tourist insurance that can be used in Japan.

  • Depending on your level of Japanese, classes will be in the morning or afternoon, and a total of 20 hours/week.

    Morning class:
    Monday to Friday
    9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
    Or
    Afternoon class:
    Monday to Friday
    1:15 PM - 4:45 PM

    Summer Intensive course
    Monday to Friday
    9:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Group of young people dressed in traditional Japanese festival costumes, holding poles and wearing face masks, participating in a cultural event or parade on a street.

  • Beginner Students: As practical training, students will work on assignments both on and off campus and interact with a variety of people. Through these practical activities, students aim to acquire basic Japanese language skills.
    Please prepare in advance so that you can read and write hiragana and katakana.
    Please study at about JLPTN5 level before enrolling. (Those who are planning to obtain a student visa and have not yet graduated from university must submit a certificate of passing the Japanese Language Proficiency Test N5 or a certificate of study of 150 hours or more excluding self-study.)

  • Intermediate/Advanced Students: Those who are deemed suitable for the intermediate class will enroll in the "Culture and Arts Class," and those who are deemed suitable for the advanced class will enroll in the "Society and Business Class."
    At the intermediate level, students will study culture itself, and at the advanced level, they will study the culture behind business, ensuring steady improvement in their Japanese language skills.

  • 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.

  • We support students in finding employment and continuing on to further education while they are enrolled in our school.
    In particular, students on student visas who meet certain conditions can obtain a job-hunting visa for up to one year with a recommendation from the school to the Immigration office.

Housing

  • This is a contract apartment.
    Prices are subject to change, so please use the prices shown on the website as a reference and contact us for more details.

    Long-term occupancy: 4 months or more / 1 year contract
    Security deposit: 1 month rent (Refunded when leaving after a stay of 10 months or more)
    Room: 6 Tatami ＋unit bath ¥47,000
    Water cost: ¥2,000/month
    Garbage disposal fee: ¥500/month
    Fire insurance fee: ¥6,000/year
    Electricity and Gas are charged separately

    Short-term occupancy: Up to 4 months / monthly contract
    Rent: ¥57,000/month
    Utility costs: ¥12,000
    In case of short-term rent, a separate cleaning fee of ¥15,000 is charged when moving in.

    The departure date will be decided upon signing the contract. We can not extend the contract.
    If there is a possibility of extension it will be a one-year contract.

    The apartment is owned by our school. It is the closest apartment to our school. The entire building houses 18 people. Other residents, besides students of our school, are foreign university students or foreigners working in Japan.

  • We can also help with homestay arrangements and information from real estate agencies. These real estate agencies have staff speaking foreign languages, so you can communicate without worries.

Access

A diverse group of students sitting around a long table in a classroom, smiling and making peace signs. There are notebooks, papers, and drinks on the table, with a clock and an educational poster on the wall behind them.
Graphic with the word 'CONTACT', where the 'O' is replaced by a red circle.

Kyoto Japanese Language School