Schools/Kobe/
Communica Institute
Kobe
·Sannomiya, Chuo-ku
Communica Institute
コミュニカ学院
Since 1988
7 min from Sannomiya
JLPT fee discount
About the school
Communica Institute is a Japanese language school in central Kobe, 7 minutes from Sannomiya Station, teaching since 1988. Japanese is taught as a tool for communication between cultures, and the school’s teachers write their own textbooks.
Founded1988
Students from30+ countries
Course length6 months – 2 years
IntakesApr · Jul · Oct · Jan
What makes it different
Intercultural education and life in Kobe
Communica teaches Japanese not as a set of rules but as a tool for communication between cultures, with its own textbooks and a strong reputation for teaching methods (including projects with Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs). Add Kobe itself: a compact international port city in Kansai between the sea and the mountains, calmer and cheaper than Tokyo, and less than an hour from Osaka and Kyoto.
Teaching
An intercultural approach and the school’s own textbooks
Japanese as a tool for communication between cultures. The school’s teachers wrote the reading textbook series 読む力, and Communica is known for carefully developed teaching methods.
Location
Kobe, 7 minutes from Sannomiya
The centre of Kansai’s international port city. The sea and the mountains are close by, and Osaka and Kyoto are less than an hour away. Calmer and cheaper than Tokyo.
Savings on entry
JLPT discount on the enrollment fee
With JLPT N1 you pay no enrollment fee; with N2 you pay half. A real saving if you have already passed the exam.
International
30+ countries in a small school
About 150 students for 192 places in two shifts, from more than 30 countries and regions — a lively international mix without the crowds of the big schools.
Communica Institute (コミュニカ学院) has taught Japanese in Kobe since 1988. It is in the city centre, in Sannomiya, 7 minutes on foot from the main transport hub where the JR, Hankyu, Hanshin and Kobe subway lines meet. Kobe is a relaxed international port city with the sea and mountains close by, a mild climate and a slower pace of life than Tokyo.
The school’s defining idea is intercultural education: you study Japanese not only for exams but as a tool for real communication and everyday life in Japan. Its teaching base is strong — the school has taken part in projects of Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs, and its teachers wrote their own reading textbook series, 読む力.
The main program is a long-term course on a student visa, from beginner to advanced level (8 levels), with JLPT preparation. There are also short-term and online courses. Students come from 30+ countries, yet the school is small — about 192 places — so the atmosphere is close-knit and international.
Programs
General Japanese Course
For students who want well-rounded Japanese and preparation for the JLPT and further study. 8 levels from beginner to advanced; 4 lessons of 50 minutes a day, Monday to Friday, with your shift set by your level.
Short-term course
For people already living in Japan or coming on a tourist visa. 1 month ¥88,000, 2 months ¥144,000, 3 months ¥200,000. Textbooks are extra: ¥7,000–¥10,000 for every 3 months.
Whole course¥88,000 – ¥200,000
Online and corporate classes
Online lessons (from pre-intermediate level) for learners outside Japan, and tailor-made programs for companies and organizations.
First-year costs
Application fee¥30,000
Enrollment fee¥70,000
Tuition, first year¥800,000
Other fees, first year¥115,000
Total, first year¥1,015,000
Whole course, 2 years — about ¥1,960,000 including materials and insurance
Payment terms and extra costs
Scholarships and discounts
JLPT discount on entry — up to the full enrollment fee
JLPT N1: no enrollment fee (¥70,000).
JLPT N2: half the enrollment fee.
An official school benefit for students who arrive with the JLPT already passed.
Short-term to long-term course — half the enrollment fee
If you combine the short-term and long-term courses, the enrollment fee is halved.
Intakes
April Main intake
General Japanese Course (up to 2 years). Applications close at the end of October of the previous year; the Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) and student visa take several months.
July Summer intake
General Japanese Course. Applications close at the end of February of the same year.
October Autumn intake
General Japanese Course. Applications close at the end of April.
January Winter intake
General Japanese Course. Applications close at the end of August of the previous year. The short-term course (1–3 months) starts at each of the four intakes.
The school applies for your Certificate of Eligibility; with the visa this takes about 4–6 months. Places are limited — apply early.
Student visa. For a long-term course you study on the Student status of residence: the school applies for your Certificate of Eligibility, then you get the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate. Student visa for Japan · Which documents do I need?
Working while you study. With permission, up to 28 hours a week: Part-time work for students
Housing
From the school’s list
Share houses and dormitories
¥30,000 – ¥58,000 / month+ deposit ¥20,000–¥50,000 and utilities
Rooms of 7–15 m² in student houses in Kobe, including some for women only. Options come from the housing list on the school’s website.
From the school’s list
Apartments and student residences
about ¥36,000 – ¥85,000 / monthdepending on size and area
Private apartments of 16–30 m² and student residences, some near Sannomiya and Motomachi. A bedding set is available for ¥8,900 if you want one.
Living in Kobe
Kobe is more compact and relaxed than Tokyo, with a lower cost of living. The sea and the mountains are minutes away, and Osaka and Kyoto are less than an hour by train.
Photos and videos
Location
116-2 Higashimachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0031 — 7 minutes on foot from Sannomiya Station (JR / Hankyu / Hanshin / Kobe subway)
Questions about Communica Institute
Can I start with no Japanese at all?
No. The school accepts students from JLPT N5 level. You can confirm N5 through an online test and an interview with a school representative when you apply. Students with no Japanese at all are not accepted.
What education do I need?
The school accepts students who have completed 12 years of education, or who are eligible to enter university in their home country. If you have fewer years of school, we will check with the school for your situation.
How much does it cost, and are there discounts?
The first year is ¥1,015,000: application fee ¥30,000, enrollment fee ¥70,000, tuition ¥800,000 and other costs ¥115,000. The second year is ¥925,000. The whole 2-year course with materials and insurance is about ¥1,960,000. With JLPT N1 you pay no enrollment fee; with N2 you pay half.
Where will I live, and how much does it cost?
The school’s website has a list of housing: share houses and dormitories from ¥30,000 a month, and private apartments and student residences at about ¥36,000–¥85,000 a month, plus a deposit and utilities. Living in Kobe is generally cheaper than in Tokyo.
Can I work while studying?
Yes. With a student visa and permission from immigration you can work up to 28 hours a week (8 hours a day in school holidays).
Why study in Kobe rather than Tokyo?
Kobe is a compact international port city: the sea and mountains are minutes away, the climate is mild, the pace is calmer and the cost of living is lower. Osaka and Kyoto are less than an hour by train, so all of Kansai is within reach.
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