Schools/Chiba/
Ichikawa Japanese Language Institute
Chiba
·Motoyawata, Ichikawa
Ichikawa Japanese Language Institute
市川日本語学院
Dorms from ¥26,000
20 min to Tokyo
Places at 12 universities
About the school
Ichikawa Japanese Language Institute is in Ichikawa, just across the Tokyo border: 3 minutes from Motoyawata Station and about 20 minutes to Tokyo Station. Teaching since 1989, with recommended places at 12 universities and dormitories from ¥26,000 a month.
Founded1989
Students from20 countries
Course length15 months – 2 years
IntakesApr · Jul · Oct · Jan
What makes it different
Next to Tokyo — and much cheaper
The school is in Ichikawa, the city next to Tokyo: 3 minutes from Motoyawata Station and about 20 minutes to Tokyo Station. A place in the school dormitory costs from ¥26,000 a month — roughly half the price of a typical room in Tokyo. The school has been teaching since 1989 and offers recommended places at 12 Japanese universities.
University entrance
Recommended places at 12 universities
Designated-school recommendation places (指定校推薦) at Toyo, Kokushikan, Josai International, Reitaku, Meikai, Shumei, Keiai and other universities. According to the school, everyone who wants to continue their studies gets in.
Housing
Dormitories from ¥26,000 / month
A men’s dormitory in Funabashi and a women’s dormitory in Ichikawa — rooms for 2–5 people, with a kitchen, bedding and Wi-Fi.
Location
20 minutes to Tokyo Station
The school is 3–5 minutes from three stations: Motoyawata (JR Sobu Line and Toei Shinjuku Line) and Keisei-Yawata. Narita Airport is about an hour away.
Experience
Since 1989, students from 20 countries
The school has been running for more than 35 years. Students come from 20 countries, and advisers help with study, university applications and life in Japan.
Ichikawa Japanese Language Institute (市川日本語学院) has taught Japanese to international students since 1989. It is in Ichikawa (Chiba Prefecture), which borders Tokyo: 3–5 minutes on foot from three stations — Motoyawata (JR Sobu Line and Toei Shinjuku Line) and Keisei-Yawata. Tokyo Station is about 20 minutes away and Narita Airport about an hour. Life here is quieter and noticeably cheaper than in Tokyo, with everything the capital offers a few stops away.
The main program is a long-term course on a student visa of up to 2 years, aiming at JLPT N1. Levels change every 6 months: beginners study in the afternoon, intermediate and advanced levels in the morning. Students heading to university get intensive classes in EJU general subjects and mathematics, one-to-one advice, university fairs and interview practice.
According to the school, every student who wanted to continue studying got into a university or vocational college. The school has designated-school recommendation places (指定校推薦) at 12 universities and colleges, including Toyo, Kokushikan, Josai International and Reitaku, and graduates have gone on to graduate schools at Waseda, Meiji, Kyoto University, Tokyo Institute of Technology and Tsukuba. Students come from 20 countries, and the school has its own dormitories for men and for women.
Programs
Long-term course on a student visa
Six-month levels from beginner to advanced, aiming at JLPT N1, with speech contests and JLPT preparation for the July and December exams. Intermediate and advanced classes run Monday to Friday 9:00–12:20, beginners 13:30–16:50.
Whole course¥1,025,000 – ¥1,592,000
University preparation
For students going on to a university, vocational college or graduate school: intensive classes in EJU general subjects and mathematics, meetings with universities and fairs, one-to-one advice, help with documents, interview practice and the visa change after admission. Recommended places at 12 universities.
Short course (up to 90 days)
For people who want to study in Japan during their holidays; you join the classes of the main course. You can stay in the school dormitory by arrangement. 4 weeks ¥65,000, 8 weeks ¥105,000, 12 weeks ¥140,000.
Whole course¥65,000 – ¥140,000
Course for residents of Japan
For people who already have a valid visa: you join main-course classes after a placement test and pay month by month. There is a free trial day.
First-year costs
Application fee¥20,000
Enrollment fee¥60,000
Tuition, first year¥720,000
Other fees, first year¥36,000
Total, first year¥836,000
Whole course, 2 years — ¥1,592,000
Payment terms and extra costs
Scholarships and discounts
Scholarships — on request
The school’s official website lists no scholarships of its own. Language-school students with good attendance and grades can be nominated by their school for the JASSO scholarship for Japanese language school students (¥30,000 a month) — ask us whether places are available and what the conditions are.
Intakes
April Main intake
2-year course. Applications from 1 September to 31 October of the previous year (for April 2027 — by 31 October 2026).
July Summer intake
1 year 9 months course. Applications from 1 to 28 (29) February.
October Autumn intake
1 year 6 months course. Applications from 1 March to 30 April.
January Winter intake
1 year 3 months course. Applications from 1 to 31 August. Immigration takes about 3 months to review the documents.
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
School dormitory
Women’s dormitory in Ichikawa
¥31,000 / month+ about ¥7,000 utilities
About 15 minutes on foot from the school, rooms for 2–3 people, 40 places in total. Kitchen, washing machine, living room, beds with bedding and Wi-Fi.
School dormitory
Men’s dormitory in Funabashi
¥26,000 / month+ about ¥5,000 utilities
5 minutes from Funabashi Station and about 20 minutes to the school, rooms for 2–5 people, 50 places in total. Same facilities as the women’s dormitory.
Moving in
Move-in fee ¥50,000 plus a ¥40,000 deposit. The contract is for 6 months and renews automatically. Places are allocated closer to arrival and are not guaranteed; prices are from the school’s website — we will confirm them with you before you move in.
Photos and videos
Location
5-10-5 Minami-Yawata, Ichikawa-shi, Chiba 272-0023 — about 3 minutes on foot from the south exit of Motoyawata Station (JR Sobu Line), 5 minutes from Motoyawata Station (Toei Shinjuku Line) and Keisei-Yawata Station
Questions about Ichikawa Japanese Language Institute
Is the school in Tokyo?
No, it is in Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, which borders Tokyo. The school is 3–5 minutes from Motoyawata and Keisei-Yawata stations, Tokyo Station is about 20 minutes away, and you can reach Shinjuku without changing trains on the Toei Shinjuku Line. Housing and daily life are cheaper here than in Tokyo.
Can I start with no Japanese at all?
Yes, there are beginner classes, which study in the afternoon. But for a student visa you need to start learning Japanese before you apply and prove it with documents. On arrival there is a placement test to put you in the right level.
How much does it cost?
The first year is ¥836,000: application fee ¥20,000, enrollment fee ¥60,000, tuition ¥720,000 and other costs ¥36,000. The second year is ¥756,000, ¥1,592,000 for 2 years in total. The 1 year 6 months course is ¥1,214,000 and the 1 year 3 months course ¥1,025,000. Textbooks are extra.
Is there a dormitory, and how much is it?
Yes, the school has two: a women’s dormitory in Ichikawa (¥31,000 a month + about ¥7,000 utilities) and a men’s dormitory in Funabashi (¥26,000 a month + about ¥5,000). Rooms are for 2–5 people. When you move in you pay a ¥50,000 fee and a ¥40,000 deposit.
I have 11 years of school. Can I go on to a Japanese university afterwards?
The school helps with university entrance: advice, university fairs, EJU and interview preparation, and recommended places (指定校推薦) at 12 universities. But Japanese universities usually require 12 years of education, and the school’s website lists no pre-university preparatory course (準備教育課程) — if you have 11 years of school, talk to us about your route before you apply.
Can I work while studying?
With a student visa and permission from immigration you can work up to 28 hours a week (8 hours a day in school holidays). You can apply for the permission at the airport when you arrive.
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