Schools/Tokyo/
Sendagaya Japanese Language School
Tokyo
·Takadanobaba
Sendagaya Japanese Language School
千駄ヶ谷日本語学校
Pre-university course
1,000 admissions yearly
Dorms near the school
About the school
The Sendagaya group is one of the oldest and largest groups of Japanese language schools in Tokyo, running since 1975. Its main school in Takadanobaba offers a university preparatory course recognized by Japan’s Ministry of Education for students with 11 years of school, and the group sends about 1,000 graduates to Japanese universities, graduate schools and colleges every year.
Founded1975
Students from60+ countries
Course length18 months – 2 years
IntakesApr · Oct
What makes it different
A route to a Japanese university after 11 years of school
Sendagaya Japanese College is one of about 30 language schools in Japan with a 準備教育課程 preparatory course recognized by the Ministry of Education. If your school system has 11 years, it is a direct route into a Japanese university without first spending a year at a university at home. The group has 50 years of experience, more than 25,000 graduates and about 1,000 admissions to Japanese universities, graduate schools and colleges every year.
University admissions
About 1,000 admissions a year
In the 2025 academic year: 577 university places, 190 graduate school places and 196 college places. Universities include Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Tohoku, Waseda, Keio and Sophia.
After 11 years of school
A preparatory course that counts as year 12
The 準備教育課程 course counts as the 12th year of education and opens the way to Japanese universities. Besides Japanese it covers maths, science, social studies and English.
Support
Advice in 10 languages
Staff advise on study, choosing a university, paperwork, housing and part-time work in 10 languages. There is a 24-hour emergency contact.
University links
70+ recommendation places a year
Designated recommendation places (指定校推薦) from universities, graduate schools and colleges, a special selection for the Teikyo University group, and auditing-student programs at Hosei, Showa and Bunka Gakuen universities.
The Sendagaya Japanese Institute Group (千駄ヶ谷日本語教育研究所グループ) was founded in 1975 as an institute for the Japanese language and teacher training. Today it runs three schools for international students: the main Sendagaya Japanese College (千駄ヶ谷日本語学校) in Takadanobaba (Shinjuku), a school for graduate-school preparation (千駄ヶ谷日本語教育研究所付属日本語学校) nearby in Nakaochiai, and 千駄ヶ谷外語学院 in quiet Komagome on the Yamanote Line. In half a century more than 25,000 people have graduated from the group’s schools.
The main school in Takadanobaba is one of about 30 Japanese language schools with a 準備教育課程 (Junbi Kyoiku Katei) preparatory course recognized by Japan’s Ministry of Education. It is for students with 11 years of school: the course counts as the missing 12th year and makes you eligible for Japanese universities. Besides Japanese, it covers maths, science, social studies and English, preparation for the EJU and the JLPT, academic writing and interviews. Classes are split into 9 levels.
The group is known for its admission results: in the 2025 academic year graduates won 577 university places, 190 graduate-school places and 196 vocational-college places, including the universities of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, Waseda, Keio and Sophia. Every year the school receives more than 70 recommendation places (指定校推薦) from universities and colleges, and it is part of the Teikyo University educational group. Students get support in 10 languages, and the school has its own dormitories a few minutes away.
Programs
University and college preparation — 準備教育課程 (Sendagaya Japanese College)
For students who want to enter a Japanese university or college, including after 11 years of school — the course counts as the 12th year of education. Japanese from zero to advanced (9 levels), maths, science, social studies, English, EJU and JLPT preparation, academic writing and interview practice.
Whole course¥1,281,000 – ¥1,666,000
Graduate school preparation (付属日本語学校)
For university graduates who plan to enter a Japanese graduate school. Logical writing and speaking, intercultural communication, writing a research plan (研究計画書) and presentations; the goal is JLPT N1 or higher.
Whole course, 2 years¥1,650,000
Japanese for work — Sendagaya in Komagome (千駄ヶ谷外語学院)
For students who want to work in Japan or use Japanese in their career after the course. Conversational Japanese, business Japanese (CVs, interviews, business letters and documents), JLPT preparation (goal: N2 or higher) and electives. Free job-hunting support with no limits, both while you study and after you graduate.
Whole course¥1,211,000 – ¥1,576,000
First-year costs
Application fee¥20,000
Enrollment fee¥60,000
Tuition, first year¥740,000
Other fees, first year¥76,000
Total, first year¥896,000
Whole course, 2 years — ¥1,666,000
Payment terms and extra costs
Scholarships and discounts
JASSO scholarship (学習奨励費) — ¥30,000 a month
1 year or 6 months, 15–20 students a year, selected in April. The school nominates students with high attendance and good grades.
Private foundation scholarships — ¥60,000–¥100,000 a month
Kyoritsu Maintenance — ¥60,000 a month (1 year or 6 months); Takayama International Education Foundation — ¥100,000 a month (1 year). A few students a year, selected in December.
JASSO scholarship reserved for university — ¥48,000 a month
Through the 留学生受入れ促進プログラム program: 10–20 students a year, selected at the end of January. You receive it for 1 year after you enter a university or college. The school also gives a one-off ¥10,000 award to students admitted to top universities and graduate schools.
Intakes
April Main intake
All three schools: 準備教育課程 (2 years), graduate school preparation (2 years) and the work course in Komagome (2 years). Start preparing your documents about 6 months ahead — by October of the year before.
July Summer intake
Graduate school preparation (1 year 9 months) and the work course in Komagome (1 year 9 months). Apply about 6 months ahead, by January.
October Autumn intake
All three schools: 準備教育課程 (1 year 6 months), graduate school preparation (1 year 6 months) and the work course (1 year 6 months). Apply about 6 months ahead, by April.
January Winter intake
Graduate school preparation only (1 year 3 months). Apply about 6 months ahead, by July. The school files applications with immigration 4–5 months before the course starts.
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
School dormitories around Takadanobaba
¥129,000 – ¥189,000 / 3 monthsutilities included (about ¥43,000–¥63,000 a month)
Four school dormitories (Takadanobaba, Takadanobaba No. 1, Shimo-Ochiai and Yoyogi-Uehara) with rooms for 1–2 people in shared flats, some of them 1 minute from the school. Free internet, no meals, rent paid every 3 months. On moving in: booking fee ¥33,000, move-in fee ¥11,000 and deposit ¥66,000.
Partner dormitory
Partner dormitories with meals
¥258,000 / 3 monthsTrusty Kasai, 16 m² single room, utilities included (about ¥86,000 a month)
Five partner dormitories (Kasai, Nishi-Kasai, Tanashi, Higashi-Murayama) with private rooms; some offer breakfast and dinner on weekdays with meal tickets. They are further from the school, so you commute by train.
Apartments and share houses
Takadanobaba is a student area next to Waseda University, with plenty of affordable apartments and share houses. School staff advise on housing and daily life.
Photos and videos
Location
Takadanobaba campus: 1-1-6 Shimo-Ochiai, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 161-0033 — about 5 minutes on foot from Takadanobaba Station (JR Yamanote Line, Tozai subway line, Seibu Shinjuku Line). Komagome campus: 1-13-11 Komagome, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0003 — 5 minutes from Komagome Station (JR Yamanote Line).
Questions about Sendagaya Japanese Language School
Can I start with no Japanese at all?
Yes, all the group’s schools have beginner classes. But for a student visa you need to show at least 150 hours of Japanese study before you apply. When you arrive, a placement test puts you into one of 9 levels.
I have 11 years of school. Can I enter a Japanese university?
Yes. That is what the 準備教育課程 course at Sendagaya Japanese College (Takadanobaba) is for: it is recognized by Japan’s Ministry of Education and counts as the missing 12th year of education. The course lasts 2 years (April intake) or 1 year 6 months (October intake).
How much does the first year cost?
At Sendagaya Japanese College the first year is ¥896,000: selection fee ¥20,000, enrollment fee ¥60,000, tuition ¥740,000 and other costs ¥76,000. The second year is ¥770,000, so 2 years cost ¥1,666,000 and 1 year 6 months ¥1,281,000. At Sendagaya in Komagome the first year is ¥846,000 and 2 years ¥1,576,000.
How are the Takadanobaba and Komagome schools different?
Takadanobaba is a large school for entry to universities and colleges (the 準備教育課程 course, April and October intakes). Komagome is a small school of about 100 students that focuses on spoken and business Japanese and job-hunting support (April, July and October intakes). For graduate school there is a separate school, 付属日本語学校, in Nakaochiai.
Is there a dormitory and how much is it?
Yes. The school dormitories around Takadanobaba cost ¥129,000 to ¥189,000 for 3 months including utilities (about ¥43,000–¥63,000 a month); on moving in you pay a ¥33,000 booking fee, a ¥11,000 move-in fee and a ¥66,000 deposit. There are also partner dormitories, some with meals. Rooms are allocated closer to the start of the course and are not guaranteed.
Can I work part-time and get a scholarship?
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). The school nominates students for the JASSO scholarship (¥30,000 a month, 15–20 students a year) and private foundation scholarships (¥60,000–¥100,000 a month), and helps you reserve a ¥48,000-a-month JASSO scholarship for your time at university.
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