Schools/Kyoto/
ISI Kyoto
Kyoto
·Enmachi, Nakagyo-ku
ISI Kyoto
ISIランゲージスクール京都校
Kansai university prep
Students from 56 countries
Dormitory near school
About the school
ISI Kyoto is the ISI group’s campus in a quiet residential area of Kyoto, 7 minutes from Enmachi Station. It offers an academic course for entry to Kansai universities, a cultural program in Japan’s ancient capital and a school dormitory 13 minutes away on foot.
Founded2017
Students from56 countries
Course length15 months – 2 years
IntakesApr · Jul · Oct · Jan
What makes it different
Study in Japan’s ancient capital and student city
Kyoto has dozens of universities, including Kyoto University, Doshisha and Ritsumeikan, so the campus suits students who want to enter universities in the Kansai region. Temples, the tea ceremony, kimono and zazen meditation become part of your studies: the school regularly runs cultural classes and trips.
University entrance
Academic Japanese for up to 2 years
8 levels from beginner to advanced. From intermediate level you choose electives: EJU and JLPT preparation, a class for graduate-school applicants and conversation practice. The school has a career guidance office and hosts university presentations.
Japanese culture
Kyoto’s cultural program
Meeting maiko, kabuki, kimono, ikebana, zazen, making Japanese kites, a samurai workshop and meetings with local schoolchildren. The campus has a Japanese tatami room for the tea ceremony and kimono.
Campus
Lounge, café and open terrace
A student lounge, library, space for self-study and group work, a café with coffee and light meals, an open terrace and a prayer room. Around the school are quiet residential streets with supermarkets and cafés nearby.
Support
A dormitory 13 minutes on foot
Enmachi International House is for students of this campus only, with a live-in manager. The average student age is 27, and students come from 56 countries (school data, April 2026).
ISI Kyoto (ISIランゲージスクール京都校) is a campus of the ISI group, one of the largest networks of Japanese language schools, with campuses in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Nagano. We also work with ISI’s Tokyo campuses, so we can help you compare Kyoto with other cities. The Kyoto campus opened in July 2017 and has places for 1,072 students; according to the school (April 2026), students come from 56 countries and the average age is 27.
The school is in the quiet residential Nakagyo ward, 7 minutes on foot from Enmachi Station (JR Sagano Line). Kyoto is a city with more than a thousand years of history and also one of Japan’s main student cities, home to Kyoto University, Doshisha, Ritsumeikan and many other universities. That makes the campus a good fit if you want to enter a university or graduate school in the Kansai region.
The program is Academic Japanese: balanced work on all skills across 8 levels, with electives matched to your goals from intermediate level. Beyond lessons, the school runs cultural classes and trips — from meeting maiko and kabuki to meditation at a temple — as well as career advice and business-etiquette seminars. An ISI dormitory with a live-in manager is close to the school.
Programs
Academic Japanese Course
For students who plan to enter a Japanese university, graduate school or vocational college, and for anyone who wants all-round Japanese. 8 levels from beginner to advanced; you take a placement test when you arrive. From intermediate level you choose electives: EJU and JLPT preparation, a class for graduate-school applicants and conversation practice. Fees for intakes from April 2027: 1 year ¥1,015,000, 6 months ¥577,500.
Whole course, 2 years¥1,890,000
Short-term General Japanese Course
For students coming without a student visa; with a sufficient level you can start in the middle of a term. Students who need a short-term visa can get an invitation letter from the school (¥20,000); a minimum enrollment of 8 weeks may be required. Apply at least 30 days before the start. Fees for the 2027 school year: 2 weeks ¥99,150, 3 weeks ¥126,850, 4 weeks ¥154,550, 5 weeks ¥164,250, 6 weeks ¥188,350, 7 weeks ¥212,450, 8 weeks ¥222,150, 9 weeks ¥228,250, 10 weeks ¥248,750, 20 weeks ¥467,500.
Whole course¥99,150 – ¥467,500
Private lessons
You choose the topic, pace and schedule. Teacher arrangement fee ¥20,000; a lesson for one student costs ¥6,000 to ¥8,000 depending on the number of lessons.
Class schedule
About 20 students per class. The school assigns your shift; you cannot choose it.
First-year costs
Application fee¥40,000
Enrollment fee¥100,000
Tuition, first year¥720,000
Other fees, first year¥155,000
Total, first year¥1,015,000
Whole course, 2 years — ¥1,890,000
Payment terms and extra costs
Scholarships and discounts
JASSO scholarship — ¥30,000 a month
For students on a student visa with at least 90% attendance over the year, excellent grades and plans to enter a Japanese university or college. The school nominates the candidates.
ISI Principal’s Award — ¥50,000
For at least 1 year of study at ISI schools, excellent grades and attendance, and strong motivation. Awarded 4 times a year.
Attendance Award — ¥30,000
For students on a student visa who complete a year at ISI with no absences and no late arrivals.
IHNO scholarship — ¥10,000–¥30,000 a month
For students on a student visa who work part-time conscientiously; the amount depends on the number of hours worked per month.
Intakes
April Main intake
April 2027: 2-year course. Applications close at the end of October 2026, or earlier if places run out.
July Summer intake
July 2027: 1 year 9 months. Apply by the end of February 2027.
October Autumn intake
October 2027: 1 year 6 months. Apply by the end of May 2027.
January Winter intake
January 2028: 1 year 3 months. Apply by the end of August 2027. You need about N5 (A1) and should be ready to move quickly to N4.
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
ISI dormitory · Kyoto campus students only
Enmachi International House
from ¥53,000 / monthsingle and twin rooms
13 minutes on foot to school and 7 minutes to Enmachi Station, with supermarkets, shops and cafés nearby. Living room, dining room, kitchen, study room and laundry. Live-in manager and security cameras.
ISI dormitory · men only
Saga-Arashiyama International House
from ¥79,000 / monthsingle rooms only
6 minutes on foot from Saga-Arashiyama Station, up to 30 minutes to school, close to the nature and sights of Arashiyama and Sagano. A small dormitory with a kitchen, dining room and laundry; an ISI student lives in as dorm leader.
Dormitory fees and terms
Rent: twin room ¥53,000 a month, single room ¥67,000–¥79,000 a month. One-off fees: entry fee ¥40,000, equipment fee ¥30,000 and cleaning ¥20,000 (single room) or ¥10,000 (twin room). Rent is paid per term (3 months): the first term costs ¥249,000 for a twin room and from ¥291,000 for a single room, plus 10% tax. Utilities and internet are included; furniture, appliances and bedding are provided; meals are not. If there are more applicants than places, rooms are allocated by lottery.
Other options
Homestay and airport pickup
Homestay with a Japanese family (breakfast and dinner): ¥7,000 a night, or ¥219,000 for 4 weeks (including the ¥30,000 arrangement fee), for up to 12 weeks; about an hour to school. The school does not offer guesthouses or weekly apartments in Kyoto. Pickup from Kansai Airport to the dormitory from ¥40,000. We can help you choose and apply for housing together with your school application.
Photos and videos
Location
6-6 Nishinokyo-Ryomachi, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8497 — 7 minutes on foot from Enmachi Station (JR Sagano / San’in Line)
Questions about ISI Kyoto
What are the entry requirements?
The school requires 12 years of school education, but students with 11 years of school are also accepted if they are 18 or older and have a secondary-school certificate. You also need Japanese at A1 level (JLPT N5), must be under 55 on 1 April 2027 and need proof that your sponsor can pay for your studies and living costs. We check your documents before they go to the school.
Can I start with no Japanese at all?
No. A student visa requires A1 level (JLPT N5). You can confirm it with an online test and an interview with a school representative when you apply. For the January intake you need about N5 and should be ready to move quickly to N4.
How much does the first year cost?
¥1,015,000 for intakes from April 2027: application fee ¥40,000, enrollment fee ¥100,000, tuition ¥720,000, and materials and maintenance ¥155,000. The whole 2-year course is ¥1,890,000. You can pay every six months — the first 6 months are ¥577,500.
How is studying in Kyoto different from Tokyo?
The program is the same as at ISI’s academic campuses in Tokyo, and fees are the same as at Ikebukuro and Takadanobaba (Academic Pathway Campus). But Kyoto is calmer: the school is in a quiet residential area, the dormitory is 13 minutes away on foot, and the cultural program is built around temples, the tea ceremony, kimono and zazen. The city suits students who want to enter Kansai universities — Kyoto University, Doshisha, Ritsumeikan and others.
Where can I live while studying?
ISI has two dormitories in Kyoto: Enmachi (13 minutes on foot to school, a place in a twin room ¥53,000 a month) and the men-only Saga-Arashiyama (single rooms from ¥79,000). Utilities are included, rent is paid per term plus 10% tax, and one-off fees of ¥80,000–¥90,000 are added the first time. You can also live with a Japanese family for ¥7,000 a night with breakfast and dinner.
Can I work while studying?
Yes. On a student visa, with permission, you can work up to 28 hours a week (8 hours a day in school holidays). You can get the permission at the airport when you arrive. Short-term course students cannot work.
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