Schools/Tokyo/
Linguage Japanese Language School
Tokyo
·Nishi-Shinjuku
Linguage Japanese Language School
リンゲージ日本語学校
University graduates only
Job-hunting support
3 min from Shinjuku
About the school
A Japanese school for people who want to work in Japan. Linguage accepts only university graduates (16 years of education) and teaches business Japanese and etiquette, with job-hunting support — 3 minutes from Shinjuku Station.
Founded2017
Course length12–21 months
IntakesApr · Jul · Oct · Jan
What makes it different
Japanese for work — for university graduates only
Linguage accepts only students with at least 16 years of education, in other words a university degree. The school prepares you to work at a Japanese company: business Japanese and etiquette, job-hunting classes, sessions with a certified career consultant and mock interviews — in the Nishi-Shinjuku business district, 3 minutes from Shinjuku Station.
Admission
University graduates only
You need at least 16 years of education: a bachelor’s or specialist degree, or graduating from university in the year you enroll. You cannot enter this school straight after secondary school or college.
Careers
Built around working in Japan
Business Japanese, business manners, CVs, self-presentation and mock interviews. One-to-one sessions with a career consultant and meetings with graduates who already work in Japan.
Classes
Small groups and an iPad for everyone
No more than 20 students per class and about 60 in the whole school. Digital textbooks, online tests and assignments, role plays and project work.
Location
Nishi-Shinjuku business district
The school is on the 11th floor of an office building among skyscrapers and company headquarters, 3 minutes from Shinjuku Station. It was founded by Zenken, a company that has taught languages since 1975.
Linguage Japanese Language School (リンゲージ日本語学校) opened in October 2017. It was founded by Zenken, a company that has provided corporate language training since 1975. The school is on the 11th floor of an office building in Nishi-Shinjuku — a district of skyscrapers and company headquarters — 3 minutes on foot from the west exit of Shinjuku Station.
The school’s main goal is to prepare you for work at a Japanese company, so it accepts only university graduates (at least 16 years of education). Alongside general Japanese (reading, listening, writing and speaking) the program covers business Japanese and etiquette, role plays and workplace situations, project work and company visits. Every student uses an iPad in class: digital textbooks, online tests and assignments.
Job-hunting support is a separate strand: classes on self-analysis, CVs and self-presentation, sessions with a certified career consultant, mock interviews, meetings with graduates and help registering with recruitment agencies. The school is small — 57 students as of July 2026.
Programs
Comprehensive Japanese Course (日本語総合コース)
For university graduates (at least 16 years of education) who want to work in Japan or for a Japanese company at home, pass JLPT N1 or enter a Japanese vocational college. Reading, listening, writing and speaking, business Japanese and etiquette, vocabulary and kanji for work, project work and company visits. Classes of up to 20, an iPad for every student.
Whole course, 1 year (April)¥913,440
Business Japanese Course (ビジネス日本語コース)
For people already living in Japan on another (non-student) visa who want to improve their business Japanese. ¥67,100 a month; for students starting from April 2027 — ¥77,000 a month (including tax, excluding the enrollment fee).
Job-hunting support
For Comprehensive Course students who plan to work in Japan after graduating. Classes on self-analysis, CVs, business writing and self-presentation; one-to-one sessions with a certified career consultant; CV and application form checks; mock interviews with feedback; meetings with graduates who work in Japan; help registering with recruitment agencies and preparing for the Specified Skilled Worker (特定技能) visa exams.
First-year costs
Application fee¥33,000
Enrollment fee¥33,000
Tuition, first year¥726,000
Other fees, first year¥121,440
Total, first year¥913,440
Whole course, 1 year (April) — ¥913,440
Payment terms and extra costs
Scholarships and discounts
Linguage scholarship — ¥200,000
Covers one term’s tuition (¥200,000 is deducted from the first-year fees); several students receive it every term. For university graduates under 26 at the time of applying, with JLPT N2 (humanities) or N3 (science and engineering), who want to work in Japan after graduating and will study at the school for at least 1 year. Selection by JLPT, essay and interview.
Intakes
April Main intake
1-year course, up to 80 students. Applications for April 2027 close in mid-October 2026. It takes about 6 months from application to visa.
July Summer intake
1 year 9 months. Apply by mid-February.
October Autumn intake
1 year 6 months. Apply by mid-May.
January Winter intake
1 year 3 months. Apply by mid-August of the previous year. Selection for every intake: documents, an online interview and an online Japanese test.
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
No school dormitory
The school has no dormitory of its own. Students find housing themselves or through agencies — usually close to the start of the course, after the immigration result.
Private rental
Apartments and share houses
¥40,000–¥70,000 / monthtypical rent, according to the school
Share houses and small apartments in areas on lines that run to Shinjuku (Chuo, Keio, Odakyu, Seibu-Shinjuku, and the Marunouchi and Oedo subway lines). Most residential areas are 10–30 minutes from Shinjuku.
Living costs
The school estimates average living costs at ¥100,000–¥150,000 a month: rent ¥40,000–¥70,000, food ¥20,000–¥30,000, mobile phone about ¥5,000, plus transport. Shinjuku is Tokyo’s largest business district, so part-time work near school is easier to find.
Photos and videos
Location
Zenken Plaza II 11F, 1-3-13 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-0023 — 3 minutes on foot from exit B16 of Shinjuku Station (west exit, JR and subway)
Questions about Linguage Japanese Language School
Who can apply to Linguage?
University graduates only: the admission rules require at least 16 years of education counted from primary school (a bachelor’s or specialist degree, or graduating from university in the year you enroll). With only a secondary school certificate or a college diploma you cannot apply here — a school with a university preparation course is a better fit.
Can I start with no Japanese at all?
Not from complete zero. You need basic Japanese: the school asks you to arrive with about 150 hours of study. If you want to find a job after one year of study, JLPT N3 or higher on arrival is recommended.
How much does the first year cost?
For students starting from April 2027 the first year costs ¥913,440 including tax: application fee ¥33,000, enrollment fee ¥33,000, tuition ¥726,000 and other costs ¥121,440. The April course lasts exactly 1 year. Ask us for the cost of the extra months for the July, October and January intakes.
Does the school help me find a job?
Yes, that is the school’s main speciality: job-hunting classes (CVs, self-presentation, researching companies), career consultant sessions, mock interviews, meetings with working graduates and help registering with recruitment agencies. The school does not guarantee a job, though.
Is there a dormitory?
The school has no dormitory of its own. According to the school, rent is about ¥40,000–¥70,000 a month and total living costs ¥100,000–¥150,000 a month. Housing is usually arranged close to the start of the course, after the immigration result.
Can I work part-time, and are there scholarships?
With a student visa and permission you can work up to 28 hours a week (8 hours a day in school holidays). There is the Linguage scholarship of ¥200,000 (one term’s tuition) for university graduates under 26 with JLPT N2 or N3 who want to work in Japan.
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