Best Japanese language study plan for future students in Japan

2026/02/22

If you’re planning to study in Japan, having a basic foundation in Japanese is highly recommended and sometimes required by language schools. The most effective way to prepare is to follow a clear Japanese language study plan before departure.

This article shows you how to build that plan step by step, based on Nihongo Online School’s methodology and the preparation paths of our students.

How to create a Japanese study plan

A Japanese language study plan is not just a simple weekly schedule. Before blocking time in your calendar, four key elements should be clearly defined.

• Your current level: Knowing your level is the foundation of any study plan. This can be assessed through JLPT practice tests or a level check with a teacher before starting Nihongo Online School’s program.
• Your target level: “Learn Japanese before going to Japan” is not a concrete plan. Your goal needs to be specific and actionable (a level to reach, a deadline to meet, or a certificate to obtain).
• Your available timeline: Review your real weekly schedule and identify the time slots you can realistically commit to over several months.
• Your lesson and homework balance: A common mistake is moving from one lesson to the next without consolidating what has already been learned. Incorporating regular review sessions into your plan is essential.

How many hours per day should I study Japanese to reach my goal?

The number of hours you need to study each day depends on your target level and your deadline.

Based on data from over 1,000 students, learners at Nihongo Online School typically progress by about one conversation level every six months when studying consistently with two 60-minute lessons per week.

Current level → Target level	Lesson hours	Homework	Duration
Beginner → N5	~100–150 hours total	~2h per lesson hour	6~12 months
JLPT N5 → N4	50~75 hours	~2h per lesson hour	~6 months
JLPT N4 → N3	50~75 hours	~2h per lesson hour	4~6 months
JLPT N3 → N2	50~75 hours	~2h per lesson hour	4~6 months
JLPT N2 → advanced	50~75 hours	~2h per lesson hour	6~9 months

Based on these averages, you can estimate how many hours to study per day using a simple formula: total hours needed ÷ weeks available = hours per week.

Example: Aiming for N5 in 6 months, starting from zero

• Target: ~150 total study hours
• Available time: 6 months ≈ 26 weeks
• Hours needed per week: 150 ÷ 26 ≈ 6 hours per week
• Split across 3 study days: ≈ 2 hours per day

How to get admission in a Japanese language school

Japanese language school admission requirements are largely regulated by the Japanese Immigration Bureau. Understanding them early is essential to building a Japanese language study plan that aligns with application deadlines.

Key requirements:

• Be at least 17 years old
• Have completed secondary education in the home country
• Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility through the target school
• Show proof of at least 150 hours of prior Japanese language study

The 150-hour requirement is the key factor that most directly shapes the preparation timeline, as it roughly corresponds to the study time needed to reach JLPT N5 level.

Whether a 150 hours Japanese certificate is required for admission is the key factor that most directly shapes the preparation timeline, as it roughly corresponds to the study time needed to reach JLPT N5 level.

Many of our students enroll with the objective of having a Japanese language course online delivering a certificate for admission to a Japanese language school. We help them structure an efficient Japanese language study plan to reach this requirement on time while building a solid beginner foundation in Japanese.

Can I learn Japanese in 3 months to be ready for admission?

Completing the 150-hour Japanese study requirement in three months is possible, but it requires an intensive study plan and a consistent pace.

At Nihongo Online School, reaching around 150 total Japanese language study hours in this timeframe typically means studying 3 times per week. This usually includes about 30 to 40 hours of live lessons, combined with 70+ hours of homework and review. 

One of our students, Mishal from the UAE, chose a Japanese language school with a 150-hour study requirement before her October intake, starting from zero. By following a structured schedule with multiple weekly lessons and completing all assigned homework, she reached N5 level in roughly three months, obtained her certificate, and enrolled on time.

Learn more about Mishal’s study plan for Japanese language admission 

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How to study Japanese step by step: Study plans by timeline

The Japanese language study plans below are based on Nihongo Online School’s curriculum and refined through the experience of over 1,000 students. They can serve as a useful reference for anyone preparing to learn the language before studying in Japan.

3-month study plan

3 months is an intensive but achievable window. It suits both students with a tight Japanese language school admission deadline and those who simply want to build solid beginner foundations quickly before departing for Japan.

• Who it’s for: Complete beginners preparing for language school admission or anyone wanting to reach N5 level in a short timeframe
• Frequency: 3 lessons/week
• Total hours: 105 hours (~35 lesson hours + ~70 hours of homework)
• Target: Functional JLPT N5 level 

Sample study plan 

Phase	Duration	Topics covered
Writing systems	Weeks 1–4	Hiragana and katakana: progressive drills, speed reading, dictation
N5 grammar foundations	Weeks 5–12	Greetings, self-introduction, telling time, locations, shopping, daily routines, expressing wants and plans

Student example

Erika, a US-based student, started with partial hiragana knowledge and nearly no speaking ability. Following this 3-lesson/week plan, she mastered both writing systems by week 4 and, by the end of her 35-lesson course, could discuss her daily schedule, describe her plans, and read N5 vocabulary fluently.

Learn more about Erika’s study plan

6-month study plan

Six months is the recommended path for students who want to arrive in Japan with confidence in daily interactions. The total study volume is similar to the 3-month plan, but spread over a longer period, which allows for deeper consolidation at each stage.

• Who it’s for: Students who want a solid foundation before departing for Japan, with time to consolidate each level properly
• Frequency: 2 lessons/week 
• Total hours: ~150 hours (~50 lesson hours + ~100 hours of homework) 
• Target: JLPT N4 level 

Sample study plan 

Phase	Duration	Topics covered
Writing systems	Weeks 1–5	Hiragana, katakana, combined review
N5 grammar	Weeks 6–15	Daily life, routines, shopping, preferences, past tense, simple requests
N4 grammar	Weeks 16–24	Expressing intention and plans, giving advice, conditional forms, passive expressions, polite requests

Student example

Bon, a software engineer from Hong Kong, enrolled at early N5 level and studied at 2 lessons per week for 6 months. He reached N4 by the end of the program and could follow and participate in conversations with his Japanese colleagues at work.

Learn more about Bon’s study plan

1-year study plan

A full year of structured study is where learners move beyond survival Japanese into intermediate fluency. It is the ideal preparation for students who want to make the most of their time in Japan academically, professionally, and socially.

• Who it’s for: Students aiming for a strong intermediate level before studying in Japan
• Frequency: 2~3 lessons/week
• Total hours: 300 to 450 hours (100~150 lesson hours + 200~300 hours of homework)
• Target: Solid JLPT N3 level

Sample study plan 

Phase	Duration	Topics covered
Writing systems + N5	Months 1–3	Hiragana, katakana, daily life, routines, self-expression
N4 grammar	Months 4–6	Intention, giving and receiving, passive and conditional forms, honorifics
N3 foundations	Months 7–9	Complex sentence patterns, expressing opinions, describing changes and situations
N3 consolidation	Months 10–12	Advanced N3 structures, review, first exposure to N2 patterns

Student example

Ben, from the UK, enrolled at N5 level and studied consistently for 12 months. He reached N3+ by the end,  able to express opinions clearly, write impressions of Japanese news articles, and hold natural conversations on a range of topics. He went on to study abroad in Japan as planned.

Learn more about Ben’s study plan