Can I study in Japan even if I cannot speak Japanese? About the requirement of 150 hours of Japanese language study

2023/11/11

If you are interested in studying in Japan, you may be wondering what level of Japanese language proficiency is required to enroll in a Japanese language school before studying in Japan.

With the announcement of the “300,000 Foreign Students Plan” by the Japanese government’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the criteria for screening for a student visa has changed, and generally speaking, the minimum requirements for entry into Japan are 150 hours of Japanese language study before entering Japan (a certificate issued by the school you will study at is required) and a Japanese language proficiency level 4 or J.TEST score of 400. TEST score of 400 is desirable.

In fact, a 150-hours Japanese language study requirement is imposed by the Japanese Immigration Bureau. You will be required to submit official documentation (such as a certificate of course completion) proving that you have previously studied Japanese for at least 150 hours in an official Japanese language program.

This prerequisite helps to crack down on fraudulent visa applications and serves to prove that you want to learn the language, not just come to Japan to work.

Why is the Japanese language study requirement set at “150 hours”?

Many of you may have wondered why the “150 hours” study requirement in the first place. The reason for this is clear: if you look at how much study time it takes to take the JLPT, it takes roughly 150 hours on average to pass the JLPT N5, the lowest level. 150 hours of Japanese language study is a measure of your willingness and ability to study in Japan. In other words, it shows that you are truly serious about your commitment to enrolling in a Japanese language school.

What can replace the 150 hours of Japanese language study requirement?

If you decide to attend a Japanese language school in Japan, you will need to fulfill the study requirement of 150 hours of Japanese language lessons with a few exceptions.

Here are the few exceptions we speak of. First, you must obtain a certificate of passing the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) from N5 to N4. You may also present other certificates that the Japanese Immigration Bureau deems equivalent to JLPT N5 or higher. The following are some examples.

BJT (Business Japanese Proficiency Test) with a score of 300 or above

・ JPT with a score of 315 or above

・Certification of Japanese NAT-TEST Level 5 or above

・Acquired STBJ (Standard Test of Business Japanese) 350 points or above

Why Japanese online lessons are the best way to fulfill the 150 hours of Japanese language study requirement

While there are ways to take Japanese language classes within your home country prior to studying in Japan, online Japanese lessons are the best option considering the time and location constraints. In addition, since many Japanese language schools require students to submit a certificate of attendance to prove that they have completed 150 hours of Japanese language study in order to enroll in the school, it is best to choose a provider that offers a service that will issue a certificate of attendance to prove that you have completed 150 hours of Japanese language study. For reference, our online Japanese language school provides the following certificate for 150 hours of online Japanese language lessons.

We hope you will consider taking lessons at our online Japanese language school when you fulfill the 150-hours Japanese language study requirement.

If you are interested in taking a course or have any questions, please contact us at the following address.

Trial lessons are also available.

Writer for this article :

Principal, Kotaro Muramoto

After working in sales and planning at an IT company for 3 years, he became an online Japanese instructor. For about 2 years, he has been teaching N2 and N1 level Chinese IT engineers and PMs who need to conduct corporate sales activities to improve their Japanese language skills for presentations and proposals. He has designed an individualized curriculum based on the Japanese required for the students’ work, and is conscious of making the classes speech-centered in order to train the students’ speaking skills. The school has received favorable feedback from foreign students involved in sales activities that their presentation skills have improved.

We try to make the lessons mainly focused on students’ speech, with students speaking the main part, the instructor giving feedback pointers, and the students correcting the mistakes.