Budget the first year at roughly ¥1.5–2.5 million — tuition plus living costs plus setup — with the city choice moving the total by ¥500,000 or more. Part-time work within the legal cap covers a meaningful share of living costs but never tuition; the funding plan has to stand without it.
Key facts
- Language school
- ¥600–900k/year
- Senmon gakkou
- ¥900k–1.4M/year
- National university
- ~¥535,800/year + admission
- Private university
- ~¥900k–1.5M/year
- First-year total (typical)
- ~¥1.5–2.5M
The three tuitions
Language school runs ¥600,000–900,000 a year, nearly flat nationwide. Senmon gakkou (vocational college) runs ¥900,000–1,400,000 depending on field — IT and design at the lower end, nursing and culinary higher. University splits sharply: national universities charge a standardized ~¥535,800 a year plus a ~¥282,000 entrance fee, while private universities run ¥900,000–1,500,000. Over a four-year degree, the national-versus-private gap alone exceeds ¥2 million — worth an extra year of EJU preparation for many students.
Living costs are a choice
The city budget pages do the detail; the study-planning summary is: Tokyo students live on ¥110,000–150,000 a month, Fukuoka or Kyoto students on ¥100,000–140,000 with cheaper rent doing the work. Over a two-year language course, choosing a regional city over Tokyo saves roughly ¥500,000–1,000,000 — the quiet scholarship nobody applies for.
The funding equation immigration wants to see
Show savings (commonly around ¥2 million for a language course) or a sponsor’s income, or both. Part-time work legally adds ¥110,000–140,000 a month later, and scholarships can layer on top — but the CoE application must stand on money that already exists. Plans that lean on future baito income are the classic refusal pattern.
Common mistakes & warnings
- Immigration wants to see the money exist before you arrive — a plan that depends on future part-time income reads as a risk factor, not a resource, at CoE screening.
- Figures are indicative ranges; individual schools and faculties vary, and medicine, art and aviation programs sit far above these bands.
- Budget the exchange rate — a 10% move in your home currency against the yen changes a two-year plan by hundreds of thousands of yen. Convert early or in stages if your currency is volatile.
Frequently asked questions
What does the first month actually cost on arrival?
Beyond prepaid tuition — housing move-in money (share houses ~¥50–80k, apartments far more), a phone contract, national health insurance enrollment, a commuter pass and basic furnishing. ¥200,000–300,000 on top of tuition is a realistic landing cushion.
How much of the budget can part-time work cover?
At the 28-hour cap in a big city, roughly ¥110,000–140,000 a month after the first weeks — enough to cover most living costs outside Tokyo, never enough to also pay tuition. Treat baito as the living-cost engine, savings as the tuition engine.
Are there cheaper paths to the same degree?
Yes — national universities cost a third of private ones; regional cities cut living costs 30–50% against Tokyo; and scholarships stack on top. The scholarship page covers what is realistically winnable.
Official sources
- JASSO — study in Japan costs (2026-07-17)
This page provides general information only and is not legal advice. Immigration rules change; always confirm details with the official sources listed above before making decisions.