Making Friends as an International Student in Tokyo (2026)

The first six weeks are a window

At the start of a semester, everyone is new and everyone is open. People say yes to lunch with strangers, join group chats, and show up to things. Around week six, groups settle and schedules fill. It's not too late after that, but it takes more effort.

So in those first weeks, say yes to almost everything. You can always drift away from people later; it's much harder to find them later.

Where students actually meet people

Clubs and circles

Japanese universities run on サークル (circles): casual clubs for everything from futsal to film. Many welcome international students. At TUJ, student clubs and orgs are the fastest way to find your people outside class.

Your dorm or share house

Shared kitchens are where friendships start. Cook something, offer some, eat in the common room instead of your room. It sounds small; it works.

Language exchange

A great way to meet Japanese students who want to speak English, and to get your Japanese moving. How it works in Tokyo.

A part-time job

Student visa holders can usually work part-time with permission (資格外活動許可), up to 28 hours a week during term. Cafés and English-speaking workplaces come with ready-made coworkers.

Make it go beyond class

Turn "see you in class" into a plan. "Want to grab lunch after this?" is the most powerful sentence of the semester.

Explore your campus area. Find the cheap lunch spot, the late café, the good konbini. Then bring someone. TUJ students know Sangenjaya; Waseda students know Takadanobaba. Every campus has its streets.

Have one weekend thing. A day trip, a market, a hike. Weekends are where classmates become friends.

Mix your circles. Spend time with people from your program, but also with people who aren't. It makes Tokyo feel bigger and stops your social life ending with the semester.

Meet one-on-one. Group dinners are fun; you really get to know someone over coffee. A few cafés worth it.

Good to know

Homesickness hits around month two. It's normal. Here's what helps.
Your first month has a lot of admin (residence card, phone, bank). A checklist saves a lot of stress.
Meeting someone new? Public café, daytime, a friend knows where you are. Safety basics.

Questions people ask

How do international students make friends in Tokyo?

The first six weeks of a semester are the easiest time: join clubs or circles, spend time in your dorm common areas, try language exchange, and turn classmates into lunch plans.

Can international students work part-time in Japan?

Student visa holders can usually work part-time with permission (shikakugai katsudo kyoka), up to 28 hours a week during term. Check the current rules with immigration or your school.

Is it hard to make Japanese friends as an exchange student?

It takes a bit of initiative. Circles, language exchange and part-time jobs are the most common ways international students meet Japanese friends.

Meet people beyond your classes

Buy Me a Matcha shows you people in Tokyo who speak English and also want new friends, students and non-students alike. You match, pick a café, and meet one-on-one over a matcha. Free, and not a dating app.

Get it on the App Store