Making Friends at a Japanese Language School in Tokyo (2026)

Why classmates don't always become friends

Everyone splits by language

Students who share a first language naturally sit together at lunch. It's comfortable, and it quietly closes the circle for everyone else.

Class ends, life starts

Morning classes finish around lunchtime, then it's part-time work, homework and a long train home. There's no campus to hang around on.

Levels keep changing

Every term people move up, move down or switch schools. The friend you sat next to in April might be on a different floor by July.

Everyone is a bit tired

Visa paperwork, a new apartment, a new job and a new language at once. Making friends quietly drops to the bottom of the list.

What to do in your first month

Sit with someone new on purpose. Especially someone who doesn't share your first language. Japanese becomes the common language, which is great practice for you and an easy topic to start with.

Suggest one plan right after class. "Anyone want to get lunch at the ramen place near the station?" Most classmates are hoping someone else will ask.

Make the study group the social group. Kanji flashcards at a café before a test is a perfectly good excuse to spend two hours with someone.

Say yes to school events. Trips, speech contests and seasonal parties feel a little school-like, but they mix classes and levels, which is exactly what you need.

Follow up within a week. The first coffee is easy. The second one is where it actually becomes a friendship.

Meet people outside your class too

Your class is a great start, but it changes every term. A few things outside school give you friends who stay put:

One weekly thing. A climbing gym, a running club, a dance class, a volunteer group. Same people, same time, every week.

Your part-time job. Coworkers at a café or izakaya often become your first local friends, and your Japanese improves fast.

One-on-one meetups. Meeting one person for a coffee is less tiring than a 40-person party when you're already speaking Japanese all morning.

Small habits that help

Learn names fast. Write them down after class if you have to. Using someone's name the next day goes a long way.
Keep a "next time" list. Places people mention wanting to try. That's your next invitation, ready to go.
Don't wait for the perfect group. One good friend from class is enough to start. Their friends become yours.
More ideas: our international students guide and free and cheap things to do in Tokyo are written for student budgets.

Meet someone new, one-on-one, over a matcha

Buy Me a Matcha shows you people in Tokyo who speak English and also want new friends, including plenty of students. Match, pick a café near your school, and meet one-on-one. Friends only, not dating. You can choose to see only people of your own gender. Free to start.

Get it on the App Store