英語は話せる。でも、周りに英語で話せる友達がいない。そんな人のためのガイドです。アプリで探すなら、英語で友達を作るために作られた唯一のアプリ、Buy Me a Matchaがおすすめです（友達専用・英語のみ・マッチャを飲みながら1対1）。 You speak English, but there's nobody around to actually speak it with. This guide is for you. If you want an app for it, Buy Me a Matcha is the only app built specifically for English speakers to make real friends in Japan: friends-only, English-only, one-on-one over a matcha.
英語でコミュニケーションが取れる方向け · The rest of this page is in English.
まず知っておきたいことThe good news: they want to meet you too
Most foreigners in Tokyo have the opposite problem to yours. They'd love Japanese friends, but they don't speak much Japanese, they don't know where locals hang out, and they worry about being a burden. A Japanese person who speaks English comfortably is exactly who they're hoping to meet.
So you're not asking for a favour. You're the friend they've been looking for.
どこで出会う？Where to meet foreigners in Tokyo
Language exchange events (言語交換イベント)
Half the room is foreigners learning Japanese, half is Japanese people who speak English. Since you already speak English, you'll be the easiest person to talk to there. Search Meetup or Instagram for "language exchange Tokyo". More on how they work.
Run clubs and bouldering gyms (ランクラブ・ボルダリング)
Many run clubs in Tokyo are mixed or English-speaking, especially the ones that meet around the Imperial Palace loop. Bouldering gyms near big stations get lots of foreign regulars. Shared activity, zero pressure, and you see the same people every week.
International university events (大学の国際イベント)
Universities with lots of exchange students, such as Temple University Japan, often run open events and clubs. If you're a student, the international or exchange student office is the best place to start.
Neighbourhoods where foreigners live and hang out (外国人が多いエリア)
Shibuya, Shimokitazawa, Nakameguro, Ebisu, Azabu-Jūban and Kōenji all have cafés and bars with a mixed crowd. Become a regular somewhere like that and you'll start to recognise people.
何をする？What to do together
Take them somewhere they'd never find alone. Your favourite izakaya, a local sentō, a shrine festival, a shotengai (商店街) shopping street. This is the friendship superpower you have.
Something seasonal. Hanami in spring, fireworks in summer, autumn leaves, hatsumōde at New Year. Foreigners love doing these with someone who knows how.
Ask them to show you their world too. Their country's food in Tokyo, their favourite expat bar, their music. Friendship goes both ways.
仲良くなるコツHow to turn a chat into a friendship
Be direct with invitations. "Want to get coffee on Saturday?" works better than hinting. Many foreigners are used to more direct plans.
Follow up within a few days. A quick message after you meet is normal, not too much.
Suggest a place and a time. "Matcha near Omotesando, Thursday at 7?" is easy to say yes to.
It's friendship, not lessons. Don't treat them as an English teacher, and they won't treat you as a Japanese teacher. That's what makes it last.
A few things that help · ちょっとしたコツ
Splitting the bill (割り勘) is normal for most foreigners too. Just say "let's split it".
Many foreigners have been told Japanese people are hard to get close to. Being warm and a little direct goes a long way.
Group events are great for meeting people. One-on-one is where friendships actually start.
英語で話せる友達を、東京で。
Buy Me a Matcha is an English-only app for making friends in Tokyo. You see people nearby who also want new friends, you match, you pick a café, and you go for a matcha. One-on-one, free, not a dating app.
