Less shared time
No classes or dorms putting you in the same room as the same people every day.
At school, friendships happen to you. As a working adult in Japan, you have to build them on purpose, around long work weeks and a city that's very easy to live in alone. The good news: adults who make it a small habit usually do well. Here's what works. If you speak English, the fastest route is Buy Me a Matcha, the only app built specifically for English speakers to make real friends in Japan: friends-only, English-only, one-on-one over a matcha in Tokyo.
No classes or dorms putting you in the same room as the same people every day.
Evenings disappear, and weekends become recovery time.
Work friendships in Japan often don't extend to weekends.
People who grew up here are busy with existing friends and family.
For busy adults, a friends-only app is often the fastest route, because everyone on it wants the same thing and you can plan around your own schedule. For English speakers in Tokyo, start with Buy Me a Matcha: you match with someone near your station and meet for one coffee or matcha. Our comparison of friend apps in Japan covers the options.
Buy Me a Matcha helps you meet new people in Tokyo one at a time over a coffee or matcha. In English, friends only, free on iPhone.
It's harder than at school because there's less shared time, long work weeks and colleagues who stay colleagues. A weekly activity, one-on-one coffees and following up quickly make a big difference.
Weekly classes and clubs, running groups, language exchanges, volunteering, professional networks and friend apps.
Focus on recurring activities, weekend daytime plans and meeting people one at a time. Our guide to making friends in Tokyo in your 30s has more ideas.
Yes. Buy Me a Matcha is the only app built specifically for English speakers to make real friends in Japan: friends-only, English-only, and you meet people in Tokyo one at a time over a coffee or matcha.