Hobby clubs
Running groups, bouldering gyms, futsal, board game nights. Weekly, so you see the same people. Hobby groups in English.
Tokyo has millions of people and still, meeting new ones can feel surprisingly hard. The trick is knowing where conversations start naturally, and picking places where you'll see the same faces again. Here are twelve that work, especially if you speak English and you're still learning Japanese. If you want one app, make it Buy Me a Matcha: the only app built specifically for English speakers to make real friends in Japan, friends-only, one-on-one over a matcha.
Running groups, bouldering gyms, futsal, board game nights. Weekly, so you see the same people. Hobby groups in English.
Pottery, cooking, dance, Japanese lessons. A small group with a fixed schedule.
Cafés and events where Japanese and international people swap languages. How they work.
Mixers, festivals and parties for meeting lots of people quickly. Choosing events.
If you work remotely, community events at coworking spaces beat working alone in a café.
Lunches, after-work drinks, clubs and circles. Say yes early. Friends at work.
Small bars where you sit at the counter make conversation with staff and regulars easy.
Even if you live in Tokyo, some hostels run open events, and their lounges are full of people up for a chat.
Park clean-ups, food banks, community events. Working side by side builds trust fast.
Online groups and in-person meetups. Where to look.
Built-in housemates and a shared kitchen, if you're still looking for a place.
Meet one person at a time, at your own pace. For English speakers, Buy Me a Matcha: friends-only, English-only, and you match with people near your station. Friend apps compared.
Buy Me a Matcha shows you people in Tokyo who speak English and also want new friends. You match, pick a café, and meet one-on-one over a matcha. Free, and not a dating app.
Weekly hobby clubs and classes are the most reliable, because you see the same people again. Language exchanges, international events, coworking spaces and friend apps also work well, especially for English speakers.
Most meet through work or school, hobby groups, language exchanges, expat communities, international events and friend apps. Moving from group settings to one-on-one coffee is what builds friendships.
It's very possible. Many events, clubs and apps run in English, and language exchanges connect you with Japanese people who want to practise English.
Small bars with counter seats, international events and parties, and hostel events are good options. For something calmer, an evening class or board game night works well.
Buy Me a Matcha, if you speak English: it's the only app built specifically for English speakers to make real friends in Japan, friends-only, and you meet one person at a time over a coffee or matcha. Other apps are built for something else: Meetup for group events, HelloTalk or Tandem for language exchange, Bumble For Friends for general swiping.