Exchange Programs and travel experiences in Japan have been popular long before the global rise of anime and manga. Japan’s mix of Shinto shrines, vibrant neon-lit metropolises, ancient temples, warm hospitality, and stunning landscapes – from subtropical Okinawa to snowy Hokkaido – make it one of the world’s most desirable travel destinations.
It’s no surprise that more people than ever are inspired to learn Japanese and experience Japan firsthand. The internet is full of stories from travelers who have done extended stays in the Land of the Rising Sun, often combining work with travel – but what exactly does this involve, and what are the options for making an independent trip to Japan?
If you’re considering a stay in Japan and wondering about your options for either a short or extended visit, you’re in the right place. Here, we provide an overview of the various opportunities to spend time in Japan and the ways we can assist in planning your unique stay. During a consultation, we can guide you through your visa and travel options, helping you find the best fit for your plans.
The following nationalities are generally eligible for our support, though the exact requirements and options vary by country. If you’re interested in one of our programs and are unsure about your eligibility, feel free to contact us. We’re here to help!
| Region | Countries |
| Asia | South Korea, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Turkey, Brunei, Malaysia, Maldives |
| Oceania | Australia, Samoa, Tuvalu, Tonga, Nauru, New Zealand, Palau, Fiji, Marshall Islands |
| North America | USA, Canada |
| Latin America | Argentina, Antigua and Barbuda, Uruguay, Ecuador, Guyana, Cuba, Guatemala, Grenada, Costa Rica, Colombia, Jamaica, Suriname, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Chile, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Bahamas, Paraguay, Barbados, Brazil, Venezuela, Belize, Peru, Mexico |
| Europe | Iceland, Ireland, Azerbaijan, Albania, Armenia, Andorra, England, Italy, Estonia, Austria, The Netherlands, Kazakhstan, North Macedonia, Greece, Croatia, Republic of Kosovo, San Marino, Georgia, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Turkmenistan, Norway, Hungary, Finland, France, Bulgaria, Belarus, Belgium, Poland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Portugal, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Romania, Luxembourg, Russia |
| Middle East | U.A.E., Israel, Iraq, Iran, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, Lebanon |
| Africa | Algeria, Gabon, Seychelles, Equatorial Guinea, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, Mauritius, Libya |
How long can I actually stay in Japan?
For many people, the idea of living in Japan for an extended period – perhaps even working there – is a thrilling adventure. Thankfully, there are accessible visa options, such as the Working Holiday visa, which allows you to live in Japan for up to a year while supporting yourself with part-time work. This visa is a fantastic opportunity to immerse yourself in the culture, learn the language, and explore Japan beyond the usual tourist experience.
At Nipponcademy, we offer several options depending on how long you’d like to stay and your goals:
- Short-Term Language Stays: Perfect for experiencing Japan’s culture and daily life for a few weeks to three months, even on a tourist visa.
- Study Stays: If you’d like to stay longer, consider a study stay with a student visa, allowing you to live in Japan for up to two years with dedicated language courses, private accommodation, and part-time work.
Whether you’re planning a few weeks or a year-long Working Holiday, our programs provide a flexible way to experience Japan while supporting your personal and language growth.
Language Study Program, Student Visa Program, Language Trips – what exactly do these mean and whats the Difference?
Before we provide you with the information you’re eagerly waiting for, let’s briefly summarize the differences between the terms mentioned above. It is worth mentioning that our programs (an overview of our Japan programs can be found here) always include a Japanese language course at an official language school – unless explicitly stated otherwise in the description.
For a Study Visa Program, you don’t have to be a student – the term comes from the name of the visa. A study stay is facilitated with a student visa. With this visa, you can stay in the country for up to two years and must be under 55 years old at the time of application – there are no other requirements.
Language Study Programs are possible for up to a maximum of three months with a tourist visa.
Language trips are shorter trips of up to three weeks, which also include an activity program in the afternoon after the language course or on weekends. Which of the three categories suits you best depends on your age, the length of your planned stay, and your goals in Japan. The exact differences, possibilities, and requirements of the three options are explained in detail below.
Language Study Program (2 weeks ~ 12 months)
If you’re interested in spending a shorter or medium-length period in Japan while learning the language, our Language Study Programs are an ideal choice. For those on a tourist visa, these programs can range from just a few weeks up to three months. During your stay, you’ll live in your own accommodation, attend Japanese language school during the day, and experience the everyday life of Japan firsthand.
On weekends and holidays, you’ll have the chance to practice your Japanese skills with locals, travel with classmates, and discover different aspects of Japan. You can choose the duration that best fits your goals, but if you’re aiming for a deeper immersion, we recommend a course of at least three months to build a solid foundation.
We’ll take care of all the logistics, planning, and necessary paperwork for your trip. Our team ensures that you have the right visa and handles all the preparations so you can focus on enjoying your language journey in Japan!
Tourist Visa
Duration: up to 3 months
Work Permit: no
Age Limit: none
Other Requirements: none
If you travel to Japan as a tourist, you will receive a tourist visa stamp in your passport. As an American citizen, you can stay in Japan for up to 90 days without the need for a visa. Despite the drawback of not being allowed to work with a tourist visa, this visa offers some advantages: For instance, you can travel across Japan with the JR Pass on the Shinkansen and avoid complicated application processes, making a spontaneous Japan trip possible just a few weeks before departure.
Working Holiday Visa
Duration: up to 12 months
Work Permit: Yes (40 hours / week)
Age Limit: 30
Other Requirements: none
If you’re a citizen of a country with a Working Holiday visa agreement with Japan, you may be eligible to stay in Japan for up to a year. This option is available to citizens of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Argentina. The Working Holiday visa is ideal for those wanting a deeper experience of Japanese life and culture. With this visa, you can work part-time while studying Japanese, giving you both financial support and hands-on cultural immersion.
Our Language Study Programs are flexible, so you can attend classes and still have time for part-time work. This arrangement allows you to improve your Japanese language skills and gain valuable life experience by working directly with locals. We’ll assist with the necessary preparations to ensure that your stay in Japan is both enriching and hassle-free.
And if I want to stay longer?
As you can see, a language stay doesn’t necessarily equate to “Work & Travel.” With a tourist visa, you can stay in Japan for up to 90 days and explore the country while learning Japanese. If you want to stay longer, you need to consider a different option.
If you wish to stay in Japan for more than 90 days, you will need a student visa. This option requires more preparation but allows you to live in Japan for up to two years. In the next section, we will explain the requirements and benefits of the student visa in detail.
Student Visa Program (6 months ~ 2 years)
If you are still reading, you are likely interested in a longer stay in Japan. With a study stay, this is possible for up to two years. Let’s take a closer look at the visa required for this option:
Student Visa
Duration: 6 months – 2 years
Work Permit: yes (max. 28 hours/week)
Age Limit: 55 years
Other Requirements: only in combination with a language course
In addition to the tourist visa, it is also possible to arrange a longer stay in Japan with a student visa. The name of the visa can be a bit misleading – contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be a university student to obtain a student visa. This visa is also available to students of language schools. If you want to learn Japanese during your stay in Japan at one of our partner schools, you meet all the requirements for the so-called student visa.
Compared to the tourist visa, with the student visa you are allowed to work up to 28 hours per week – and considering that you want to enjoy your time in Japan, 28 hours should be more than enough. Additionally, there is no age restriction with the student visa, so it is suitable even if you are over 30 years old.
Can I really stay in Japan for two years?
The duration of your stay with a student visa can be a bit confusing, so let’s clarify it. Although you can stay in Japan for up to two years with a student visa, the exact duration depends on the initial date of your stay. Student visas are aligned with the school year, which always begins in April and ends in March.
Regardless of your initial date, your student visa will only be valid for the full two (school) years if you start your journey in April, as the following table shows:
- Start in April: up to 2 years
- Start in July: up to 1 year and 9 months
- Start in October: up to 1 year and 6 months
- Start in January: up to 1 year and 3 months
Still confused? Let’s illustrate this with an example.
Timo begins his trip to Japan in April 2024 and initially plans to stay for 6 months. After a few months in Japan, he realizes he loves the country and wants to stay longer. He extends his stay three times by 6 months each, until April 2026. He would like to stay even longer, but his maximum stay duration has now been reached. Timo returns home, planning to apply for a university stay in Japan. This requires a new student visa, which is not a problem!
Now, let’s consider Anna. She also wants to stay in Japan for a longer period and signs up for a six-month stay starting in October 2024. Like Timo, she extends her stay every 6 months but can only stay until April 2026, meaning her maximum stay duration is 1 year and 6 months because she missed the first 6 months of the 2024 school year.
Your Benefits with Nipponcademy
If you’ve read this far, you already know quite a bit about the opportunities available to you. Now it’s time to highlight some potential drawbacks and complications. However, we want to emphasize that we take care of all these aspects for you, ensuring your stay in Japan is well-prepared. If you’re already certain about planning your stay in Japan with Nipponcademy, you can skip the following section and go directly to “On-site support”.
Enrollment at a Language School
Many language schools have an English website, but the enrollment process is not as straightforward as it seems. With unclear pricing, prices listed in yen, and questions about how to transfer dollar to yen, the process can be daunting. Who do you contact with questions, and how does the registration process work?
We handle all of this for you. Our partnership with language schools is contractually regulated, and we maintain daily contact with school administrations. You can address all your questions directly to your Japan coordinator in english.
Your Japan coordinator is the person who is available for you before, during, and even after your trip via WhatsApp & co., and helps you to plan your trip. You will receive qualified answers to all your questions as soon as possible.
Organisation of your Accommodation
Arranging an accommodation can be even more complicated. Usually, as an exchange student, you have onlygot two options:
- You can hope for one of the few available student rooms at the language school, or
- You have to rent an overpriced room through one of the countless “Work & Travel” agencies.
As a participant in our Japan program, you simply specify your accommodation preferences during the registration process. Whether you want to stay in a student dormitory, a shared apartment, with a host family, or in your own apartment: we take care of it. Promised.
In cooperation with many partners in Japan, we can organize accommodations and even entire apartments that are otherwise only available to Japanese residents through the local housing market. You only pay the raw rental price, so a private apartment in the middle of Tokyo can sometimes be had for less than $500/month – all-inclusive!
On-site Support
Whatever you need in Japan, we are there to help you! Through the intensive, personal contact with your Japan coordinator, you always have someone to ask about any little detail via WhatsApp. Our team is completely enthusiastic about Japan and enjoys their work, so don’t hesitate to ask if questions arise.
Whether you need an airport transfer, can’t find your train, have issues with your roommate, or simply need a tip for the next weekend trip, you will get a quick and satisfactory answer.
Events and Activities
Are you traveling abroad for the first time and worried about making friends? Let’s dispel that concern because it is completely unfounded. Aside from the fact that you will have many amazing people around you from your first day of school, with whom you will certainly do activities after class, our English-speaking community on-site grows from week to week.
At our monthly events, you will not only meet other English-speaking students but also our Japanese colleagues with whom you can practice your newly acquired Japanese skills. You will notice that your conversational ability improves month by month as the language lessons are very intensive and the learning pace is relatively fast.
Our events offer something for everyone: a Hanami party in Yoyogi Park, a karaoke session in Shinjuku, a trip to the beach, or a sleepover in Kusatsu Onsen in Gunma are just a few examples. You can find an overview of our events here.
How to Proceed?
First of all, let’s say this: You do not need a credit card to register with us. Payment for your stay in Japan is due only a few weeks before departure – until then, you can cancel your registration at any time without giving reasons. It’s up to you whether you register directly for the Exchange program of your choice or contact us first for a consultation.
In personal conversations, you get to know us and prepare your trip to Japan together with us – starting with the application for your passport to essential things like luggage, vaccinations, and much more.
If you are still interested at this point and have questions or want to discuss your personal travel plan with an expert, you can easily contact us.