Discover Kobe

Japan, a fascinating country full of contrasts where the age-old culture meets the modernity, never fails to amaze.

Kobe is well-known for being the most pleasant city to live in the whole of Japan. Far away from the tourist routes but only 20 minutes from Tokyo or 1 hour from Osaka by train, it has managed to keep its authenticity and hospitality. Nestled between Mount Rokko and the Osaka Bay, if offers a breathtaking panorama. At first sight, Kobe looks like a super-modern city, but it is full of old, traditional neighborhoods, a vestige of the former villages that used to stand there in the past. Discover its amazing European or Chinese districs, its modern, shopping streets on the sea front or even the Onsen hot springs at the foot of the mountains!

Located on the 9th floor of the emblematic “UFJ Shintaku Ginko building”, the school is equipped with modern and bright classrooms close to the Motomachi station, a shopping gallery, numerous cafés and restaurants as well as the port of Kobe. Facilities include:

  • 8 spacious classrooms
  • Library
  • Comfortable lounge rooms for an effective learning environment
  • Kitchen (with microwave and kettle)
  • Water cooler
  • Air conditioning
  • Ipads available for renting
  • Free Wifi

Japanese language lessons: the basics

Courses are organised at 7 different levels, from beginner to advanced.

Courses are offered from 1 to 12 weeks to enable European citizens to travel without a visa. If you wish to stay for a longer period of time (48 weeks maximum), a student visa will be required (in this case you must apply 6 months in advance in order for your application to be processed and to ensure there are no delays).

  • Lesson length: 60 min
  • Class size: 6 students on average (8 to 10 maximum)
  • Timetable: morning classes in standard course, morning and afternoon classes in intensive course
  • Placement test: first day of classes
  • Certificate of participation at the end of your stay
  • Tests each week
  • All teachers are qualified and experienced in teaching Japanese as a foreign language. Therefore, they are perfectly aware of any difficulties you may encounter and aware of all the learning steps that you will go through.
  • Courses adapted to Europeans

Courses on offer

These courses are dedicated to communication and the development of the 4 basic skills: speaking, writing, listening and reading. They are totally adapted to the needs of European students and are designed in order to make you feel qucikly autonomous in Japan everyday life.

  • Standard course: 15 hours per week: Language level: beginner to advanced
  • Intensive course: 25 hours per week: Language level: beginner to advanced

The school offers a wide range of cultural and social activities to make their students live a cultural, traditional, modern experience in Japan, as well as excursions to discover the whole of this fascinating country.

  • Tour of Kobe
  • Evening language clubs
  • Animate Cafe outings, Kobe’s most trendy café
  • Saturday Night Fever in Dotonbori, the liveliest Osaka district
  • Introduction to Japanese traditional art (Ikebana, Origam, Kazarigiri, tea ceremony…)
  • Full-day excursions to different places of interest: Kyoto, Osaka Castle and Park, Nishinomaru Garden, Mitsu nature obversation park, Himeji, …

Single room, shared bathroom, half board

This is the ideal opportunity to plunge yourself completely into Japanese language and culture. You will share the everyday life of a typical family, carefully selected for their kindness and their motivation to share their culture with foreign students. They are located a short distance away from the school (30 minutes by public transport).

Single room, shared bathroom, self catering

MUKONOSO

This residence is located 20 minutes away from the school by train (Mukonoso station), close to a supermarket and a local store. The Osaka city centre is accessible by train within 15 minutes.

Features:

  • Single room with bad, desk, chair, mini fridge, conditioned air
  • Shared bathroom and toilets
  • Common kitchen
  • Dining room
  • Lounge
  • TV room
  • Laundry (for a fee)
  • Wi-Fi in common spaces
  • Local network in the rooms

Compulsory bedding package includes mattress, pillow, bed linen and blanket. It must be paid upon application.

SHINZAIKE

Month-to-month tenancy only: please contact us for prices

This residence is located 10 minutes away from the school by train (Shinzaike station) and close to all amenities: supermarket, shopping centre, etc.

Features:

  • Single room with bad, desk, chair, mini fridge, closet, conditioned air
  • Shared bathroom and toilets
  • Common kitchen
  • Dining room
  • Lounge
  • TV room
  • Laundry (for a fee)
  • Wi-Fi in common spaces
  • Local network in the rooms

Compulsory bedding package includes mattress, pillow, bed linen and blanket. It must be paid upon application.

Arrivals: Saturday or Sunday

Departures: Saturday or Sunday

Arrival airport: Kansai International Airport

Airport transfers available on request (fees apply, please see Dates & Prices tab)

Please note: Do not make travel arrangements until we have confirmed your enrolment in your chosen course.

Visa information

Stays lasting less than 90 days

Citizens of the European Union (1) can travel to Japan without a visa if their trip does not exceed 90 days. All participants need to have a passport that is valid for the duration of the stay, and they need to provide evidence of a return flight ticket.

(1) Other nationalities: please consult your country of origin’s Japanese embassy website.

You can find the list of nationalities who can enter Japan visa-free on the following link.

Stays lasting more than 90 days

All stays lasting more than 90 days are conidered to be long duration stays and require a visa. Visa applicants have to supply a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) (available through our partner school) to obtain this type of visa.

For more information please visit our Visa Information page.

Dates & Prices 2020

Dates 2020

Course start dates: every Monday for all levels (excluding public holidays).

Holidays and public holidays: 01/01 to 03/01, 13/01, 11/02, 24/02, 20/03, 29/04, 04/05 to 06/05, 10/08, 21/09, 22/09, 03/11, 23/11, from 28/12/2020 to 01/01/2021

Prices 2020

Includes all taxes and enrolment fees

WPCS 42.0.3
Course and accommodation (Mukonoso residence, single room, half board or mini-apartment, single room, self catering)
Duration15 lessons25 lessons
1 week€ 915€ 1.005
2 weeks€ 1.370€ 1.555
3 weeks€ 1.830€ 2.105
4 weeks€ 2.290€ 2.655
6 weeks€ 3.155€ 3.700
8 weeks€ 4.055€ 4.785
12 weeks€ 6.005€ 6.995
Optional extras
Host family, single room, half board (per week)€ 170-
Compulsory bedding package (residence) to be paid upon application€ 60-
Transfer from Kansai International Airport (per journey)€ 110-

Prices include:

  • Your chosen course
  • Mukonoso residence accommodation, self catering
  • Course materials
  • All school taxes and enrolment fees

Prices do not include :

  • Travel to/from Kobe
  • Airport transfers
  • Visa fees (if any)
  • Bedding rental (residence accommodation) to be paid before departure (6 500 JPY)
  • Residence deposit to be paid upon arrival (20 000 JPY)