MMoving to Japan

Moving to Japan with spouse, should I enroll in language school?

  • May 24, 2025

My spouse and I are working towards moving to Japan at the end of 2025/early 2026 (moving to Fukuoka). My spouse is a Japanese citizen and I plan to apply for a spouse visa. I have an engineering degree and 5 years of work experience, but obviously I won’t be able to work in many engineering jobs without being fluent in Japanese. I currently study Japanese a lot but would still say I’m high N5/ low N4 level. I’m considering enrolling full time in a Japanese language school when we get there to help me accelerate my language learning and eventually get a job. Is Japanese language school worth it? There are 3 month, 6 month, year, and 18 month options that I’m seeing. Obviously I would get to a higher level the longer in school, but if I get to N3 and then independent study while fully integrated is that realistic for improving up to N2 and eventually N1? Any advice is helpful. Just trying to figure out if I should seriously consider language school (with the goal of eventually working full time as an engineer again)

by Few-Pie5944

11 comments

  1. Yes, do everything you can to get better at speaking, will make your life easier and nicer. I myself wish I had studied more before living here.

  2. Yes please learn. This is such a great opportunity to increase your professional as well as daily life horizons

  3. What kind of engineering? Have you tried applying for engineering jobs that don’t require Japanese?

    As you mentioned, Japanese schools have 3 months courses. Just do some research on your own to find a couple of schools you like and try it out for 3 months. Keep it flexible.

  5. Languages are tough. Japanese is one of the toughest. IF you want to have a life here, invest in the language. Your opportunities will be limited without language skills.

    Intensive learning – like at a language school seems to work best for some people.
    If you are one of those people that can pick up the language by self study and the more casual route, you would know that already.

  7. Yep and doubly so in Fukuoka. The English level is absolutely terrible here

  8. Yes, please go. You’ll never get the opportunity to learn as intensely as then, being in Japan and hopefully having your wife only talk to you in Japanese to immerse yourself fully.

  9. Depends on what kind of engineering, if you’re in something IT related it is definitely realistic to find jobs with the experience you have and the N2 after going to language school for a year or two

    Any other construct of engineering will be more difficult to find somewhere with a foreign branch and if you are in a specialized field the JLPT will not matter as you will need native level Japanese, not sure if language school would get you to this level but it is a start

    The course terms are typically for people on student visas so with a spouse visa you will have more freedoms. Also make sure to do a lot of research about language schools if you go because super low intensity language schools are a waste of money

  10. IMO, you should go into this with the mindset that you will be spending the next 24 months studying to get to the level you need to be to work in a professional setting. 

    I did not do that, but I was transferred in. And no, getting to an intermediate level isn’t going to help you springboard necessarily. 

    This is a great opportunity and adventure for you, but seriously, don’t underestimate the work. 

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