Saga Language Center

Saga

About

The Saga Language Center offers international students the opportunity to study Japanese in a safe, affordable, and community-oriented environment in Saga. Located in Kyushu, just a short distance from Fukuoka, the school provides a balance between focused study and cultural immersion.

The program is designed for students who are serious about improving their Japanese for higher education or career pathways. With structured courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels, students build strong communication skills while preparing for exams such as the Japanese Language Proficiency Test.

Saga offers a unique study environment compared to major cities, with a lower cost of living, a relaxed lifestyle, and strong connections to the local community. Students can fully concentrate on their studies while experiencing authentic Japanese culture through daily life and school activities.

Main Features

Affordable Living Environment

Saga is known for its low cost of living, including affordable rent and daily expenses. This allows students to focus more on their studies without the financial pressure often found in larger cities.

Pathway-Focused Language Programs

The school offers structured preparation courses designed to help students achieve specific goals, such as passing JLPT N2/N1 and progressing to universities or vocational schools in Japan.

Cultural Immersion & Activities

Students can participate in a variety of cultural experiences and school events, including field trips, speech contests, sports festivals, and traditional activities like kimono experiences and Japanese cooking classes.

Supportive and International Environment

The school provides study progression and application/interview guidance, daily-life orientation and apartment-arrangement support. The guidelines state there is no dedicated school dormitory. Apartment examples: shared rent 20,000-30,000/month, single 40,000-50,000/month, initial costs about 50,000-100,000; illustrative, not guaranteed offers. The school advertises mother-language support, but specific languages and availability must be confirmed.

Saga Language Center Available Courses

Japanese Preparation Course

University and vocational-school preparation with placement by Japanese level. April: 24 months; July: 21 months; October: 18 months, normally finishing in March. N1 for the two-year route, N2-N1 for 21 months and N2 for 18 months are learning targets, not guaranteed results or admission.

The December 2025 revised official guidelines list all three intakes. The official home page still contains a July recruitment-stop note with a planned restart in July 2024. Confirm current July recruitment, vacancies and deadlines with the school; July enrollment is not guaranteed.

The guidelines show four 45-minute periods in either the morning (09:00-12:30) or afternoon (13:10-16:40), not both. Confirm your assigned timetable. Classes develop communication through paired/group tasks. The 2025 academic-year evaluation report describes entrance placement testing, periodic progress checks, a test pass mark of 60 with retests below 60, and overall evaluation including attendance and participation. Confirm individual completion requirements.

Course Fees: JPY

April / 24 months

Item	JPY
Screening	30,600
Admission	66,000
Tuition	1,320,000
Materials	44,000
Health check	4,100
Total	1,464,700

July / 21 months

Item	JPY
Screening	30,600
Admission	66,000
Tuition	1,155,000
Materials	38,500
Health check	4,100
Total	1,294,200

October / 18 months

Item	JPY
Screening	30,600
Admission	66,000
Tuition	990,000
Materials	33,000
Health check	4,100
Total	1,123,700

Checked 14 October 2026. These are whole-course totals from the December 2025 revised guidelines, including 10% consumption tax and the stated health check of 4,100. The home-page totals (1,460,600 / 1,290,100 / 1,119,600) exclude that health check. Do not add screening, admission or the listed health check again. Ask whether later annual checks or other costs apply; living expenses, housing, insurance and travel are separate. Obtain an updated quotation for your intake.

Admission and Payment

The guidelines require all of: age 18 or over; at least 12 years of school education or an equivalent course; lawful entry or expected eligibility to enter Japan; funds for tuition and living costs; a reliable guarantor; sufficient health for study; at least 150 hours of Japanese study AND approximately JLPT N5 or higher; and passing the school interview, which may be online. Document requirements depend on nationality and previous applications. Ask about evidence if unavailable; the website consultation option is not an automatic waiver.

Pay by bank transfer to the school-designated account after the Certificate of Eligibility (COE) is issued, by the stated deadline. The website says COE and admission documents are sent after payment is confirmed. Refunds follow the school refund regulations; request written cancellation, visa-refusal, withdrawal and screening-fee terms before paying. No blanket refund or visa guarantee is stated here.

Official source

School Location

Saga Balloon Museum 4F, Matsubara 2-2-27, Saga City, Saga Prefecture

Nearest Station:

Saga Station – 19 minute walk

Saga Balloon Museum 4F, 2-2-27 Matsubara, Saga City, Saga Prefecture 840-0831, Japan. Previously listed walk from Saga Station: about 19 minutes; allow for route and conditions.

Official source

Because our counselling is free, the tuition fees listed here will be the same as the schools original tuition fees