Find a Japanese Class

Here we introduce various Japanese language classes in Hamamatsu City. For further information, please contact the school directly.

Japanese Language Education Policy of the Government and Hamamatsu City

Fluency in Japanese for Day to Day Life

The common language of the region is Japanese. However, Japanese is a language that is difficult to learn on your own, as it uses three different scripts – hiragana, katakana and kanji – and honorific expressions depending on the person or situation.

Hamamatsu City provides free Japanese language learning opportunities at introductory to intermediate levels for foreign residents living in Hamamatsu City and those who wish to re-learn Japanese. We believe that it is important for foreign residents to learn Japanese so that they can feel more secure in their lives in Japan.

About the Hamamatsu Foreign Resident Study Support Center (U-ToC)

U-ToC offers the following Japanese classes. There is no tuition fee for any of the classes, but you will need to purchase your own textbook.

• 【2024】Hamamatsu Daily Life Japanese Course (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】
• 【2024】Level 0 Class (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】
• 【2024】Reading & Writing Class 【Weekdays：U-ToC】
• 【2024】Situational Japanese Class (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】
• 【2024】Japanese for Child-rearing Class (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】
• 【2024】Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji Class【Weekends：Hamamatsu Minami】
• 【2024】Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji Class【Weekends：Hamamatsu Higashi】
• 【2024】Reading & Writing Class【Weekends：Hamana Ward】
• 【2024】After-School Japanese Class【Tuesdays & Thursdays：Hamamatsu Science Museum】
• Japanese Language Classes Offered by NPOs

A childcare service is also available. This service is available for children from 2 months to 6 years old (before entering elementary school). It must be booked in advance.

<Reception starts from March 6th>Hamamatsu Daily Life Japanese Course (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】

Schedule	4 times a week (Total 150 classes) 1 year course ＜Apr. start＞ Period: 15 / Apr. – 14 / Mar. Day and time: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday　9:30 – 13:20 ＜Oct. start＞ Period: 17 / Oct. – Sep. 2025 (planned) Day and time: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday　9:30 – 13:20
Enrollment Limit	20 people (First come first served) ◆We will check your Japanese levels during reception hours. Students are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Applications will close when the class limit has been reached.
For	Foreign Residents with the following Status of Residence (Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident)
Contents	Want to learn Japanese and expand the scope of your daily life? In this course students can learn Japanese for different situations, like when shopping or at work! Students will also have the opportunity to shop together at shopping malls, visit real Japanese homes, and improve their Japanese language skills through exchanges and practical opportunities.

<Reception starts from March 6th>Level 0 Class (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】

Schedule	5 times a week (Total 20 classes / Term) ＜First Term＞ Period: 3 / Jun. – 28 / Jun. Day and time: Mondays – Fridays　10:30 – 12:00 ＜Second Term＞ Period: 6 / Jan. – 3 / Feb. Day and time: Mondays – Fridays　10:30 – 12:00
Enrollment Limit	20 people (First come first served) ◆We will check your Japanese levels during reception hours. Students are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Applications will close when the class limit has been reached.
For	Foreign Residents with the following Status of Residence (Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident)
Contents	Those with no knowledge of Japanese will study hiragana and katakana, whilst also practicing conversation using the “Hamamatsu Yaramaika” textbook. Upon completion, students will move on to the next course.

<Reception starts from March 6th>Reading & Writing Class 【Weekdays：U-ToC】

Schedule	2 times per week (40・30 classes / Term) ＜First Term＞ Period: 7 / May – 26 / Sep. Day and time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 14:00 -15:30 ＜Second Term＞ Period: 5 / Nov. – 4 / Mar. Day and time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 14:00 -15:30
Enrollment Limit	20 people (First come first served) ◆We will check your Japanese levels during reception hours. Students are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Applications will close when the class limit has been reached.
For	Foreign Residents with the following Status of Residence (Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident)
Contents	Students work in groups to learn how to read and write Japanese. ①Hiragana and Katakana　②Writing in Kana　③Kanji Orientation　④Kanji in Daily Life　⑤Kentei Kanji　⑥Extensive Reading　⑦Reading Comprehension

<Reception starts from March 6th>Situational Japanese Class (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】

Schedule	1 time a week (Total 16 classes / Term) ＜First Term＞ Period: 8 / May – 28 / Aug. Day and time: Wednesdays　13:30 – 15:00 ＜Second Term＞ Period: 6 / Nov. – 5/ Mar. Day and time: Wednesdays　13:30 – 15:00
Enrollment Limit	20 people (First come first served) ◆We will check your Japanese levels during reception hours. Students are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Applications will close when the class limit has been reached.
For	Foreign Residents with the following Status of Residence (Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident)
Contents	Students will study a variety of situation-specific Japanese phrases, like invitations, apologies, and requests.

<Reception starts from March 6th>Japanese for Child-rearing Class (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】

Schedule	1 time a week (Total 12 classes / Term) ＜First Term＞ Period: 3 / Jul. – 25 / Sep. Day and time: Wednesdays　10:00 – 11:30 ＜Second Term＞ Period: 4 / Dec. – 5 / Mar. Day and time: Wednesdays　10:00 – 11:30
Enrollment Limit	20 people (First come first served) ◆We will check your Japanese levels during reception hours. Students are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Applications will close when the class limit has been reached.
For	Foreign Residents with the following Status of Residence (Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident)
Contents	Students will learn about child-rearing and education in Japan. Students will be provided with information about raising children in Japan, from pregnancy and childbirth to health management, childcare facilities, and school enrollment.

<Reception starts from March 6th>Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji Class【Weekends：Hamamatsu Minami】

Schedule	1 time a week (Total 12 classes) Period: 18 / May. – 3 / Aug. Day and time: Saturdays　13:30 – 15:30
For	Foreign residents living or working in Hamamatsu who have one of the following statuses of residence: Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, or Long Term Resident
Enrollment Limit	20 people (First come first served) ◆We will check your Japanese levels during reception hours. Students are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Applications will close when the class limit has been reached.
Contents	You can learn about Hiragana, Katakana and Daily Use Kanji ※You may join the class starting with the Kanji classes. Please call U-ToC to arrange this.

Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji Class【Weekends：Hamamatsu Higashi】

Schedule	1 time a week (Total 12 classes) Period: 24 / Aug. – 9 / Nov. Day and time: Saturdays 13:00 – 15:00
For	Foreign residents living or working in Hamamatsu who have one of the following statuses of residence: Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident, or Long Term Resident
Enrollment Limit	20 people (First come first served) ◆We will check your Japanese levels during reception hours. Students are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Applications will close when the class limit has been reached.
Contents	You can learn about Hiragana, Katakana and Daily Use Kanji ※You may join the class starting with the Kanji classes. Please call U-ToC to arrange this.

Reading & Writing Class【Weekends: Hamana Ward】

Schedule	1 time per week (10 times) Period: 30 / Nov. – 15 / Feb. Day and time: Saturdays 10:00 -11:30
Enrollment Limit	20 people (First come first served) ◆We will check your Japanese levels during reception hours. Students are accepted on a first-come first-served basis. Applications will close when the class limit has been reached.
For	Foreign Residents with the following Status of Residence (Spouse or Child of Japanese National, Permanent Resident, Spouse or Child of Permanent Resident or Long-Term Resident)
Contents	We will divide into groups to study hiragana, katakana, everyday kanji, JLPT N5~N3 kanji, extensive reading, and reading comprehension.

<Reception starts>After-School Japanese Class【Tuesdays & Thursdays：Hamamatsu Science Museum】

Schedule	2 time per week Period: May 9, 2024 – March 18, 2025 Day and time: Tuesdays and Thursdays,16:30～18:00
Place	Hamamatsu Science Museum (Chuo-ku, kitaterajima-cho 256-3)
For	Elementary School 5th Years – Junior-High School 3rd Years
Contents	Textbook kanji and vocabulary, compositions, and reading aloud

Japanese Language Classes Offered by NPOs

In addition to the above, various NPOs offer Japanese language classes in Hamamatsu City.