How Much Do Japanese Lessons Cost? What Affects the Price and How to Get Value
The price of Japanese lessons depends mainly on four things: whether the lesson is private or in a group, who teaches it (a casual conversation partner, an experienced tutor or a school), whether it is online or in person, and how specialised it is, such as JLPT or business Japanese. Online lessons with an independent native tutor usually cost less than a language school, and group lessons cost less per person than private ones. At Hanabuddies, private lessons are 40 per hour, group lessons are 25 per hour per person, and the first 15 minutes are free. Here is what drives the price, and how to judge whether a lesson is good value.
What affects the price
| Factor | Usually cheaper | Usually more expensive |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Group lessons | Private, one-to-one lessons |
| Teacher | Conversation partners with no teaching background | Experienced tutors who plan lessons and correct you systematically |
| Where | Online, with no travel time built in | In person, or at a school with premises to pay for |
| Content | General conversation | Exam preparation, business Japanese, interview coaching |
| Commitment | Courses or packages paid in advance | Occasional single lessons |
The main options compared
- Tutor marketplaces. Prices vary enormously, because anyone can list themselves. You can find good value, but quality is uneven and you may need several trial lessons to find the right person.
- Language schools. Usually the highest price per hour, often sold as a term or course. You get a fixed curriculum and classmates, but less say over the pace and content.
- University evening courses. Often good value per hour, but tied to the academic calendar and usually in large groups.
- Independent tutors and small teams. Typically between the two: more personal than a school, more consistent than a marketplace, and lessons built around your goals.
- Apps and free resources. Cheap or free, and useful for vocabulary and kana, but they can’t hold a conversation with you or tell you why you keep making the same mistake. See Japanese lessons vs language apps.
Our prices
We keep pricing simple:
- Private lessons: 40 per hour, one-to-one with a native Japanese tutor.
- Group lessons: 25 per hour per person, in a small group.
- Free trial: the first 15 minutes of your first lesson are free, so you can meet the tutor before you commit.
- Teams: corporate training for staff working with Japan is priced on request.
Lessons are online over video and scheduled around your time zone, whether you are in North America, Europe or Australia.
How to tell whether a lesson is good value
The cheapest lesson per hour is not always the cheapest way to reach your goal. A useful question is: how much do I improve for each hour I pay for? Signs that you are getting value:
- Every lesson has a clear purpose that connects to your goal, whether that is a trip, an exam or a job.
- You speak for most of the lesson, rather than listening to the teacher talk.
- Your mistakes are corrected, and the same ones come up less often over time.
- You leave with something to practise before the next lesson.
- Your tutor can tell you honestly how long your goal is likely to take. For a rough idea, see how long it takes to learn Japanese.
Ways to spend less without learning less
- Do the cheap work alone. Kana, flashcards and listening practice don’t need a tutor. Save lesson time for speaking, correction and questions.
- Try a small group. If you are a beginner or want conversation practice, a group lesson costs less per person and you learn from other students’ questions.
- Lessons less often, but regularly. One lesson a week with daily self-study usually beats three lessons a week with nothing in between.
- Be specific. Tell your tutor exactly what you need (“ordering in restaurants”, “N3 reading”, “meetings with our Osaka office”) so no time is wasted.
Still deciding on a format? Our guides to private vs group lessons and how to choose a Japanese tutor will help.