Online Japanese Lessons in the UK: Times, Goals and Choosing a Tutor
If you live in the UK, online lessons are a practical way to learn Japanese with a native tutor wherever you are, from London to Leeds to Glasgow. Japan is 8 hours ahead of the UK in summer and 9 hours ahead in winter, so the best slots are usually your morning, lunchtime or weekend, which is the afternoon or evening in Japan. Most UK learners do best with one or two one-to-one lessons a week at a fixed time, built around a clear goal such as a trip, GCSE or A-level Japanese, the JLPT, or work with Japanese clients.
Lesson times from the UK
| UK time | Japan time (summer, BST) | Japan time (winter, GMT) |
|---|---|---|
| 7 am | 3 pm | 4 pm |
| 9 am | 5 pm | 6 pm |
| 12 noon | 8 pm | 9 pm |
| Saturday 10 am | Saturday 6 pm | Saturday 7 pm |
Japan doesn’t change its clocks, so the gap shifts when the UK moves to and from British Summer Time in March and October. UK evenings fall in the middle of the night in Japan, so if you can only study after work, tell your tutor early and look for a regular weekend slot instead. See Japanese lessons across time zones.
Common goals for learners in the UK
- GCSE and A-level Japanese. One-to-one speaking practice for the oral, feedback on writing and a steady revision plan. See school Japanese exam tutoring.
- University Japanese. Support alongside a degree or a university language module, including preparing for a year abroad. See tutoring for university students and studying abroad in Japan.
- The JLPT. The test is held in the UK; check the official JLPT site and the UK host for dates, test centres and registration deadlines. See registering for the JLPT abroad.
- Travel and holidays. Phrases for trains, restaurants and ryokan before a trip. See learning Japanese before a trip.
- Work. Many Japanese companies have UK offices, and many UK firms work with Japanese clients and suppliers. See working at a Japanese company abroad and business Japanese lessons.
- Family. Partners and children who want to talk with Japanese relatives. See learning Japanese for your partner.
What to look for in an online tutor
- A native Japanese speaker who explains clearly in English.
- Morning, lunchtime or weekend slots that match your week, ideally the same time each week.
- A plan for your goal, such as exam topics for GCSE or a JLPT timeline.
- Plenty of speaking and correction in the moment.
- A free trial so you can check the fit.
See how to choose a Japanese tutor and a tutor vs a language school.
Online lessons vs evening classes
Evening classes at colleges and cultural centres are sociable and cover a set course, but they’re mostly in big cities and move at the group’s pace. Online one-to-one lessons work from anywhere in the UK, fit around work or school, and give you much more speaking time. A combination works well too: a class or app for structure and a weekly lesson for conversation.
How Hanabuddies can help
Our native Japanese tutors teach one-to-one or in small groups online, in English, with times planned around the time difference. Tell us where you are, what you want Japanese for and when you’re free, and we’ll suggest a weekly slot and a plan. Your first 15 minutes are a free trial.