Taking the JLPT in Japan: How to Apply and What to Expect
If you live in Japan, you apply for the JLPT online through the official JLPT site for Japan, run by the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES), not through the overseas host institutions. The test is held twice a year, on the first Sunday of July and the first Sunday of December, and applications usually open a few months earlier: around spring for July and around late summer for December. You choose a test region, receive a test voucher showing your venue, and get your results online first, with the certificate sent afterwards. Always check the official site for this year’s exact dates and fee.
Step by step
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1. Choose a level and session | Decide between July and December, and pick the level you’re realistically ready for. See July or December? and JLPT levels explained. |
| 2. Create an account | Register on the official JLPT site for applicants in Japan before the application window opens. |
| 3. Apply and pay | Apply online during the application period, choose your test region and pay the fee by the deadline. Popular areas can fill up, so apply early. |
| 4. Test voucher | Your test voucher (受験票) arrives before the test and shows your venue, which is assigned within your region, often a university. |
| 5. Test day | Arrive early with what the voucher asks for. See below. |
| 6. Results | Results appear online first, then your score report and, if you pass, your certificate are posted to you. See JLPT results and certificate. |
What to bring on the day
- Your test voucher, with a photo attached if the instructions ask for one.
- HB or No. 2 pencils (mechanical pencils are usually not allowed) and an eraser.
- A watch that only tells the time. Smartwatches and phones must be switched off and put away.
- Layers of clothing, because rooms can be cold in December and warm in July.
For timing, breaks and the order of sections, see JLPT test day tips.
Useful Japanese for the test
| Japanese | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 受験票 | juken-hyō | Test voucher |
| 試験会場 | shiken kaijō | Test venue |
| 受付期間 | uketsuke kikan | Application period |
| 合否結果通知書 | gōhi kekka tsūchisho | Score report |
| 日本語能力認定書 | nihongo nōryoku nintei-sho | Certificate of proficiency |
Tips for test-takers in Japan
- Set a reminder for the application window. It’s easy to miss while busy with work or school.
- Check your route. Venues are often on university campuses outside the city centre. Look up the trip the week before. See Japanese for trains.
- Use daily life as practice. Notices at the station, letters from the ward office and the news are real reading practice. See JLPT reading tips.
- Plan around work. See studying for the JLPT while working full-time.
Living outside Japan? See how to register for the JLPT abroad.
How Hanabuddies can help
Our native Japanese tutors teach one-to-one online, in English, with lesson times that fit evenings and weekends in Japan. We help you choose a level, build a plan to test day, practise each section and keep speaking practice going, so the Japanese you study also helps at work and around town.