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Community & Culture

Learning Japanese in Shinjuku City: Free and Low-Cost Classes for Adults and Children

This guide introduces three Japanese-learning programs for adults and one for children in Shinjuku City:

Use the table below to choose a class that fits you.

やさしい日本語にほんご

  • このページでは、新宿区しんじゅくくで日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうできる教室きょうしつのうち、大人おとな向むけの3種類しゅるいと、子こども向むけの1種類しゅるいを案内あんないします。
  • 無料むりょうで申もうし込こみがいらない「日本語にほんごひろば」、お金かねがかかる「新宿区日本語教室しんじゅくくにほんごきょうしつ（SJC）」、はじめての人ひとのための無料むりょうの「はじめてしゃべる日本語教室にほんごきょうしつ」、子こどものための「子こども日本語教室にほんごきょうしつ」です。
Learning Japanese in Shinjuku City: Free and Low-Cost Classes for Adults and Children

Who it is for

ClassWhoCost / How to apply
Nihongo HirobaAge 15 and over (not junior high school students). Shinjuku residents have priority.Free. No advance application. Arrive at the classroom by 13:50 to register.
Shinjuku City Japanese Class (SJC)People whose first language is not Japanese and who need Japanese in daily life (introductory and beginner levels). Junior high school students and younger cannot join.Paid each term. Apply online or at a counter.
Hajimete Shaberu Nihongo KyoshitsuPeople learning Japanese for the first time, and beginners.Free. Apply by email (capacity: 20 people).
Children's Japanese Class (Kodomo Club Shinjuku)Children who meet all 3 conditions: (1) in grades 4 to 6 of a Shinjuku City elementary school or grades 1 to 3 of a Shinjuku City junior high school, (2) both parents or one parent are foreign nationals, (3) they tend to fall behind in school subjects because their Japanese is not yet enough.Ask the Shinjuku Mirai Sozo Foundation.

やさしい日本語にほんご

  • 日本語にほんごひろば：15才さい以上いじょう（中学生ちゅうがくせいはのぞく）。無料むりょう。前まえもっての申もうし込こみはいりません。当日とうじつ13時じ50分ぷんまでに教室きょうしつに来きます。
  • 新宿区日本語教室しんじゅくくにほんごきょうしつ（SJC）：日本語にほんごが母語ぼごでない人ひと。中学生ちゅうがくせい以下いかは入はいれません。お金かねがかかります。
  • はじめてしゃべる日本語教室にほんごきょうしつ：はじめて日本語にほんごを勉強べんきょうする人ひと。無料むりょう。メールで申もうし込こみます。
  • 子こども日本語教室にほんごきょうしつ：3つ全部ぜんぶに当あてはまる子こども。①新宿区立しんじゅくくりつの小学しょうがく4〜6年生ねんせいか中学ちゅうがく1〜3年生ねんせい　②両親りょうしんか、親おやのどちらかが外国人がいこくじん　③日本語にほんごの力ちからが足たりなくて、勉強べんきょうがおくれがち

What to do

Nihongo Hiroba (free)A free class where you study with Japanese-language volunteers at Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza (しんじゅく多文化共生プラザ, Hygeia 11F). Every class is 14:00–15:00. Monday: kanji (for people who can speak a little Japanese). Tuesday: all Japanese (any level). Thursday: conversation and beginner grammar (introductory to beginner). Saturday: conversation (any level). Come directly to the classroom by 13:50 on the day. If you are late, you cannot enter. If many people come, you may not be able to enter. Closed on national holidays. Scheduled seasonal breaks: winter 2026-12-14 to 2027-01-11, spring 2027-03-15 to 2027-04-11. Questions: Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza, 03-5291-5171.
Shinjuku City Japanese Class (SJC, paid)A class for beginners (daily conversation level), held at Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza and community centers in the city. If many people apply, Shinjuku residents have priority. Terms: April–July / September–December / January–March. Times: morning 9:30–11:30 / evening 18:30–20:30.
SJC: fee1st term 2,000 yen, 2nd term 2,000 yen, 3rd term 1,500 yen (fees are not returned after payment).
SJC: how to applyApply (1) online or (2) at a counter: Community and Friendship City Exchange Section (地域・友好都市交流課) in Shinjuku Cosmic Center, the Foreign Residents Advisory Center (外国人相談窓口) on Shinjuku City Office 1F, or Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza. Email applications are not accepted.
SJC: joining mid-termMid-term entry is subject to vacancies and the program's admission deadlines (the fee is the same); check the Foundation's current guidance. Before you ask or apply, check the Foundation's FAQ (Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean).
Hajimete Shaberu Nihongo Kyoshitsu (free)A small class for people learning Japanese for the first time. Dates: 2026-09-24 to 2026-11-26, Thursdays, 10 classes. Time and place: 9:30–11:30, Shinjuku Cosmic Center 3F, Large Meeting Room. Capacity: 20 people (you can join in the middle if there is space). Fee: free. Apply by email to chiiki@regasu-shinjuku.or.jp with (1) your name, (2) address, (3) nationality, (4) language. You will be told by email if you can join.
Children's Japanese Class (Kodomo Club Shinjuku)A class where children study English, math, Japanese language arts, Japanese, etc. Place: Shinjuku City Education Center (新宿区立教育センター). Tuesday and Thursday: elementary 17:30–18:45, junior high 19:00–20:45. Saturday: 18:00–20:30. Who can apply: (1) students in grades 4, 5, 6 of Shinjuku City elementary schools and grades 1, 2, 3 of Shinjuku City junior high schools, (2) whose parents or one parent are foreign nationals, (3) who tend to fall behind in school subjects because their Japanese is not yet enough. Questions and applications: Shinjuku Mirai Sozo Foundation, Community and Friendship City Exchange Section, 03-3232-5121.
Other classes"Sakura Nihongo Circle" (さくら日本語サークル) also meets at Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza (anyone who can speak and write simple Japanese; no age limit, but the lessons are for adults). To find Japanese classes in Tokyo, use the "Tokyo Japanese Language Classroom Site" (東京都日本語教室サイト; Japanese, English, Chinese, Korean) by the Tokyo Tsunagari Sousei Foundation.

やさしい日本語にほんご

  • 日本語にほんごひろば：しんじゅく多文化共生たぶんかきょうせいプラザ（ハイジア11階かい）。月げつ・火か・木もく・土曜日どようびの14時じから15時じ。13時じ50分ぷんまでに来きてください。おくれると入はいれません。電話でんわ 03-5291-5171
  • 新宿区日本語教室しんじゅくくにほんごきょうしつ（SJC）：1学期がっき2,000円えん、2学期がっき2,000円えん、3学期がっき1,500円えん。WEBか窓口まどぐちで申もうし込こみます。メールでは申もうし込こめません。
  • はじめてしゃべる日本語教室にほんごきょうしつ：2026年ねん9月がつ24日にちから11月がつ26日にちの木曜日もくようび、9時じ30分ぷんから11時じ30分ぷん。無料むりょう。メールで名前なまえ・住所じゅうしょ・国籍こくせき・言葉ことばを送おくります。
  • 子こども日本語教室にほんごきょうしつ：新宿区立教育しんじゅくくりつきょういくセンター。問とい合あわせは新宿未来創造財団しんじゅくみらいそうぞうざいだん（03-3232-5121）

Shinjuku City Japanese Class (SJC): where each class meets

DayPlaces
MondayTsunohazu Community Center, Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza (morning and evening)
TuesdayShinjuku Multicultural Plaza (morning), Shinjuku Cosmic Center, Ushigome Tansu Community Center, Totsuka Community Center
WednesdayYotsuya Hiroba, Shinjuku Bunka Center
ThursdayWakamatsu Community Center, Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza (evening)
FridayShinjuku Multicultural Plaza (morning), Yotsuya Hiroba, Kita-Shinjuku Lifelong Learning Center, Okubo Community Center
The 2026 schedule of the Children's Japanese Class (Kodomo Club Shinjuku) is on the Shinjuku Mirai Sozo Foundation page.

やさしい日本語にほんご

  • 月曜日げつようび：角筈地域つのはずちいきセンター、プラザ（朝あさ・夜よる）
  • 火曜日かようび：プラザ（朝あさ）、新宿しんじゅくコズミックセンター、牛込箪笥地域うしごめたんすちいきセンター、戸塚地域とつかちいきセンター
  • 水曜日すいようび：四谷よつやひろば、新宿文化しんじゅくぶんかセンター
  • 木曜日もくようび：若松地域わかまつちいきセンター、プラザ（夜よる）
  • 金曜日きんようび：プラザ（朝あさ）、四谷よつやひろば、北新宿生涯学習館きたしんじゅくしょうがいがくしゅうかん、大久保地域おおくぼちいきセンター
  • 子こども日本語教室にほんごきょうしつの2026年度ねんどの予定よていは、財団ざいだんのページにあります。

Questions people ask

Can I learn Japanese for free in Shinjuku City?

"Nihongo Hiroba" at Shinjuku Multicultural Plaza is free and needs no application. It is on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 14:00–15:00, for people aged 15 and over (not junior high school students; Shinjuku residents have priority). Go directly to the classroom by 13:50 on the day. If you are late, you cannot enter.

How much is the Shinjuku City Japanese Class (SJC)?

1st term 2,000 yen, 2nd term 2,000 yen, 3rd term 1,500 yen. Fees are not returned after payment. You can join in the middle if a class has space, but the fee is the same. Apply online or at a counter; email applications are not accepted.

Is there a class where children with foreign roots learn Japanese and school subjects?

Yes, the Children's Japanese Class (Kodomo Club Shinjuku). Children in grades 4, 5, 6 of Shinjuku City elementary schools and grades 1, 2, 3 of Shinjuku City junior high schools can apply if both parents or one parent are foreign nationals and they tend to fall behind in school subjects because their Japanese is not yet enough. The place is the Shinjuku City Education Center. Tuesday and Thursday: elementary 17:30–18:45, junior high 19:00–20:45. Saturday: 18:00–20:30.

I have never studied Japanese. Where should I start?

The Shinjuku Mirai Sozo Foundation's "Hajimete Shaberu Nihongo Kyoshitsu" is free and for people learning Japanese for the first time and beginners. It runs on Thursdays from 2026-09-24 to 2026-11-26 (10 classes), 9:30–11:30, at Shinjuku Cosmic Center 3F, Large Meeting Room, for up to 20 people. You can join in the middle if there is space. Apply by email; you will be told by email if you can join.

やさしい日本語にほんご

  • 「日本語にほんごひろば」は無料むりょうです。申もうし込こみはいりません。13時じ50分ぷんまでに教室きょうしつへ行いきます。
  • 日本語にほんごがはじめての人ひとは、「はじめてしゃべる日本語教室にほんごきょうしつ」（無料むりょう）があります。

Phrases to show at the counter

Show this card at the counter, or read it aloud.

日本語にほんごの教室きょうしつに入はいりたいです。

I would like to join a Japanese class.

日本語にほんごは、はじめてです。

This is my first time learning Japanese.

子こどもの教室きょうしつについて聞ききたいです。

I would like to ask about the class for children.

ゆっくり話はなしてください。

Please speak slowly.

Japanese words at the counter

JapaneseReadingMeaning
日本語教室にほんごきょうしつJapanese class
申込みもうしこみapplication
参加費さんかひparticipation fee
学期がっきterm
初級しょきゅうbeginner level

Source

Shinjuku City "新宿区日本語教室" (updated 2026-05-25): https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/tabunka/tabunka01_000001_00001.html

Shinjuku City "無料日本語教室『日本語ひろば』" (PDF): https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/content/000344632.pdf

Shinjuku City "しんじゅく多文化共生プラザ" (updated 2026-10-21): https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/tabunka/file03_00001.html

Shinjuku Mirai Sozo Foundation "新宿区日本語教室（SJC）": https://www.regasu-shinjuku.or.jp/?p=630

Shinjuku Mirai Sozo Foundation "はじめてしゃべる日本語教室" (PDF, from the Shinjuku City page): https://www.city.shinjuku.lg.jp/content/000405146.pdf

Shinjuku Mirai Sozo Foundation "子ども日本語教室（こどもクラブ新宿）": https://www.regasu-shinjuku.or.jp/?p=75506

Last checked: 2026-10-15 (Japanese page) / 2026-10-27 (this English page, official sources)

Related pages: Enrolling in Shinjuku public schools · Living in Shinjuku: consultation and daily living