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)
Hamamatsu City is working to create a city where Japanese and foreigners can live together in peace. In January 2010, Hamamatsu City opened U-ToC, a facility that provides comprehensive learning support for children and adults. U-ToC is the only public facility of its kind where foreign residents can learn Japanese.
At the Center, we provide classes aimed for first-time learner of Japanese that cover everything up until intermediate level. The Center is also putting effort into their reading and writing classes so that it can support foreigners living in Japan from the start.
There are also many volunteers at U-ToC who contribute to classes and exchange events. Learn Japanese at U-ToC and live your best life in Japan.
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】
- 【2024】Japanese Language Classes for Accompanying Family Members 【Tuesdays ＆ Thursdays : Hamamatsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry】
- 【2024】Children’s Summer Japanese Class【Weekdays：Hamamatsu Chuo Library】
- 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.
<Accepting applications.> 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 – 13:30 ＜Oct. start＞ Period: 17 / Oct. – Sep. 2025 (planned) Day and time: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:30 – 13:30 |
| 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 | 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. |
<Applications open 1 / Nov.> Level 0 Class (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】
| Schedule | 5 times a week (Total 20 classes / 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. |
<Accepting applications.> Reading & Writing Class 【Weekdays：U-ToC】
| Schedule | 2 times a week Period: 7 / May – 26 / Sep. Day and time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 14:00 -15:30 ＜Second Term: 30 classes / 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 |
<Accepting applications.> Situational Japanese Class (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】
| Schedule | 1 time a week (Total 16 classes / 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. |
<Accepting applications.> Japanese for Child-rearing Class (In-person Classes)【Weekdays：U-ToC】
| Schedule | 1 time a week (Total 12 classes / 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. |
Hiragana, Katakana and Kanji Class【Weekends：Hamamatsu Minami】
| Schedule | 1 time a week (Total 12 classes) Period: 18 / May. – 10 / 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. |
<Accepting applications.> 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. |
<Applications open 30 / Sep> 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. |
<Accepting applications.> 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 |
<Accepting applications.> Japanese Language Classes for Accompanying Family Members【Tuesdays & Thursdays : Hamamatsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry】
| Schedule | 2 times a week (Total 24 Classes) Period：October 1 (Tue)-December 19 (Thur), 2024 Day and Time：Every Tuesday and Thursday 9:30～11:10 |
| Place | Hamamatsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, 1st Floor, Room 101 2-7-1 Higashiiba, Chūō-ku, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka |
| For | Accompanying families (16 years and above) of foreign personnel hired by a company in Hamamatsu |
| Contents | Learn basic (A1 level) Japanese in this class. The aim of this class is to alleviate the worries of accompaniying familiy members who have just arrived in Hamamatsu and to support the integration of foreign personnel. |
Children’s Summer Japanese Class【Weekdays：Hamamatsu Chuo Library】
| Schedule | Period: July 29 (Mon)-August 2(Fri) Day and time: Monday ～ Friday, 9:30～11:30（2Hours） |
| Place | Hamamatsu Municipal Chūō Library Hamamatsu, Chuo Ward, Matsushirocho, 214-21 |
| For | Children attending elementary or middle school in Hamamatsu City with foreign roots. (Approx. 30 participants) |
| Contents | 1. Library Tour 2. Let`s read lots of books! 3. Chat with senior students 4. Summer homework |
Japanese Language Classes Offered by NPOs
In addition to the above, various NPOs offer Japanese language classes in Hamamatsu City.