The first month of living in Japan is often described as magical, disorienting, and overwhelming—all at the same time. You’re surrounded by a new culture, a new language, and an entirely different way of moving through the world. Even simple things like buying toothpaste, ordering lunch, or taking the train can become daily puzzles. And without a grasp of the language, many people find that everyday life becomes a series of quiet frustrations.
You land, you get your residence card, and maybe you’ve even memorized a few greetings or practiced your hiragana. But then the real-life moments hit. You’re handed a form at the ward office with no English support. A store clerk asks you a question you weren’t expecting. You order something at a restaurant, unsure of what will arrive. It’s not just a language barrier, it’s the sudden realization that you need to build new systems for everyday life, fast.
What Most Newcomers Say
Many people don’t need to be fluent on day one, they just want to get by. They want to be able to navigate their neighborhood, hold a short conversation, understand basic signs, and avoid feeling like a burden. And honestly, that’s not too much to ask. Feeling capable in daily life shouldn’t take years of study, it just takes the right kind of start.
Foundational Japanese is what transforms your experience from isolating to empowering. Being able to ask simple questions, understand common phrases, and read basic signage helps you reclaim control over your day. It means you can handle a cashier asking about point cards, explain a dietary preference, or ask someone which train platform to use. These aren’t advanced skills, they’re basic survival tools. And they matter.
Part of surviving in Japan isn’t just what you say, it’s how you act. Japanese culture comes with its own unspoken rules, from how to line up at a train station to how to hand over money at a register. Without guidance, it’s easy to feel unsure or out of place. Knowing just a few social cues can make a huge difference in how you’re perceived and how confident you feel.
A Course That Understands Your Needs
This is exactly why we created the Survival Kit—a short, practical course for people who are new to Japan and want to feel more at ease in their everyday life. It’s designed for complete beginners, no kanji or prior study required. You’ll learn how to introduce yourself, ask for things politely, read common signs, and understand essential grammar that unlocks daily communication. Most importantly, you’ll learn in a way that prepares you for the real world, not just the classroom.
The Survival Kit is offered both online and in-person, so whether you’ve just landed in Japan or are still packing your bags overseas, you can start preparing now. Taking the course before you arrive means you’ll be stepping off the plane with practical language skills and cultural awareness already in place. No crash course or panic-Google searches required.
In just eight sessions, you’ll build a functional foundation in Japanese. The course covers key expressions, social etiquette, transportation tips, and basic sentence structures you’ll use over and over again. Each class is taught in an interactive group setting with a supportive instructor who’s ready to answer the “wait, what do I do in this situation?” questions that always come up. Weekday morning and afternoon classes are held on Wednesdays and Fridays, designed to fit seamlessly into your schedule, no matter your time zone.
This Is Your Starting Point
You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know enough to start living with more confidence. The first month in Japan will always come with surprises, but it doesn’t have to feel like survival mode. With the right support, it can feel like the start of something exciting and manageable.
Our Survival Kit gives you the tools to thrive, not just get by. Ready to join us? The next round of classes is starting this August. Sign up today and start speaking from the very first session. Book a free consultation today here to set up your learning plan!