Start learning Japanese

You can survive on English in Tokyo — but even basic Japanese transforms daily life and opens real doors. The fastest progress comes from mixing structured lessons with self-study.

• Start with hiragana and katakana — learnable in 1–2 weeks
• Mix tools: a teacher for grammar and speaking, apps for kanji and listening
• Many wards offer free or cheap Japanese classes for residents — ask at the ward office
• JLPT (N5 → N1) is useful on a CV and for some visa applications