I’m a New Zealander in my 50s who moved to Japan to study Japanese full-time. I wanted a fresh start and a challenge — but language school is a lot harder than I expected. The classes are fast-paced, the costs stack up quickly, and there are days where I feel totally overwhelmed.
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In this video, I talk openly about:
✅ My real living costs in Nagoya • Rent ¥96,500 per month (2-year contract with internet included) • Electricity + gas ¥11,000 running a dehumidifier 24/7 • Water ¥2,400 per month • Language school fees (upfront and expensive!)
✅ The school experience • Small classes and great teachers • But 2 Minna no Nihongo chapters a week = 100+ vocab • Midterm test stress and forgetting verb forms • Choosing a school advertised as slow-medium pace — not feeling like it
✅ Daily life • Studying at Kannon Coffee after class • Meeting a subscriber who I think will become a good friend • Eating out too much because I live far from a supermarket • My usual breakfast of eggs and bacon before school • Learning to survive and adapt
This is just my experience. Everyone’s journey is different — especially at my age. But I hope this video helps anyone thinking about studying in Japan later in life.
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