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Genki Japanese and Culture School
Kyoto, Japan

Shimogyo Ward, Sannōchō - 600-8424 Kyoto - see on map
Pay less than booking at the school
What we like about the school
  • The first Japanese school ever to be voted Star World Language School.
  • Student lounge with a game console and a good selection of games.
  • Free activities such as movie night, games night, city tour and many more.
  • Small class sizes
  • Excellent rating of homestay accommodation
    4.7
  • Free assistance in finding flats for long-term students.
What we dislike about the school
  • Cancellation fees for students having to cancel due to visa rejection.

Location: Genki Japanese and Culture School is in the south of Kyoto, in the Shimizucho ward. It is a few streets back from the Kamo River and surrounded by restaurants, shops, hotels, bars and supermarkets.

Navigating Kyoto: There are many bus stations around the school that stretch across the city. The school is 12 minutes by bus from the heart of Kyoto, which is a 20 minute walk for those who prefer to explore a city by foot. The Kiyomizu-Gojo Station is the closest train station to the school. From here students can take the Keihan Main Line to travel around Kyoto.

Main features of the city: The attractions in Kyoto are spread around the whole city, and for the most part, students will need to use public transportation in order to reach them all. The Fushimi Inari Taisha famed gates are 20 minutes by train from Genki Japanese and Culture School. The Kinkaku-ji temple is north of Kyoto and takes between 40-50 minutes by bus depending on the direction that students want to take from the school. A 20-minute walk east of the school will take students to the Kiyomizu-dera temple.

Course structure: There is a standard Japanese course, a programme for those that want to study for a longer duration and a specific course that focuses on conversational Japanese. The school has created a cultural course that integrates the culture of the country into learning Japanese.

Summer course: During the summer holidays, Genki Japanese and Culture School has junior packages for the younger learner, which include accommodation.

School chain: GenkiJACS, as a group, currently has four schools in Japan, in Fukuoka, Tokyo, Nagoya and Kyoto. Since 2005, GenkiJACS has supplied quality Japanese language tuition and cultural programmes to students of all levels and many nationalities. Their initial success has seen the group expand steadily, regularly recognised by awards throughout the education sector, including being voted the Star World Language School of the year at the industry Star Awards in 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020.

Japanese Courses

Show details of all courses
Typical content of a language course
General Language
Standard JapanesePopular Japanese course
For the summer, only limited places left!
20 lessons per week | 8 students (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
¥40,000¥38,000 / week
More
FREE changes
Weeks 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12
Price at school (¥) Our price (¥) 80,000 76,000 120,000 114,000 160,000 152,000 200,000 190,000 240,000 228,000 280,000 266,000 320,000 304,000 360,000 342,000 400,000 380,000 480,000 456,000
Price in US$ 482 723 964 1,204 1,445 1,686 1,927 2,168 2,408 2,890
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Starting dates
For all levels except of absolute beginners:
Every Monday

This course offers a heavy emphasis on real-life skills and a full range of activities that you will find both useful and exciting.

Beginners should know the Hiragana alphabet.

Course specific data
General course schedule
4 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 9:30 - 13:10
Afternoon: 14:05 - 17:45
Possible course durations
2-99 weeks
Language levels of course
Suitable for all levels: Beginner (A1) - Proficiency (C2)
Minimum required student age
14 years
Students per class
Maximum: 8 / Average: 6
Lesson duration
50 min
Student reviews about "Standard Japanese" at Genki Japanese and Culture School
Ronald 4.0
"I was put where I should have been, but not enough conversation work."
Monika 3.0
"On the second day of my stay I had a difficult test, which I failed, so I was moved to a group that started from scratch, which was a waste of time for me. "
Sejin 5.0
"I'd like to see more classes available for enrollment."
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Bildungsurlaub Course
31 lessons per week | 8 students (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
¥72,000¥68,400 / week
More
FREE changes
Weeks 2
Price at school (¥) Our price (¥) 144,000 136,800
Price in US$ 867
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Starting dates
For all levels except of absolute beginners:
Every Monday

Due to current availability for the course, culture lessons are held on Saturdays. Please check with your employer before agreeing to take the course.

The course cannot take place on weeks with public holidays.

Important: This program is not available during weeks with National Holidays in Japan as the minimum required course hours can`t be met during those weeks.

Course specific data
General course schedule
6-7 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 9:30 - 15:50
Afternoon: 14:05 - 17:45
Possible course durations
2 weeks
Required minimum language level
Beginner (Upper A1)
Minimum required student age
18 years
Students per class
Maximum: 8 / Average: 6
Lesson duration
50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Japanese Plus Culture
For the summer, only limited places left!
26 lessons per week | 8 students (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
¥56,000¥53,200 / week
More
FREE changes
Weeks 2 3 4
Price at school (¥) Our price (¥) 112,000 106,400 168,000 159,600 224,000 212,800
Price in US$ 675 1,012 1,349
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Starting dates
For all levels except of absolute beginners:
Every Monday

Learn Japanese while discovering the new modern Japanese culture as well as traditional culture through various activities.
Beginners should know the hiragana alphabet.
Extra activities will take place on Saturdays.

Course specific data
General course schedule
5-6 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 9:30 - 13:10
Afternoon: 14:05 - 17:45
Possible course durations
2, 3, 4 weeks
Language levels of course
Suitable for all levels: Beginner (A1) - Proficiency (C2)
Minimum required student age
14 years
Students per class
Maximum: 8 / Average: 6
Lesson duration
50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Long Term Studies
This course tends to sell out quickly!
20 lessons per week | 8 students (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
¥39,000¥37,050 / week
More
FREE changes
Weeks 10 20
Price at school (¥) Our price (¥) 390,000 370,500 740,000 703,000
Price in US$ 2,348 4,455
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Starting dates
For all levels except of absolute beginners:
Every Monday

Students in this program must be in possession of a valid visa to stay in Japan for the study period. The school does not offer student visas.

Beginner students should know the hiragana alphabet.


Course specific data
General course schedule
4 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 9:30 - 13:10
Afternoon: 14:05 - 17:45
Possible course durations
10, 20 weeks
Language levels of course
Suitable for all levels: Beginner (A1) - Proficiency (C2)
Minimum required student age
14 years
Students per class
Maximum: 8 / Average: 6
Lesson duration
50 min
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Japanese Plus Conversation
This course tends to sell out quickly!
24 lessons per week | 8 students (max)
Starts weekly (every Monday)
Offer!from
¥56,000¥53,200 / week
More
FREE changes
Weeks 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 12
Price at school (¥) Our price (¥) 112,000 106,400 168,000 159,600 224,000 212,800 280,000 266,000 336,000 319,200 392,000 372,400 448,000 425,600 504,000 478,800 560,000 532,000 672,000 638,400
Price in US$ 675 1,012 1,349 1,686 2,023 2,360 2,697 3,035 3,372 4,046
Here you ALWAYS pay less. Guaranteed
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Starting dates
For all levels except of absolute beginners:
Every Monday

Standard Japanese classes, followed by an extra hour of conversational practice every day to give you the confidence you need to survive in Japan.

Requires 150 hours of previous Japanese study.

Course specific data
General course schedule
4-5 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 9:30 - 13:10
Afternoon: 14:05 - 17:45
Possible course durations
2-99 weeks
Required minimum language level
Elementary (A2) or higher
Minimum required student age
16 years
Students per class
Maximum: 8 / Average: 6
Lesson duration
50 min
Student reviews about "Japanese Plus Conversation" at Genki Japanese and Culture School
Jeanne 4.0
"One hour conversation per day would have being better. "
Additional information for all courses
See Availability
Junior
Summer Programme (14 to 19 years old)
For the summer, only limited places left!
20 lessons per week | 8 students (max)
Offer!from
¥134,000¥130,650 / week
Includes accommodation
More
FREE changes
Weeks 2 4
Price at school (¥) Our price (¥) 312,000 304,200 536,000 522,600
Price in US$ 1,928 3,312
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Starting dates
2026: 06 Jul 2026, 20 Jul 2026, 03 Aug 2026, 17 Aug 2026

IMPORTANT

  • ONLY FOR COMPLETE BEGINNERS
  • Price listed is for arrivals/departures at Itami Airport (ITM).
  • For arrivals/departures at Kansai International (KIX) prices are:
  • 2 weeks: JPY 342000.
  • 4 weeks: JPY 566000.

  • It's only possible to book 2 and 4-week programs, not possible to book for 1 or 3 weeks.
Prices
Course price includes accommodation
Homestay, Single room, Breakfast & 1 meal
Interested in this course without accommodation? Please contact us.
Price includes
Airport transfer (return trip)
Course specific data
General course schedule
4 daily lessons of 50 minutes will take place within the following possible time slots. The exact schedule will be assigned on the first day of class according to your level:
Morning: 9:30 - 13:10
Afternoon: 14:05 - 17:45
Possible course durations
2, 4 weeks
Required minimum language level
Absolute Beginner (A0)
Minimum required student age
14 years
Age range:
14 - 19 years
Students per class
Maximum: 8 / Average: 6
Lesson duration
50 min
Course Brochure
Summer Program 2026
Summer Program 2026
View
Student reviews about "Summer Programme" at Genki Japanese and Culture School
Felicitas Yasmine 5.0
"Junior Summer"
Additional information for all courses
See Availability

Our prices for Genki Japanese and Culture School include

  • INCLUDED Internet access and use of school computers
  • INCLUDED Wireless LAN zone at school
  • INCLUDED Free certificate of course attendance
  • INCLUDED Language level placement test at first day of classes
  • INCLUDED Language level placement test before arrival
  • INCLUDED Free assistance in finding flats for long-term students

Videos & Photos

  • Genki Japanese and Culture School - GenkiJACS - Kyoto Introduction Video1/1
  • Excursions in Kyoto
    Excursions in Kyoto 1/31
  • Teacher helping students
    Teacher helping students2/31
  • Working hard
    Working hard3/31
  • Happy teacher
    Happy teacher4/31
  • Lesson in progress
    Lesson in progress5/31
  • Listening in class
    Listening in class6/31
  • Group discussions in class
    Group discussions in class7/31
  • 8/31
  • New students
    New students9/31
  • Iwatayama Monkey Park
    Iwatayama Monkey Park10/31
  • Guesthouse kitchen
    Guesthouse kitchen 11/31
  • Guesthouse interior
    Guesthouse interior12/31
  • Cultural activity
    Cultural activity13/31
  • Group photo
    Group photo14/31
  • Group outing
    Group outing15/31
  • Host family bedroom
    Host family bedroom16/31
  • Cultural activities with friends
    Cultural activities with friends17/31
  • Private apartment bedroom
    Private apartment bedroom18/31
  • Private apartment
    Private apartment19/31
  • Fun activities
    Fun activities 20/31
  • Kyoto sightseeing
    Kyoto sightseeing21/31
  • Beautiful greenery in Kyoto
    Beautiful greenery in Kyoto22/31
  • School Entrance
    School Entrance23/31
  • Students in class
    Students in class24/31
  • Students
    Students25/31
  • Reception
    Reception26/31
  • Host Family
    Host Family27/31
  • Kyoto Palace
    Kyoto Palace 28/31
  • Beautiful scenery
    Beautiful scenery29/31
  • Kyoto at night
    Kyoto at night 30/31
  • Seeing Kyoto
    Seeing Kyoto31/31

Student opinions about Genki Japanese and Culture School, Kyoto

4.4
Overall school rating of
Genki Japanese and Culture School, Kyoto
15 authentic ratings from students who booked with us
School
Location of the school
4.9 
Facilities
3.6 
Social activities
4.0 
Organisation
4.1 
Course
Quality of teaching
4.3 
Value for money
4.0 
Accommodation
Homestay
4.7 
Shared Flat (apartment)
3.7 
Overall school rating by student age group
Students < 18 years (3 ratings)
5.0 
Students 18-30 years (5 ratings)
5.0 
Students 31-49 years (2 ratings)
4.0 
Students 50+ years (5 ratings)
3.6 
Verified reviews only, uncensored. All student opinions from students who booked a course at the school with LanguageCourse.net.
72 years
Overall rating
4.0
“Great teachers. They apparently had expectations put on them by the school as far as time spent on topics, etc., and they did very well considering time constraints and timelines. The course material was good. I could have progressed further than I did, except the school expected a higher return from students than the time spent on topics. I admire the teachers given what expectations were put on them by Genki JACS.”
“Testing was too demanding for Western students. Not enough conversation time for what was expected of the students in the tests. From my experiences with classmates failing oral exams to a high degree, the school expects students to perform higher than what they have been taught. We were given books, etc., but the books were not used in an efficient manner.”
Insider tip: “Conversation at a higher level than I expected.”
Quality of teaching / language progress: I was put where I should have been, but not enough conversation work.
Other comments: Teachers seem to be expected to move at a higher pace than students can handle. Not the fault of the teachers so much as apparent pressure from above.
Verified  
Course: Standard Japanese - 24 weeks
Review date: 4. May. 2026
52 years
Overall rating
3.0
“The commitment and professionalism of teachers.”
“Lacking a fixed schedule, the timetable changed every week, making it impossible to plan other activities in advance.”
Quality of teaching / language progress: On the second day of my stay I had a difficult test, which I failed, so I was moved to a group that started from scratch, which was a waste of time for me.
Other comments: Very old and worn out equipment in the hall and generally little space to rest during breaks with the large number of students.
Verified  
Course: Standard Japanese - 4 weeks
Review date: 28. Oct. 2025
68 years
Overall rating
4.0
“Good teachers. Location is central. Total beginners will be fine with the class and teaching structure.”
“Organisation needs to be improved. Timerex is superfluous. The premises are too small and too tight. Too many students and not enough space or teachers to ensure classes in the morning. Students with knowledge may be disappointed about the very strict classification method. Only revisiting new lessons is boring. Not enough conversation opportunities and classes for students who want to improve their conversation skills.”
Insider tip: “Make your expectations clear and don't compromise too quickly.”
Quality of teaching / language progress: One hour conversation per day would have being better.
Other comments: Being a teacher there is hard work.
Verified  
Course: Japanese Plus Conversation - 3 weeks
Review date: 25. Mar. 2025
14 years
Overall rating
5.0
“I liked the attention to detail, the curriculum, and the variety of activities.”
“I'd like to see more classes available for enrollment.”
Insider tip: “You can expect to see better results after about six months of learning the basics.”
Quality of teaching / language progress: I'd like to see more classes available for enrollment.
Other comments: Thank you for the care and support from you and the registrar.
Verified  
Course: Standard Japanese - 2 weeks
Review date: 30. Jan. 2025
23 years
Overall rating
5.0
“Genki offers the opportunity to meet loads of new people with likely very similar interests. Teachers were all fun, interesting and proactive. I really enjoyed everything about coming here.”
“The only mild disagreement I've had is that I feel like it's moving a little too slow at times? I am aware that classes follow the textbooks structure but I would have liked being introduced to some concepts a little quicker especially if everyone seems to grasp them quickly.”
Insider tip: “Use class time to chat in Japanese! Use your skills with your friends and colleagues, it helps so much.”
Verified  
Course: Japanese Plus Conversation - 3 weeks
Review date: 1. Nov. 2023
33 years12 week courses). // There is the possibility to change between Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukuoka relatively easily. This gives you much more impressions. (However, it is not worth it if you cannot stay in one place for at least 2, rather 3 weeks => minimum stay of 4, rather 6 weeks. Reason: The period of acclimatisation to a new place is harder than many think). ">
Overall rating
3.0
“Very hard-working teachers and an incredibly nice headmistress. // Additional worksheets are available on request. // There is a lot of emphasis on practising speaking, so that after a while you lose your shyness and dare to ask questions in shops or restaurants. // All teachers could speak at least basic English, so that in (what I consider) the right situations, they insisted on Japanese, but the teaching staff also sometimes used brief English. // The reception is great and always approachable, and they speak really good English. That's important, because the reception also helps you with non-school-related problems such as SIM cards, tickets, translations of information, emails, websites (if you want to buy concert tickets, for example) or ( alleged) problems with your accommodation. // You were allowed to stay longer within the school's premises in order to study there. //

I took part in two free bank holiday substitute activities. One was a waste of time and one was really good. I was positive about the (paid!) weekend activities, but I'm glad I didn't book them. Because some of these activities could also be done on weekdays, so I didn't "waste" weekends doing them. And I preferred to have my own schedule instead of having to follow someone else's, especially since I then had to "fight" my way through it myself and was forced to talk myself. However, especially if you're only there for 2-4 weeks, it might be nice to get things organised and not have to worry about it. // The location of the school is unbeatable. // The class size is limited to 8 people. Most of the time, the class size according to plan was between 6-8 people (minus sick leave). // The way of teaching varies a lot, for better or worse. However, I noticed positively that the teachers often made an effort to adapt the work materials to the students, e.g. setting a date for the coming weekend or including the names of the class members. // The teaching staff has a relatively un-Japanese teaching style. Compared to German teaching, it may still seem old-fashioned, but anyone who knows how teaching is done in a typical Japanese school will agree with me. So the teaching staff has clearly attuned itself to its western audience, which is very positive. // Extremely flexible start, i.e. on any Monday of any week and of any length (in contrast to other schools that, for example, only start every quarter and/or only offer >12 week courses). // There is the possibility to change between Tokyo, Kyoto and Fukuoka relatively easily. This gives you much more impressions. (However, it is not worth it if you cannot stay in one place for at least 2, rather 3 weeks => minimum stay of 4, rather 6 weeks. Reason: The period of acclimatisation to a new place is harder than many think).”
“I'll start with the absolute worst point: groups were merged at different levels. In concrete terms, people started on the same day in different levels and consequently in different classes. Every first Monday of the month an A0 group starts, so with prior knowledge you join a group that started at A0 2, 3 or x weeks ago. So far, so good. But it turned out that people who had started at 1-3 weeks more advanced level suddenly ended up in my class. Explanation: While in my course the Ta, Te and dictionary form were run through in pretty much exactly 4 days, more advanced courses sat on the Te form alone for 2 weeks. So they artificially slowed down their time while I started crying because we were being rushed through. We were "kindly" allowed to take photos of the slides and I then studied them one by one with the book and my pitiful notes. It was always "Kakimasen, kakimasen - don't write, don't write". We were practically not allowed to take notes on such days, otherwise we wouldn't have been able to get through the material. On the worst of those days, I spent 4 hours doing extra work. Why all this? Was it to keep the class size of the advanced classes at 1x 6 persons instead of 3x 2 persons per class? This chasing through even led to strong differences in practical ability, although theoretically we were on the same book lesson. I found it particularly irritating that I was then offered the opportunity to do additional exercises to practise. This extended my practice time by another 1-2 hours, so I stopped again, because then I would not have been able to do anything at all in Kyoto. //

Although it was allowed to stay longer at the school (or to come earlier), there was actually not enough space. The lobby is an entrance room, break room and homework room all in one, so it is never quiet there (people come and go even during class time) and you were constantly approached by people. And it was incredibly loud before and after lessons. If a classroom was not occupied, I could also sit down in such a room, but that was not always the case. There was a lack of clearly defined learning areas and quite simply: space. // We only received the Minna no Nihongo exercise book after 4 weeks. In my opinion, it should have been handed out from the beginning. // The teaching materials are incredibly old. Since Minna no Nihongo is a standard work (last update: 2012), this is not the school's fault per se (and as mentioned in the positive points, many teachers have made an effort to make the lessons more modern). Nevertheless, I was reminded several times of my early school days, because one was so often confronted with poorly readable photocopied teaching sheets (from the early 2000s), including outdated words and ugly black-and-white graphics. // A lot of English and German outside of class, because exclusively Western students. // Despite the fact that the teaching style is already aimed at Western students, it remains a Japanese teaching style: lots of parroting and worksheets non-stop. I would have preferred to get a binder instead of a notebook, because it turned into a terrible paper jungle (my tip: write the date and sheet number on all the sheets. Otherwise, with 4 to 8 sheets PER DAY, you quickly lose track). Genki certainly doesn't do any worse than other Japanese schools. The Japanese are just behind internationally. Nevertheless, it is a negative point that you have to be prepared for. //

No long-term planning possibilities because you only get the timetable on Fridays. As a result, the classes are regularly mixed up, which means that you cannot form close friendships. At this point, it should be mentioned that it was not at all clear who was in which class and why, or why others had classes in the morning for three weeks in a row, but you had to constantly jump between lunch and afternoon classes. When asked, I was told once (quote) "There are plenty of reasons" and once "It is a coincidence". I didn't like this lack of transparency.”
Insider tip: “The school hours tend to start in the morning at the beginning of the stay (I have observed this many times with others), then there are 1-3 "mixed" weeks and then practically only afternoon classes. I can only recommend to everyone to use the afternoons for activities right from the start, because these afternoons quickly become rare. And in the mornings you simply can't do that much, because almost everything only opens at 10 am (temples/shrines sometimes already open between 6 and 9 am). So on weekdays, do everything Kyoto has to offer. And at the weekends, you can take trips to other cities.”
Quality of teaching / language progress: I would point out that you should definitely come to Japan with very good hiragana and at least a basic knowledge of katakana, whether at Genki or another school. I have seen people take six weeks to learn to read hiragana fluently. That's six weeks in which they made virtually no other progress because they lacked reading skills. Do yourself a favour and learn to read hiragana fluently before you go on a language course. Everything else is a waste of money and time. // I wanted to have private lessons, but they were not available at the time - I am now quite happy. Two other participants had private lessons and both told me that they had hoped to get more out of them. Maybe it is more worthwhile if you are already at a very good A2 or even B1 level.
Other comments: My personal conclusion: Many of the positive and negative points I mentioned are simply two sides of the same coin. You have to be clear about what you want. I chose this school because of its flexible start and end times and because of its location. These points were so irrefutable for me that I would retrospectively choose everything exactly the same again today. But I would not choose this school again under different circumstances. The negative experiences with the expected equalisation of learning levels were too bad for me. The constant reshuffling of classes and the fact that I only knew the timetables for the following weeks on the Friday beforehand were also acceptable this time, but next time I would prefer to have lessons at the same times throughout (even if it would only be in the afternoon) in order to be able to bring a permanent routine into my day, and in addition always be in class with the same people and have planning security for the weeks to come. So if you only want to take lessons for a few weeks, I can definitely recommend the Genki School. There are hardly any other schools that offer such flexible weekly starts. For those who want to stay for three months or longer, I would recommend looking for another school. For me, the negative aspects of the flexible concept outweigh the positive ones.
Verified  
Course: Standard Japanese - 10 weeks
Review date: 23. May. 2023
29 years
Overall rating
5.0
“The classes were small and the teachers were very competent.”
“There were no afternoon or weekend activities organiesed by the school. And the public area could easily get overcrowded.”
Verified  
Course: Japanese Plus Culture - 4 weeks
Review date: 10. Apr. 2023
65 years
Overall rating
2.0
“The teachers are enthusiastic.”
“Classrooms with little space, suffocating. Many changes of students, teachers. Outdated teaching.”
Verified  
Course: Standard Japanese - 12 weeks
Review date: 27. Mar. 2023
24 years
Overall rating
5.0
“Nice and friendly teachers. Are always open to help you.”
Verified  
Course: Standard Japanese - 24 weeks
Review date: 20. Mar. 2023
22 years
Overall rating
5.0
“Good progression, I felt I got a good benefit from the teaching. Very good that each class had few students.”
“Slightly small classrooms.”
Verified  
Course: Standard Japanese - 2 weeks
Review date: 19. Sep. 2022
14 years
Overall rating
5.0
Quality of teaching / language progress: Junior Summer
Other comments: All very nice, very competent teachers
Verified  
Course: Summer Programme - 2 weeks
Review date: 30. Jul. 2024
30 years
Overall rating
5.0
Other comments: They offer a great cultural program. Here you get the opportunity to go on excursions and get to know special cultural things that you might not otherwise get.
14 years
Overall rating
5.0
56 years
Overall rating
5.0
Verified  
Course: Standard Japanese - 4 weeks
Review date: 3. Jun. 2024
24 years
Overall rating
5.0
Verified  
Course: Standard Japanese - 4 weeks
Review date: 15. Aug. 2019

Ratings of Genki Japanese and Culture School compared to ratings of all schools in Japan

 Genki Japanese and Culture School KyotoAverage of all other schools in Japan
Overall school rating4.44.4
Location of the school4.94.8
Facilities3.64.0
Social activities4.03.8
Organisation4.14.4
Quality of teaching4.34.4
Value for money4.04.2
Homestay4.14.4
Shared flat4.14.3

Genki Japanese and Culture School (Genkijacs)

Accreditations and Quality seals
IALC
Japanese teacher qualifications
40% hold a university degree
100% hold a recognised language teaching qualification
Languages spoken by school staff (cannot be guaranteed by school)
Student gender mix
55% male / 43% female
Offer for returning students
When you book here, you will be refunded/waived the school's administration fee if you have already attended a course previously at Genki Japanese and Culture School.
Year of school foundation
2019

General school facilities

  • Microwave for student use

  • Computer lab

  • Lounge

  • Copy machine

  • Printer for student use

  • Video game console

  • Free coffee

  • Free water dispenser

  • Free WIFI

  • Non-smoking (all indoor areas, but not all outdoor areas of school)

  • Classroom equipment

    • TV in all classrooms

    • Air conditioning in all classrooms

    • Heating in all classrooms

    • Ample natural light in some classrooms

    • Number of classrooms: 12
    • Number of public PC workstations: 3

Student Age / Nationality

Top student nationalities
Student Nationality Percentage of students
USA 25%
Germany 15%
England 15%
Switzerland 10%
Italy 8%
France 8%
Spain 8%
Netherlands 5%
Sweden 5%
Brazil 4%
Age of students
  Percentage of students
1-18 years 17%
18-24 years 30%
25-34 years 24%
35-50 years 20%
>50 years 9%
The average age outside summer is 2 years higher than in summer.
Average number of students
Adult courses - In summer: 80
Adult courses - Throughout the year: 120
Junior courses - In summer: 40
Junior courses - Throughout the year: 120
Minimum age of students
16 years
14 years for specific Junior courses
Average number of levels
Adult courses In summer: 8
Adult courses Throughout the year: 6
Junior courses In summer: 10
Junior courses Throughout the year: 6
Average age of students
In summer: 25 years
Throughout the year: 27 years
Read our recommendations for students in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Information for all courses offered by Genki Japanese and Culture School

Lesson duration
50 minutes
School's administrative fee
¥18,000
Course material
Generally course material is distributed free to students and will stay in student property.
Comments about courses

Individual lessons not available in June, July and August.

Airport transfers:

  • KIX: JPY 40000 (one way).
  • ITM: JPY 25000 (one way).

    Visa Information for Long-Term Courses:

    10 weeks: Can be taken on a visa waiver or tourist visa. Student visa sponsorship is not available for this length.

    20 weeks: May be possible on a visa waiver (depending on nationality). Student visa sponsorship is not available.

    1 year requires a student visa (available only at Fukuoka and Nagoya for selected countries). Other long-term visas, such as spouse or permanent resident, are also accepted.

    18 months: Requires a student visa. Working holiday visas are not accepted for this duration. Other long-term visas, such as spouse or permanent resident, are accepted.
Individual classes
Single individual lessons of tuition can be reserved at 8000 ¥. The combination of group and individual lessons is highly recommended. Individual lessons will encourage you to actively speak the foreign language and will offer you the opportunity to discuss individual problems and weaknesses.
Days without class
In 2026 (including national and regional bank holidays):
01 Jan 2026, 12 Jan 2026, 11 Feb 2026, 23 Feb 2026, 20 Mar 2026, 29 Apr 2026, 04 May 2026, 05 May 2026, 20 Jul 2026, 11 Aug 2026, 21 Sep 2026, 23 Sep 2026, 12 Oct 2026, 03 Nov 2026, 23 Nov 2026.
In 2027 (including national and regional bank holidays):
01 Jan 2027, 11 Jan 2027, 11 Feb 2027, 23 Feb 2027, 21 Mar 2027, 29 Apr 2027, 03 May 2027, 04 May 2027, 05 May 2027, 19 Jul 2027, 11 Aug 2027, 20 Sep 2027, 23 Sep 2027, 11 Oct 2027, 03 Nov 2027, 23 Nov 2027.
Level test
A test to assess your exact language level takes place before the start of the course via an online form.
Lessons needed per Japanese language level
Level (CEFR) LESSONS needed per level WEEKS needed
(20 lessons per week)
A1 Beginner A1 to A2 240 12
A2 Elementary A2 to B1 480 24
B1 Intermediate B1 to B2 540 27
B2 Higher Intermediate B2 to C1 600 30
C1 Advanced C1 to C2 660 33
C2 Proficiency
The data above gives some guidance. For more details consult our page How long does it take to learn a language or reach a specific level.

Airport transfer

Kansai International Airport:
¥40,000 one way
¥80,000 return (both ways)

Leisure activities

Leisure programme for adults (sample):
Sample of activities
Sample of activities
View

Examples of leisure activities organized by the school

Adults - Free activities

In-school movie nights
Quiz nights
Game nights
Lectures by experts
Board game workshops and nights

Adults - Paid activities

Friday Night Parties
Festival trips
Fireworks festival outings
Restaurant and Izakaya parties
Museum outings
Shrine and temple visits

Junior - Free activities

In-school movie nights
Quiz nights
Game nights
Lectures by experts
Board game workshops and nights

Junior - Paid activities

Friday Night Parties.
Festival trips.
Fireworks festival outings.
Restaurant and Izakaya parties.
Museum outings.
Shrine and temple visits.
Kimono experience.
activity possibledistance from school
Ballet3 km
Baseball2 km
Basketball2 km
Cooking1 km
Dancing2 km
Field Hockey3 km
Ice Hockey4 km
Music4 km
Squash1 km
Swimming2 km
Table Tennis2 km
Tennis2 km
Volleyball2 km
Yoga1 km

Accommodation

Show details of all accommodations
Tip: Type of accommodation. What is best for you?
Homestay Most Popular Accommodation
In high demand!
4.8
4 ratings
Single room, Breakfast & 1 meal
Shared bathroom
from
¥32,000/ week
Show more
Weeks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 Additional
Week		 One-time fee
(charged by school)
Price in ¥ 32000 64000 96000 128000 160000 192000 224000 256000 320000 384000 32000 20000
Price in US$ 203 406 609 812 1,014 1,217 1,420 1,623 2,028 2,434 203 127
Weeks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 Additional
Week
Price in ¥
Price in US$ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Minimum stay: 1 week
Prices based on accommodation from Sunday to Sunday
Price per person
Check-in
Sunday 7:00-21:00
Check-out
Sunday 6:00-21:00
Note: It is important to inform the school if you plan to arrive or leave outside the standard check in/check out times.
One-time fee
The school/accommodation provider will charge a non-refundable one-time fee of 20000¥.
Price extra night
¥4,580 (Individual extra nights bookable at indicated extra night price)
Room Occupancy
Single room
Average distance from school
45 minutes by public transport.
Includes
TV, Phone, Towels, Bedding/linen, Access to laundry service, Access to Wifi in building (Free WIFI), Heating, Air conditioning, Shared bathroom.
Meals
Breakfast & 1 meal.
Minimum age of students
15
Dates
High season dates: 23 Dec 2026 - 31 Dec 2026
High season
High season supplement per day: 2200 ¥
Student reviews about Homestay
Angeles
Accommodation: 5.0
Location: 5.0
Room: 5.0
Meals 5.0
"Very good relationship with the lady of the house. The house and the surroundings are very nice.
Private Apartment
3.0
2 ratings
Single room, No meals
Private bathroom
from
¥45,000/ week
Show more
Weeks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 Additional
Week		 One-time fee
(charged by school)
Price in ¥ -- -- -- 180000 200000 240000 280000 320000 380000 456000 38000 20000
Price in US$ 1,141 1,268 1,521 1,775 2,028 2,408 2,890 241 127
Weeks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 Additional
Week
Price in ¥
Price in US$ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Minimum stay: 4 weeks
Prices based on accommodation from Sunday to Sunday
Price per person

Internet is available, but please bring your own LAN cable or wifi router.

Check-in
Sunday 9:00-21:00
Check-out
Sunday 0:05-15:00
Note: It is important to inform the school if you plan to arrive or leave outside the standard check in/check out times.
One-time fee
The school/accommodation provider will charge a non-refundable one-time fee of 20000¥.
Price extra night
¥5,720 (Individual extra nights bookable at indicated extra night price)
Room Occupancy
Single room
Private bathroom
Included
Average distance from school
40 minutes by public transport.
Includes
TV, Bedding/linen, Access to laundry service, Kitchen, Access to Wifi in building (Free WIFI), Heating, Air conditioning, Private bathroom.
Meals
No meals.
Minimum age of students
19
Student reviews about Private Apartment
Ronald
Accommodation: 3.0
Location: 5.0
Room: 2.0
"Small; poorly furnished.
Jeanne
Accommodation: 3.0
Location: 4.0
Room: 2.0
"Location was good. Room was not comfortable. One small chair, one small table, one bed, two large boxes for clothes, one clothes rack and a large refrigerator. Washing machine, vacuum cleaner, microwave, two cupboards, WiFi, small kitchen with eating utensils for one person, rice cooker and kettle. Japanese bathroom and entrance. Air conditioning and heating. Two towels and a hairdryer.
Private Residence
Single room, No meals
Shared bathroom
from
¥19,000/ week
Show more
Weeks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 Additional
Week		 One-time fee
(charged by school)
Price in ¥ -- -- -- 76000 95000 114000 133000 152000 170000 204000 17000 20000
Price in US$ 482 602 723 843 964 1,078 1,293 108 127
Weeks 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 10 12 Additional
Week
Price in ¥
Price in US$ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Minimum stay: 4 weeks
Prices based on accommodation from Sunday to Saturday
Price per person
Check-in
Sunday
Check-out
Saturday
Note: It is important to inform the school if you plan to arrive or leave outside the standard check in/check out times.
One-time fee
The school/accommodation provider will charge a non-refundable one-time fee of 20000¥.
Price extra night
¥2,720 (Individual extra nights bookable at indicated extra night price)
Room Occupancy
Single room
Average distance from school
40 minutes by public transport.
Includes
TV, Phone, Bedding/linen, Access to laundry service, Access to Wifi in building (Free WIFI), Heating, Air conditioning, Shared bathroom.
Meals
No meals.
Minimum age of students
19

Map  

Questions and answers about Genki Japanese and Culture School

How many classrooms are there?
“We have a total of 12 classrooms: Ground floor (4 classrooms) and 2nd floor (3 classrooms) (As of July 2026).”
Oscar, Adminstration from GenkiJACS, Kyoto - Jul 01, 2026
Is there a elevator in the building?
“There is 1 elevator to go from the first floors to the upper floors (it does not go to the ground floor though) (As of July 2026)”
Oscar, Adminstration from GenkiJACS, Kyoto - Jul 01, 2026
What does the Japanese Plus Culture course at Genki Japanese and Culture School include?
“The course consists of 20 hours of Standard Course (from Monday to Friday) + Culture Classes (roughly 6 hours) on Saturdays.”
Vittorio Villeri, Sales Representative from Genki Japanese and Culture School - Jul 01, 2024
Can I book a single room in a private dormitory at the Genki Japanese and Culture School in Kyoto for just three weeks?
“Yes, this is possible, but you will still be charged for the full 4 weeks (minimum booking 4 weeks).”
Mori, from Genki Japanese and Culture School - May 08, 2024
Is it possible to book the Junior Programme Summer Package with accommodation in the private residence at Genki Japanese and Culture School, Kyoto? I am 18 years old.
“As for the summer programme package price, the Kyoto school doesn't have private residence as an option.”
Mori, from Genki Japanese and Culture School - Apr 29, 2024
Can the school organise airport transfers?
“Yes, the school organises airport transfers. At the moment the cost is JPN 30000 one way. ”
Gosia Mazur, LanguageCourse.Net - Apr 12, 2024
Which visa do I need to study at Genki Kyoto?
“At Genki Kyoto, you have two options:
- Visa waiver (2-24 week course)
- Working Holiday Visa (2-40 week course)

The school cannot assist you with applying for a student visa.”
Sabine Krafack, LanguageCourse.Net - Jan 26, 2024
When do I have to transfer the fee to the GenkiJACS school?
“Payment is requested 60 days before the start of the course.”
Oscar, Sales & Marketing Manager from GenkiJACS - Jan 16, 2024
Does Genki Japanese and Culture School also offer airport transfers?
“Yes, a transfer can be booked from KIX and ITM airports for an additional charge. However, the transfer is only possible from airports, not from railway stations.”
Mori, from Genki Japanese and Culture School - Dec 12, 2023
I am looking for a course during the Easter holidays for my 14-year-old daughter. Is there a possibility at Genki School?
“Unfortunately, the Genki School only offers junior courses (for 14-19 year olds) in the summer between June and August. I, therefore, recommend that you postpone the course a little so that you can take advantage of the programme. ”
Lisa Schiwy, LanguageCourse.Net - Mar 28, 2023

FAQ about Genki Japanese and Culture School, Kyoto

I want to book a 3-month course, does the school provide visa?
“The student would need to apply themselves for a 90 days tourist visa at the Japanese embassy in China, and we can provide supporting documents if needed once the course is confirmed and paid.
The supporting documents are free if only digital versions are needed or cost CNY 6500 to send via DHL.”
Oscar, from Genki Japanese and Culture School- - Kyoto - Nov 18, 2022
What is the most popular accommodation offered by Genki?
“The accommodation Homestay is the most popular among all our clients of Genki”
Is it possible to take a course at Genki Japanese and Culture School as an absolute beginner?
“Yes. The following courses can be attended as an absolute beginner: Standard Japanese, Bildungsurlaub Course , Japanese Plus Culture, Long Term Studies, Japanese Plus Conversation”
Is airport pickup offered by Genki Japanese and Culture School?
“Yes. The school offers pickup from Kansai International Airport (40000 ¥)”
Which countries are students of Genki Japanese and Culture School from?
“The highest Nationality percentage at Genki Japanese and Culture School comes from USA with a 25% representation, followed by students from Germany (15%) and England (15%).”
Genki Japanese and Culture School offers courses for which ages?
“Genki Japanese and Culture School offers courses from 14 years to 99. The average age is 25 during the summer and 27 the rest of the year.”

PDF brochure/price list of Genki Japanese and Culture SchoolView or Send them to your email

Bildungsurlaub Course Prices - 2026
Bildungsurlaub Course Prices - 2026
View
Course Prices 2026
Course Prices 2026
View
Course Prices 2027
Course Prices 2027
View
Leisure programme for adults (sample):
Sample of activities
Sample of activities
View
Summer Program 2026
Summer Program 2026
View
Accommodation Prices 2026
Accommodation Prices 2026
View
Kyoto Autumn Course 2026
Kyoto Autumn Course 2026
View

Terms of Genki Japanese and Culture School

First day of course
Students should arrive at 9:00
Payment methods accepted for payments made directly to the school
Visa - logoMastercard - logoAmerican Express - logoPayPal - logoCash payment - logoBank Transfer - logo
Legal name/parent company
Global With us | Tax registration ID: 00062090

Visa Documents

Nationals from USA do not require a visa to study short term courses up to 90 days.
Check visa requirements for nationals from other countries.
Nationals from countries that require a visa will receive documents from the school, related to booking confirmation, which is required for the visa application.
Full payment of all fees required before school dispatches documents required for visa application
Yes
Express shipment fee (via courier)
6500 ¥
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Find more information about Kyoto, including climate data and events, on our Kyoto page, which includes a list of all 3 Japanese schools in Kyoto.

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