Study in Japan — Real Costs, Scholarships, Visa A-Z
2026 guide to studying in Japan for Vietnamese students: real costs in Tokyo vs Fukuoka, 5 MEXT/JASSO/Mitsubishi scholarships, and the COE + embassy visa process with a 12-month preparation timeline.
Apr 11, 2026·✍️ olablog·⏱ 9 min read
2026 guide to studying in Japan for Vietnamese students: real costs in Tokyo vs Fukuoka, 5 MEXT/JASSO/Mitsubishi scholarships, and the COE + embassy visa process with a 12-month preparation timeline.
Studying in Japan in 2026 is a top choice for Vietnamese students — living costs are comparable to Europe, while the culture feels familiar, scholarships are plentiful, and students can legally work 28 hours a week. This article covers real costs, 5 types of scholarships, and the visa process from submitting your application to holding your plane ticket.
Which type of school should you choose? 3 main paths
There are 3 types of institutions Vietnamese students commonly attend:
- Japanese language school (nihongo gakko): 1-2 years, studying Japanese to pass JLPT N2 before entering university or a senmon school. Suitable if you graduated from high school in Vietnam and do not yet have N3. Tuition is 700k-900k yen/year.
- Senmon gakko (vocational college): 2-4 years, offering specialized training in fields such as IT, design, culinary arts, and nursing. Tuition is 900k-1,3 million yen/year. N2 or above is required.
- University (daigaku) / Graduate school: 4 years for an undergraduate degree or 2 years for a master’s degree. Tuition at public universities is 535k yen/year (national universities), while private universities charge 800k-1,5 million yen/year.
The most common path for Vietnamese students is: high school → nihongo gakko for 1.5-2 years → senmon school or university. This route makes obtaining a visa easier, gives you time to study Japanese, and lets you work part-time to help cover costs.
Real costs in 2026 — Tokyo vs. other regions
Costs are the first question every parent asks. The figures below are monthly averages and do not include tuition:
| Expense | Tokyo/Yokohama | Osaka/Nagoya | Fukuoka/Sendai |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (6-10m²) | 55,000-80,000y | 40,000-55,000y | 30,000-45,000y |
| Food (80% home-cooked) | 30,000-40,000y | 25,000-35,000y | 20,000-28,000y |
| Utilities (electricity, gas, water, internet) | 10,000-13,000y | 9,000-11,000y | 8,000-10,000y |
| Kokumin Kenko Hoken national health insurance | 1,500-3,000y | 1,500-2,500y | 1,500-2,500y |
| Phone + eSIM | 2,000-3,000y | 2,000-3,000y | 2,000-3,000y |
| Transportation (1-month train pass) | 8,000-15,000y | 6,000-10,000y | 5,000-8,000y |
| Miscellaneous (books, entertainment) | 10,000-15,000y | 10,000-12,000y | 8,000-10,000y |
| Monthly total | ~120k-170k yen | ~95k-130k yen | ~75k-105k yen |
Converted to VND using the 2026 exchange rate (1 yen ≈ 170 VND):
- Tokyo: 20-29 million VND/month
- Osaka/Nagoya: 16-22 million VND/month
- Fukuoka/Sendai: 13-18 million VND/month
Add tuition (divided by 12 months): nihongo gakko ~70k yen/month, senmon ~90k yen/month, public university 45k yen/month, private university 80k yen/month.
Total for the first year studying at a nihongo gakko in Tokyo: ~2,2 million yen = 370 million VND, excluding the initial housing costs (shikikin + reikin + agency fee of approximately 40-60 vạn yen).
💡 Real-world experience: after settling in during the first 3-6 months, most Vietnamese students can work 28 hours a week and earn ~80-100k yen/month. This can cover ~60-70% of living expenses, excluding tuition. Families should therefore prepare ~250-300 million VND for the first year.
5 scholarships Vietnamese students should apply for
Many students do not realize that Japan offers a wider range of scholarships than Europe. Here are the 5 most common types:
1. MEXT (Japan’s Ministry of Education)
- Award: fully funded, including tuition waiver + 143k-150k yen/month living allowance + round-trip airfare
- Eligibility: outstanding students who want to study as a Research Student / Undergraduate / Specialized Training student
- Competition: 10k+ applicants across Vietnam, with ~80-100 people selected each year
- Application period: April-May each year through the Embassy of Japan in Hanoi / TLS HCM
- Requirements: GPA ≥ 2.30/3.0, English/Japanese language certification, and a research proposal
- Link: mext.go.jp/en/policy/education/highered/title02/detail02/sdetail02/1373897.htm
2. JASSO (Japan Student Services Organization)
- Award: 48k yen/month for 12 months for international students already in Japan
- Eligibility: nihongo gakko, senmon, and university students with good GPAs
- How to apply: apply through your current school, which nominates you to JASSO
- Much easier than MEXT — you can apply after being in Japan for ~6 months
3. Mitsubishi UFJ Foundation
- Award: 100k yen/month × 12 months + a one-time 100k yen grant
- Eligibility: high-achieving undergraduate or graduate students currently studying in Japan
- Deadline: May each year
- Competition: ~200-300 people/year across Japan
4. Honjo International Scholarship
- Award: 150k-200k yen/month × 12-24 months
- Eligibility: first- or second-year graduate students (master’s/PhD) with outstanding research
- Requirements: a research proposal + letter of recommendation from your academic supervisor
5. ADB-Japan Scholarship (Asian Development Bank)
- Award: fully funded, including tuition + living expenses + airfare
- Eligibility: graduate students at 25 leading Japanese universities (Tokyo, Kyoto, Hitotsubashi, Keio…)
- Fields: economics, development, and public policy
- Deadline: apply early — 12-15 months before the start of your program
💡 Tip: apply for MEXT as early as possible (during your final year of high school). If you are unsuccessful, try JASSO after arriving in Japan. Do not wait for just one option.
Student visa process (COE + embassy visa)
The Japanese student visa process has 2 steps, which many students mistakenly think are just 1:
Step 1: Apply for a COE (Certificate of Eligibility / 在留資格認定証明書)
- Who applies: the Japanese language school, senmon, or university applies on your behalf to Japan’s Immigration Services Agency (nyukan)
- Processing time: 1-3 months after the school receives all required documents
- Documents you need to send to the school:
- Enrollment application form (the school’s template)
- High school transcripts + graduation certificate (notarized Japanese or English translations)
- Birth certificate + household registration book
- Japanese language certificate (JLPT, NAT-Test, J.TEST) or proof of ≥150 hours of Japanese study
- Proof of finances (savings of ≥200 million VND held for 6 months, or sponsorship from a relative in Japan)
- Employment and income verification for your sponsor (parent)
- 4x3cm photos × 10
Step 2: Apply for a student visa at the Embassy of Japan
- After receiving the COE: the school sends the original COE to Vietnam by post (~1 week)
- Visa submission: Embassy of Japan in Hanoi (27 Lieu Giai) or Consulate General of Japan in Ho Chi Minh City (261 Dien Bien Phu)
- Documents:
- Passport valid for ≥6 months
- Original COE + photocopy
- Visa application form (downloaded from the embassy website)
- 4.5x4.5cm photos × 2
- Certificate of admission from the school
- Statement explaining your reasons for studying abroad (in Japanese or English)
- Fee: FREE (Japan does not charge Vietnamese citizens a student visa fee)
- Processing time: 5-7 business days
- Approval rate: ~95% if the COE has already been issued (nyukan has already pre-approved it)
A 12-month preparation timeline before enrollment (April intake)
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| T-12 (April of the previous year) | Choose a school, study Japanese to at least N5-N4, request transcripts in Japanese/English |
| T-10 | Register for the July JLPT, prepare language certificates |
| T-9 (July) | Take the JLPT N5/N4, pay for Japanese language classes in Vietnam if needed |
| T-8 | Contact schools in Japan and receive their enrollment application package |
| T-7 | Notarize + translate transcripts, ID card, and birth certificate into Japanese |
| T-6 (October) | Send documents to Japan (EMS postal service, approximately 1,5 million VND) |
| T-5 | The school submits the COE application to nyukan |
| T-3 (January-February) | Receive the COE (if approved) |
| T-2 | Submit your visa application at the embassy in Vietnam and pay the school’s first-term tuition |
| T-1 | Buy a plane ticket (Vietjet/Vietnam Airlines 5-8 million VND), book a homestay/temporary dormitory for the first week |
| T-0 (April) | Begin your studies — arrive at Narita/Haneda/Kansai Airport in the morning and complete enrollment procedures in the afternoon |
5 common mistakes to avoid
- Choosing a school just because it is cheap: a low-quality nihongo gakko may not prepare you to pass JLPT N2, making it difficult to move on to a senmon school. Choose a school with an N2 graduation rate of ≥60%.
- Handling notarized translations yourself: nyukan is extremely strict; one incorrect mark can get your application rejected and delay it by 2 months. Hire an experienced certified translation company (~300k-500k VND/set).
- Falsifying your finances: nyukan carefully checks 6 months of savings account history, and a sudden deposit will raise suspicions. Your account must show a steady flow of funds.
- Waiting until you arrive in Japan to think about part-time work: forget to request “Permission for activities other than permitted” at the airport upon arrival → you will have to visit nyukan to apply again, lose 1 month, and be unable to work during that time.
- Skipping the school’s orientation: you may miss important information about enrolling in insurance, opening a bank account, and registering your address (juminhyo).
Conclusion
The real cost of studying in Japan in 2026 is 250-370 million VND for the first year (excluding scholarships). There are 5 types of scholarships, ranging from fully funded MEXT to the 48k yen/month JASSO award, and the visa process requires 12 months of preparation divided into 2 steps: the COE and the embassy visa. Choose your school carefully, prepare translated documents early, and do not apply entirely on your own — coordinate with your school in Japan for the best chance of obtaining a COE.
Before you fly, get a Japan eSIM so you have data as soon as you land at Narita/Haneda, allowing you to contact your school and book an Uber/taxi. Planning a Tokyo-Kyoto trip during your first few months? Check out the AI Trip Planner for a budget-friendly itinerary designed for students.
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