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How to Choose a Japanese Language School Safely in 2026: Official Lists and What Accreditation Means

The safest way to choose a Japanese language school is to confirm, before paying anything, that it appears on one of two official lists: the Ministry of Justice notice of designated institutions, published by the Immigration Services Agency (ISA), or MEXT's list of accredited Japanese language institutions. Only schools on these lists can take students on a Student visa. The system is also in transition: schools on the older Ministry of Justice list must win MEXT accreditation by March 31, 2029 if they want to keep accepting Student-visa students.

The two official lists

  • ISA's list of designated institutions (告示校). The Ministry of Justice notice that names the Japanese language schools allowed to accept Student-status students is published by ISA. The current edition reflects the amendment of August 7, 2026, and ISA also posts reference lists of the schools' English names and of their courses.
  • MEXT's accredited institutions (認定日本語教育機関). Schools accredited by the Minister of Education are published on MEXT's portal for the accreditation law, at nihongokyouiku.mext.go.jp, and MEXT announces each round of results on its website.

Check both lists, not just one. When ISA's list and MEXT's accreditation overlap, ISA explains that a school is removed from the Ministry of Justice list once MEXT accredits it. A school missing from the ISA list may simply have moved to the MEXT list. When you compare, match the exact official name and the prefecture, not a brand name used in advertising.

What the 2024 law changed

A law on the accreditation of Japanese language institutions took effect on April 1, 2024, and MEXT began accrediting institutions that meet set requirements. The points that matter for students:

  • Two routes to a Student visa, for now. ISA's guidance for prospective students says that to study Japanese on Student status you must enroll at either a Ministry of Justice designated school or an accredited institution.
  • A deadline for the older schools. Schools on the Ministry of Justice list must obtain MEXT accreditation by March 31, 2029.
  • Accreditation is reviewed by course type. MEXT's results are broken down into courses for study (留学), for work and for daily life. The study course is the one linked to the Student visa.
  • Accreditation stays with the operator. MEXT's system does not allow a change of operator; if a school is taken over, the new operator has to obtain accreditation from scratch.
  • Checks continue after approval. MEXT's Japanese language education subcommittee can carry out on-site inspections of accredited institutions when needed, to maintain and improve teaching standards.

How strict is the review?

MEXT's most recent results, dated April 30, 2026, show what the process looks like. Of 100 institutions that applied, 32 were accredited, 2 were refused, 13 remain under continued review and 53 withdrew during review. Of the 32 accredited, 22 were schools already on the Ministry of Justice list. For the first round of fiscal 2026, MEXT has confirmed 230 applicants, 226 of them for study courses and 161 of them designated schools, including the 13 carried over for further review.

In other words, many well-known schools are still somewhere in the process. "Not yet accredited" is not automatically a warning sign before 2029, but "withdrew" or "refused" is worth asking about.

ISA's "appropriate school" rating

Separately, ISA rates schools every year on how well they manage their international students. A school is selected as an "appropriate school" (適正校) when no more than 5% of its students were problem cases in the previous year, for example overstaying, an extension refused because of a poor study record, a revoked status or work permission, or a deportation order. Small schools with 19 or fewer students may have at most one such case. Schools that keep the rate at 1% or less for three straight years, among other conditions, are placed in the top class. Schools that do not qualify face standard, more careful review of their students' applications. ISA does not publish the ratings as a list on that page, so ask the school directly which rating it holds.

A safe-choice checklist

  • Find the school's exact name and prefecture on ISA's list or on the MEXT portal.
  • If it is on the ISA list but not yet accredited, ask where it is in the MEXT process, especially if your studies would run close to March 2029.
  • Ask which ISA rating the school currently holds.
  • Check that the course goal matches your plan. ISA notes that moving on to a university or vocational school taught in Japanese requires roughly N2 level.
  • Be wary of any agent who says part-time work will cover all your costs. ISA warns against exactly this pitch.

Sources

This article was created by OHAYO Stay based on the sources above (edited, reorganized and translated). It is not an official publication.

Rules and dates can change. Always confirm with the official source before you apply.