Learn How to Speak Japanese in New York

New York City is home to a vibrant Japanese community filled with business owners, professionals, artists, and students. Over 30,000 Japanese nationals live throughout the five boroughs of New York City, and their cultural influence on the city is undeniable. For example, you can find Little Tokyo, located in the East Village between St. Mark's Place and 10th Street, where you can visit some great sushi, ramen, and yakitori restaurants, plus specialty food stores, tea houses, karaoke bars, Japanese gift shops, and hair salons. Learn this ancient language with us at Language Trainers and start connecting with this community on another level!

Why Study Japanese in NYC

Learn Japanese for Work: Learning Japanese will certainly give your international career prospects a boost. If you are actively job-seeking, why not contact the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York on 57 Street, an institution established in 1932 to facilitate trade between the U.S. and Japan. You can also get in touch with the Japan Society on 47^th Street, the leading U.S. organization committed to deepening mutual understanding between the United States and Japan. This institution has a Business and Policy Program, which hosts public and invitation-only events for international entrepreneurs and in-depth networking opportunities. Each year, thousands of Japanese businesspeople participate in their conferences and lectures, so don’t miss out on this opportunity to impress them with your Japanese skills!

Learn Japanese for Culture: While The Big Apple does not technically have one large “Japantown,” you’ll find plenty of Japanese culture throughout the city. Those who love reading can visit Kinokuniya on the Avenue of the Americas, a three-floor Japanese bookstore stocking thousands of titles, where you can put your Japanese reading skills to the test. Those who like music can enjoy traditional live performances at Carnegie Hall every month. Many groups perform on shamisen, a Japanese three-stringed banjo-like instrument. Sing along to these amazing songs using the pronunciation you acquire with us at Language Trainers! And you can also join some of the many events organized by the Japan Society, where you can experience sophisticated, topical, and accessible Japanese art and culture, including classical and cutting-edge contemporary performing arts and film premieres. Enjoy amazing movies in their original language and sharpen your Japanese listening skills

Learn Japanese for Social: Those looking to make new friends with a similar passion for Japanese can join the J-Kuru Enjoy Japanese Conversation Group. Its organizers host events for those who want to practice their Japanese and the group welcomes beginner, intermediate and advanced-level linguists. Take advantage of this opportunity to put your Japanese into practice in a casual and friendly environment. They usually meet at Cafe Zaiya on 47^th Street, a Japanese-style pastry and sandwich shop, where you can order bentos, sandwiches, and onigiri. Their menus are entirely in Japanese and include an English translation, which we are sure you will not need after taking a few lessons with us at Language Trainers! And you can also celebrate World Sake Day with your friends every October, an event that gathers people who want to toast to the beginning of the sake brewing season. Most of the attendees are of Japanese origin, so you can go and make new friends with native speakers who share your love of the Japanese culture!

Where to Learn Japanese in and around NYC

Taking Japanese lessons with us is very simple. Just get in touch with Language Trainers and we will arrange for a native Japanese teacher to go to your home or office, or to a public place if you prefer. Some great places where you can study are the New York Public Library on 5th Avenue, Cafe Grumpy on 42^nd Street or Street and Coffee Project NY on 5^th Street. Just let us know and we will be there!

If you want to take a Japanese course but are not based in New York City itself, do still contact us. We have teachers available in Hempstead, Newark, Elizabeth, New Rochelle, Mount Vernon, Long Island, Union City, White Plains, and Clifton.

So, are you ready? Let’s go, 行こう(Yukō)! If you have studied Japanese before, you can take one of our free online level tests here to find out more about your current ability. Afterward, we will tailor our language packages to suit your skills!