Learn French in Tokyo
Tokyo has had a French cultural institute since 1952, and the nearby streets of Kagurazaka are known for their French restaurants. Learners here study it for culture, travel, study abroad and work with French companies.
French in Tokyo
Japanese is the language of daily life in Tokyo, and French has no official role, but the city has deep French cultural ties. The Institut franco-japonais de Tokyo, now the Institut français du Japon – Tokyo, was inaugurated in January 1952 and stands a short walk from Iidabashi Station in Shinjuku ward. The surrounding Kagurazaka area is home to many French restaurants and bakeries. For French-speaking families, the Lycée français international de Tokyo, set up as a foundation in 2005 by the AEFE and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, moved to its campus in Takinogawa, Kita-ku, in 2012. The Institut français network in Japan also has branches in Yokohama, Kyoto, Osaka and Fukuoka.
Why people in Tokyo learn French
Many Tokyo learners study French because they love French cinema, literature, cooking, wine or fashion, and want to enjoy them without subtitles. Some work for French companies with offices in Tokyo, or for Japanese companies with partners in France and Belgium. Students preparing for exchange semesters or degrees in France need a recognised level, and the DELF and TCF are both held in Tokyo. Others want to understand colleagues and neighbours in the French community around Kagurazaka. French is also useful for travel well beyond France, in places such as Québec, Switzerland, Morocco and the French Pacific territories.
The French you'll hear
Tokyo has no local French variety, so learners aim for the standard French taught in France, which is what the Institut français and the DELF use. For Japanese speakers, French pronunciation brings specific challenges: distinguishing r and l, the u and ou vowels, and nasal sounds. French also strings words together through liaison, so listening practice at natural speed is important. The polite vous form will feel familiar to anyone used to Japanese levels of politeness, and it is the right default with strangers, shop staff and colleagues.
- J'aime beaucoup le cinéma français.I really like French cinema.
- Je voudrais une baguette, s'il vous plaît.I would like a baguette, please.
- Je pars étudier à Lyon en septembre.I am going to study in Lyon in September.
- Pardon, je n'ai pas bien compris.Sorry, I didn't quite understand.
- Je travaille pour une entreprise française.I work for a French company.
French exams in Tokyo
The official list of DELF, DALF and TCF centres in Japan names one centre in Tokyo: the Institut français du Japon – Tokyo, in Shinjuku ward, which offers the DELF, the DALF and the TCF TP. The Institut français in Yokohama is a nearby alternative in Kanagawa. Results are published through the national DELF DALF Japon site, and diplomas are issued by France Éducation international. Check the institute's calendar for the next session.
Check dates and fees with the exam centre directly; they change every session.
Where to start in the course
French Ultimate is an online course, so you can follow it from Tokyo or anywhere else. These topics are the most useful here:
Questions about learning French in Tokyo
I studied French at university in Japan. Can I go straight to B2?
It depends on how much you have used it since. Many people who studied French as a second foreign language at university read well but find listening and speaking harder. A placement test will show your level. French Ultimate, an online course, lets you move quickly through units you already know and spend more time on speaking practice.
Where in Tokyo can I take the DELF or DALF?
The Institut français du Japon – Tokyo, near Iidabashi Station, is the accredited centre in Tokyo for the DELF, DALF and TCF. French Ultimate does not run exams or have a centre in Tokyo. It offers DELF and DALF mock exams online, so you can practise the format before sitting the real test there.
How long does it take a Japanese speaker to reach B1 in French?
There is no fixed figure, but French and Japanese are very different languages, so expect a longer path than for a European language learner. Regular practice matters more than long sessions. Working through a structured course from A1, with listening every day, is a realistic route to B1 over a sustained period of study.
Learn French from Tokyo, at your own pace
Animated video lessons that stop for your answers, speaking practice, graded stories and DELF/DALF mock exams, from A1 to C2. Start with the free placement test to see where you are.
Take the placement test