My name is Anika and I used to be an Au Pair in Japan, in Yokohama, for a little girl. Let me tell you how I managed to study Japanese with locals in Japan and make a bunch of friends. 
 

Back in 2019, a friend told me about the free Japanese classes, and it seemed too good to be true. But it is real! 
 

Many housewives and retirees volunteer at "international lounges" to teach Japanese to foreigners. These lounges are located throughout Japan, often near train stations.  I used to study at the Kohoku International Lounge (Kikuna Station), where I not only learned Japanese but also made amazing friends. (Now I have a close circle of  elderly friends in Japan, haha!)

 

I attended classes at the lounge 1-2 times a week, with each session lasting 2 hours. The only cost was a minimal fee of 100 yen (around €0.59) per lesson, which covered things like printing materials. The lounge also offered a wealth of free resources, including textbooks to borrow and information to help foreigners adjust to life in Japan.
 

The lounges offer even more! They organize free excursions for students, allowing them to explore Japan and practice their Japanese in real-world settings. One time we went to the Broadcast Library in Yokohama and another time to the Yokohama City Disaster Prevention Center. At the Broadcast Library, I was able to pretend to be a news reporter. Of course, I had to talk in Japanese but this is what made it so fun! 
 

They also hold regular events and workshops. These cover fascinating aspects of Japanese culture, like Ikebana flower arranging, calligraphy, and traditional tea ceremonies. 
 

Each year, there's even a "waku waku" festival. This is a fun event where students can showcase their Japanese skills with presentations about their home countries or other topics – all in Japanese, of course!
 

These international lounges are filled with warm and welcoming people. If you're new to Japan and looking to make friends, attending these classes is a great option. Don't forget, they're completely free! Back in 2019, it was an amazing first step for me to get used to life in Japan. 

If you ever end up taking a Japanese class at the Kohoku Lounge in Kikuna, mention my name, Anika, and that I'm from Austria. The front desk and teachers might still remember me.  

I will share the links to two international lounges with you: