Practise English or Japanese, leave with new friends
Every Wednesday evening, Japanese locals, expats, students and travelers meet at Sakura Cafe in Nippori to talk in small groups, switching between English and Japanese. No teacher, no textbook, and most people come alone.
You pay ¥1,000 at the door (¥700 for regulars) and order one drink.
- When
- Every WednesdayArrive 7:15 pm, start 7:30 pm, finish around 9:00 pm
- Where
- Sakura Cafe & Restaurant Nippori3-43-15 Sendagi, Bunkyo. 3 min walk from Sendagi Station. Map
- Fee
- ¥1,000 at the door¥700 for regulars, plus one drink at the café
- Level
- Complete beginners welcomeJoin or leave any time during the evening
Who you’ll meet
The exchange works because both sides want to practise. Roughly four in ten people are Japanese, the rest come from all over the world, so everyone gets a real partner.
Typical mix at the Wednesday exchange, as counted by the hosts.
- Japanese office workers
- University students
- Expats new to Tokyo
- International students
- Travelers passing through
- English teachers learning Japanese
How the evening runs
It’s a café, not a classroom. The hosts keep it moving so nobody gets stuck at a quiet table.
- 7:15 pm · Arrive and order a drink
Sign in with the TIFE host. If it’s your first time, say so and you’ll be seated with a friendly group.
- 7:30 pm · Short welcome
A quick hello from the host, then everyone sits in small groups of three to five.
- Talk in both languages
Topic prompts get the conversation going. Spend about half the time in English and half in Japanese so both sides practise.
- Every 10 to 15 minutes · Rotate
Tables mix, so you meet many people in one evening instead of the same three.
- Around 9:00 pm · Wrap up
Swap LINE or Instagram with the people you clicked with. That’s how a one-off event becomes a friend you see again next week.
Upcoming dates
This list updates automatically from TIFE’s Meetup group, so it always shows the next sessions.
English & Japanese Language Exchange @Nippori / 英語&日本語のランゲージ・エクスチェンジ＠千駄木/日暮里
English & Japanese Language Exchange @Nippori / 英語&日本語のランゲージ・エクスチェンジ＠千駄木/日暮里
English & Japanese Language Exchange @Nippori / 英語&日本語のランゲージ・エクスチェンジ＠千駄木/日暮里
Reserve your seat
RSVP is free and takes about 30 seconds. It helps the host prepare enough seats. You pay at the venue.
Prefer Meetup? You can RSVP there instead.
Tips for your first time
- Come at 7:15 pm.Groups form in the first few minutes, so it’s the easiest moment to join.
- Tell the host it’s your first visit.They’ll introduce you rather than leave you to find a table.
- Bring two or three easy topics.Where you’re from, your favourite Tokyo food, a trip you want to take.
- Share the time fairly.About half in each language, so your partner gets practice too.
- Swap contacts with one person.One new contact a week adds up fast.
- Come back next Wednesday.Seeing the same faces is what turns conversation partners into friends.
Questions people ask before their first visit
Do I need to speak good English or Japanese?
How much does the language exchange cost?
Can I come alone?
Where is it and how do I get there?
Who usually comes?
Can I arrive late or leave early?
Do I need to reserve?
Does TIFE run language exchanges in other languages?
More ways to make friends in Tokyo
See you on Wednesday
Reserve a seat, walk in, order a drink, and the host does the rest. If you can’t make it this week, join the TIFE LINE chat to hear about every event.
Please read the event terms and conditions before joining. The LINE raffle free-ticket coupon can’t be used for this event. TIFE (Tokyo International Friends & Events) has hosted community events in Tokyo since 2015, founded by Peter Chen.