English & Japanese Language Exchange in Tokyo (Every Wednesday)

🇬🇧 English🇯🇵 日本語
🇯🇵 日本語ページへ

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.

Reserve your seat for freeSee the next Wednesdays

You pay ¥1,000 at the door (¥700 for regulars) and order one drink.

Japanese and international participants at TIFE’s weekly language exchange in Tokyo
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
4.6 from 5,161 ratings of TIFE on MeetupEvery week for 5+ yearsParticipants from 69+ countriesTIFE and its founder on Nスタ, ZIP! and ヒルナンデス!

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
Group photo of a TIFE English and Japanese language exchange night
A Wednesday night at Sakura Cafe Nippori.

How the evening runs

It’s a café, not a classroom. The hosts keep it moving so nobody gets stuck at a quiet table.

  1. 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.

  2. 7:30 pm · Short welcome

    A quick hello from the host, then everyone sits in small groups of three to five.

  3. 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.

  4. Every 10 to 15 minutes · Rotate

    Tables mix, so you meet many people in one evening instead of the same three.

  5. 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.

 Casual EventsEnglishLanguage Exchange

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

December 23, 2026 07:15 pm
Sakura Cafe & Restaurant Nippori - 3-chōme-43-15 Sendagi, Bunkyo City
Casual EventsEnglishLanguage Exchange

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

December 30, 2026 07:15 pm
Sakura Cafe & Restaurant Nippori - 3-chōme-43-15 Sendagi, Bunkyo City
See every date on Meetup

Reserve your seat

RSVP is free and takes about 30 seconds. It helps the host prepare enough seats. You pay at the venue.

Name
Email or Instagram ID
Please kindly tell us [Event Name] / [Date] You wish to join.

Prefer Meetup? You can RSVP there instead.

RSVP on MeetupJoin the TIFE LINE chat

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?
No. Complete beginners join every week. Groups mix levels, and you can switch to the language you’re more comfortable in whenever you get stuck.
How much does the language exchange cost?
¥1,000 at the door, or ¥700 if you’re a regular, plus one drink that you order at the café. Reserving a seat is free.
Can I come alone?
Yes. Most people come alone. Tell the host it’s your first time and they’ll seat you with a friendly group.
Where is it and how do I get there?
At Sakura Cafe & Restaurant Nippori, 3-43-15 Sendagi, Bunkyo City, Tokyo. It’s about 3 minutes on foot from Sendagi Station on the Tokyo Metro Chiyoda Line. Open the map.
Who usually comes?
About 40% Japanese and 60% international participants: Japanese office workers and students, expats, international students and travelers. People from 69+ countries have joined so far.
Can I arrive late or leave early?
Yes. Doors open at 7:15 pm, the exchange starts at 7:30 pm and runs until about 9:00 pm. You can join or leave at any point, though arriving at the start makes it easier to join a group.
Do I need to reserve?
Please do, so the host can prepare enough seats. Reserve for free on this page or on Meetup, then pay at the venue.
Does TIFE run language exchanges in other languages?
Yes. There’s a Spanish and Japanese Intercambio most Saturdays at 2:00 pm in Jimbocho, plus a monthly Fiesta Latina in Ginza. See all TIFE language exchanges.

More ways to make friends in Tokyo

Spanish IntercambioSpanish and Japanese, most Saturdays 2:00 pm in Jimbocho. ¥500. All language exchangesEvery language TIFE runs, with times, places and prices. Casual eventsParties, picnics, karaoke and food nights for meeting people.

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.

Reserve your seat for freeJoin the LINE chat

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.