Frequently Asked Questions

JapaTalk is a one-on-one online Japanese conversation lesson service for a variety of purposes.
Its defining feature is that you can improve your Japanese while enjoying conversations with a wide variety of tutors.
Since lessons are one-on-one online sessions using Zoom, you can take affordable lessons tailored to your level, situation, and needs, with a tutor who suits you.

No, not all tutors have completed a formal Japanese language teacher training course.
However, we hire people who are skilled conversationalists, active in the corporate world, or have mastered a second language themselves. Because our tutors have practical Japanese conversation skills and expertise, you can expect high-quality conversation lessons.

One lesson is 25 minutes long.
If you book two consecutive time slots, you can take a 50-minute lesson. (The free version of Zoom limits meetings to 40 consecutive minutes, so you will leave the room once for a short break and re-enter to resume the lesson.)

The average cost of one lesson is 600pt (≒ 600 JPY), with a minimum of 390pt.
The number of points required per lesson varies by tutor. Please check the required points on each tutor's profile page.

Of course — it is completely fine even if you are not confident in speaking.
At first, we recommend using the lesson request feature to ask the tutor to "lead the conversation" or "respond gently," so you can start by simply getting used to talking.
We have many types of tutors, so please enjoy finding the one who suits you best.

Currently, we do not offer free trial lessons.
Instead, we give 300pt (points) to everyone who registers for the first time. If you then purchase 1,000pt (1,100 JPY), you will have 1,300pt in total — enough to take up to 3 lessons.

There is no specific age limit, and children are welcome to use the service.
However, if a child cannot operate Zoom by themselves, support from a family member is required.

Our service is basically available every day.
However, our administration office is closed on weekends and Japanese national holidays, so replies to inquiries may be delayed during those times.

As a general rule, each account is for one person only.
However, members of the same family may share a single account.

We do not charge any joining fee.
Membership registration is completely free.

After completing your free registration, you can subscribe to a monthly plan from "Purchase Points" in the menu.

Basically, no.
If family members wish to create separate accounts, please register each one with a different email address.

Yes, you can.
To suspend your plan, open the cancellation form at the bottom of the point purchase screen, click the cancel button, and on the confirmation screen check "Cancel Plan (Suspend)" to complete the suspension.
Your plan will then be suspended. You can resume at any time by purchasing points or re-subscribing to a monthly plan from the point purchase screen.
You can still use your remaining points until their expiration date.

Simply log in and purchase points or subscribe to a monthly plan from the point purchase screen. This will resume your service.

Yes. After logging in, you can simply purchase points as needed from the point purchase screen.

You will need a PC, tablet, or smartphone that can run the video calling app (Zoom), along with a microphone, a webcam, and a stable internet connection such as Wi-Fi.
On a PC, you can join via your browser without installing the app, but we recommend installing the free Zoom app for a smoother lesson experience. On smartphones and tablets, you must install the free Zoom app ("Zoom Workplace" in your app store) in advance.
You do not need to create a Zoom account (sign up) or log in just to join a lesson.
If you prefer an audio-only lesson, a webcam is not required.

Yes, you can.
However, if your internet connection is unstable, the video may freeze during the lesson and prevent a smooth experience. We recommend connecting to a stable, high-speed network such as Wi-Fi.

Yes, you can.
However, please be aware that public Wi-Fi can be unstable, which may cause your video to freeze or disrupt the lesson.

Please send your requests and messages to the tutor on the screen shown after booking the lesson.

Click on the lesson date and time on My Page or the Lesson List to open the lesson booking details screen.
You can view the tutor's messages there.
During the lesson, you can also communicate using Zoom's chat feature.

You can freely request what kind of lesson you want, how gently you would like the tutor to respond, and so on.
Lesson styles include: free talk, situational role-play, topic-based talk, practicing something specific (such as Japanese), voice lessons, having someone listen to your worries, honest talk, chatting while doing something else, and studying together with the tutor.

There is a limit to the number of reservations you can hold at one time (your "Reservation Capacity"), which depends on your purchased points or monthly plan.
If you have reached this limit, you will be able to book your next lesson once one of your current reservations is completed.
This system is in place to prevent a single student from monopolizing popular tutors.

First, book a lesson at your preferred date and time from the tutor's page or the calendar.
(How to book a lesson → User Guide)

After booking, a Zoom link will be shown on the lesson details page and included in your booking confirmation email. Please check in advance that your camera, microphone, and speaker are working properly.
(How to use Zoom → How to Use Zoom)

No later than 1 minute before the lesson starts, click the "Enter Zoom" button on the lesson details page or the Zoom link in your email to open Zoom. Check your camera, microphone, and speaker, and click "Join" when the lesson time arrives.

The lesson lasts 25 minutes. The tutor will close the Zoom meeting when the time is up, which officially ends the lesson.

Tutors set their own lesson schedules.
Lessons are offered at various times of day, but there may be times when no tutors are available.
Please use the Tutor List or the calendar to find a tutor who has opened lesson slots at a time convenient for you.
Search the Tutor List here

Yes. There is a limit to the number of reservations you can hold at one time (your "Reservation Capacity"), which depends on your purchased points or monthly plan.
If your Reservation Capacity is full, you will be able to book your next lesson once one of your current reservations is completed.
This is to prevent a single student from monopolizing popular tutors.
Please note that purchasing additional points does not increase your Reservation Capacity.

Lesson times are displayed in the time zone you have set on your profile editing screen.
The displayed lesson start times adjust automatically to match your selected time zone.

If you cancel a lesson at least 24 hours before its start time, your points will be refunded.
Points will not be refunded for cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time.
To cancel, open the lesson details screen from My Page and click the Cancel button at the bottom of the screen.

Yes, you can.
If you book two consecutive time slots, you can take a 50-minute lesson. (The free version of Zoom limits meetings to 40 consecutive minutes, so you will leave the room once for a short break and re-enter to resume the lesson.)

Yes, you can.
In that case, please let the tutor know in advance — for example, in the notes section of the lesson booking details screen — that you would like an audio-only lesson.
If you prefer, a text-only lesson (using Zoom's chat function) is also possible.

If a lesson is not cancelled at least 24 hours before its start time, we are unable to refund the points.
Please go to the Lesson List, click the lesson date and time, select "Did Not Attend (Student)", and submit the report.

The tutor will wait in the Zoom room for 10 minutes from the scheduled start time, so you can join during that period.
Please note that if you are more than 10 minutes late, the lesson will be treated as a cancellation without a point refund.

Click the lesson date and time on the Lesson List screen to open the lesson details page.
There, you can send your feedback and comments, or write a message directly to the tutor.

Yes, you can. There are two ways to do this.

1. Booking by date and time
After logging in, click a date on the calendar. A list of available lessons for that day will appear. Select multiple lessons (different tutors or different times are fine) and click the "Proceed to Book" button.
Video Guide (booking multiple lessons by date and time)

2. Booking from a tutor's page
Open the tutor's page and scroll down to the calendar. Turn on the "Multiple Booking" switch, select several available time slots on the calendar, and click "Book Now."
Video Guide (booking multiple lessons from a tutor's page)

If you are not yet used to Japanese conversation, selecting "Gentle" tells the tutor to keep the conversation easier, so you can take the lesson with peace of mind.
Once you get used to the lessons, we encourage you to challenge yourself with "Normal."

A tutor who offers relaxed, casual lessons.
We believe that Japanese is not just a subject to study, but a communication tool. Being able to improve your Japanese while enjoying conversations with a wide variety of tutors is what makes JapaTalk special.

We offer seven plans: a 1,500 JPY/month Trial Plan, plus plans of 3,000 JPY, 5,000 JPY, 6,000 JPY, 10,000 JPY, 20,000 JPY, and 40,000 JPY per month.
Each month, on the same day of the month you joined, the points for your plan are added automatically. Points on all plans are valid for 2 months.
(Example: If you subscribe on April 10th, those points will expire on June 9th, and your monthly renewal date — the automatic point purchase date — will be the 10th.)
See our pricing plans here

Yes. You can purchase points as needed and take lessons without joining a monthly plan.

Yes, they roll over.
If you purchase additional points before your current points expire, the expiration date of ALL your points is extended.
(Example: If you purchase an additional 1,000pt on April 20th, your remaining points and the new 1,000pt will all expire 2 months later, on June 19th.)
While you are on a monthly plan, your monthly payment counts as a new purchase, so your points automatically roll over every month.

Your points are added each month on the same day of the month you joined the plan.
Purchasing additional one-off points does not change this date.
If you change your plan, the date of the change becomes your new automatic point addition date.

You can change your plan at any time by selecting a new plan under Monthly Plans on the point purchase screen.
On the confirmation screen, you can choose to apply the change either now or at your next renewal. Please note that if you select "Now," your new plan will be charged immediately and its points added to your account right away.

Please complete the cancellation using the cancellation form at the bottom of the point purchase screen.
You can also cancel only the plan itself (a suspension), so that you can easily resume at any time.
(Even if you close your account, your email address is retained in our records.)

It is the maximum number of lesson reservations you can hold at one time.
You cannot book lessons beyond this limit. If your capacity is full, you will be able to book a new lesson once one of your current reservations is completed.
This system is in place to prevent a single student from monopolizing popular tutors.
Your Reservation Capacity is determined by your monthly plan or purchased points. Please see the pricing plans page for details.

Yes, you can (within your Reservation Capacity).
You can also take consecutive lessons with the same tutor. In that case, please decide together with the tutor how to take breaks within the lesson time.

If you cancel a lesson less than 24 hours before its scheduled start time, your points will not be refunded. We appreciate your understanding.
(Points are refunded for cancellations made at least 24 hours before the start time.)

The lesson status is finalized approximately 24 hours after the scheduled start time. Your points will be refunded automatically shortly after that. We appreciate your patience.

Yes, you can.
If you purchase new points before your current points expire, the expiration date of ALL the points in your balance will be extended to 2 months from the new purchase date.

Yes, you can.
Your points can be used until their expiration date, and you can book lessons scheduled for dates after that expiration date.
However, please be careful: if you cancel such a lesson after your points' expiration date has passed, those points will not be refunded.
(Once the expiration date passes, your point balance becomes 0.)

After your free registration, you will only be charged when you purchase points from the point purchase screen or subscribe to a monthly plan.
If you register but do not buy points or join a plan, you will not be charged at all.

Go to Monthly Plans on the point purchase screen and select your next plan. On the confirmation screen, set the change timing to "At Next Renewal" and enter your new credit card information.
Please be careful: if you set the timing to "Now," you will be charged immediately, and the plan's points will be added to your account right away.

Yes. After logging in, you can issue a receipt from the "Usage Status" page.

Yes, we accept PayPal payments.

As this is a service provided over the Internet, the cooling-off period (under Japanese consumer law) does not apply.

Please try clearing your browser's cache, or try the purchase on a different device (such as a smartphone or PC).
If you still cannot complete the purchase, please contact us with the number of points you wish to buy. We will guide you through purchasing via email.

No, you do not.
To simply join a lesson, no Zoom account registration (sign-up) or login is needed. You can join just by clicking the Zoom link shown after booking.

When you book a lesson on JapaTalk, the Zoom link (the "Enter Zoom" button) appears on the lesson details page.
The same link is also included in your booking confirmation email.
Please click the link and enter the Zoom room no later than 1 minute before your lesson begins.

On a PC, you can join directly from your web browser without installing the app, but we recommend installing the free Zoom app for a smoother lesson experience.
On smartphones and tablets, you must install the free Zoom app (search for "Zoom Workplace" in your app store) before the lesson.
Zoom for iOS / Zoom for Android

It means your tutor has not started the Zoom meeting yet. Please stay on that screen and wait a little longer.
If you still cannot enter after the scheduled start time has passed, please contact the tutor via the message feature on the JapaTalk booking details screen.

When entering the room, make sure to select "Join with Computer Audio" (or "Wi-Fi or Cellular Data" on a smartphone).
If the microphone icon at the bottom of the Zoom screen has a diagonal line through it, you are muted — click it to unmute yourself.
Please also check your speaker and microphone volume, and make sure your device has granted microphone and camera permissions.

Please set your Zoom display name to match the name you registered with on JapaTalk as closely as possible.
If you are asked to enter a name when joining, type the same name you used to book the lesson.
To change it during a meeting, click "Participants" at the bottom of the screen, hover over your name, and select "More" → "Rename" (this resets when you leave the meeting).
If you have a Zoom account, you can change your display name permanently by signing in and going to "Profile" → "Edit" next to your name.

Please check whether the email was sorted into your spam or junk folder.
Our emails are sent from an @japatalk.com address.
If your email settings were blocking our messages, please change the settings to allow this domain and register again.

First, please make sure you have entered the Zoom room by clicking the "Enter Zoom" button on the lesson details page or the Zoom link in your email.
If your screen says "Please wait for the host to start this meeting," the tutor has not started the meeting yet. Please wait a little longer.

If the tutor still has not entered after the scheduled start time, please contact them via the message feature on the JapaTalk booking details screen.

If the lesson ultimately does not take place, then after the scheduled lesson time has ended, go to the Lesson List, click the lesson date and time, select "Not Conducted (Tutor did not show up)" on the lesson details screen, and click "Report." (As a precaution, please save a screenshot of the Zoom waiting screen.)
Your points will be refunded after we confirm the situation.

If you cannot connect to Zoom on the day of your lesson, please try the following:
・Restart the Zoom app, your browser, or your device, then open the Zoom link again.
・On a PC, try "Join from Your Browser" on the download screen (or, alternatively, install the app and join from there).
・Check that your internet connection (Wi-Fi, etc.) is stable.
・Use the Zoom Test Meeting in advance to verify that your camera, microphone, and speaker work correctly.
If you still cannot connect, please contact your tutor via the message feature on the JapaTalk booking details screen.

Depending on factors such as the tutor's internet connection speed, the lesson may occasionally become choppy. We cannot guarantee a perfect connection for every lesson, and we appreciate your understanding.
If the connection does not improve, please try re-entering the Zoom room, or click the video icon in Zoom to turn off both webcams.
If the connection is still too poor, you are eligible for a point refund. In that case, please take a screenshot of the Zoom screen and contact us.

As a general rule, lessons are conducted using Zoom.
On a PC, you can join Zoom directly from your web browser without installing the app.
Some tutors may be able to accommodate other apps; in that case, please consult the tutor directly via JapaTalk messages.

These are various informational materials created by tutors or by JapaTalk.
They are provided in formats such as videos (YouTube, etc.), PDFs (e-books), and audio files, and can be exchanged for points.

Yes, you can.
If you set your time zone in your profile, you can book lessons with times displayed in your own time zone.

Yes, this is possible. Please log into the student's own account and purchase points or a monthly plan from there.
If you are also creating the account on the student's behalf, please note that email verification is required at registration.

Please restart your smartphone and try again.
If the problem persists, please contact us.

Please clear your browser's cache and try again.
If the problem persists, please contact us.