Bunka Fashion College is a fashion school in Tokyo, Japan. It started more than 100 years ago as a small dressmaking school.
At a glance
| Founded | 1919, as a small dressmaking school |
| Location | Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan |
| Campus | One building with 20 floors above ground |
| Departments | 4: Fashion Creation; Fashion Technology; Fashion Marketing and Distribution; Fashion Accessories and Textiles |
| International students | About 20% of students (October 2023) |
| Language | Applicants generally need Japanese at JLPT N2 level or above |
What is it?
Bunka began in 1919 as a small dressmaking school. In 1923 it was approved as Japan’s first dressmaking school.
It teaches fashion design and garment making, fashion technology, fashion business, styling, textiles, jewellery and bags. Courses last from one to four years.
About one in five students comes from outside Japan. The largest groups are from China, Korea and Taiwan.
Schools and departments
- Fashion Creation Department
- Fashion Technology Department
- Fashion Marketing and Distribution Department
- Fashion Accessories and Textiles Department
Fashion courses you can study
These are some of Bunka’s courses, with their official English names:
- Garment Creation (2 years)
- Intensive Garment Creation (1 year, for graduates of vocational schools, junior colleges or universities)
- Creative Design Advanced Diploma (4 years)
- Global Fashion Business Advanced Diploma (4 years)
- Foundations of Styling and Distribution (2 years)
- Fashion Textiles (3 years)
- Jewelry Design
- Bag Design
How to apply
- International applicants on a student visa take Bunka’s entrance exam for international students. Applicants with other visas take the same exam as Japanese students.
- Applicants generally need Japanese at N2 level or above on the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), or 200 points or more in the Japanese section of the EJU.
- Bunka publishes a full application guide (PDF) on its application page.
Entry requirements, fees and deadlines change every year. Always check the official website before you apply.
Sources
All facts on this page come from the official website of Bunka Fashion College. Last checked: 1 November 2026.