No, college is not free in Japan.
While Japan does offer public universities, they charge tuition fees. According to information from International Student Insurance, tuition fees at Japanese public universities are approximately 535,800 yen, which equates to around $6,500 (USD). This doesn't include other fees that may be required.
It's important to note that academic fees for the first year typically consist of an admission fee, a tuition fee, and a facility and equipment usage fee. There may be exceptions like the University of Tsukuba, which, according to the same source, has waived entrance fees and first-year tuition fees in the past. However, this is not the norm.
While college is not free, various scholarships and financial aid options are available to both domestic and international students to help offset the costs of higher education.
