Can Online Japanese Friends Become Real Friends? Stories From People Who Actually Met

One reviewer kept talking—even while still relying on translation

In a Japanese App Store review dated July 9, 2020, a user posting as おかーさん explained that they joined Langmate to make friends abroad and find motivation to study English.

At first, conversations were difficult to sustain. That frustration encouraged them to study, and eventually they could keep exchanges going more comfortably. They were still using Google Translate.

The reviewer reported meeting around ten people during their first year, including people visiting Japan and others they visited abroad, who showed them around. They also warned about scam encounters, so their account describes both rewarding connections and reasons to stay cautious.

For someone learning Japanese, there’s an encouraging detail here: the reviewer didn’t describe reaching fluency before making plans. Communication was still imperfect when those connections moved beyond the screen.

That gives you something practical to try. Be open about your level, use translation when needed, and pay attention to whether you both enjoy the exchange. You can keep learning while getting to know someone.

Langmate connects people in Japan and around the world through matching and chat. If you’d like to understand how it works, our official website explains Langmate and its features in English.

Another reviewer met friends when an exchange programme brought them closer

On the UK App Store, a review titled “Good-ish,” displayed with the date August 5, 2020, includes a later update from heyyy✨✨🤷‍♀️.

After using Langmate on and off for months, the reviewer said they had made lasting friends and met some when those people came on exchange. At the time of the update, they were speaking with some of those friends daily.

The account wasn’t entirely positive: the reviewer also described the effort of keeping up with replies and problems with chat logs, and said they deleted the app. Nevertheless, they reported friendships and in-person meetings that had grown from their conversations.

This story offers a different possibility. You don’t necessarily need to arrange an international trip around a new acquaintance. Study, work, or travel may eventually bring your lives closer together.

If that happens, you already have a conversation to continue.

These historical reviews show what individual users reported experiencing. They don’t tell us how often meetings happen, or how every friendship developed afterward.

Street Interviews: What’s your first impression of that country?

At Langmate, we interview people on the streets of Japan and share their honest answers on Instagram and TikTok.

This time, we asked Japanese women a simple question:

From culture and personality to food, fashion, and travel, their answers show how differently each country can be seen from Japan.

Some impressions are exactly what you might expect. Others are surprisingly specific — and that is what makes these conversations interesting.

If you are curious about how Japanese people see your country, this is a fun place to start.

Watch more street interviews on Langmate’s Instagram 🎵
Check Langmate Official Instagram

What should happen before you suggest meeting?

Our team includes Japanese members and people from several other countries, and we share a love of travel and making friends. For us, the useful part of these stories is the connection between everyday conversation and an opportunity to spend time together.

There’s no required number of messages. Instead, look for mutual interest: you both contribute, remember things about each other, and respect each other’s boundaries.

Then make the invitation simple. For example:

If you’ve been talking about a shared interest, build around that:

A specific, manageable plan gives the other person something clear to consider. Leave space for a no, a different suggestion, or “maybe another time.”

Expect a little awkwardness. It’s a new way of communicating.

In chat, you can check a word, rewrite a sentence, or return after dinner. In person, you’re managing voices, expressions, background noise, and perhaps a language you’re still learning.

Give yourselves time to settle in.

You might say:

Choose an activity you’ll both enjoy, with room to talk. A short visit to an exhibition or a walk through a busy shopping area can give you things to comment on when conversation pauses.

You also don’t have to turn one meeting into a full day together. Start with a small plan and see how you both feel.

For a first meetup, choose a public place, arrange your own transport, and tell someone you trust where you’ll be. Keep accommodation and money arrangements separate. Feeling familiar through messages is a reason to look forward to meeting; it doesn’t remove the need for sensible boundaries.

The message afterward deserves some attention, too

A shared afternoon gives you new things to talk about. Refer to something specific:

Then keep making room for ordinary life. Ask about something they mentioned. Share an update of your own. Let the conversation find a pace that works for both of you.

Sometimes meeting brings you closer. Sometimes you discover that you get along better online. Neither outcome makes the time you spent talking meaningless.

If you’re hoping to make Japanese friends online, start with someone you’re curious about. A future meetup can be something to look forward to, while the friendship takes shape in the conversations you’re having now.