Your Guide on Jobs & Finding Work in Japan

Jump right in:

• Working in Japan
• How to get a job in Japan as a foreigner
• Minimum wage & average salary
• Self-employment
• Business culture
• Social security and benefits
• Maternity & paternity Leave

Working in Japan

Expats wanting to know how to find a job in Japan should look for jobs in early spring and late summer as these are prime hiring months. Working in Japan provides many benefits such as an average salary of nearly 5 million JPY (approx. 33,000 USD) per year and a communal business culture.

However, Japan is also a very work-centric nation. Working days are Monday to Friday, but work hours can be longer than the standard 40 hours a week. In Japan, one’s workplace is often seen as extended family. This means that Japanese employers expect employees to dedicate much of their time and effort to their careers.

Working as a self-employed person in Japan is possible, but it can be difficult. In the past, those who worked for themselves were not held in as high of a regard as 9-5 workers. Recently, the freelance culture has slowly gained traction, especially after the Freelance Act introduced in 2024. More expats can now seek self-employment or freelance jobs as an option in Japan.

How to get a job in Japan as a foreigner

The first thing you should know about getting a job in Japan as a foreigner is that the process could be difficult primarily due to the language barrier and the level of specialized skills required. Although Japan has lessened its language requirements, expats are expected to know some Japanese and make their intention known to continue studying it while living in Japan.

Requirements & eligibility to work in Japan

One of the biggest requirements for being eligible to work in Japan is to have either a university degree or ten years’ experience in your career field (if you don’t have a bachelor’s degree). The other requirement is the language. Foreigners need a certain level of proficiency in Japanese to land a job in Japan. The proficiency level depends on the job.

These expectations have loosened somewhat in recent years, but basic knowledge of the language is definitely important as an employee’s integration into Japanese social and work culture is very important to Japanese companies.

Employers in Japan may require you to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) in order to gauge your language proficiency. There are five levels, with Level 1 being the highest. Most companies may require you to pass Level 2 at a minimum.

In addition to the language requirement, you’ll also be required to present references and a list of qualifications proving why you’re the best candidate for the position. Be sure to give your references notice that Japanese employers may contact them. Japanese employers evaluate every aspect of potential employees, including contacting your references.

Job opportunities in Japan for foreigners

While you can get a job in nearly every job sector in Japan, there are a few career opportunities where expats will find the greatest amount of opportunities:

• banking
• engineering
• gastronomy
• IT
• manufacturing
• military (typically foreign)
• professors
• sales staff
• service staff
• teaching
• translators and interpreters
• tourism and hospitality

Likewise, expats with experience or an interest in robotics or offshore manufacturing can find jobs more easily than expats in other career fields. Research and development are also popular fields to work in as a foreigner in Japan.

How to apply for a job in Japan

One of the best ways to start applying for jobs in Japan is to already be in the country. Getting a job in Japan from overseas is difficult, as overseas hires are expensive for Japanese companies and therefore a financial risk. The company will need to help with your relocation and spend time training you.

By already being in Japan, companies are more willing to consider you as a candidate because they do not have to pay to move you and you are most likely already acquainted (or becoming acquainted) with Japanese culture. You can apply online through popular sites like Gaijin pot, Daijob, JobsinJapan, Career cross and Yolo Japan.

How to write a Japanese CV

No matter whether the job you are applying for requires a high level of Japanese or not, you should have a Japanese version of your CV. Japan’s requirements for CVs are quite stringent, minimalist, and should contain only the most important information. The CV can be handwritten or typed using templates online.

The basic format of your CV would be as follows:

1.Your general information

The format of a Japanese resume is called rirekisho. Fill in your general information first: name, age, date of birth, address, your photograph, contact information, and even your nationality. It’s best to search for this term on the internet and download a general template to fill in. The template will walk you through what to write.

The template will have two lines where both versions of your name should appear. The standard practice for foreigners is to use standard Japanese and katakana.

When giving your date of birth, you’re not likely to be asked to give it according to the Japanese imperial eras as the Western calendar is preferred. However, it’s important to know the Japanese calendar if needed.

• Showa: 1926–1988
• Heisei: 1989–2019
• Reiwa: 2019–present

Last but not least, your Japanese resume should include a professional photograph in the top right corner on the first page. This headshot should be similar to a passport picture taken on a plain white background. I’s also preferable for men and women to wear a dark business suit for the snapshot. Men should wear a tie.

2. Personal info

In addition to your general contact information, Japanese companies expect to learn some personal information about you such as your marital status, number of dependents, and even your commute time should you be offered the position.

3. Education and work history

Once you’ve finished filling out your general information, you’ll need to list your educational and work history. Both are listed in chronological order with the most recent experience listed first. Unlike in Western resumes, your work history doesn’t need to include a summary of your responsibilities and duties.

4. Accomplishments

Like many resumes, a Japanese CV should include a list of your achievements, professional awards, and licenses and certificates. This includes listing your driver’s license.

5. Why the company should hire you

At the end of the rirekisho template, there’ll be a section to write about why you are the perfect candidate for the position to which you are applying. This is where you’re able to get creative with your CV, but bear in mind Japanese culture’s professional and reserved standards. Do not stray too far from those values.

6. Your expectations

The last section of the Japanese resume is for you to express what you hope to get out of the position you’re applying for. This can include career growth or new skills, and should also include your salary expectations.

Cover letter tips

Unlike a Japanese CV, a cover letter in Japan is fairly standard to cover letters in Western countries. Your cover letter should expand upon your work experience listed in your CV, but only as it pertains to the specific job for which you’re applying. It should be short and succinct, and no more than a page. It should be creative enough to help you stand out but still written professionally.

Like your resume, your cover letter should also be translated into Japanese.

Interview tips

Japan is a very formal culture, and appearance matters a great deal. You should dress in professional business attire, even if the company you’re applying to is more casual (which, in Japan, is not common). Be sure to show up no less than 5–10 minutes early. Being late is considered incredibly rude, but being too early is also frowned upon.

Other interview protocols that are specific to Japanese culture include knocking on the door three times before entering and not sitting down until you’re invited to. Be aware that the interview could last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. You’ll most likely be interviewed by a panel of people.

Japanese people typically stay with the same company for many years. The work culture is one that views co-workers as a corporate family, and you might want to keep that in mind during the interview process because you will be judged on how well you would integrate into the company “family”.

Networking tips

One of the best ways to get a job in Japan as a foreigner is through networking. The country has a big culture of after-work drinks. Therefore, finding the bars and restaurants where most professionals go will be a great help to getting you connected in Japan.

For expats intent on living and working in Japan, but who have yet to secure a position, a viable option is to move to Japan as an English teacher. Then you can network until you find something more aligned with your job sector. If you’re living in Tokyo, another great way to network is by checking out the business and professional networking groups in the InterNations Tokyo Community.

Minimum wage and average salary

The average salary in Japan is nearly 5 million JPY (approx. 33,000 USD) per year. The national minimum wage is 1,121 JPY (approx. 7.30 USD) per hour.

As the most expensive city in Japan, Tokyo has the highest cost of living. Its minimum hourly wage is also the highest in Japan, followed closely by Osaka and Kyoto.

Okinawa and Kochi have the lowest hourly minimum wage in the country at 1,020 JPY (approx. 6.50 USD) per hour.

What is a good salary in Japan?

A good salary to earn to have a comfortable living is the average annual salary: 4.5 million JPY (29,500 USD). Families will want to aim for 6.5 million (approx. 42,600 USD). Recent graduates moving to Japan to teach with the popular JET program can expect to make a starting salary of 300,000 JPY (approx. 2,000 USD) per month. It’s possible to live in Japan on this salary (about 3.6 million JPY per year (approx. 23,700 USD)), but you’ll need to be mindful of your spending habits and you won’t be able to save much money.

The most in-demand jobs and how much they pay

The jobs with the best salaries in Japan are in IT and software development. The absolute top average earner is an IT director, who makes around 55 million JPY (approx. 360,000 USD) per year. The banking and finance sector is the second highest in Japan with a senior investors’ salary of around 40 million JPY (approx. 263,000 USD).

Other popular jobs and their average annual salaries

Self-employment

Only recently has self-employment in Japan begun to grow in popularity. This is partially due to the growing desire for flexibility and work-life balance, but the introduction of the Freelance Act has also motivated residents to pursue self-employment. Especially in Tokyo, many newcomers choose to take a second job to support their lifestyle.

How to be self-employed in Japan

The greatest obstacle to getting set up as a self-employed person in Japan is that there is no self-employment visa, but it is possible to sponsor yourself. You can read more about this in our section on visas and work permits in Japan.

One of the easiest ways to be self-employed in Japan is by first coming into the country and listing a part-time employer as your main employer in order to obtain a work visa. Once you have this, you can start working on your freelance business until it is secure enough for you to sponsor yourself.

How to freelance without speaking Japanese

As this guide has stated many times, a crucial step to living in Japan is learning and speaking Japanese. As a self-employed person, this is even more important as it’s one of the best ways to gain new Japanese clients. If you don’t yet know Japanese or aren’t confident in it, there are a few job sectors where it’s possible to work in Japan without knowing the language.

1. Photography

This may seem like a no-brainer, but in a country renowned for its natural beauty, vibrant architecture, and eccentric fashion, Japan is a great place for photographers to call home. Tokyo is a particularly lucrative city for freelancers looking to build up their portfolio, client base and alternatively offer your services to digital platforms such magazines or ad agencies.

** 2. Design and creative arts**

Having strong skills in design, websites, logos and other marketing materials is valuable as a freelancer in Japan. In the case of websites, Japanese websites have simple designs and are text heavy. Most international companies will want a design that is universal and appeals to their international market.

3. Software engineering

Japan has a lot of opportunities for freelance software engineers, especially in gaming technology. A lot of freelancers in this field can find one tech company in Japan to sponsor their visa, and then continue to freelance for other Japanese clients.

4. Consulting

If you spent years working in a particular industry and have built up a lot of experience, you’ll find that many companies in Japan could really use your expertise. Being a bilingual consultant opens up even more opportunities in Japan.

Top self-employed jobs in Japan

If you do speak some Japanese, finding freelance work and networking will be much easier for you. In addition to the jobs listed above, other top self-employed jobs in Japan include:

• private tutoring
• IT
• copywriting
• translation and interpretation

Self-employed benefits in Japan

As a self-employed person in Japan, you’ll still be required to pay into the National Pension system: kokumin nenkin. Paying into this will provide you with old-age benefits, should you choose to stay in Japan long-term. If you’re only in Japan for three years or less, when you leave you can opt for a lump sum pay-out. In addition to old-age benefits, you’re also eligible to receive benefits due to sickness or injury.

Business culture

Like most of Japanese social culture, business culture in Japan is very formal. Traditional customs and expectations should be strictly adhered to lest you offend your Japanese business partners and colleagues. As Japan becomes more and more open to foreign influence, there’s a growing understanding toward expats who occasionally make etiquette mistakes especially if they remain respectful and show a genuine willingness to learn and adapt to the Japanese way of life.

To perfectly fit into Japanese business culture, there are a few key etiquette rules to be aware of.

Privacy is valued

Privacy is important in Japan. At the beginning of a professional or personal relationship, avoid asking anything too personal. This includes questions about family, work history, etc. Asking questions such as these at the beginning of a relationship may be seen as pushy and overbearing.

Greetings

When meeting a business partner or colleague for the first time, it’s customary to bow and wait for the other person to shake your hand. Use formal titles only.

Meetings

Japanese society is quiet and introverted, and this pervades into the meeting space. Do not interrupt anyone and be sure to remain as quiet and unobtrusive as possible. Often, if tensions in a meeting start to run high, everyone will go silent and let the moment pass. If this happens, don’t try to talk to fill up the silence.

Status & hierarchy

The Japanese people believe strongly in status and hierarchy with deep respect for older individuals — so much so that there’s a national holiday honoring elders. It’s even uncommon to see managers under the age of 40. This emphasis on rank is reflected in meeting room seating arrangements, where senior staff sit in designated spots. When attending a meeting, wait to be shown where to sit instead of choosing a seat yourself.

Gifts

Often, as a foreign business partner, you may feel the need to bring a gift to your new Japanese business partner. If you do, do your research to make sure you’re not presenting anything that may offend. Certain flowers and colors represent death and should be avoided at all costs. For example, lotus blossoms, camellias, and lilies are associated with funerals as are any white-colored flowers.

Groups over individuals

Japan is a group-oriented culture. Achievements are celebrated by what a collective has done rather than an individual. In the workplace, this means you should avoid self-congratulations and bragging at all costs. Likewise, it’s not proper to single out someone in a team even if it’s for congratulations.

Workplace culture dress code

While Japanese street fashion is known for its bold and playful style, workplace attire is strictly conservative. Men typically wear business suits in dark colors. Women also wear dark-colored suits or modest clothing that covers the shoulders and knees and avoid wearing flashy jewelry. Even at business social events, it’s best to dress conservatively until you understand the company culture. In Japan, blending in is valued, and this extends to your professional wardrobe.

Social security and benefits

What is a social security number in Japan? The social security number is a twelve digit number called “my number” mai nambā. It’s a unique identification number that’s issued to all Japanese citizens and residents who have registered with their local governments and lived in Japan for at least three months. “My number” is both your Japanese social security and tax number. The number links users’ personal information across several social and government platforms.

Another term you should be familiar with is shakai hoken, which is the social insurance: a combination of Employees’ Health Insurance (kenkou hoken) and Employees’ Pension Insurance (kosei nenkin).

Can a foreigner get a social security number in Japan?

Yes, the social security number is for all residents in Japan. To get one, you’ll apply for your Japanese social security number at the same time that you apply for your residence card / zairyu card. You’ll do this by registering at your local municipality office. The process will be automatic and you can ask to be told the twelve-digit number right there, but you won’t receive your official social security card right away.

Instead, a notification about the social security card will be mailed to your address in Japan within two weeks of your registration. You’ll fill out this notification card, include a passport-sized photo, and send this back to the correct return address.

Once you’ve done this, you’ll later receive another notification card telling you that your physical card is ready to be picked up at your local municipal office. Your card will contain your personal information, IC chip, photograph, and twelve-digit number.

It’s a good idea to keep this card on you at all times as it can be used for a number of instances:

• as an official identification card
• as a seal (hanko) registration card
• as a library card
• as a health insurance card
• for obtaining various certificates at convenience stores, etc.

Social security benefits in Japan

Broadly, Japanese social security contributes to the following areas:

• social insurance: health insurance, unemployment insurance, and accidents while working
• public assistance
• old-age benefits such as a retirement pension
• personal social and health insurance for the elderly and disabled
• general public health services
• maternity leave and child allowances
• pensions for former public servants
• public housing and aid for low-income families

Foreign employees who do not stay in Japan long-term can receive their social security payment in a lump sum when they leave the country as long as they have stayed in Japan for a minimum of 10 years.

Maternity and paternity leave

When it comes to having a baby in Japan, there are leave options for both men and women. What the options are and when a parent can take this leave differ for men and women.

Maternity leave

Maternity leave is a legal right in Japan. By law, maternity leave covers six weeks before a child is born and eight weeks after the birth date. Employers are also obligated to reduce work hours if it’s mandated by the woman’s healthcare provider.

One maternity leave benefit in Japan includes the possibility of late deliveries. If a woman delivers later than expected, her leave will be extended to cover the extra days until her actual birth. Women who are expecting twins are also allotted extra weeks of leave.

Women who end their maternity leave early may do so, but they must submit a written approval by their doctor.

Paternity leave

Like mothers, fathers are legally allowed to take parental leave. For fathers, this leave can be taken for up to 4 weeks (in installments or all at once) within the first 8 weeks of the child’s birth. However, due to Japan’s traditional views and patriarchal leaning, as a society, it’s frowned upon for fathers to indulge in this legal right. In recent years, Japan has made national news with Japanese fathers claiming they were forced out of their jobs after taking their full paternity leave and benefits.

Parental leave

Additionally, in Japan both parents are allowed to take up to one year of parental leave (per child). This leave can be taken for 12 months, either in installments or all at once. It must be taken within the first 14 months of the child’s life.

Parental leave for both parents is typically paid for by the government, not the employer, but this varies from company to company. Typically, social insurance will cover 67% of the new parent’s base salary.