Work in Japan

For most nationalities, you must be aged 18-30 (inclusive) to apply for a Japan working holiday visa.

BUNAC provide all the information on how to apply for your visa. Applicants can also ask for their documents to be reviewed by BUNAC to ensure they are filled out correctly.

No, it’s not essential to speak Japanese, as most of the employers on our program are looking to fill English-speaking job roles. However, it can be easier to find work and open up more opportunities if you have a basic understanding of the language. Plus, it will improve your overall experience and understanding of Japanese culture if you know greetings, introductions and dining etiquette etc.  

Jobs you can get without speaking Japanese include teaching English, English-language childcare jobs, jobs in Western restaurants, cafés and bars such British pubs, English tea rooms, American diners, Italian pizzerias, German beer gardens and more. 

Our team can arrange language courses when you arrive in Tokyo. We work with the Kudan Institute of Japanese Language and Culture in Tokyo to offer 4-12 week language courses. Contact us for start dates and pricing.

On a working holiday visa, you can stay in Japan for up to 12 months. Australian passport holders will initially be granted a six-month visa which they can extend for a further six months while they are in Japan. Find out more visa information here.

Our Work Japan program offers two options. Based in Tokyo, the Essential Japan includes five weeks’ arrival accommodation, comprehensive job counselling with access to job portals where English-speaking jobs are posted, job support for the full 12-months of your visa, and much more.

The Ultimate Japan includes all the Essential work support inclusions, plus a pre-arranged ski season job with one of our employers in Niseko, Rusutsu or Furano on the island of Hokkaido. Check out the full inclusions and accommodation differences for both options here.

If you want the security of arriving in Japan with a pre-arranged job, then our Ultimate Japan option includes a 3-4 month ski season job which you’ll interview for before you go. You must be available to work from Nov/Dec-Apr and interviews usually take place in Jul/Aug of that year.

In Tokyo, you typically make between 1,000 - 1,200 Yen per hour. If you work 28 hours per week (part time) this means around 120,000 to 140,000 Yen per month, or if you work 40 hours per week (full time) around 160,000 - 200,000 Yen per month. Japan doesn’t have a tipping culture – in fact, tipping can be seen as an insult. So if you’re planning on working in hospitality, don’t factor gratuities into your earning potential.

Essential travellers Five weeks’ accommodation living with other working holidaymakers at a Share House in Tokyo.
Ultimate travellers Five nights’ hostel accommodation in Tokyo, giving you enough time to sort your residence registration, Japanese bank account and the other required formalities you need to start working. Depending on the employer, Ultimate travellers will have access to subsidised staff accommodation during their ski season job. You’ll receive more details on this once you’ve started the application process.

Click here for more details on the accommodation and how to extend it for Ultimate travellers who aren’t heading off to do their ski season job straightaway. 

You can upgrade your accommodation and/or extend the nights at an additional cost. Twins/doubles and single rooms are subject to availability.

After paying your deposit, we’ll prep and arrange for you to have a video interview with your potential employers. This is likely to happen in Jul/Aug, but once you’ve started the application process, we’ll let you know more details.

Typically you’ll work five days per week for around 40 hours.

After the winter season ends, you’ll still be able to work and travel around Japan as long as you have time left on your visa. Ultimate travellers can go back to Tokyo where they’ll have access to the full work support inclusions of the Essential package.

Both of our Work Japan options – the Essential and Ultimate – start in Tokyo. This is because there are certain visa, residential and legal formalities that you need to get sorted before you can start to work for a Japanese employer. Japanese language skills are required for this, so our in-country partners will take you to the relevant offices in Tokyo during the first three days of your trip. Check the itinerary for more information.

Our program typically starts on a Friday. You’ll be met at either Narita or Haneda airport where you’ll be accompanied to your included Tokyo accommodation. If you’re on our Ultimate option and are heading straight off on the third or fourth day of your itinerary to start your ski season job, you should book an internal flight to Sapporo New Chitose airport – this is the closest airport to Niseko, Rusutsu or Furano. The Tokyo inclusions will then be available to you once your ski season job ends.

Feeling lost? Don’t worry. Once you’re on the program, we’ll run through all the timings and options with you.