Skip to main content
Obon Holiday Period36 days left
Residence Tax (2nd)54 days left

Last Updated: April 2026

Level 1
0 XP

Scout Apps

Related Tools

Student Portal →Scholarship Directory →Work Hour Tracker →

Frequently Asked Questions

The highest-value part-time jobs for English-speaking international students in Japan leverage language skills: private English tutoring pays ¥1,500 to ¥5,000 per hour through platforms like italki or private arrangements, English conversation café staff earn ¥1,200 to ¥2,500 per hour, and hotel front desk or tourism-related roles pay ¥1,100 to ¥1,500 per hour with English skill bonuses. Standard convenience store and restaurant jobs pay the minimum wage of approximately ¥1,000 to ¥1,150 per hour depending on prefecture.
The most effective job search platforms for international students in Japan are Townwork and Baitoru (both available in some English), Hello Work (government employment service with free counseling), your university's student employment board, and GaijinPot's job listings which specifically target foreign residents. Convenience stores, fast food chains, and tourist-area restaurants near your campus are excellent targets for walk-in applications as they frequently hire foreign students and are accustomed to non-native Japanese speakers.
The highest-paying student part-time jobs in Japan are: private English tutoring and language instruction (¥2,000 to ¥5,000 per hour), translation and interpretation work (¥2,000 to ¥3,000 per hour), IT support or web development (¥1,500 to ¥2,500 per hour), and night shift or late-evening work at izakayas or clubs which earn the standard rate plus a 25% late-night premium above 10 PM. On-campus research assistant positions at universities (RA positions) can also pay ¥1,200 to ¥2,000 per hour with flexible scheduling.
For a part-time job interview in Japan, arrive 5 to 10 minutes early, bring your rirekisho resume with a recent photo already attached, dress neatly in clean casual or business casual clothing, and greet staff with a respectful bow. Common interview questions for students include your weekly availability schedule, your current Japanese language level (be honest), your visa type and permitted working hours, and how long you plan to remain in Japan. A positive attitude and willingness to learn are highly valued even over language ability.
Yes, international students on Japanese student visas can hold multiple part-time jobs simultaneously, but the total hours across all employers combined must not exceed 28 hours per week during school terms (40 hours during official school breaks). Each employer will ask for your residence card and may photocopy it, and all employers file payroll records with tax authorities. Working for multiple employers does not itself cause problems, but exceeding the total permitted hours across all jobs is a visa violation regardless of how many employers are involved.

Related Tools

Work Hours

28-hour limit tracker

Student Portal

All student resources

Resume Maker

Japanese resume

Labor Rights

Worker protections