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Project Age Limit
Minimum 18, maximum 30.
Climate
The seasons of Japan are clearly defined into spring, summer, fall and winter. The average temperature varies from place to place. In Tokyo, the average temperature is 14.1C in spring, 27.3C in summer, 17.6C in fall and 5.2C in winter. Each season has distinctive characteristics. It gets hot and humid in summer and cold in the winter (occasionally below 0C). Between spring and summer, humid rainy season (tsuyu) exists; and between summer and fall typhoons often hit Japan.
Airport Transfer
You will be personally met at the airport as part of the programmes meet and greet service by one of our Japan representatives. From the airport you will be taken by train to your hostel accommodation, on the way learning about public transport and life in Japan. Here you have the chance to settle in and catch up on sleep and will be told the arrangements for your city tour the following day.
Accommodation
For your first 7 nights in Japan you will be staying in a funky, centrally placed Tokyo hostel. Rooms are shared, but this is a great way to make friends with your fellow travellers. This great hostel is located in the Asukasa district of Tokyo at the centre of shitamachi (historical / nostalgic area of Tokyo). It is also in a great location to explore historical spots like Senso-ji temple or Kaminari-mon. There are fantastic transport links nearby to get you around the rest of the city to explore the sights and sounds.
Facilities include:
- 24 hour Internet and Free Wi-fi
- Café bar and shared kitchen
- Coin operated laundry
- Air conditioning in each room, bed light and power outlets
- Linen and towels are provided.
- Free luggage storage
The City Tour
The day after arrival you will have a City tour of Tokyo by bus starting at 08:00am. You will depart from a nearby hotel. Your morning tour includes a visit to the Tokyo tower to enjoy a panoramic view of the capital. You will then head onto the Mieji Shrine, Akasaka Guest house – a magnificent Western style palace built in the baroque architectural style. You will drive by the parliament buildings, and then a visit to the Imperial Palace East Garden or the Double Bridge (Nijubashi). The tour will then finish at the famous Ginza shopping district famous for its department stores. You will then have the rest of the day free to shop or enjoy the sites as you wish.
Cultural Introduction
The following day a representative will meet you at the hostel and take the group to a local coffee house for a cultural introduction. You will learn about the do’s and don’ts in Japan, the Japanese culture and you will have chance to ask any questions about life in Japan. You will receive a handbook on cultural etiquette too. You will then be taken as a group to an office in Tokyo who provide job assistance for participants on a Working Holiday visa. Your registration fee for the work service will be paid for by our representative.
The work side of things:
Visa
The Japanese and British government now operate a working holiday scheme, which provides wider opportunities particularly for young people to experience the culture and way of life in Japan. The visa allows you to enter primarily as a holiday and then to work in order to supplement your travel funds.
- To apply for the Working Holiday Visa you must be a passport holder in the following countries: U.K and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Korea, France, Germany. You must apply for the visa in your home country.
- Intend primarily on entering Japan for a holiday for a period of up to one year from the date of entry
- Be aged between 18 and 30.
- Proof of sufficient funds to support your stay: (£1500 with proof of return flight ticket).
Application Procedure
In order to apply for the Working Holiday visa you are required to submit along with a valid passport, a completed application form, passport photo, C.V, proposed itinerary, reasons for application and proof of valid funds.
Important note
Working Holiday visas may be issued for up to 400 people in a Japanese financial year, April through March. Therefore at the time such a number of visas have been issued, acceptance for applications will close. A visa fee of £7.00 must be paid in exchange for the visa issued.
Please note: Real Gap will provide lots of advice about the visa application process, however, it is your responsibility to apply for and pay for the visa.
Job Referral Service
- The Tokyo Working Holiday office offers a job referral service to assist and help you find employment whilst in Japan. Generally it takes around 2 weeks upwards to find a job.
- They will also offer information about accommodation, and provide a short one-to-one orientation session where one of their counsellors will provide you with information and advice about everyday life in Japan, and how to make the most of your stay.
Type of work
Teaching – many working holiday visa holders work as teachers at language schools and English assistant teachers at kindergartens. For teaching jobs, the majority of employers require applicants to have a degree, and be over 21, but there are exceptions.
Other work – you can work as a waiter/waitress, hotel clerk, actor, interpreters, translators, factory workers, web designers, researchers and so on. Restaurant and Language School work can also be obtained, especially if you are able to speak a bit of Japanese.
Standard Wage
£3.50 - £5.50 per hour at a restaurant to £11 - £16 per hour for teaching at a language school.
Japanese Language
It is not essential that you speak Japanese however it is an advantage when looking for work other than teaching, and when interacting with Japanese colleagues. We recommend that you try to learn at least some Japanese before you leave for Japan.
There is no limit to working hours.
Accommodation
After your seven nights at the hostel, if you wish to extend your stay there just talk to reception. Most travellers will after a short stay move into more permanent accommodation. The average rent for a small studio type room in Tokyo is 70,000 yen per month (about £300). But renting your own flat in Japan can be difficult due to a number of reasons. Firstly, you may need a ‘guarantor’ to rent a flat; secondly you will have to pay a ‘deposit’ and ‘key money’ in advance, which can sometimes be equivalent to rent for up to 6 months!
An alternative option available in most major Japanese cities is staying in a ‘Gaijin House’ (Guesthouse or Foreigner House). This option tends to be cheap and less hassle than renting and is a great choice for working holidaymakers. Living in a Gaijin House is like living in a shared house and will involve sharing a kitchen and a bathroom, but this is a great way to meet people.
You could also consider taking a weekly contract with a guesthouse or getting a shared apartment, which in Tokyo would cost (typically) between £200 and £500 per month.
Living Expenses
Rent £200 - £500
Food expenses £150 - £300
Transportation £50 - £75
Sundry £50 - £150
Language School fees £355 - £506 for 1 month
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