Japan Paid Work

You will be personally met at the airport as part of the programme's meet-and-greet service by one of our in-country team. 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.

The day after you arrive one of the in-country team will meet you at the hostel and take you 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 to an office in Tokyo which provides job assistance for participants on a Working Holiday visa.  

The following day you will have a city tour of Tokyo by bus. 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 Meiji 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) depending on the day. 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.

The Japanese Government Working Holiday office in Tokyo offers a job referral service to assist and help you find employment whilst in Japan. While the Working holiday offices have offices all over the country, only the office in Tokyo has English-speaking assistance. You will be able to apply for jobs through the office for the length of your visa. Generally it takes around 2 weeks upwards to find a job.

For your first visit to the office a member of the in-country team will accompany you and will give any help they can whilst you are registering. Following this the in-country team will be available for any questions you may have, Monday to Friday for the first 3 months of your stay in Japan.

Important note! As with any recruitment agency, it will be your responsibility to stay in regular contact with the working holdiday office in Japan regarding job opportunities; the more interest you show, the more they will know you are keen to get a job!

• 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. 

Remember that while you will be planning to work in Japan don’t forget to see this stunning country and all the great sights it has to offer.

For those who don’t want to travel too far from Tokyo why not travel to Hakone and enjoy a leisurely cruise on lake Ashi or treat yourself and relax in the numerous hot springs in the area. Depending on the time of year Mt. Fuji is a great location to either go hiking or doing a bit of skiing.

To see a traditional Japanese village travel to the stunning Takayama (which means tall mountains), set in the mountains that surround it. For another insight into traditional Japanese culture it is definitely worth a trip to Kyoto, the city of the Geisha.

To see a more of Japan’s relatively recent history make a humbling visit to Hiroshima and its Peace Museum, which is situated in the centre of Peace Park, to learn about what happened and how this city has rebuilt it’s self.

About an hour outside of Hiroshima is the mesmerising island of Miyajima and one of the most photographed sites in the country, the floating torii gate that sits in front of the Itsukushima Shrine (you have probably seen it and never known where it was).

Please note: None of the above is included in the package and is merely to give you an idea of what there is to see and do in Japan in your free time.