Part-time jobs in Japan - Merits and Demerits

Can I save money while studying in Japan? Merits and Demerits of Part-time jobs.


Summary

Are you worried about living costs when studying abroad in Japan? What about finding part-time jobs?
Have you wondered what kinds of jobs are available?

This article discusses part-time job opportunities after you secure your student visa!


Agenda

  1. Can you work part-time as a study abroad student in Japan?
  2. How much can you earn as a part-time worker each month?
  3. What kind of jobs are available for study abroad students?
  4. Pros and cons of working part-time


1.Can you work part-time as a study abroad student in Japan?

The short answer is: Yes. When you study in Japan under a student visa, you are permitted to work for up to 28 hours each week. During extended breaks like those during the summer, you may work for up to 40 hours per week.


On average, that equals around 4 hours per day on weekdays when you have class and 6 hours per day on the weekends. It might be difficult to manage working and studying at the same time immediately after arriving, so we recommend giving it some time before you increase your work hours.

2.How much can you earn as a part-time worker each month?

Let’s look at Tokyo as an example.
The minimum wage in Tokyo is JPY 1,041円*, so you can earn around JPY 12,500 per month if you work 28 hours a week. Furthermore, working after 22:00 will increase the minimum wage by 25% to JPY 1,267. *As of February 2022,


Check out the following articles costs associated with living in Japan.
Food:How much does it cost to study abroad in Japan?①Food
Rent:How much does it cost to study abroad in Japan? ②Rent


If you work for the maximum 28 hours permitted each week, you can even save up!

3.What kind of jobs are available for study abroad students?

You might think that working in Japan is impossible if you can’t speak Japanese, but that’s not true.
Sorting jobs for shipping companies and packaging food and beverage don’t require Japanese language skills.
When your Japanese language abilities increase, you can work in the kitchen at restaurants and pubs and event at convenience stores. If you pass the JLPT N2 or above, you can even work as a waiting staff at restaurants. Some study abroad students choose to teach English to children without using Japanese or use their native language skills and work at hotels.


I myself worked part-time at a sushi restaurant during college, and worked with students from China, Nepal, and Myanmar.

As a side-note, Japan is facing a huge labor shortage, so many places are in desperate need of labor. In other words, many places are eager to hire students like you! In the future, there might be more jobs available to study abroad students in the future.


4.Pros and cons of working part-time

There are many benefits of working part-time. Here’s our top 3!

  1. Your Japanese language skills will improve!
  2. You can earn money!
  3. You’ll make friends!

Aside from earning money, you’ll be able to learn common phrases they don’t teach you at school. You’ll even be able to learn specialized terms used in the particular industry. You’ll also make Japanese friends and get along with other study abroad students. Learning Japanese and making friends as you work will surely make your study abroad experience much more fun.

The downside to working part-time is that if you work too hard, you’ll get sick and have trouble keeping up with schoolwork. As mentioned above, your pay will increase after 22:00, so in theory, while you can earn more by working the late shifts at convenience stores and restaurants, if you get sick and are unable to keep up with schoolwork, it’ll mean nothing.
Prioritize schoolwork and be sure your work hours are manageable.


Connect Study ABROAD provides useful information regarding studying abroad in Japan. Stay tuned for more information on working part-time in Japan!