10 Highest Paying Part-Time Jobs in Japan for International Students

Japan is a dynamic blend of tradition and innovation, providing international students with world-class education and unique cultural experiences. But, are you worried about your living expenses while studying in the Land of the Rising Sun? Then you’re at the right place. This blog will give you all the information you need. 

There are plenty of part-time jobs for students in Japan to help support living expenses, gain valuable work experience, and immerse in the local culture. Here’s a look at the 10 best part-time jobs for students in Japan. 

Quick Overview

10 highest paying part-time jobs in Japan for international students

Average part-time salary in Japan: JP¥ 800 to JP¥ 1,500 Hourly

Top companies offering part-time jobs

• 7-Eleven
• FamilyMart
• McDonald’s
• Gaba
• Cafetalk
• Starbucks
• Hilton Japan
• Prince Hotels
• IKEA
• Uber Eats

Best online sites for searching for part-time jobs:

LinkedIn, GaijinPot Jobs, Career Engine, Daijob, Indeed, Wantedly, NINJA, Career Cross

Getting a part-time job in Japan as an international student

International students can work part-time in Japan to earn money and gain valuable experience. The working hour limit is 28 hours a week during the school term and 40 hours per week during vacations. 

You must secure a special permit called “Shikakugai-katsudokyoka” other than the residence card received upon school registration. 

Part-time job rules for international students in Japan

• International students desiring to work part-time in Japan need a special permit called “Shikakugai-katsudokyoka,” which means “permission to engage in activity other than those permitted under the status of residence previously granted.”

• You must renew the “Shikakugai-katsudokyoka” when you extend your student visa. 
• Studies should not be impacted. Therefore, you can work 28 hours per week during the school term. But, during summer or winter vacation or longer breaks, this working hour limit increases to 40 hours per week. If you exceed the allowed work hours, you may have to face the consequences of getting your visa revoked or being deported. 
• You cannot work in any adult entertainment kind of job.
• The minimum wage in Japan is JP¥ 1,054 per hour which each prefecture would implement from October 2024.
• You must have a Japanese bank account to receive payments from your employers. 
• You may have to inform your school about your part-time job timings, role, and other details. This helps maintain transparency and lets things flow smoothly. 
• You may be subject to paying taxes, depending on your earnings. 

10 highest paying part-time jobs in Japan for international students

Sources: Leap Scholar

English Tutor (Average salary: JP¥ 3,500/hour)

Job Details: An English tutor helps students enhance their English language skills by providing academic support and personalised lessons. 

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 2,000 to JP¥ 4,000 per hour, depending on the city, school, experience, and qualifications

Eligibility:

English proficiency

Familiarity with the Japanese curriculum

Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Competence in curriculum planning, assessment, and evaluation

How to Apply/Find: Online job portals, local schools, college/university boards

IT Support (Average salary: JP¥ 2,400/hour)

Job Details: You will work in technology companies or startups, offering services in programming, web design, or other IT-related aspects.

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 1,800 to JP¥ 3,000 per hour, depending on location, experience, and company

Eligibility:

Knowledge of troubleshooting hardware and software issues.

Being on time and dependable is highly valued in Japanese work culture.

Internships, freelance projects, or volunteer IT support experience can suffice for entry-level roles.

How to Apply/Find: Online job portals, college/university boards, personal networking

Hotel Staff (Average salary: JP¥ 2,200/hour)

Job Details: As hotel staff, you can be appointed at the front desk, concierge, restaurant, or housekeeping teams. 

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 1,900 to JP¥ 2,500 per hour, depending on location and hotel standard

Eligibility:

Proven experience in a customer-facing environment

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Ability to handle guest inquiries or complaints effectively.

Japanese proficiency:

Basic to conversational Japanese (JLPT N4 or N3) is often sufficient for entry-level positions like housekeeping or kitchen staff.

Advanced Japanese (JLPT N2 or N1) is typically required for front desk roles or guest-facing positions.

How to Apply/Find: Online job portals, hotel magazines, university/college boards, personal networking

Research Assistant (Average salary: JP¥ 2,200/hour)

Job Details: Research assistants work at the university or college campus to analyse data, attend project meetings, conduct literature reviews and experiments, enhance reports, and submit grant applications. 

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 1,800 to JP¥ 2,600 per hour, depending on location, experience, field of study

Eligibility:

Educational qualification in the relevant field

Your field of study or expertise should align with the research area (e.g., biology, computer science, social sciences, etc.).

Interpersonal skills

Data Analysis: Familiarity with tools like Excel, R, Python, or statistical software (e.g., SPSS, Stata) is often required for quantitative research.

Lab Skills: For scientific research, experience with laboratory equipment and protocols is essential.

Literature Review: Proficiency in sourcing and summarizing academic or professional literature.

Writing Skills: Ability to draft reports, summaries, or papers in English and/or Japanese.

How to Apply/Find: Online job portals, university/college boards

Retail Assistant (Average salary: JP¥ 2,000/hour)

Job Details: You will assist customers in their purchase journey to deliver a memorable shopping experience. Your job profile will include providing product information, greeting customers, restocking shelves, maintaining cleanliness and organisation at the store, and handling transactions. 

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 1,800 to JP¥ 2,200 per hour, depending on location and retail store size

Eligibility:

Experience in a customer-facing retail environment.

Good communication and interpersonal skills with basic Japanese language proficiency.

Availability to work flexible shifts.

Point-of-Sale (POS) System: Familiarity with cash registers or POS systems (training is often provided).

Stock Management: Organizing shelves, restocking products, or managing inventory.

Merchandising: Arranging displays to attract customers (training may be offered).

How to Apply/Find: Online job portals, retail store counters, or college/university boards

Library Assistant (Average salary: JP¥ 1,800/hour)

Job Details: A library assistant organises books, assists patrons, manages checkouts, and ensures resources are available in the library.

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 1,600 to JP¥ 2,000 per hour, depending on experience and location

Eligibility:

Skills to operate the management system

How to Apply/Find: Online job portals, college/university boards, community job referrals, and personal networking.

Factory or Warehouse Work (Average salary: JP¥ 1,600/hour)

Job Details: As a worker in a factory or a warehouse, you need to work on packaging, assembly, or quality control. 

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 1,400 to JP¥ 1,800 per hour, depending on the city, factory size, etc.

Eligibility:

Flexible work shifts

Proven experience in packaging and organising

Knowledge about quality standards

Strong attention to detail and ability to work independently

How to Apply/Find: Online job portals, factories engaged in production, manufacturing, personal networking

Food Delivery Agent (Average salary: JP¥ 1,500/hour)

Job Details: As a food delivery agent, you will receive orders through an app and deliver them to a specific location. 

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 1,200 to JP¥ 1,800 per hour, depending on the city, number of orders, etc. 

Eligibility:

Time management skills

Possess a driving or motor license and smartphone

Availability to work in flexible shifts

How to Apply/Find: Online job portals

Convenience Store Staff (Average salary: JP¥ 1,200/hour)

Job Details: As a convenience store staff, you will work at the cash register or be responsible for stocking shelves and assisting customers. 

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 1,000 to JP¥ 2,400 per hour, depending on store size, location, etc.

Eligibility: 

Basic Japanese language skills

Experience in customer interaction with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

Point-of-Sale (POS) System: Familiarity with cash registers or POS systems (training is often provided).

Stock Management: Organizing shelves, restocking products, or managing inventory.

Availability to work various shifts, including weekends  and evenings

How to Apply/Find: Local stores, online job portals, social media communities

Restaurant or Cafe Staff (Average salary: JP¥ 1,000/hour)

Job Details: As a restaurant or cafe staff, your work involves serving food and drinks, interacting with customers, preparing small dishes, and cleaning. 

Expected Salary Bracket: JP¥ 800 to JP¥ 1,200 per hour, depending on restaurant type, location, etc.

Eligibility: 

Basic Japanese language skills

Food service:

• Taking orders, serving food, and handling customer payments.
• Training is usually provided for these tasks.

Kitchen work:

• Basic food preparation, cleaning, or dishwashing.
• Familiarity with kitchen equipment can be helpful.

Barista/Bartender Skills (if applicable):

• Knowledge of making beverages (e.g., coffee, cocktails) or handling a bar setup.
• Certification is not typically required but is a bonus.
• Information about food safety standards

How to Apply/Find: Local restaurants, personal networking, online job portals

Benefits of part-time jobs in Japan

• More opportunities at the workplace help improve your Japanese language skills through customer communication.
• Increased exposure to Japanese culture and social customs helps you grow your cross-cultural understanding.
• Become financially independent and reduce your financial burden by meeting your living and studying abroad expenses through Japan part-time job salary.
• Add work experience and skills to your resume to support future job hunting and career development.

Part-time jobs for students in Japan – Citywise

Types of part-time jobs in Japan for international students

• Education: Afterschool English tutor, language instructor, or library assistant in local schools and universities.

• Hospitality: Restaurant staff, including chef, dishwasher, waiter, part-time servers, hall staff, or fast food delivery agents.

• Retail: Store clerk, manager, assistant, or jobs engaged in organising, storing, and packing different items.

• Tourism: Hotel front desk staff, bed-making and cleaning staff, hotel room cleaning staff, or garbage collection staff.

• IT Support and engineering: Developers and engineers in fields like mechanical, electronics, software, or civil.

How to find part-time jobs in Japan for international students

• Online job portals: You’ll find  job opportunities on popular online job portals like GaijinPot, Career Engine, Daijob, Career Express, Indeed, NINJA, Wantedly, etc.

• Company websites: Companies like 7-Eleven, McDonald’s, Starbucks, and FamilyMart, as well as local schools, post opportunities on their official websites. Visit their Careers page to explore vacancies. 

• In-person job advertisement: Retail stores, restaurants, hotels, convenience stores, minimarkets, and similar outlets often post big posters everywhere. Keep an eye on such posters to find job vacancies in your area.  

• University/College boards: Watch your college/university notice boards to see if there are any leaflets or pamphlets for part-time openings. 

• Local networking: You can also find jobs through referrals from friends, university contacts, and acquaintances. 

Also read: Cost of living in Japan – single, family & student

Why use Instarem for international transfers?

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FAQs

Q. Can students work part-time in Japan?

Yes. Students can work part-time in Japan for up to 28 hours a week during the school term and 40 hours a week during vacations. 

Q. How much do part-time jobs pay in Japan?

The pay for part-time jobs in Japan for students varies depending on location, role, industry, experience, skills, and shifts. It ranges between JP¥ 1,000 and JP¥ 3,500.

Q. Which part-time jobs pay the most in Japan?

The highest-paying part-time jobs in Japan include English tutor or language instructor, hotel staff, retail assistant, IT support in Japan’s tech sector, convenience store staff, research assistant, etc. 

Q. What is the minimum salary in Japan?

The minimum part-time job salary in Japan is JP¥ 1,055 per hour.

Q. Is it easy to get a part-time job in Japan?

Yes. You can easily get a part-time job in Japan through the right platforms. It is advisable to learn basic Japanese language phrases. 

Q. Can I work 50 hours a week in Japan?

No. Japan’s current working hour limit is 40 hours a week during vacations and longer breaks. The working hour limit is up to 28 hours a week during the school term. 

Q. How much is a per-hour job in Japan?

The per-hour salary in Japan for students ranges between JP¥ 961 to JP¥ 1,200. Location, skills, industry, shift timings, and responsibilities influence the hourly wage. 

Q. How much is rent in Japan?

Your rental expenses in Japan will range from JP¥ 37,000 to JP¥ 60,000, depending on the apartment rented.

Other related blogs:

Australia: Part-time jobs for students in Australia

USA: Part-time jobs for students in USA

UK: Part-time jobs for students in UK

Singapore: Part-time jobs for students in Singapore

Germany: Part-time jobs for students in Germany

Ireland: Part-time jobs for students in Ireland

France: Part-time jobs for students in France

Switzerland: Part-time jobs for students in Switzerland

New Zealand: Part-time jobs for students in New Zealand

Disclaimers:

This article is intended for informational purposes only. All details are accurate at the time of publishing. Instarem has no affiliation or relationship with the products or vendors mentioned.

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@ When it comes to affordable exchange rates and fees, it’s worth noting that the cost will vary depending on how you choose to fund your transactions. Credit card funding and bank transfer fees can differ significantly. 

Note: Salary and cost of living are taken from different websites on 17th December 2024 and are subject to change.