There are many benefits to working while studying in Japan. Not only can you earn money to subsidise your school and living expenses, you can also learn things about Japan that can only be discovered outside the classroom.
In this article, we introduce all you need to know about working and studying in Japan including rules and prohibitions that you need to abide by, popular part-time jobs among international students, and how to find a part-time job in Japan.
First Published: 2022-07-01
Updated: 2024-07-16
Table of Contents
- What is Arubaito (アルバイト)? Why Work and Study in Japan?
- Popular Part-Time Jobs among International Students in Japan
- International Students Must Apply for Permission to Work
- Rules and Prohibitions on International Student Part-Time Jobs
- Find a Part-Time Job in Japan with WeXpats
Are you having any issues with job-hunting in Japan?
What is Arubaito (アルバイト)? Why Work and Study in Japan?
Arubaito (アルバイト) is Japanese for “part-time job”. The term “Arubaito” is derived from the German word for labour (or work), “Arbeit”. Another Japanese word for Arubaito is “Pa-to (パート)” that is derived from the English word “Part-Time Job”.
Legally speaking, there is no difference between these 2 terms, meaning social insurance and paid leave will not be affected. However, “Arubaito” is generally used to refer to short term part-time jobs by students, while “Pa-to” refers to long term part-time jobs by housewives (or househusbands).
Why Work and Study in Japan?
There are many good reasons to work and study in Japan, such as:
- To Support Cost to Study in Japan - Many students choose to work a part-time job to support the cost to study in Japan that can be divided into tuition fees and living expenses. According to JASSO’s “2021 Privately Financed International Students Survey”, 67% (4,908) of survey participants’ are working a part-time job in Japan.
Read more about “How much does it cost to study in Japan?” here. - For Extra Spending Money - According to JASSO’s “2021 Privately Financed International Students Survey” , the average cost of entertainment / hobbies for an international student is 5,000 Yen, and the average balance of money (free to spend) is 9,000 Yen. The more spending money you have, the more you can afford to travel, shop, and experience different parts of Japan.
- Helps Improve Japanese - Depending on the job, you may have opportunities to practise and improve your Japanese. Many foreign nationals agree that working a Japanese-speaking part-time job has contributed to the fast improvement of their Japanese speaking and listening skills.
- Exposure to Japanese Work Culture - There is no better way to experience Japanese work culture than working in Japan. It is a good opportunity to experience firsthand what it is like to work in Japan, and whether the working environment and culture here is suitable for you.
We recommend reading up on Japanese Work Culture to get an idea of what to expect.
Writer's Pick
Popular Part-Time Jobs among International Students in Japan
What type of part-time jobs are popular among international students in Japan?
According to JASSO’s “2021 Privately Financed International Students Survey”, among the participants’ who are doing part-time jobs, the most popular job is restaurant jobs (35%; 1,719 people), followed by sales jobs (30.2%; 1,484 people).
Restaurant Job (飲食業)
Restaurant includes family restaurants, cafes, and izakayas. Staff positions can be further divided into hall staff and kitchen staff.
Work Scope
Hall staff (ホールスタッフ) refers to waiter/waitressing or table service staff. Your duties will include welcoming and seating customers, taking orders, delivering orders, and cleaning up the tables. Depending on the store’s policy, you may also be tasked with handling payments (some places only let full time staff do this).
Kitchen staff (キッチンスタッフ) will help out with cooking, prepping and dish washing in the kitchen. You may also need to clean the kitchen. Interactions with customers are limited to none. In smaller scale restaurants like cafes with fewer staff, you may need to help out in the front as well.
Why this job?
Staff meals, called まかない (Makanai), are usually provided at restaurant jobs which can help save on food expenses. Additionally, restaurants are quite open to hiring international students which means fellow foreign national colleagues and plenty of job opportunities. Interacting with customers is also a great way to improve your Japanese, you’ll also get to hear some interesting stories.
Difficulties You May Face
Memorising the menu (hall staff) and recipe (kitchen staff) is a lot harder when it’s in a language and cuisine you’re not familiar with. It’ll be difficult at first but you’ll be fine when you get used to it. Another problem is Japanese, locals speak fast which means you might take the wrong order. Again, the more you listen, the better you’ll get at it. Another thing to keep in mind is stamina, you’ll be on your feet a lot or bustling around carrying plates so consider your physical abilities before applying.
Sales Job (営業・販売)
Sales positions are available at retail stores including convenience stores (konbini). Convenience store part-time jobs is one of the most popular jobs for international students and Japanese students alike.
Read more about Part-Time Konbini Jobs in Japan here.
Work Scope
Mainly cashier, product restocking, and cleaning. Other things you will need to learn include courier reception, and managing the copy machine and ticket machine.
Why this job?
Konbini frequently hires foreign nationals including international students which means you can apply to work together with a friend. Also, since konbinis are usually open 24 hours, you can work at any time that suits you best, taking into account your lessons and studies. The large number of konbinis everywhere also means you can choose to work near home or near school.
Difficulties You May Face
There’s a lot of things to learn at a konbini job which means a steeper learning curve. Additionally, you will require a certain level of Japanese as customers may ask questions. On such occasions, you can always call for your colleague to help. If you are worried about unruly drunk customers in konbini working horror stories, just avoid working late night shifts and you should be fine.
Language Jobs
Make the most of your native language abilities with part time jobs like translation, interpretation, and language teaching.
Work Scope
Translators will be translating from Japanese to another language or vice versa. You will require high proficiency levels in both languages. Books, websites, articles, manuals, etc. there are a large number of options available to you.
Read more about How to Become a Japanese Translator here.
Interpreters will be translating on-the-go to facilitate communication between people that do not share the same language. High level of language proficiency is also required, plus abilities to listen well and understand context.
Language Teachers will teach Japanese students (adults too) foreign languages. Teaching materials and lesson plans are provided which makes the job easy to get accustomed to. Japanese proficiency is also not a requirement.
Read more about How to Become an English Teacher in Japan here.
Why these jobs?
Make the most of your native language abilities. Salary is also relatively high as compared to other jobs for international students. Additionally, it does not require much physical prowess which may be more suitable for some people. Another bonus is that many of these positions offer remote work options.
Difficulties You May Face
For translators and interpreters, a high level of language proficiency is required so landing a job itself can be difficult. On the other hand, language teachers need to be able to explain things in such a way that students can understand. With limited Japanese skills, this may be difficult.
Hotel Jobs
This part-time job is recommended for international students with high Japanese proficiency. Hotel staff positions can be further divided into front desk staff, bellboy, and cleaning staff.
Read more about How to Get a Hotel Job in Japan here.
Work Scope
Front (フロント) staff refers to front desk reception. You will handle guests check-in/check-outs, phone calls, and manage room reservations.
Doorman (ドアマン) refers to bellboys or porters. You will welcome guests at the hotel’s front door, carry guest’s luggage, and guide them to their rooms. At times you will be asked questions about the hotel, about tourist destinations to visit, and how to get there.
Cleaning Staff is self-explanatory. Guest interactions are limited to none as you will be tidying up hotel rooms whilst guests are away or when they’ve checked out.
Why these jobs?
International guests are commonplace in hotels so naturally hotels need staff with foreign (not Japanese) language skills. Not only can you make use of your native language, you can also enhance your Japanese. More importantly, having work experience at a hotel highlights your Japanese proficiency in your resume for future job-searching.
Difficulties You May Face
Especially for front staff, fluent Japanese is extremely important. You need to know proper Japanese customer service, honorific language (Keigo), and correct usage of honorifics. Therefore, getting the job in itself is already difficult. Depending on the hotel and location though, foreign language may be prioritised in which case they will let it slide that your Japanese is not up to hotel levels.
International Students Must Apply for Permission to Work
The status of residence (visa type) held by international students in Japan is “留学 (Ryuugaku)” that permits residing in Japan for the sole purpose of studying. Therefore, in principle, international students cannot engage in activities that generate income, in other words working is not permitted.
If an international student wants to work part-time in Japan, he/she must apply for a “Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted Under the Status of Residence Previously Granted (資格外活動許可, Shikakugai Katsudou Kyoka)”.
How to Apply for Permission to Work Part-Time
There are 3 ways to apply for permission to engage in other activities:
- In-person at the Immigration Office - submit the relevant forms and documents
- Online Residence Application System - a My Number Card is required
- Upon Entry into Japan through Major Airports
Rules and Prohibitions on International Student Part-Time Jobs
There are restrictions on the number of hours that international students can work part-time as well as other prohibitions to abide by.
Work Not More Than 28 Hours Per Week
International students are allowed to work not more than 28 hours per week. If you have more than one part-time job, the total working hours is calculated.
Work Up to 40 Hours Per Week During School Vacation
International students are allowed to work up to 8 hours a day and not more than 40 hours per week during long school vacations, such as summer vacation and winter vacation. If you have more than one part-time job, the total working hours is calculated.
Cannot Work In Prohibited Industries
International students cannot engage in activities that violate laws and regulations, and cannot work in adult entertainment establishments. Adult entertainment establishments include host and hostess clubs, snack bars, mahjong shops, pachinko parlours, and game centres. Even if you are not involved in the main services, such as working in the kitchen, cleaning and distributing flyers, be careful as it counts as a violation of the law.
Must Be Engaged in Activities Corresponding with Current Status of Residence
International students are prohibited from taking a leave of absence from school in order to work even if you have permission to work part-time. This is because the purpose of your stay is for studies, and so your main responsibility should be studying.
In addition, after graduating or completing studies, international students are no longer able to engage in activities corresponding to their status of residence, aka “studies”. As a result, permission to work part-time also expires, so they cannot work even if they have remaining period of stay. In other words, all part-time work activities must cease when studies are completed.
Consequences of Working Illegally
If you work over the working hour limit of 28 hours, or work without permission, it is considered to be illegal work. If discovered to be working illegally, you may be subject to deportation, or employment after graduation may be affected. Foreign nationals that have been deported from Japan cannot enter the country for at least 5 years.
※ ISA, “「留学」の在留資格に係る資格外活動許可について”
Find a Part-Time Job in Japan with WeXpats
WeXpats operates a service for foreign nationals who want to work in Japan. There are jobs in a variety of industries. There are 2 services available on WeXpats - WeXpats Agent for full time jobs and WeXpats Jobs for part time jobs.
WeXpats Jobs is a part time job site for foreign nationals living in Japan. You can search for jobs in 11 languages (English, Vietnamese, Korean, Indonesian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Burmese, Thai, Spanish, Portuguese), including Japanese. Find jobs that suit you by specifying your Japanese language level, occupation, location, and etc.
※ You can register from outside Japan, but only those living in Japan can apply for jobs.
