Embarking on a journey to become a barista in Japan unveils a unique blend of tradition and innovation. From mastering the art of coffee brewing to navigating cultural nuances, this guide navigates the path for aspiring baristas, offering insights into the dynamic world of Japanese coffee culture and professional opportunities.
First Published: 2020/07/14
Updated: 2024/05/22
Table of Contents
- Coffee Shops in Japan are Increasing!
- Becoming a Barista in Japan
- Visa Options for a Barista in Japan
- Expected Salary for a Barista in Japan
- Coffee Shops in Japan: Popular and Local Coffee Shop Brands in Japan
- Find Barista Jobs & Restaurant Jobs in Japan with WeXpats
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Coffee Shops in Japan are Increasing!
Japan has a deep-rooted and rich tea culture, with tea being an integral part of daily life for many Japanese people. Traditional Japanese tea ceremonies, influenced by Zen Buddhism, emphasises the art of preparing Green tea, in particular, holds a special place in Japanese culture, and various types of green tea are widely consumed.
And yet despite the special place tea holds in the hearts of Japanese people, there is room for more. In a cultural shift, a growing fascination and love for coffee can be witnessed in the land of tea. As coffee culture in Japan gains momentum, the number of coffee shops in Japan grows. From local artisan cafes to international coffee shop chains, the rise of coffee in Japan has only just begun.
Don’t believe us? Let’s have a look at some numbers.
According to the All Japan Coffee Association’s latest statistics on the demand and supply of coffee in Japan, the consumption of coffee in Japan has been on an upward trend since 1996 but has since peaked in 2016. In 1996, a total of 411,698 tons of coffee was consumed in Japan, while in 2016, the quantity consumed had risen up to 672,883 tons. That’s an increase of over 200 thousand tons in 10 years.
Unfortunately, since 2016, the consumption of coffee in Japan has shown a downward trend, with 613,964 tons of coffee consumed in 2022 (※ As of January 2024, 2023 statistics are only available up to November.).
According to the International Coffee Organization’s latest December 2023 Coffee Report and Outlook, this downward trend is mainly attributed to Japan’s population decline. Another factor for the large drop in coffee consumption is the country’s poor economic situation, an aftermath of the Covid situation. Still, based on international consumption statistics, Japan is the leading country in the Asian market when it comes to coffee consumption, coming in as the largest consumer of coffee worldwide after Europe and America.
Furthermore, as Japan and the rest of the world recovers post-Covid, the influx of overseas tourists and increase of foreign residents in Japan will surely bring forth a new upward trend for coffee consumption in Japan. As the new year dawns upon us, we can only wait and see how things will change for coffee culture in Japan. In the meantime, us residents in Japan will be enjoying our regular cup of coffee.
※ 全日本コーヒー協会, “1 日本のコーヒー需給表” [2024.1.15] ※ International Coffee Organization, “Coffee Report and Outlook (CRO) December 2023” P.38, 39
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Becoming a Barista in Japan
With the growing number of cafes and coffee shops in Japan, more manpower, including baristas, are needed to operate establishments. This opens up many job opportunities, both part-time and full time, for foreigners and international students looking to become a barista in Japan.
So, how exactly can you become a barista in Japan?
3 Paths to Becoming a Barista in Japan
There are 3 possible ways to become a barista in Japan:
- Study Barista Course in a Japanese Vocational School : There are vocational schools in Japan that offer barista and cafe courses, some of which accept international students. Keep in mind that these courses are taught in Japanese. A high proficiency level in Japanese is required to pass the school’s entrance test. A great benefit of studying in a Japanese vocational school is the internship opportunities and after graduation employment support.
- Work Part Time at a Roastery or Coffee Shop in Japan : The idea is to receive training to become a barista while working part time. Look for coffee shops that hire people with no experience, or offer barista training while you start out as cafe staff.
- Appeal with Your Barista and Coffee Expertise : If you are already an experienced barista, use your experience to appeal to hiring coffee shops. Having barista qualifications or experience in barista competitions may improve your chances.
Japanese Proficiency
Being proficient in Japanese will be a great asset to finding a barista, or any position in Japan, as well as help you perform your job well. Depending on the coffee shop or restaurant you will be working in, you may need to interact with customers, and since you’re in Japan, expect many Japanese customers. Additionally, your colleagues and superior may be Japanese, so an important deciding factor for hiring you is smooth communication with your coworkers.
If your Japanese is not very good, there is still a chance you can find a position as a barista in Japan at coffee shops where many foreigners work so they can guide you in a language you are familiar with. Additionally, there is a higher chance of finding a position at coffee shops located in areas with large gatherings of foreign nationals that require someone who can speak English.
Either way, it does not hurt to work on your Japanese if you are planning to stay long term in Japan. It will also help you seek better employment and open up other career opportunities.
Visa Options for a Barista in Japan
In order to work as a barista in Japan, you will need to secure a status of residence that allows you to work. For barista jobs, the following visa options are available:
Working Holiday Visa
The Working Holiday Visa is a type of visa that allows youths from other countries to spend their holidays in Japan whilst engaging in employment to supplement their travel and stay funds. However, you must satisfy the conditions such as age, eligible country of origin, working holiday period, etc. to get this type of visa.
Study Abroad Visa
International students in Japan who have received permission to engage in other activities are allowed to work up to 28 hours per week, or up to 40 hours per week on long school holidays. This opens up the option of working part-time at a coffee shop to pick up barista skills while studying abroad in Japan.
Specified Skilled Worker Visa
The Specified Skilled Worker Visa was introduced to resolve Japan’s lack of manpower problem. Among the categories of industries covered, there is the Food Service Industry that includes barista and cafe services.
Expected Salary for a Barista in Japan
The salaries for baristas in Japan vary greatly by place of work. Place of employment opportunities for baristas include coffee specialty stores, privately run shops like cafes, restaurants & bars, hotels, roasteries, etc. Salaries at coffee shops run by major companies can be expected to be higher.
The annual salary for a full time barista in Japan ranges from 3 to 4.5 million Yen at major company run coffee shops, and 2.7 to 3.5 million yen at privately run establishments.
There are many part time job positions available for baristas as well, the average hourly wage for a barista in Tokyo is from 1,190 Yen an hour. Part-time salary varies greatly depending on the region.
Coffee Shops in Japan: Popular and Local Coffee Shop Brands in Japan
Let’s take a look at some popular international and local coffee shops in Japan. Who knows, you may end up finding a barista job in one of them.
Famous International Coffee Shop Brands in Japan
With the coffee culture and coffee shop industry growing in Japan, many international coffee shops have brought their business to Japan. The growing number of coffee shops also means a higher need for baristas. Have a look at what famous international coffee chains can be found in Japan.
Starbucks Japan
Starbucks opened their first Japan store in Ginza around 1996. Since then, Starbucks in Japan has grown to enormous proportions with 1,885 outlets around the country (※ As of September 2023.).
What makes Starbucks so unique in Japan is their incorporation of Japan’s unique limited time and season limited sales and marketing tactics. For example, cherry blossom-themed hot and cold drinks for spring, sweet potato frappuccinos for autumn, and more.
Starbucks Japan also provides relatively good compensation to their baristas as compared to other coffee shops in Japan owing to being operated by a major corporation. Wouldn’t it be exciting to be a part of this growing coffee shop franchise in Japan?
※ Starbucks Japan, “会社概要” [2023.09]
Blue Bottle Coffee
The Blue Bottle Coffee shop was a cafe that was established in California in the early 2000s, where they focus on brewing single-origin coffee beans, roasting small batches of coffee and selling them within a day. The first Blue Bottle Coffee in Japan was established in Kobe in 2018 and expanded to Tokyo and Kyoto. The opportunity to work as a barista here enables you to learn a new set of lucrative skills and techniques that are usually taught during extensive training.
Tully’s Coffee
Tully’s Coffee is a popular coffee shop chain in Japan that was actually initially established in Seattle, Washington in the early 1990s. Although the United States chain permanently closed in September 2018, its Japanese chain operated by, ironically, tea company Ito En, Ltd. is going strong with 757 coffee shops as of January 2023, making it the 4th largest coffee shop brand in Japan.
※ Statista, “Number of stores of leading coffee shop brands in Japan as of January 2023”
Popular Japanese Coffee Shop Brands in Japan
Doutor Coffee
The leading Japanese coffee brand, it is only second to Starbucks Japan when it comes to number of stores with 1,277 coffee shops in Japan (※ As of December 2023.), This total includes not just Doutor Coffee shops, but also Doutor Group operated Excelsior Cafe and others, inclusive of directly managed and franchise stores.
※ Doutor, “ドトールグループ総店舗数” [2023.12]
Komeda’s Coffee
Komeda’s Coffee is a Japanese coffee shop chain that first started in Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture. As such, one of the coffee shop’s staple menu items is Nagoya’s specialty Ogura Toast (Red Bean Toast), as well as other red bean inspired drinks like red bean coffee and red bean milk tea!
The coffee shop’s unique ambiance and atmosphere also resembles Japanese-style coffee shops called Kissaten which makes it a comfortable and nostalgic stay for many local customers. Komeda’s Coffee is the 3rd largest coffee shop brand in Japan with 968 coffee shops nationwide (※ As of February 2023.).
※ Komeda’s Coffee, “会社概要” [2023.02]
Ueshima Coffee
Ueshima Coffee is operated by coffee brand UCC that first started out in Kobe as Ueshima Tadao Shoten by Tadao Ueshima who is known as “The Father of Coffee” in Japan. Ueshima Coffee does not have many outlets in Japan, only 91, but it is highly favoured by coffee lovers for its excellent brew. Ueshima Coffee outlets have a classy ambiance.
※ Ueshima Coffee
Find Barista & Restaurant Jobs in Japan
WeXpats operates a service for foreign nationals who want to work in Japan. There are jobs in a variety of industries including chef, barista and waiting staff positions. There are 2 services available on WeXpats - WeXpats Agent for full time jobs and WeXpats Jobs for part time jobs.
Looking for a Full Time Position? Leave it to WeXpats Agent!
WeXpats Agent is a career support service that specialises in employment for foreign nationals living in Japan.
Recruitment agencies in Japan are a service where dedicated career advisors will assist you with your job hunt for free. In addition to introducing open positions, we also provide support to help you create your Japanese resume and practice for interviews. Worried about job hunting in Japanese? We are here for you.
Features of WeXpats Agent
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We have many job openings that are a good fit for foreign nationals to work in, such as translation, interpretation, inbound, etc. jobs that make use of your language skills, as well as engineering etc. jobs that do not require Japanese skills.
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Our career advisors support and help you prepare your resume and practice job interviews with you. Clearly communicate your strengths to the hiring company.
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We will handle communication with companies on your behalf, such as arranging interview dates and negotiating conditions. And thereby reducing your stress and time spent.
Finding a Part Time Job? Browse on WeXpats 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.
