Finding Art Teacher Jobs in Japan

WeXpats
2023/09/08

Interested in becoming an art teacher in Japan? A rather niche career in Japan, we introduce where to find art teaching opportunities in Japan, what the job requirements are, and how much you can earn. 

First Published: 2021-01-14
Updated: 2023-09-08


Table of Contents 

  1. Where to Find Art Teacher Jobs in Japan
  2. Art Teacher Job Requirements in Japan
  3. Art Teacher Salary in Japan
  4. Other Popular Jobs for English Speakers in Japan 
  5. Find a Teaching Job via WeXpats

In Japan, art education starts early in nursery schools where young children engage in singing, dancing, and arts & crafts. Art education continues in elementary, junior high, and high school with several hours a week dedicated to arts and crafts, fine arts, and other creative endeavours like music. 

From this, it sounds like there are many job opportunities for those seeking to become an art teacher in Japan. However, the reality is that many Japanese public schools favour hiring local Japanese teachers who are familiar with the Japanese curriculum. Even so, with the increase of international institutions and the growing recognition of English as an important second language, there are still opportunities for foreign nationals to become art teachers in Japan provided you know where to look. 

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Where to Find Art Teacher Jobs in Japan

Art Teacher Jobs in Japan can be found at:

  • Public Schools
  • International Schools
  • Universities
  • Art Preparatory Schools (aka Cram Schools)
  • Pre-Schools (Kindergarten & Nursery Schools)
  • Art Class Providers

These may be full-time or part-time positions. As previously mentioned, public schools and art preparatory schools tend to favour local teachers because classes are conducted in Japanese and they are more familiar with the local curriculum. 

For foreign nationals aiming to become an art teacher in Japan, there are better opportunities at international schools, universities, and preschools where art classes are conducted in English. Some schools like Shinagawa International School offer art teacher opportunities from kindergarten to high school level, and other prestigious universities like Waseda University may offer full time teaching jobs in a related field. 

If you have difficulty finding an art teaching job in Japan, many pre-schools (kindergarten & nursery schools) are looking for English teachers who will also conduct art, craft, drama, music, or dance classes. This is something you can consider - teaching English and art in tandem. 

Art Teacher Job Requirements in Japan

Each school will have their own set of hiring requirements, but these are the general requirements to become an art teacher in Japan.

Teaching Credentials & Experience

A Bachelor’s Degree in Art and at least 2 years teaching experience is usually required for art teacher positions in Japan. However, if you are happy to teach art on the side, then pre-school English teaching jobs will instead require English teaching credentials, or simply native level English proficiency, depending on the school. 

Language Skills

The ability to communicate in Japanese is necessary in many cases, as there is a high chance you will be working with Japanese colleagues. What level of Japanese is required depends entirely on your workplace. For example, a higher level of Japanese (eg. native or close to native level) is necessary at public schools, while intermediate level of Japanese (eg. N3 to N2 level) is sufficient for international schools where English is used more. 

Needless to say, if you opt for the pre-school English teaching with art teaching on the side job, your English must be native level. 

Art Teacher Salary in Japan

For art teachers in Japan, salary greatly differs based on what type of institution you are working at, and your experience. 

For example, full-time teachers in nursery schools have an average salary of 4 million yen per year, full-time teachers in public schools have an average salary of 7 million yen per year, and full-time teachers in universities have an average salary of 10 million yen per year. 

Other Popular Jobs for English Speakers in Japan 

If you are looking for other English-speaking jobs in Japan, there are plenty. For example,

Find a Teaching Job via WeXpats

WeXpats Jobs is a job site for foreign nationals who want to work in Japan. There are jobs in a variety of industries, and you can search for jobs by Japanese level.

You can search for jobs in 11 languages (English, Vietnamese, Korean, Indonesian, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Burmese, Thai, Spanish, Portuguese), including Japanese. There are 2 patterns for finding jobs: 

① Search Jobs Yourself 

Find jobs that suit you by specifying your Japanese language level, occupation, location, and etc. 

② Receive Job Offers from Companies

Complete the short questionnaire to receive updates about jobs that match your desired work conditions. It’s completely free to use, so register as a member using the button below to find a job that suits you! 

https://we-xpats.com/en/job/lp/002ba/part-time?mid=432

※ You can register from outside Japan, but only those living in Japan can apply for jobs.

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