ESL Jobs Asia

How to get an English teaching job in Japan in 2027

Published · Updated · By ESL Jobs Asia

Japan is a stable, well-organised place to teach English, but it isn't the highest-paying country in Asia, and the pay structure matters as much as the headline salary. Many of the best roles also go to people who are already in Japan. This guide sums up what we saw while checking Japan job ads for our pack, plus the official rules behind them. It's written for people planning a move in 2027.

Our numbers come from the 43 listings in our Japan pack, verified as of 2026-10-22. Job ads change fast, so treat every figure as a snapshot, not a promise. Immigration rules change too: always confirm the current requirements with your employer and the official sources linked below.

Requirements: degree, English and background checks

A bachelor's degree

In practice you need one. Almost every ad we checked asks for a bachelor's degree in any subject, because it's the usual route to a work visa. A few employers accept alternatives (one accepted an associate degree for people who already hold a visa, another accepted three years of ESL experience), but they are exceptions. For the JET Programme, US applicants must hold a bachelor's degree by 25 June 2027 (JET Program USA: eligibility).

English and nationality

Employers ask for native-level English. Several of the big ALT companies define this as about 12 years of education in English, which matches the immigration rule for foreign-language teachers at schools (see the visa section). JET recruits citizens of each participating country through that country's Japanese embassy.

A TEFL certificate

Helpful but not usually required. JET says teaching qualifications are a plus, not a requirement, and most eikaiwa and ALT ads list a TEFL as "preferred". Private schools and universities want teaching licences, a master's degree or classroom experience.

New in late 2026: background checks for work with children

Japan's Child Sexual Violence Prevention Act (Act No. 69 of 2024) comes into force on 25 December 2026. It introduces a system, often called the "Japanese DBS", for checking sex-offence records of people who work with children (Children and Families Agency: overview of the new system). Several ads we checked already ask for a criminal-record check or declaration for starts after December 2026. Expect to be asked.

Other things ads ask for

Many rural ALT posts want a driver's licence or international driving permit, and JET says participants may be required to drive for work. Some large employers have appearance rules, such as no visible tattoos.

Visa basics

Most teachers come in on one of two work statuses. Your employer usually applies for a Certificate of Eligibility for you, and you use it to get the visa at a Japanese embassy or consulate.

Both statuses are granted for 5 years, 3 years, 1 year or 3 months. About half the Japan ads we checked only take people already living in Japan with a valid work visa. If you're overseas, the employers most open to you are JET, the large ALT dispatch companies and the big eikaiwa chains. Working on a tourist visa isn't allowed.

Typical salary ranges

These are ranges stated in the ads we checked, before tax. JET's figures come from the programme itself.

Pay stated in Japan ESL job ads, verified as of 2026-10-22
Type of jobWhat the ads said
JET Programme (ALT)¥4,020,000 in year 1, rising to ¥4,140,000, ¥4,260,000 and ¥4,320,000 in years 2 to 5, as of April 2026 (JET Program USA).
ALT dispatch companiesAbout ¥200,000 to ¥250,000 per month, or ¥2.1 million to ¥3.0 million a year.
Eikaiwa and kids' schoolsAbout ¥230,000 to ¥300,000 per month (for example AEON ¥275,000; ECC ¥280,300 for 35 hours a week).
Private junior and senior high schoolsAbout ¥270,000 to ¥330,000 per month, or ¥4.0 million to ¥5.0 million a year.
University-type contract rolesAbout ¥340,000 to ¥370,000 per month in the ads we saw.
Per-lesson and part-time workAbout ¥1,200 to ¥2,200 per 40-minute lesson; ¥2,000 to ¥4,070 per hour for kids' or business classes.

Check how pay works across the year. Some ALT companies pay a reduced salary or none at all in August, when schools are closed, while others advertise 12 equal monthly payments. That difference matters more than a few thousand yen on the headline figure.

Types of jobs

  • JET Programme: a government programme placing assistant language teachers (ALTs) in public schools, employed by local boards of education. Applications are once a year.
  • ALT dispatch companies: the most common entry route. You're employed by a company and sent to public schools. Hours follow the school day.
  • Eikaiwa (private language schools): kids and adults, afternoons, evenings and weekends, hiring all year.
  • Private schools and international preschools: better pay, but they often want teaching licences and experience.
  • Universities: usually want a master's degree, publications or university teaching experience.

Cost of living and what to budget for

Japan's costs depend a lot on where you live: big-city rent is much higher than in smaller towns, where many ALT placements are. Points from the official sources and the ads we checked:

  • Deductions. Health insurance, pension and employment insurance are mandatory, and part of the cost comes out of your monthly pay (JET Program USA). Budget on take-home pay, not the gross figure.
  • JET describes its salary as sufficient to cover average living expenses, and gives at least ten days of paid leave (2027 JET Application Guidelines).
  • Housing. Free housing is rare in the Japan ads we checked. More often the employer offers "housing assistance" or a company apartment you pay rent for (AEON, for example, caps rent on its furnished apartments at ¥55,000 a month). Japanese leases can come with large move-in costs such as deposits and key money; some dispatch companies pay these for their sponsored apartments, so ask exactly what you'll pay before you arrive.
  • Commuting is usually reimbursed, fully or up to a monthly cap (often ¥30,000 to ¥35,000 in the ads we saw).
  • Getting started. Flights are usually on you (ECC was one exception, with a ¥70,000 flight stipend), and the first payday can be several weeks after you start. Bring savings.
  • Fees charged against pay. Some employers in our pack charge lesson-material fees or charge for company lodging and cars. Read the contract for any deductions.

After you land, our first-two-weeks arrival guide covers the residence card, address registration, insurance and housing deposits.

How hiring works, and when

  • April 2027 starts. Late October is peak recruiting for the Japanese school year that starts in April 2027. ALT companies, private high schools and universities were all hiring when we checked.
  • JET. For the 2027 programme, the US application deadline is 13 November 2026, interviews are in late January 2027 and most participants depart in July or August 2027 (JET Program USA: application timeline). Other countries set their own deadlines through their Japanese embassy.
  • Eikaiwa chains hire all year, and many offer November 2026 to January 2027 starts to people already in Japan.
  • The process. Online application, one or two interviews and often a demo lesson, then the Certificate of Eligibility, which can take several weeks or more. Some chains also run in-person recruiting sessions abroad. Our interview tips guide covers how to prepare.

How to spot scams and bad offers

We found no upfront-fee scams on the mainstream Japan boards this round, but we did see plenty of offers worth avoiding:

  • "Placement programs" with no named employer that accept people without degrees. Without a degree, a legal work visa is unlikely, and these programs may charge fees. A real employer doesn't charge you to get hired (FTC: Job scams).
  • Impossible numbers, such as a monthly salary in the hundreds of thousands of US dollars, or commission-style "per lesson" ranges.
  • Fees taken from your pay for materials, replacements, lodging or a car.
  • Probation pay far below the advertised salary, or August pay that quietly disappears.
  • Contact emails that don't match the advertiser's own domain.

Before you sign, find the company's real website and contact it directly, ask current teachers about hours and deductions, and get the monthly pay for every month of the year, the visa sponsor and any fees in writing.

FAQ

Do I need a degree to teach English in Japan?

In almost all cases, yes. A bachelor's degree is the usual route to the work visas teachers use, and JET requires one. A few employers accept alternatives such as several years of ESL experience, but these are exceptions.

How much do English teachers earn in Japan?

In the ads we checked in October 2026, ALT dispatch jobs paid about ¥200,000 to ¥250,000 a month, eikaiwa about ¥230,000 to ¥300,000, and private schools about ¥4 million to ¥5 million a year. JET pays ¥4.02 million in year 1 (as of April 2026).

Which visa do English teachers use in Japan?

School and ALT jobs usually use the Instructor status. Private language school (eikaiwa) jobs usually use Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services. Your employer normally applies for the Certificate of Eligibility.

When should I apply for 2027?

Now. Late October is peak hiring for April 2027 starts, and the US deadline for the 2027 JET Programme is 13 November 2026. Eikaiwa chains hire all year.

Is a TEFL certificate required?

Usually not, but it helps. JET says teaching qualifications are a plus rather than a requirement, and many eikaiwa and ALT ads list a TEFL as preferred.

Does buying a job pack guarantee a job?

No. Our packs are curated lists of public job postings with links to the originals; you apply directly to employers. We are not a recruiter, and there is no job or visa guarantee.

Sources

This guide is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Rules and job ads change; confirm details with your employer and the official sources.