As some—but not all—of you know, I got into travel blogging indirectly. About 16 years ago, you see, I got a job teaching English in Asia.
The bad news? I’m not a teacher by trade, and while I enjoyed some aspects of the job, I knew from the beginning that it wouldn’t become my career. The good news? The perks of being an ESL teacher—high income compared to local cost of living; networking with other expats—allowed me to pivot into online content writing quickly and easily.
Whether you see teaching English in Japan as an end-all, be-all, or simply as a stepping stone to something else, you’ll want to continue reading.
Has Japan’s TEFL Star Dimmed?
Although there are still plenty of Japan TEFL jobs posted, the reality is that other countries (such as Korea and China, where I taught) tend to be more appealing. This is first and foremost because of the sheer number of job postings. Korea in particular has high demand for English teachers, with positions available at both private and public schools all over the country.
On the other hand, as you’ll see when you browse certified teaching positions in Japan, there are still plenty of positions available, and at a variety of institutions. The key is finding a job whose salary matches both your experience and the relatively high cost of living in Japan. Be mindful of the current exchange rate, and don’t be shy to try to negotiate if you’re a highly credentialed teacher, or if you’ve been teaching for many years.
All the Ways to Teach English in Japan
Apply for the JET Program
Facilitated by the Japanese government, the JET Program is the most official way to become an English teacher in Japan. It also effectively guarantees long-term placement as an ALT (assistant language teacher) in the Japanese public school system, and a stable salary. On the downside, it requires the most paperwork and advance preparation. In general, you’ll need to apply at least a year (sometimes two) before you plan to start working.
Get a job at an Eikaiwa (private English schools)
A more flexible route to finding English jobs in Japan is to work at an Eikaiwa (literally, “English conversation”) school. While this can be a better option for people who want to start work quickly and without a lot of complication, there are also some drawbacks. Many Eikaiwa offer lower salaries than public schools; your work environment may or may not be professional. Additionally, they sometimes close without warning, leaving you jobless.
Teach at an international school
If you’re an accredited teacher in your home country and don’t (necessarily) just want to teach English, working as a teacher at an international school can be an amazing option. Salaries here are generally much higher than teaching ESL; since you apply in your home country, the school will take care of most paperwork for you. The downside is that these jobs tend to be much harder to get, with much stiffer competition.
Teach online English lessons
The good news? You can teach English to Japanese students online, without even needing to be in Japan. The bad news? This won’t afford you the ability to reside in Japan legally, nor to be able to explore destinations off the beaten path in Japan on the weekend when you aren’t working. This might be a good option to consider while waiting for your JET application to be approved.
Become a private English tutor
Last but not least is the option to become a private English tutor in Japan. This can be extremely lucrative—you can effectively name your own price, which you can bill directly to the student or their family, in some cases. However, it also requires a lot of legal maneuvering. You’ll either need to incorporate your own company in Japan, or become “employed” by a tutoring agency, which could see a certain amount of your income given away.
legally in Japan can be nothing short of overwhelming.
Is Teaching English in Japan Worth It?
On one hand, as I explained earlier, Japan has several downsides compared to other ESL countries. Salaries tend to be low compared to the cost of living, for starters. Secondly, even if you teach at a private Eikaiwa institution and avoid the lengthy JET Program application process, the everyday bureaucracy required to reside legally in Japan can be nothing short of overwhelming.
Then again, becoming an ESL teacher in Japan is nonetheless one of the lowest-friction ways to live in Japan medium- or long-term. Some people who do it simply love Japan and want to stay there for years, while others have other sources of income to augment even the lowest salaries. For them, higher pay and easier expatriation to China or Korea isn’t worth it—they just want to be in Japan.
Other FAQ About Teaching English in Japan
Are English teachers in demand in Japan?
English teachers are in medium demand in Japan. On one hand, Japan’s population continues to fall, so there are simply fewer children who need education. On the other hand, growth in Japan’s tourism industry shows no signs of stopping, meaning that people all around the country require at least some proficiency in English.
How much can you make teaching English in Japan?
As a general rule, you can expect to make anywhere between 1,700-5,000 USD per month as an English teacher in Japan, as of 2025. Keep in mind, however, that your salary (represented in USD) will fluctuate with the exchange rate. Additionally, higher salaries in major cities like Tokyo will seem like less because of a higher corresponding cost of living.
Can you live comfortably as an English teacher in Japan?
If you choose a sensible living situation and budget your money carefully, you can definitely live comfortably as an English teacher in Japan. Some will use their disposable income to travel in Japan or around Asia, while others will use it to pay off student loans or other debt. However, you likely won’t have as much money leftover every month as English teachers in China or Korea.
The Bottom Line
Teaching English in Japan could be a great opportunity for you, whether you simply want to live in Tokyo for a while, or want to leverage the gig as a springboard into something bigger. Likewise, you have options as to what shape your job takes. If you don’t go the “official” route of enrolling in the JET Program, you could simply seek private employment at an Eikaiwa (literally “English conversation”) school. Or, if you’re a professional teacher accredited in your own country, you could work at an international school in Japan. The optios are nearly as limitless as the number of destinations in Japan!
