Our guide to living and working in Japan

Quick facts

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Why is there a demand for English teachers?
The Japanese economy stumbled after the devastating effects of the earthquake and tsunami in 2011.  Three of the five largest language school chains have gone bankrupt and competition for teaching roles is much higher than it once was. Nevertheless, there are still thousands of independent English schools in Tokyo, Osaka and other major cities which hire English teachers and the demand amongst the Japanese to learn English will survive no matter what. Equally, from 2013 some lessons in Japanese secondary schools are going to be taught in English which will boost the TEFL market.

How do I go about getting a job in Japan?
The norm in Japan is to wait until you are physically in the country before applying for jobs. If you base yourself outside of Tokyo, you will find it extremely easy to apply for and get jobs as Westerners are in particularly high demand. Jobs are advertised in English language newspapers and you can generally start immediately.

Where do EFL teachers live?
Most schools provide unfurnished accommodation or a living allowance for teachers. Usually you will be expected to share with other teachers, but some of the better schools provide individual accommodation.

Do I need to learn/speak Japanese? As an English teacher you are not required to speak any Japanese but for general survival you may wish to learn the basics to get around.  A small amount of effort will be all you need for shopping, ordering in restaurants etc, although you will find that any shop or restaurant frequented by tourists will have English speaking staff (to a level!), but conversational fluency will take several years to acquire. Japanese is generally considered to be one of the hardest languages to master. Having proficiency in other languages will certainly increase your chances of employment. There is currently a mini boom amongst the Japanese for learning European languages in particular French, Italian and Spanish. Another popular language to have is Chinese or Korean due to their close proximity to Japan and the financial opportunities that exist there. What is the food like? If you like food, you'll love Japan! Japanese cuisine is known for its emphasis on seasonality of food, quality of ingredients and presentation. There will be plenty of variety with sushi, tempura, noodles and rice! A filling bowl of noodles and broth costs less than £3. Anything that is Western influenced will be expensive. What will I do in the evenings, on days off or on my holidays? Once you have marked all your homework and prepared lessons for the following day, there is still time to take a walk around the town, stop at a café for a cheap and tasty meal, have a couple of beers with fellow teachers or hit the cinema or an internet café.

Most towns and cities are open for business until bedtime, so there is little chance of being bored. For sightseeing and travel on your days off there are plenty of attractions. Since transport is pretty cheap, it is possible to see the whole country at minimal cost. The range of attractions include dazzling temples and palaces, awe-inspiring World Heritage Sites, vibrant resort towns, traditional giant markets, idyllic beaches and national parks.

How much does it cost to fly to Japan from the UK?
Return fares to Tokyo from London start from around £500 in low season.The flight time is roughly 12 hours.

When is the best time to travel to Japan for English Teaching jobs?
Jobs contracts start all year round but more options will be available to you if you wish to start work in April.

Is Japan safe?
Japan is generally safe but you should always take advice from the Foreign Office website before departing. The penalties for possession of all drugs is severe.

PAID TEACHING PLACEMENTS:

For Advanced UK-TEFL graduates, see our Advanced Paid Teaching Placement in Japan.