How to Apply for English Teaching Jobs in Japan: The Complete Guide

Japan is one of the top choices for English teachers worldwide. There are over 18,000 Assistant Language Teachers in public schools, a wide network of private conversation schools, and a growing international school sector. This large, diverse market is more accessible than you might expect if you know where to look. This guide shows the main pathways, key employers and job boards, and the practical steps you need for a strong application.

Before you start applying, it’s useful to know how English teaching jobs in Japan are organised. Four main sectors shape the market, each with its own employers, pay levels, and application processes. Which path fits best depends on your background and goals.

In public schools, ALT roles involve working as an Assistant Language Teacher alongside Japanese Teachers of English (JTEs) in elementary, junior high, or high schools. You can apply through the government’s JET Program or through a private dispatch company that works with local Boards of Education. JET places you directly with a Board of Education, while dispatch companies employ you through a private firm. Your choice depends on whether you prefer a direct government program or a private company as your employer.

Eikaiwa, or private conversation schools, are commercial language schools that teach students of all ages, including children, adults, and business professionals, outside regular school hours. Major national chains hire thousands of foreign teachers, handle visa sponsorship, and offer an entry route that differs from that for public school teaching.

International schools use Western curricula such as IB, IGCSE, American, or British systems, and they require a formal teaching qualification from your home country. These jobs pay much more, but competition is tough, so this pathway differs sharply from ALT or eikaiwa roles.

University and college teaching jobs are the most academically demanding. They usually require at least a master’s degree, and tenured positions often need published research. These roles form a separate pathway with the best working conditions, including shorter teaching hours, long holidays, and real job security.

Most newcomers start as ALTs or in eikaiwa schools. Both are easy to apply for from overseas, though the employers and application processes differ. Most employers handle the visa process for you, making these the simplest ways to get started.

The Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme is the benchmark for ALT work in Japan. Run jointly by several Japanese government ministries, it is the most prestigious and best-paid public school placement available to foreign teachers.

In 2025, JET employed 5,933 participants from 54 countries. JET ALTs earn approximately ¥280,000–¥396,000 per month on a sliding scale based on years of service, placing annual earnings at roughly ¥3.36–3.96 million — significantly more than dispatch ALT equivalents. The programme also covers the cost of your flight to Japan, provides comprehensive orientation and training, enrolls you in social insurance, and offers paid leave. Participants are placed directly with a Board of Education rather than through a commercial intermediary, resulting in greater job stability and more substantive engagement with local communities.

The main downside is that JET is selective and the process takes time. Applications open in late October or November, and in-person interviews are held at your country’s Japanese embassy or consulate in January or February. Results come out in March or April, and placements start in July or August. Because the process is long, you should plan 9 to 12 months.

Apply at: the Japanese embassy or consulate in your country. The main information hub is the official JET website at www.jetprogramme.org.

Dispatch companies (hakengaisha) are private firms contracted by local Boards of Education to supply, train, and manage ALTs. They are the most common entry route into public school teaching: a 2023 MEXT survey found that dispatched ALTs represented 34% of all ALT placements nationwide, making this a separate path from applying directly through JET.

Compared to JET, dispatch companies offer faster hiring and more openings. They recruit all year, interviews are usually by video call, and you might get an offer within weeks. The main downsides are lower pay—dispatched ALTs earned about ¥2.47 million per year in 2023, while JET ALTs earned ¥3.75 million—and less secure contracts, which are often renewed yearly and may have unpaid breaks during school holidays.

Jobs in Japan: Teaching English in Japan: Schools, Salary, and Job Types

Interac is Japan’s largest private ALT provider, placing teachers in public elementary and junior high schools nationwide. They also offer pre-departure online training, in-person orientation, visa sponsorship, and a partnership with an e-learning provider for discounted Japanese lessons. As of April 2025, employers also pay the larger share of social insurance contributions. Interac accepts applications from overseas and is well-suited to first-time teachers wanting a structured entry. Apply here

Altia Central specializes in placements across western and central Japan, with a prominent presence in the Nagoya and Hiroshima areas. The company is highly regarded for teacher support and professional working conditions. Apply here

Borderlink is known for a fast hiring process and active teacher development programmes. A good option if you want to start as quickly as possible. Apply here

Heart Corporation focuses mainly on rural and suburban school placements. The application process is simple, rendering it a practical first step for teachers who are flexible about location. Apply here

Joytalk and RCS Corporation are smaller but reputable dispatch operators with strong regional networks, particularly useful for mid-year applications when larger companies may have filled their cohorts.

The main hiring periods for dispatch ALT jobs match Japan’s school calendar: January to March for April starts, and June to September for autumn starts. Still, since dispatch companies hire all year, you can often find openings at other times. Keep this timing in mind as you consider other options.

Eikaiwa schools are businesses so that you can expect evening and weekend hours, customer service duties along with teaching, and a fast-paced work environment. In return, they recruit all year, are often located in city centers, and offer one of the easiest visa sponsorship routes. Most big chains hire overseas through their own websites and don’t require prior teaching experience, though having a TEFL/TESOL certificate or a customer service background will help your application.

is one of the most recognisable names in Japanese ELT, with hundreds of branches nationwide. NOVA offers both face-to-face and online lesson formats. It is a high-volume employer with rolling vacancies.

Operates over 300 schools focused on adult learners, including business professionals and exam candidates. It has a reputation for professionalism and teacher development. Pay is approximately ¥275,000 per month; subsidized housing costs approximately ¥55,000 per month. AEON interviews candidates both overseas and in Japan. Apply here

Runs programmes for both children (from 18 months) and adults, with a 35-hour working week and pay of around ¥270,000 per month on a one-year renewable contract. ECC actively recruits overseas, travelling to the US, Canada, Australia, and the UK for recruitment days several times a year. Apply here

Specialises in one-to-one lessons for adults and gives instructors a lot of flexibility. They usually recruit twice a year, in spring and autumn. The application process includes an online form, a phone interview, and then an in-person or online interview or seminar day for shortlisted candidates. Apply here

Serves the premium end of the market, with a strong focus on business English for corporate clients. Requirements include a bachelor’s degree and native-level or near-native English proficiency. Both domestic and overseas hiring routes are available. Apply here

(a division of AEON focused on children) Operates more than 80 branches, teaching students aged 6 months to 15 years.

Beyond applying directly to employers, several job boards aggregate English teaching vacancies across all sectors, giving you another route into the market. If you want a broader search, these platforms are worth checking as well. Use them to widen your search and compare openings across employers.

(jobsinjapan.com)is the leading English-language job platform in Japan, covering eikaiwa instructor roles, ALT positions, and occasional international school vacancies. Its filtering tools let you search by region, job type, and visa status. Both major chains and small independent schools advertise here. It covers a wide range of English-friendly roles and regularly features openings at smaller eikaiwa, ALT companies, and private schools.

(jobs.gaijinpot.com)covers a wide range of English-friendly roles and regularly features openings at smaller eikaiwa, ALT companies, and private schools. It’s a useful secondary source alongside Jobs in Japan.

(ohayosensei.com) is a long-established bi-weekly newsletter and website dedicated entirely to teaching jobs in Japan. Position listings are free for schools and institutions, making it a real cross-sector resource with direct listings from universities, language schools, and international schools alongside ALT roles. Particularly strong for university and professional-level positions.

(jalt-publications.org/tlt/departments/career-development-corner/jobs) is managed by the Japan Association for Language Teaching, the main professional group for English language teachers in Japan. It lists more university and academic jobs than general job boards and follows progressive, non-discriminatory advertising standards. For example, it asks for “native-level English proficiency” instead of “native English speaker” in all postings. It’s a must-read for anyone aiming for higher education roles.

(senseijob.com) is a newer dedicated platform with a strong focus on ALT and eikaiwa roles. It runs a regularly updated job board alongside useful editorial content, including company-specific application guides, salary breakdowns, and a YouTube channel featuring interviews with working teachers.

(educareer.jp) Focuses on positions at private schools across Japan and maintains an active job board for full-time and part-time openings in all prefectures.

(teast.co/jobs/japan) aggregates ESL, TEFL, and subject-teaching jobs at public, private, and international schools, with new listings added daily.

(seriousteachers.com) is an international platform with a dedicated Japan section covering everything from nursery school roles in Hiroshima to specialist academy positions.

For international school and university roles, direct applications to the institution are usually the most effective route. These positions are rarely filled through general job boards; most are advertised through JALT, O-Hayo Sensei, and professional networks including LinkedIn.

International schools in Japan — including the British School in Tokyo, Canadian Academy, Yokohama International School, and others — require a recognized teaching qualification (QTS, state certification, or equivalent) from your home country and usually at least two years of classroom experience. Salaries range from ¥250,000 to ¥600,000 per month, with some experienced international school teachers earning over ¥10 million annually in senior or leadership roles.

For university lecturer positions, the standard entry point is a relevant master’s degree plus some published work or conference presentations. Tenured or associate professor roles typically require a PhD. Japan-based networks such as JALT and expat faculty LinkedIn groups are important for finding openings before they are formally advertised.

Regardless of the route, a few fundamentals apply across the board.

Your core documents are a university degree certificate (mandatory for any work visa), a current CV or résumé, and a cover letter. For Japan-based applications, format your CV cleanly and concisely — Japanese employers value clarity and professionalism. If applying to an international school or university, you will typically also need reference letters and, in some cases, a teaching portfolio or sample lesson plan.

TEFL/TESOL certification is not legally required for most ALT or eikaiwa roles, but it is a genuine differentiator. Employers report that certified applicants are hired faster, placed in better positions, and often start on higher pay bands. A CELTA from Cambridge or a recognized online TEFL course of 120 hours or more are the most respected credentials.

Your employer handles visa sponsorship in virtually all salaried teaching positions. Most teachers enter on either an Instructor Visa (for school-based ALT roles) or a Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa (for eikaiwa and other private school roles). Both require at minimum a bachelor’s degree. The Certificate of Eligibility (CoE) process normally takes 6–12 weeks, so factor this into your timeline.

Jobs in Japan: Japanese Visa Types: A Guide for Foreigners

Peak recruitment for public school positions runs January–March (for an April start) and June–September (for an autumn start). Eikaiwa schools hire year-round given consistently high turnover. The JET Programme runs to its own fixed annual calendar with a single intake in July–August.

Jobs in Japan: Hiring Season in Japan – When is it and what to do

Interview format varies by employer. JET conducts formal in-person interviews at Japanese embassies. Dispatch companies typically interview via video call. Eikaiwa chains may use a two-stage process combining an online screening with an in-person or video seminar day. Across all formats, interviewers consistently look for authentic enthusiasm for living in Japan, cultural adaptability, and the ability to communicate clearly and energetically in front of a class.

JET Programme	Public school ALT	Yes	jetprogramme.org
Interac	ALT dispatch	Yes	interacnetwork.com
Altia Central	ALT dispatch	Yes	altiacentral.com
Borderlink	ALT dispatch	Yes	borderlink.co.jp
Heart Corporation	ALT dispatch	Yes	heartcorp.co.jp
NOVA	Eikaiwa	Yes	teachinnova.com
AEON	Eikaiwa	Yes	aeonet.com
ECC	Eikaiwa	Yes	ecc.co.jp/english
Gaba	Eikaiwa (1:1)	Yes	gaba.co.jp/instructor
Berlitz	Eikaiwa / Business	Yes	berlitz.co.jp
GaijinPot Jobs	Job board	Yes	jobs.gaijinpot.com
O-Hayo Sensei	Job board / newsletter	Yes	ohayosensei.com
JALT Job Board	Academic / professional	Yes	jalt-publications.org
SenseiJob	ALT / eikaiwa board	Yes	senseijob.com
Jobs in Japan	Job board	Yes	jobsinjapan.com
Teach Away	Recruitment agency	Yes	teachaway.com
EduCareer	Private schools	Yes	educareer.jp
TEAST	All sectors	Yes	teast.co

The wide range of English teaching jobs in Japan means there is a path for almost every teacher, whether you’re a recent graduate with a degree and TEFL certificate or an experienced professional aiming for a university position. The most important thing is to match your expectations, qualifications, and timeline to the right type of employer from the beginning.

If you’re applying from overseas and want the best mix of pay, benefits, and cultural experience, aim for the JET Programme and start your application in October or November. If you need to start sooner or missed the JET deadline, Interac and other major dispatch companies are good alternatives. For urban jobs with flexible hours and adult students, Berlitz or Gaba are great places to begin. No matter where you are in your search, keep Jobs in Japan bookmarked. It’s still one of the most reliable and thorough job boards in the field.