Thinking about working in Japan but worried about your Japanese skills?
Good news: There are jobs available for English speakers, even if you can’t speak much Japanese!

Here’s a realistic guide to jobs you can get in Japan with little or no Japanese ability.


✅ 1. English Teacher (Most Common)

Teaching English is the most common job for foreigners who can’t speak Japanese.

Typical Jobs:

  • ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) in public schools (through programs like JET or dispatch companies)
  • Eikaiwa (English conversation school) teacher for kids or adults
  • Private tutoring

Requirements:

  • Native-level English
  • Bachelor’s degree (required for visa)
  • Friendly personality

Salary:

  • ¥220,000 to ¥300,000 per month ($1,500–$2,000 USD)
  • Higher salaries possible with experience or private lessons

Pros:

  • Easy to get hired from abroad
  • Visa sponsorship common
  • Good way to experience Japanese culture

Cons:

  • Can be tiring work
  • Long hours at some companies
  • Little career growth if you don’t study Japanese

✅ 2. Hotel & Hospitality Jobs (Tourism Sector)

Many hotels, ryokan (traditional inns), and guesthouses hire foreigners for customer service.

Typical Jobs:

  • Front desk
  • Guest services
  • Cleaning staff (sometimes)
  • Tour guides in English

Requirements:

  • Conversational English
  • Hospitality experience preferred
  • Visa (some offer visa sponsorship)

Salary:

  • ¥200,000 to ¥280,000 per month ($1,400–$1,900 USD)

Pros:

  • Work in famous tourist areas
  • Chance to meet people from around the world

Cons:

  • Shift work (including nights, weekends)
  • Some jobs require basic Japanese for emergencies

✅ 3. IT & Tech Jobs

Japan’s tech industry needs skilled workers—and many companies hire English speakers.

Typical Jobs:

  • Software developer
  • Web developer
  • Systems engineer
  • Data analyst

Requirements:

  • IT skills (programming, software, etc.)
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Japanese optional at some companies (especially startups or foreign firms)

Salary:

  • ¥4,000,000 to ¥8,000,000 per year ($28,000–$55,000 USD+)

Pros:

  • High salaries
  • Growing industry
  • English-speaking environments available

Cons:

  • Hard to enter without experience or strong skills
  • Visa paperwork can be complicated

✅ 4. Restaurant & Bar Work (Limited Options)

Some foreign-friendly restaurants, bars, and cafes hire English-speaking staff—especially in tourist areas.

Typical Jobs:

  • Bartender
  • Waiter/Waitress
  • Kitchen staff

Requirements:

  • Basic hospitality skills
  • Visa (many places cannot sponsor visas)
  • Often need working holiday visa or student visa with work permission

Salary:

  • ¥1,100 to ¥1,500 per hour ($7.50–$10.50 USD/hour)

Pros:

  • Easy to find in touristy places like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto
  • Flexible hours
  • Good for socializing

Cons:

  • Hard to get full-time visa from these jobs
  • Physically demanding work
  • Unstable income

✅ 5. Online Jobs / Remote Work

If you can’t speak Japanese and don’t need a company visa, you can also work online.

Typical Jobs:

  • Freelance writing, editing, or design
  • Online English teaching
  • Remote IT jobs
  • Translation (if you learn some Japanese later)

Requirements:

  • Your own visa (student, spouse, or permanent resident) or remote work contract from abroad

Pros:

  • Freedom to work anywhere in Japan
  • No Japanese required

Cons:

  • No visa sponsorship
  • You must find your own clients or jobs

✅ Other Possible Jobs (Rare but Available)

Job TypeNotes
Modeling / ActingOften doesn’t need Japanese, but unstable
Warehouse StaffPhysical labor, some hire foreigners with low Japanese
Factory WorkSome hire foreigners for simple tasks (with restrictions)

✅ Visa Types for Working

Visa TypeJobs Allowed
Instructor / Specialist in Humanities / International ServicesTeaching, translation, IT, marketing, etc.
Skilled LaborCertain technical jobs (cooking, factory work)
Working Holiday VisaTemporary, for people under 30 from certain countries
Student Visa (With Permission)Part-time work (up to 28 hours per week)
Spouse VisaCan work freely in any job

✅ Tips for Finding English-Speaking Jobs in Japan

  1. Use English job sites:
  2. Prepare a good resume in English and Japanese (if possible).
  3. Network with others in Japan—many jobs are found through connections.
  4. Be flexible: You may need to start with part-time or lower-paid work.

✅ Final Thoughts:

Yes, it’s possible to work in Japan without speaking Japanese—but your job options will be limited at first.

If you’re serious about living in Japan long-term:

  • Start learning Japanese now.
  • Try teaching English or working in tourism as a starting point.
  • Look into IT or remote work if you have special skills.

With patience and effort, you can build a career here—even as an English speaker.