japan's biggest job market, degree required, long commutes
the short answer
Tokyo hiring runs mainly through large eikaiwa chains, ALT dispatch companies and private schools, and almost all of them require a bachelor's degree for visa sponsorship regardless of TEFL hours. Get an accredited TEFL certificate to strengthen your application, apply months ahead of the spring hiring wave, and confirm current visa sponsorship and contract terms directly with the employer, since Tokyo pay looks higher than the regions but so does the rent.
| Degree | Required for visa sponsorship, no exceptions |
|---|---|
| TEFL hours | 120+ accredited strongly recommended |
| Visa | Instructor or specialist-in-humanities visa via employer |
| Typical pay | ¥250,000-¥350,000/month, typical eikaiwa/ALT range |
| Cost of living | Highest in Japan, especially central wards |
| Hiring season | Peaks Jan-Mar for April starts; smaller wave in autumn |
| Who this suits | Teachers who want city scale and want it in Japan specifically |
step one, always
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typical, not guaranteed
An accredited 120-hour course strengthens an eikaiwa or ALT application.
Large dispatch companies and eikaiwa chains recruit internationally well ahead of April starts.
Expect at least two rounds; some ask for a short taught demo.
Your employer files for your visa; timelines depend on the certificate of eligibility process.
Many large employers help with initial housing near your assigned schools.
The Japanese school year drives most hiring cycles.
The big eikaiwa (private conversation school) chains and ALT dispatch companies that place teachers into public schools are the main entry points, alongside smaller private kids' English schools and corporate in-house English programmes. International schools exist too but expect teaching licenses and experience, not a first-timer's CV.
New teachers rarely live in central Tokyo on eikaiwa pay — Koenji, Kichijoji and parts of Saitama or Chiba just outside the city line offer far cheaper rooms with a manageable train commute into assigned schools. A one-hour commute each way is normal here, not a red flag, because dispatch teachers are often assigned to multiple schools across a wide area.
Tokyo has more total openings and higher nominal pay, but rent eats a bigger share of that pay than in Osaka, and competition for city-centre jobs is stiffer. Osaka runs a smaller, more concentrated market where a shorter commute and lower rent can leave you with more disposable income even on similar pay.
Signing with a dispatch company without asking how many schools you'll be assigned to is a common regret — some routes mean two hours of daily travel. The other frequent mistake is judging a Tokyo salary in isolation; compare it against typical Tokyo rent for a one-room apartment before deciding it's actually a good offer.
what people actually ask
Realistically no — Japan's work-visa system requires a bachelor's degree for standard instructor and ALT sponsorship routes. There's no accredited TEFL certificate that substitutes for this legal requirement, so confirm your degree status before investing time in Tokyo-specific applications.
Many employers accept an accredited online TEFL certificate as a helpful extra rather than a strict requirement, since the degree matters more for the visa. Some programmes prefer applicants with observed teaching practice, so check each employer's current listing rather than assuming.
A 45-60 minute train commute is common, especially for ALT dispatch roles covering multiple schools. Living slightly outside central Tokyo in areas like Koenji or just over the border into Saitama often trades a longer commute for meaningfully cheaper rent.
Typical eikaiwa and ALT pay in Tokyo runs ¥250,000-¥350,000 a month before tax, though this varies by employer and experience. Treat it as a planning range only and weigh it against Tokyo's higher rent before comparing offers to other Japanese cities.
January through March is the busiest recruitment window for April starts, since that aligns with the Japanese school year. A smaller hiring wave happens before September, so apply two to three months ahead of whichever start date you're targeting.