Teaching English in Japan

Demand for teachers in Japan is continuing to strengthen and is a highly desirable location for English teachers who are up for an amazing cultural experience. Japan is an archipelago of over 3,000 islands, providing plenty of scope for teaching opportunities, either in cities or rural areas. Most schools in Japan require a qualified person with a degree to teach, but your chances are boosted if you hold a TEFL qualification.

Before going out it is wise to be organised. Most places look to hire between February and April, according to the term times. It is possible to obtain a working holiday visa, which permits a person to be involved in teaching at all levels for 1 year or 3 years. A Certificate of Eligibility must be obtained first before applying for this visa. This process can take one to two months depending on the country of residence. It may also require that you show proof that you have sufficient banking. This is important when considering a move to Japan because the cost of living in Japan is high and you should be prepared to have enough money to tide you over in the short term. The basic salary for English teachers is 250,000 Yen ( £1,900) per month. For a basic regular apartment you could expect to pay around 80,000 Yen a month. Salaries are greater in the big cities such as Tokyo, but naturally so are the living costs and also competition for jobs.

As far as seeing the country goes, the transport links in Japan will enable you to explore the country as widely as you like. Ferries are available between the islands and a popular way to travel is on the famous bullet trains that cross the country, known locally as Shinkansen. Japan’s climate is very favourable due to its four distinct seasons. Summer time is between June and August and is overall very hot and humid, getting up to the mid thirties. In the winter time, many places experience heavy snowfall, especially locations on the east coast.