Everything you need to know about Working Holiday in Japan
If you’re looking for an inexpensive option to come to Japan and stay long term, you have come to the right place! With our YOKOSO Working Holiday Japan Program you can stay in Japan for up to 2 years. You will even get a work permit to top up your travel funds working part-time while you’re here.
This article covers the following questions:
- What does a typical day during my Working Holiday look like?
- Why choose Japan as a destination for my Working Holiday?
- Who can apply for the Japanese Working Holiday Visa?
- What are common jobs for a Working Holiday in Japan?
- How much do part-time jobs in Japan pay usually?
If you already know you want to go ahead with your Working Holiday application click here to learn more about the application process.
Start your New Life with a Working Holiday in Japan
A typical day of a Working Holiday in Japan
If you decide to go ahead and spend a Working Holiday in Japan a typical day could look like this:
- 8:00 a.m.: Ohayou! Wake up and get ready for your day
- 8:30 a.m.: Have breakfast in your sharehouse and prepare a bento for lunch
- 9:00 a.m.: Get going and commute to your workplace
- 9:30 a.m.: Part-time job in a café in Shinjuku
- 4:00 p.m.: Otsukaresama-desu! After your shift you eat your bento in the picturesque park of Shinjuku-Gyoen near your café, the cherry blossoms have just started to bloom
- 4:30 p.m.: Today you are meeting your friend Yuki, she notices that your Japanese has gotten better since the last time you met, you decide to go to a nearby bookstore, you buy a children’s book to practice your Japanese
- 7:00 p.m.: After a long day you can’t wait to get home to your sharehouse and tell your friends about your day over dinner, you pick up desserts from the combini and play that card game you invented last week
- 9:00 p.m.: Time to review your Japanese lessons and vocab
- 10:00 p.m.: Prepare for the next day, you then read a few pages of your newest acquisition before going to sleep.
Working part-time gives you the opportunity to spend your free time and off-days discovering the numerous sights Japan has to offer, make friends for a lifetime and effortlessly learn Japanese on a daily basis by immersing yourself in the culture.
Embark on your next adventure with us and experience Japan like a local. We are your trustworthy partner in planning your Working Holiday in Japan. We are here to guide you through the whole process.
Here’s why Japan is the Ideal Location for your Working Holiday Experience
A Working Holiday is the perfect opportunity to get an authentic insight into the culture of a different country while learning the language through authentic input and lots of opportunities to put your acquired skills to the test.
Japan is a much beloved destination for its unique culture:
- Modernity and tradition: The ambivalence of modernity and tradition manifests itself in unexpected ways: You might find an ancient temple surrounded by spectacular skyscrapers.
- Mutual respect: Japan’s capital city is a prime example of Japanese efficiency. Maintaining order in a busy metropolis like Tokyo, that is home to over 37 Million people is only possible through the great amount of respect each individual shows towards the community.
- Stunning landscapes: Bustling cities like Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto are contrasted by the breathtaking natural scenery across the country.
- Hospitality: Japan’s incomparable hospitality is deeply rooted in the culture of omotenashi which describes the practice of wholeheartedly welcoming guests.
The ultimate way to grasp Japan’s multifaceted culture is through first-hand experience. At YOKOSO Japan, we open doors to a world full of discoveries. Join us and make the first step towards an unforgettable adventure.
The Japanese Working Holiday Visa
Working Holiday Visa Japan: How it works
The legal foundation of any Working Holiday program is a bilateral agreement between two countries, in this case between Japan and your home country. This agreement aims to establish a connection between the two countries with the purpose to foster intercultural exchange.
Are there any restrictions for the Working Holiday Visa Japan?
Unfortunately not every country has such an agreement with Japan, check the following table from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan to find out if you are from one of the lucky 30 countries, that offer a Working Holiday Program in cooperation with Japan. If your country does not show in this list you can consider using a Japanese Student Visa or J-Find Visa instead, we are happy to help you explore your other options!
List of countries that have bilateral agreements with Japan:
| Countries/regions | Year of initiation | Maximum number of visas issued per year |
|---|---|---|
| Australia | 1980 | no limit |
| New Zealand | 1985 | no limit |
| Canada | 1986 | 6,500 |
| South Korea | 1999 | 10,000 |
| France | 2000 [NB] | 1,800 |
| Germany | 2000 | no limit |
| United Kingdom | 2001 | 6,000 |
| Ireland | 2007 | 800 |
| Denmark | 2007 | no limit |
| Taiwan | 2009 | 10,000 |
| Hong Kong | 2010 | 1,500 |
| Norway | 2013 | no limit |
| Portugal | 2015 | no limit |
| Poland | 2015 | 500 |
| Slovakia | 2016 | 400 |
| Austria | 2016 | 200 |
| Hungary | 2017 | 200 |
| Spain | 2017 | 500 |
| Argentina | 2017 | From Japan to Argentina: 200 From Argentina to Japan: 400 |
| Chile | 2018 | 200 |
| Iceland | 2018 | 30 |
| Czech Republic | 2018 | 400 |
| Lithuania | 2019 | 100 |
| Sweden | 2020 | no limit |
| Estonia | 2020 | From Japan to Estonia: no limit From Estonia to Japan: 100 |
| Netherlands | 2020 | 200 |
| Uruguay | 2023 | 100 |
| Finland | 2023 | From Japan to Finland: no limit From Finland to Japan: 200 |
| Latvia | 2023 | 100 |
| Israel | 2023 | 100 |
| Luxembourg | 2024 | 200 |
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (March 2025, https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html)
The program is reserved for young people from the respective countries. It is designed to enable them to spend a longer period of time in the partner country to develop a deeper understanding for the other culture while acting as an ambassador for their own.
The above listed countries have agreements with the Japanese government, that enable citizens between 18 and 30 years (exceptions as stated below) in age to visit Japan on a Working Holiday Visa. You must be currently residing in the respective country and submit your application in person at your responsible local authority.
Citizens of Australia, Canada, South Korea and Ireland should be between 18-25 years old, at the time of application (unless the authorities decide otherwise under special circumstances), while for citizens of Iceland the upper age limit is 26 years.
Further it is required to provide proof of sufficient funds to sustain yourself during your stay in Japan. The expected amount varies by country and ranges from 1.800 up to 8.000 € (for more information refer to the information on the website of the Japanese embassy in your country).
Realistically though, we recommend you to save up a little more prior to your mobility, in case you can’t find a job immediately, or need more money due to unforeseen circumstances. With 2,500 – 4,000 € or the respective amount in your countries’ currency you should be on the safe side. You will need to present a valid passport and a return-ticket to your local authority when submitting your application.
You should be of good health and have a clear criminal record, as both can be exclusion criteria for granting you a Japanese Working Holiday Visa.
Can I use the Working Holiday Visa for Japan more than once?
Until recently for each individual citizen the Working Holiday Visa was generally issued only once in a lifetime with a validity period of one-year, the only exception being where one could not commence the mobility after the issuance of the Working Holiday Visa for Japan due to compelling reasons such as a medical emergency.
That is however, until the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan has announced recently, that for certain countries it would henceforth be possible to do two consecutive years of Working Holiday in Japan or two seperate years. This means that even if you have already completed one year of Working Holiday in Japan in the past, you might be eligible for a second year.
The following table shows the countries that allow two years of Working Holiday in Japan:
| Country | One consecutive two-year stay | Two inconsecutive one-year stays |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | yes | yes |
| United Kindom | yes | yes |
| New Zealand | no | yes |
| Denmark | no | yes |
| Austria | no | yes |
| Germany | no | yes |
| Slovakia | no | yes |
| Ireland | no | yes |
Congratulations! If you are a citizen of one of these lucky 8 countries you just hit the Jackpot and get to spend 2 years of Working Holiday in Japan. It is open to speculation if more countries are to follow in the future.
Summary: Working Holiday Visa Requirements
- Be a permanent resident and passport holder of a country that has a bilateral agreement with Japan to sponsor a Working Holiday Visa (table 1)
- Meet the age requirement at the time of Visa application (18-30 years, exceptions as stated above)
- Have not been holder of the Japanese Working Holiday Visa in the past, or have used Working Holiday Visa for 1 year max. if applicable to your country
- Provide proof of sufficient funds for the beginning of your mobility
- Cannot be accompanied by dependents or children
- Present a return-ticket at the time of visa application
- Be in good health
- Clear criminal record
How do I apply for a Working Holiday?
In order to learn more about how to apply for the Working Holiday Visa and other necessary procedures visit out Working Holiday Application section.
Where can I find more information about the type of jobs I can do on a Working Holiday?
Find out all about jobs in Japan on a Working Holiday in our Part-Time Work in Japan section.
For Further Information…
Learn more about the kind of jobs you can do on a Working Holiday
Discover the numerous sights Japan has to offer and plan your trip
Find out how to apply for the Working Holiday Visa and more…