Country guide
Teach English in Japan
JET, eikaiwa chains, and ALT positions. Pay is steady, vacation is short.
Japan's ESL market is mature and competitive. JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) is the government program and the most prestigious entry point. Eikaiwa chains like Aeon, ECC, and Gaba hire continuously and place teachers in conversation schools. ALT (Assistant Language Teacher) roles through dispatch companies put you in public schools alongside a Japanese teacher.
Salary
JET: 3.36M JPY for first year, scales up year over year. Eikaiwa: 250k to 280k JPY per month. ALT dispatch: 230k to 270k JPY per month. Cost of living outside Tokyo is reasonable.
Visa
Instructor visa or Specialist in Humanities visa. Bachelor's required. Native English speaker preference for most roles. JET requires application by November for the following August start.
Best for
Teachers committed to staying multiple years and learning Japanese. The pay does not stretch as far as Korea, but career stability and quality of life are high.
Open positions in Japan
No Japan-specific listings right now. Showing recent Asia roles below — many of these include Japan placements.
English Teacher – China | Graduate & Experienced | Visa Sponsored
China Link ESL · Manchester, Greater Manchester, GB · Contract
English Teacher – China | Graduate & Experienced | Visa Sponsored
China Link ESL · Stanley, Durham, GB · Contract
Academic Tutor – English Literature, Maths, Science and Primary Tutors in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
International Tutor Group · Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam · Full-time
Full Time Native English Teacher in Weihai, China (Aug 2026 Start)
Korean School of Weihai · China · Full-time
High-Paid Kindergarten Native Teacher: 22-25K + 50 Days Paid Vacations
Horizon Recruitment · > · Full-time
English teachers needed for kindergartens in China. Salary up to 28000RMB
Lindley Academy · China · Full-time
WANTED: Native Kindergarten English Teachers | Beijing
Beijing RZD · China · Full-time
HOT JOBS- Positions all over Korea
Embark Recruiting · > · Full-time
Common questions about teaching in Japan
JET vs eikaiwa vs ALT dispatch — which should I apply to?
JET if you can wait 9 months for a placement and want a public school role with full benefits. Eikaiwa if you want to start within 60 days and are okay with evening hours. ALT dispatch is the fallback when you are already in Japan and need work.
Can I save money teaching in Japan?
Less than in Korea or the Gulf. Most teachers cover living costs comfortably and save 30k to 80k JPY per month outside Tokyo.
Do I need Japanese language skills?
Not to teach. Daily life in major cities works fine without it. Smaller towns are harder without basic Japanese.
Other countries in Asia
Teach in South Korea
EPIK, hagwons, and university roles. E-2 visa support is standard.
Teach in China
International schools, training centers, and universities. Pay is the highest in Asia.
Teach in Vietnam
Booming demand, low cost of living, and flexible hours.
Teach in Thailand
Lifestyle-first teaching with lower pay and lots of vacation.
Teach in Taiwan
Buxiban (cram school) work plus growing public school programs.