Visas Obtaining a working visa to teach in Japan is generally available to English speakers with a valid college diploma in any field. A person who seeks entry into Japan as a tourist under the 90-day visa waiver program in order to work may be denied entry. Many teachers encounter difficulty when trying to leave the employer who is the original visa sponsor for a different job. After spending a great deal of time and money sponsoring and training a new teacher, employers are reluctant to see them leave for another company. Salaries are usually based on an hourly wage with a guarantee of a certain minimum number of hours per month.
Many teachers hold side jobs as private tutors outside of their classroom workplaces.
Prospective teachers should realize that the cost of living, especially in cities, is extremely high. Housing, feeding, educating and otherwise supporting a family in Japan, according to middle class American standards, is well beyond the reach of most English teachers. Housing is much smaller, more expensive and complicated to rent than in the U.S. Fringe benefits for private school teachers are minimal at best. Most teachers are covered by the Japanese national health insurance plan, which does not pay for treatment outside of Japan. In some cases, American families have had to pay the full cost of their injured relative's medical evacuation to the U.S. Aspiring teachers should obtain private, supplemental health insurance that includes worldwide medical evacuation and care.