At a Glance: Teaching English in Japan
35,119 Certified Grads since 1992


At a Glance: Teaching English in Japan

Japan’s mix of ancient temples and futuristic cities, mist-shrouded mountains and flashy skyscrapers combines with a vigorous ESL market to make this country one of the most popular destinations for teaching English.

Living and Teaching in Japan
Japan: At a Glance
Japan: Living in Japan
Japan: Teaching ESL in Japan
Japan: Financial Snapshot
Monthly Salary*:
225,000 - 300,000 JPY
2,210 - 2,940 CAD (May 22, 2023)
Private Tutoring per Hour:
2,000 - 4,000 JPY
19.50 - 39.25 CAD (May 22, 2023)
Income Tax††: 5 - 10%
Ability to Save per year: 500 - 6,170 CAD
Airfare: Reimbursement (full or partial) sometimes given
Accommodations: Sometimes included or allowance may be given
Health Care: Usually included
Holidays: Paid
Teaching Hours per Week: 25 - 40
Typical Contract Length: One year
Typical Start Month(s): March/April, August/September, or year round
Application Timeline: 3 - 6 months
Work Visa: Employer sponsors
Minimum Requirements: Bachelor's Degree and Oxford Seminars TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certificate
Additional Notes: Contract completion bonus typically included

Other East Asia / Southeast Asia Countries:

Cambodia ~ China ~ Hong Kong ~ India ~ Indonesia ~ Japan ~ Korea ~ Kyrgyzstan ~ Laos ~ Malaysia ~ Nepal ~ Taiwan ~ Thailand ~ Vietnam

From Tokyo to Tokushima, technology to tofu, Japan offers big bustling cities and quiet rural communities. The country is perfectly situated for trips to Bali, Hong Kong, Thailand, Vietnam, and other exotic locations as the strong yen makes travelling outside of Japan very inexpensive. Travelling within Japan however, a must for those who do not mind spending some of their hard earned money, can be quite expensive - but, the experience is well worth it! Make sure to go to Kyoto, a city renowned for its ancient temples and ruins as well as its Geisha culture. There are many ESL teaching opportunities in Japan, and the lucrative private tutoring options make it possible to save a substantial amount of money.

The combination of Oxford Seminars' internationally recognized TESOL/TESL Certification and our Job Placement Service included with the course makes teaching English abroad a reality. Learn more about teaching English in Japan and other opportunities teaching English abroad by calling 1-888-227-6755, or by attending an upcoming free Information Session in your area.

* Wages vary depending on the economy of the country.
Exchange rates are subject to change. Check www.xe.com for current rates.
†† You will be paying income tax while teaching abroad, and the tax rate can change depending on how much money you earn.

Oxford Seminars makes every effort to keep our information as up-to-date and accurate as possible. However, individual teaching positions and experiences may vary with job market conditions. Specific information listed cannot be guaranteed to be applicable when you are seeking employment teaching ESL in a specific country.

Note that certain positions require additional qualifications and credentials that are not negotiable due to specific country legislation.