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teach in japan

How to Teach English in Japan with JET, Dispatch or Eikaiwa

Three routes get most people into a classroom in Japan. They differ in who employs you, how you apply and how much say you get over where you end up.

Last checked October 2026

This is general info, not legal or immigration advice. I did JET. I haven't worked for a dispatch company or an eikaiwa, so for those two routes I've read what others have published and linked it at the bottom. Rules change. For your own application, check the Immigration Services Agency of Japan or talk to a licensed 行政書士ぎょうせいしょし (visa specialist) or an immigration lawyer.

the routes

What each route is

JET places you in a school or local office through a local authority. You apply once a year through the Japanese embassy or consulate in your own country.

With a dispatch company, the company holds the contract with a city or board of education and sends you into public schools. It hires through the year.

An eikaiwa is a private conversation school. Classes fit around other people's days, so the hours look different from the other two routes.

the basics

What every route asks for

All three generally want a bachelor's degree, in any subject. JET lists a bachelor's degree or higher in its eligibility rules (Embassy of Japan, 2026 cycle). Your employer sponsors the visa and applies for the Certificate of Eligibility for you.

The status of residence you get usually follows your employer. Public school ALTs commonly hold Instructor. Private language schools commonly use Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services (workvisa.guide). Employers differ, so ask yours and check the official criteria.

route 1

JET

A JET contract runs for one year. It can be renewed up to four times, which makes five years at most, and some contracting organisations set a lower limit (JET Programme on Wikipedia). Renewal is not automatic. The application opens once a year and is competitive, so check your own embassy's JET page for this cycle's dates and guidelines.

JET paid for my flight to Japan, and dispatch companies generally do not. JET also pays more than dispatch for similar work. I won't quote a figure. The official pay for your cycle is on the JET Programme site and in your embassy's application guidelines.

I was in a small town, and it was the best job I've ever had. I loved the schools and getting to know people in town. After a while I missed the city at weekends, and getting there often took over three hours, so I spent a lot on trains, buses and hotels. Living out there meant speaking Japanese every day, and mine improved a lot.

route 2

Dispatch ALT

The dispatch company is your employer, and the school is where you work. Hours are usually weekday school hours, and weekends are rare.

Pay sits below JET. An Interac listing on GaijinPot Jobs for spring 2025 advertised ¥2.4 million to ¥3.0 million a year. Some dispatch contracts pay a reduced rate or nothing for school holidays, and the recruiter Teast lists unpaid holidays as a common dispatch complaint in its 2025 dispatch guide. Ask what your August pay looks like before you sign.

The company's contract with the city can change hands. When it does, ALTs may have to change employer, reapply or lose the post (Japan Living Life, 2025). Dispatch companies usually help with your visa, housing and insurance, and they hire through the year, so you can start sooner than you can with JET.

route 3

Eikaiwa

Eikaiwa hours follow the students. Published schedules for the big chains include evenings and weekends, and some days are split into blocks. Some schools also expect sales or student retention work alongside teaching.

Pay figures published for the big chains cluster around ¥270,000 to ¥300,000 a month (TEFL Heaven, 2026). They come from course sellers and recruiters, so check them against the contract. Experience varies by chain and by branch, so ask to speak to a current teacher at the school you are considering.

money

What the pay is like

The GaijinPot 2026 guide puts ALT pay at roughly ¥230,000 to ¥280,000 a month. It says tax and insurance take roughly 12 to 18 percent, so a ¥250,000 job leaves about ¥200,000 in hand, and many teachers add private lessons.

Most guides pitch teaching as a way into Japan and a way to build experience. Readers commenting on a 2025 Japan Today article describe pay staying flat for years. Those are anecdotes, not data.

choosing

Which route suits you

JET suits you if you can work to one yearly deadline.

Dispatch suits you if you want to start sooner and you accept lower pay and some contract risk.

Eikaiwa suits you if you want a city and adult students and you can live with evening and weekend hours.

What to ask before you sign

  • Who is my employer, and who sets my daily schedule?
  • Is my pay reduced during school holidays?
  • Do I work evenings or weekends, and are split shifts possible?
  • What visa and housing help do I get, and what does it cost me?
  • How does renewal work, and what happens if the contract with the school ends?
afterwards

After your first contract

Teaching can lead to a longer stay, a move into another field or a flight home. My guide on staying teaching, pivoting or going home covers each one. If IT interests you, start with IT jobs in Japan for foreigners.

sources

Where this comes from

Several of these sites sell courses or recruit teachers, so treat their figures as rough. Check each one before you plan around it.

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