Part-Time Jobs in Japan for International Students — 28 Hours/Week, Pay, Where to Find Work

Pay by Industry — 2026

The 2026 minimum wage (saitei chingin) by region:

Typical pay by industry (Tokyo, common in 2026):

Konbini (7-Eleven, Lawson, FamilyMart)

• Pay: 1,150-1,300 yen/hour (+25% for night shifts)
• Duties: working the register, stocking shelves, cleaning, preparing oden
• Japanese requirement: N3+ (reading the names of customers' orders and counting money)
• Availability: the easiest type of job to get; almost every store is hiring

Japanese Izakaya / Restaurants

• Pay: 1,200-1,400 yen/hour
• Duties: serving customers (hall), helping in the kitchen
• Japanese requirement: N2 for hall work, N4 for kitchen work
• Tip: chains such as Torikizoku and Watami are easy to get into and provide training

Supermarkets / Drugstores

• Pay: 1,100-1,250 yen/hour
• Duties: working the register, stocking shelves, receiving deliveries
• Japanese requirement: N3+
• Advantages: daytime shifts, less stressful, suitable for balancing work and study

Factories / Manufacturing Plants (kojō)

• Pay: 1,200-1,600 yen/hour (night shifts can reach 1,800+)
• Duties: packing, sorting goods, production-line work
• Japanese requirement: N5-N4 is enough (you only need to understand short instructions)
• Advantages: highest pay and little need to talk
• Downsides: often far from the city center; you may need to take a shuttle bus

Translation / Vietnamese Tutoring

• Pay: 2,500-5,000 yen/hour (freelance)
• Duties: translating documents, interpreting at hospitals/nyukan, teaching Vietnamese to Japanese people
• Requirements: Japanese N2+ and native-level Vietnamese
• Platforms: ConyacJapanese, translation platforms operated by law firms

Uber Eats / Wolt / demaekan Delivery

• Pay: 1,500-2,500 yen/hour (depending on the area)
• Requirements: a bicycle/scooter and Japanese N4+
• Advantages: flexible hours; pay can double during rainy weather and holidays

5 Best Ways to Find a Job

1. Baitoru (バイトル) — The No. 1 App

• Link: baitoru.com
• Japan's largest platform, with 500k+ jobs available at any time
• Use the "Gaikokujin kangei" (歓迎外国人) filter to find employers welcoming foreign workers
• An English version of the app is available, but the Japanese UI is easier to use

2. Townwork

• Link: townwork.net
• Focuses on jobs by area, making it easy to find work near home
• Free paper copies are available at train stations—pick one up to read while waiting

3. Hello Work (ハローワーク)

• Free government employment service
• Each ward has 1 office, usually near the kuyakusho
• Advisors can help you find jobs suitable for a student visa
• Jobs tend to be higher quality than those on apps, with stricter screening

4. Vietnamese Facebook / Zalo Communities

• Groups such as "Part-Time Jobs in Tokyo/Osaka/...": 50k+ members per group
• Advantages: you can ask specific questions, and many Vietnamese-owned businesses are hiring
• Downside: some employers pay cash without reporting income, putting your visa at risk

5. Friends from Home / School Senpai

• Getting a referral from a classmate is the easiest method for Vietnamese students
• Konbini and izakaya often already have 2-3 Vietnamese employees; once they refer you, you may be hired immediately
• If your school has a "notice board" in the student area, check it for job listings

Applying + Interviewing in Japanese

Calling to Schedule an Interview

Many employers want you to call first rather than apply online. Sample phrase:

もしもし、（バイトル）を見て、お電話しました。ベトナム人留学生の（NGUYEN）と申します。アルバイトの面接をお願いしたいのですが… (Moshimoshi, Baitoru o mite, odenwa shimashita. Betonamu-jin ryugakusei no Nguyen to moshimasu. Arubaito no mensetsu o onegai shitai no desu ga…)

Translation: Hello, I'm calling because I saw your listing on Baitoru. My name is Nguyen, and I'm a Vietnamese international student. I would like to request an interview for the part-time position…

Preparing a rirekisho (履歴書) — Japanese CV

• Buy a CV template at a konbini (~200 yen for 3 sheets)
• Or download a PDF from rirekisho.com and print it
• Attach a 4x3cm photo in the upper-right corner (wear a white shirt and use a white background)
• Write by hand in black ink, with neat handwriting (this is very important in Japan)

The Interview — Common Questions

After the Interview

• Employers usually call back within 2-3 days to inform you of the result
• If you are hired, they will send you an 雇用契約書 (koyo keiyakusho — employment contract). Read it carefully: pay, hours, shifts, and store address
• Important: keep a copy of the contract—when you extend your visa, nyukan may require proof of employment

5 Tips to Avoid Exploitation

1. Pay below the minimum wage = illegal: report it to Hello Work (Labor Standards Office); they will investigate and penalize the employer
2. No contract: cash-in-hand work makes it easy for employers to withhold your pay. Request 1 "kyūryō meisai" (給料明細 — payslip) every month
3. Training must be paid: Japanese law is clear—training during the first 3-7 days must still be paid at ≥90% of the regular wage
4. Overtime (zangyō) +25% after 40h/week, night shifts (22h-5h) +25%, holidays +35%. If your employer refuses to pay, take screenshots of your messages and report them to Labor Standards
5. Work-related illness or injury = the employer must pay (rōsai hoken — workers' accident insurance). Don't pay for medication yourself

Managing Your Pay + Taxes

• Employers pay by bank transfer every month (on the 15th or 25th). Yuucho/Shinsei/Rakuten accounts are all accepted. See how to open a Yuucho account
• Income below 1,030,000 yen/year = exempt from income tax (shotokuzei). Most international students working 28h/week fall within this range
• However, you still need to pay Kokumin Kenko Hoken national health insurance (~1,500-3,000 yen/month depending on the region)
• When you return to Vietnam, remember to apply for a nenkin refund (年金脱退一時金)—see how to reclaim your nenkin

Summary

International students in Japan may work 28 hours/week (40 hours during school holidays) and earn 1,100-1,600 yen/hour depending on the industry—around ~80-120k yen/month, enough to live on and save some money. Apply for your permit at the airport, search through Baitoru/Townwork/Hello Work, and prepare a handwritten rirekisho and Japanese interview at the N3-N4 level. Don't work illegally or exceed 28 hours—you could lose your visa.

Preparing to move to Japan? Order a Japan eSIM before your flight so you have internet access as soon as you arrive—and can easily call employers to confirm interview schedules. Want to visit Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto during your break? A 7-day JR Pass is much cheaper than buying individual tickets.

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