Jobs in Tokyo for International Students
Tokyo has more international students than any other city in Japan, spread across universities, vocational schools and Japanese language schools. That density shapes the job market: restaurants, convenience stores, drugstores, hotels and logistics centres near student areas build their staffing around student shifts, and many managers are used to working with students' class timetables. Tokyo is also where most companies run internships and hire new graduates, so it is the natural place to plan a path from part-time work to a full-time career.
With permission to engage in activities outside your status, students can generally work up to 28 hours a week in total during term, and up to eight hours a day during the school's official long holidays. Work in adult entertainment businesses is prohibited in every case. After graduation, moving to full-time work means changing status, typically to Engineer/Specialist for office, IT and international roles, or to Specified Skilled Worker after passing the skills and Japanese tests for a field such as food service or accommodation.
A practical tip: choose part-time work with your future in mind. A baito at a hotel front desk, in a multilingual customer role or at an IT company can later support an application for a related full-time job, while hours of work that damage your attendance can make renewing your student status harder. Keep your payslips and tax documents: you will need them for status renewals and applications later.
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Frequently asked questions
How many hours can international students work in Tokyo during holidays?
During your school's official long holidays, such as summer and spring breaks, students with permission can generally work up to eight hours a day. Outside those periods the limit is 28 hours a week across all jobs.
Can my part-time job in Tokyo become a full-time job after graduation?
Sometimes. If the full-time role fits a work status, such as Engineer/Specialist for a multilingual or office position, the employer can support your change of status. Kitchen or serving roles would need a different route, such as Specified Skilled Worker in food service.
Do Tokyo companies hire international students as new graduates?
Yes. Many companies run recruiting for new graduates that is open to international students, often starting more than a year before graduation. Business-level Japanese is usually expected, though some IT and foreign-affiliated firms recruit in English.