Japan Wants ALTs This Spring — Here's What the Job Pays

Current as of August 2026. Salary, loan, and deadline figures are pulled from CEP's live Japan program page — confirm details with our team before you commit to anything.

Nobody quits a plan to teach in Japan because the classroom scares them. They quit at the bank statement — the deposit, the flight, the first month's rent, due before a single paycheck lands.

I've watched good decisions die over $2,000 sitting in a savings account that isn't there. Not because anyone stopped wanting to go. Because nobody built them a way across that one week.

Japan just did. For the March 2027 intake, our public school partner is offering a near-zero-interest loan covering up to 75% of startup costs. Not a discount. Not a payment plan. A bridge, built for the exact gap that stops people from going.

Everything else about the program hasn't moved. Same placement, same schedule, same classroom CEP has been sending teachers into for years. Here's the whole thing, plainly, before September 30.

The Job

Assistant Language Teacher. Public school. Twelve months, starting March 25, 2027. You work alongside a Japanese teacher in every class — never solo, never building a curriculum from nothing. Classes run 25 to 30 students. Placement is nationwide, mostly small and mid-sized towns within reach of a metro area, and you need to go in open to wherever the match lands.

Monday through Friday. Weekends off. Sixteen public holidays off. In a country known for its punishing work culture, that's not a perk — it's the whole shape of a normal life, which is harder to find in Japan's job market than most people assume.

Most public school placements also come with a free car for the length of the contract. Out in smaller towns, that's not a bonus. It's how you get to the grocery store.

The Money

¥215,000 to ¥250,000 a month, depending on placement. I'm quoting yen on purpose — the dollar figure moves with the exchange rate, and I'd rather you check today's number than trust one I printed months ago. Set aside 25 to 30% for income tax and social insurance in year one. Rent runs $350 to $550 a month, and landlords generally want one to two months up front at signing.

That upfront number is the whole reason the loan exists. If you're applying for March, ask about it by name — it can cover most of what would otherwise sit in your account making you nervous for four months.

What You'll Need

A bachelor's degree, any subject — Japan requires it for the visa, no exceptions. And at least an online TEFL or TESOL certification before you start. If you don't have one, CEP's own TEFL Plus course bundles right into this program. The first three modules are free, no card required, before you decide anything.

Your school files for your visa, not you. Once you're placed, they submit your Certificate of Eligibility — four to six weeks, typically. No visa run. No landing on a tourist visa and hoping it works out.

The Timeline

Japan's public schools hire 7 to 12 months ahead of the start date. That's not us being cautious. That's just the calendar. Applications for the March 25, 2027 intake close September 30, 2026.

Nine months is a long runway. Long enough to still be sitting on the fence come September 29. Long enough, also, to already be there. Which one do you want to be?

Talk to us about the March 2027 Japan intake →

Frequently Asked Questions

When's the deadline to apply for the March 2027 Japan intake?

September 30, 2026. Japan's public school hiring runs 7 to 12 months ahead of the start date, so applications close well before the March 25, 2027 arrival date. There's also a Fall 2027 intake with a later deadline, if this timeline doesn't work for you.

How much do ALT teachers in Japan actually earn?

¥215,000 to ¥250,000 a month, depending on placement. Plan on 25 to 30% going to income tax and social insurance in year one. Exchange rates move, so check the current dollar equivalent on CEP's Japan program page rather than trusting a fixed conversion.

Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach in Japan?

Yes — at least an online TEFL or TESOL certification. CEP's TEFL Plus course is a 120-hour, internationally accredited option built to bundle directly into this program, and the first three modules are free to try, no credit card required.

What's this new startup loan, and how does it work?

For the March 2027 intake, CEP's partner school system in Japan is offering a near-zero-interest loan covering up to 75% of startup costs — the flight, the deposit, the rent-in-advance that usually eats a teacher's savings before the first paycheck arrives. Ask your CEP contact how it applies to your specific placement.

Do I need a car to teach at a Japanese public school?

Not your own. Public school ALT placements typically include a free car for the length of the contract, which matters most if you land in a smaller town outside easy train reach. CEP also places teachers in Thailand, South Korea, Costa Rica, Cambodia, Spain, and Vietnam, if Japan's placement locations aren't the fit you're after.