Working Holiday Japan: the best visa you've never used.
If your country has a Working Holiday agreement with Japan, you can live and work here for up to 2 years (ages 18 to 30, or 35 for some countries). Study part-time, teach, work in a ski resort, all on one visa.
Why WH beats a tourist visa
- Work legally (English teaching, hospitality, ski resorts, farms)
- Study at a language school while you work
- Try living in Japan before committing to a career move
The smart WH playbook
- Months 1–3: language school (we place you free) + part-time job
- Months 4–12: full-time work: teaching or seasonal (Nagano snow season pays for your winter)
- Year 2: convert to a work visa if you love it. Our Playbook shows how
Everything you need to plan WH yourself is free on this page and the blog. The Phrasebook is your pre-departure phrase tool.
Getting set up in Japan [PR]
Looking for work in Japan?
Start with free job-search support: tell us your situation and we'll point you in the right direction. You can also browse factory and hands-on job listings (Japanese-language site, open to non-Japanese applicants).
Get free support → Browse factory jobs (JP) →
Send & receive money
Skip bad bank rates. Wise moves money in and out of Japan cheaply, at the real exchange rate.
Try Wise →Stay connected on arrival
Get data the minute you land. Buy a Japan eSIM before you fly and install it in minutes, so there's no SIM swap and no airport queue.
Get an eSIM →Spend in yen without the fees
The Wise card spends at the real exchange rate with no foreign-transaction markup, in shops and at ATMs across Japan.
Get the Wise card →Cover for your stay
Working Holiday applicants need medical cover. SafetyWing is built for long stays abroad and you can start it after you arrive.
See the cover →Start with the free guide
Your Gateway to Japan: 5 Paths to Study & Work in Japan
The complete map of ways into Japan, compared side by side. Delivered by email.