The Shocking Truth About Part-Time Jobs in Japan for Nepali Students — Not What You Think!

यो पोस्ट नेपालीमा पढ्न यहाँ क्लिक गर्नुहोस्।

Japan frequently draws Nepali students for its quality education and the opportunity to earn through part-time work. But the rugged reality of part-time (アルバイト) work in Japan often contradicts the rosy expectations frequently shared back home. This blog uncovers the truths—supported by the latest data.

1. How Common Is Part-Time Work Among International Students?

Approximately 75% of international students in Japan engage in part-time jobs during their studies. Source
The upper weekly limit is 28 hours during term time, rising to 48 hours over school breaks. Source
On average, students work 20–25 hours weekly, close to the legal maximum

2. Real Wages vs. Myths

The national average hourly wage is around ¥1,000 (~$7 USD)
Wage distribution:
- ¥800–¥1,000: ~32.6%
- ¥1,000–¥1,200: ~49%
- Above ¥1,200: only ~16.6%
Claims of ¥3,000/hour are rare and misleading .
Earning ¥65,000–¥125,000 (~¥2.3 M–¥4.3 M annually) is realistic with max hours and mid-range pay .

3. Typical Job Sectors

Nepali and other international students commonly work in:

Restaurants: 35%
Sales (convenience stores, retail): 30%
Factories: 6.1%
Teaching/tutoring: ~9.5% (language + TA) Source
Many Nepali students find roles in convenience stores, delivery services, or cleaning.

4. Challenges & Legal Requirements

Work Permit: Mandatory to obtain “許可” (paid work permission) upon arrival or from immigration icla.ygu.ac.jp.
Language Skills: Better Japanese → higher-paying roles; English tutoring pays more but language level matter.
Work‑study balance: Juggling 20+ hours/week is tough alongside coursework—common stress factor.
Scams and frauds are rampant, with misleading advertisements about high pay and unrealistic schedules .

5. Truе Monthly Income & Living Cost

With 28 hours at ¥1,000/hour: ¥112,000/month.
At ¥1,200/hour: ¥134,400/month
Yet the average student usually ends up with ¥60,000–¥100,000/month, not enough to fully cover tuition & rent .
Additional costs—transport, food, utilities—consume much of the income.

6. Policies & Implications for Nepalis in Japan

Nepali community in Japan has grown to ~233,000 as of December 2024—the largest South Asian diaspora in Japan .
The percentage of Nepalis studying (Nepali students ≈ 20,000 of 60,000 total) is increasing
Post-study career hurdles: Japan’s immigration laws (visa status, work culture) make the shift from student to full-time worker tough icla.ygu.ac.jp.

Summary Table

Topic	Reality Check
Hourly wage	¥800–1,200/hr (avg. ¥1,000)
Weekly hours	Max 28 hrs (breaks: 48 hrs)
Monthly income	¥60k–130k
Job types	Restaurants, sales, tutoring
Drawbacks	Low pay, stress, legal risk
Opportunities to improve	Language skills, job-seeking

Final Takeaway

Don’t fall for glowing stories of earning ¥200k+/month working 30+ hours weekly. The average Nepali student in Japan earns around ¥80,000–¥120,000/month working 20–28 hours. It helps with expenses, but it’s not a way to fund your whole stay or send big remittances home. Treat these part-time roles as supplement, not main income—and balance your studies. Good Japanese (N2/N1) and legal awareness can unlock better jobs and future career opportunities.