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Working in Japan
Capital: Tokyo
Largest city: Tokyo
Population: 126.6 million (2012 census)
Currency: Yen
Language: Japanese
An island nation in East Asia, Japan is a densely populated country comprising of close to 7000 islands and more than 126 million people. It is located in the Pacific Ocean east of China, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and Taiwan.
Japan is well known for its samurai roots which helped establish a Japanese Empire that continued through to the 19th century. The Asian country’s known history dates back to 30,000 BC.
Today, Japan is one of the world’s leading economic powers with major industries in automobiles and electronics.
Very technologically advanced, Japan provides a hugely cultural experience with historic temples and buildings that are combined with a quality transportation system that efficiently links the country’s major cities.
The Working Holiday program between Australia and Japan was setup to encourage cultural exchange and closer ties between the two countries by allowing young people to have an extended holiday funded by short-term employment.
Under the arrangement, Australians aged between 18 and 30 are allowed to travel to Japan for a working holiday for up to 12 months.
Tourism Video
Japan’s Working Holiday visa summary
Visa: Working holiday
Age: 18 to 30
Length of stay: 6 months (may be extended by 6 months when in Japan)
Application fee: Free
Processing time: 3 weeks
Requirements / Eligibility for a Working Holiday in Japan include:
If you want to travel to Japan under Working Holiday arrangements there are basic eligibility requirements. These include:
Hold an Australian passport
Meet health and character requirements
Be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of applying
Have no dependent children accompanying you
Have a return ticket, or sufficient funds for a return or onward fare
Have sufficient funds for the first part of the holiday (at least $2500)
Must not be an entertainment professional eg. Musician.
Argentina Japanese Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina Bouchard 547- Piso 17 C1106ABG Buenos Aires Ph +54 11 4318 8200 F +54 11 4318 8210 Web: www.ar.emb-japan.go.jp
Australia Japanese Embassy in Canberra, Australia 112 Empire Circuit Yarralumla ACT 2600 Ph +61 2 6273 3244 F +61 2 6273 1848 Web: www.au.emb-japan.go.jp
Austria Japanese Embassy in Vienna, Austria Hessgasse 6 1010 Wien Ph +43 1 531 92 – 0 F +43 1 532 05 90 Web: www.at.emb-japan.go.jp
Bangladesh Embassy of Japan in Bangladesh Plot No. 5 & 7, Dutabash Rd Baridhara Dhaka 1212 Ph +88 02 984 0010 F +88 Web: www.bd.emb-japan.go.jp/
Brazil Japanese Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil SES Avenida das Nações quadra 811 lote 39 70425-900 – Brasília / DF Ph +55 61 3442 4200 F +55 61 3443 9685 / +55 61 3242 0738 Web: www.br.emb-japan.go.jp
Canada Japanese Embassy in Ottawa, Canada 255 Sussex Drive Ottawa Ontario K1N 9E6 Ph +1 613 241 8541 F +1 613 241 2232 Web: www.ca.emb-japan.go.jp
Chile Japanese Embassy in Santiago, Chile Av. Ricardo Lyon 520 Providencia Casilla 124, Correo 35 Santiago Ph +56 2 2232 1807 F +56 2 2232 1812 Web: www.cl.emb-japan.go.jp
China Embassy of Japan in China Liang Ma Qiao Street Chaoyang District, No.1 Beijing 100600 Ph +86 10 8531 9800 F +86 10 6532 7081 Web: www.cn.emb-japan.go.jp/
Costa Rica Japanese Embassy in San Jose, Costa Rica Sabana Norte, del ICE 300 metros oeste y 25 norte Edificio Torre La Sabana, Piso 10 Apartado postal 501 1000 San José Ph +506 2232 1255 / +506 2231 0357 F +506 2231 3140 Web: www.cr.emb-japan.go.jp
Cyprus, Republic of Japanese Consulate in Limassol, Cyprus Neocleous House Arch. Makarios III, 195 3030 Limassol P.O. Box .50613 3608 Limassol Ph +357 25 11 00 00 F +357 25 11 00 99 Web: N/A
Czech Republic Japanese Embassy in Prague, the Czech Republic Maltézské nám. 6 Malá Strana 118 01 Praha 1 Ph +420 257 533 546 F +420 257 530 884 Web: www.cz.emb-japan.jo.jp
Denmark Japanese Embassy in Copenhagen, Denmark Havneholmen 25, 9F 1561 Copenhagen V Ph +45 33 11 33 44 F +45 33 11 33 77 Web: www.dk.emb-japan.go.jp
Estonia Japanese Embassy in Tallinn, Estonia Harju 6 15069 Tallinn Ph +372 631 0531 F +372 631 0532 Web: www.ee.emb-japan.go.jp
Finland Japanese Embassy in Helsinki, Finland Unioninkatu 20-22, 5th floor 00130 Helsinki Ph +358 9 6860 200 F +358 9 633 012 Web: www.fl.emb-japan.go.jp
France Japanese Embassy in Paris, France 7, avenue Hoche 75008 Paris Ph +33 1 48 88 62 00 F +1 42 27 50 81 Web: www.fr.emb-japan.go.jp
Germany Japanese Embassy in Berlin, Germany Hiroshimastrasse 6 10785 Berlin Ph +49 31 21 09 40 F +49 30 21 09 42 22 Web: www.de.emb-japan.go.jp
Greece Japanese Embassy in Athens, Greece Ethnikis Antistasseos street 46 152 31 Halandri Athens Ph +30 210 670 99 00 F +30 210 670 99 80 Web: www.gr.emb-japan.go.jp
India Japanese Embassy in New Delhi, India 50 G, Shantipath Chanakyapuri New Dehli 110 021 Ph +91 11 2687 6564 / 81 F + 11 2688 5587 Web: www.in.emb-japan.go.jp
Indonesia Japanese Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia JI.M.H. Thamrin Kav. 24 Jakarta Pusat 10350 Ph +62 21 3192 4308 F +62 21 3192 5460 Web: www.id.emb-japan.go.jp
Ireland Japanese Embassy in Dublin, Ireland Nutley Building Merrion Centre Nutley Lane Dublin 4 Ph +353 1 202 8300 F +353 1 283 8726 Web: www.ie.emb-japan.go/jp
Italy Japanese Embassy in Rome, Italy Via Quintino Sella, 60 00187 Roma Ph +39 06 487 991 F +39 06 487 3316 Web: www.it.emb-japan.go.jp
Japan N/A
Latvia Japanese Embassy in Riga, Latvia Vesetas iela 7 1013 Riga Ph +371 678 120 01 / 02 F +371 678 120 04 Web: N/A
Malaysia Japanese Embassy in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 11 Persiaran Stonor Off Jalan Tun Razak 50450 Kuala Lumpur Ph +60 3 2142 7044 / +60 3 2167 2314 F +60 3 2141 3443 / +60 3 2145 0126 Web: www.my.emb-japan.go.jp
Malta Japanese Consulate General in Valletta, Malta 38 Sir Luigi Preziozi Square Floriana FRN 1154 Ph +356 21 236 703 / +356 21 231 407 F +356 21 250 160 Web: N/A
Mexico Japanese Embassy in Mexico City, Mexico Paseo de la Reforma No. 395 Cuauhtemoc Delegación Cuauhtemoc 06500 México, D. F. Ph +52 55 5211 0028 / +52 55 5514 0571 F +52 55 5207 7743 Web: www.mx.emb-japan.go.jp
New Zealand Japanese Embassy in Wellington, New Zealand Majestic Centre Level 18, 100 Willis Street P.O. Box 6340 Wellington 6141 Ph +64 4 473 1540 F +64 4 471 2951 Web: www.nz.emb-japan.go.jp
Norway Japanese Embassy in Oslo, Norway Wergelandsveien 15 0244 Oslo Ph +47 22 99 16 00 F +47 22 44 25 05 Web: www.no.emb-japan.go.jp
Poland Japanese Embassy in Warsaw, Poland ul. Szwolezerow 8 00-464 Warszawa Ph +48 22 696 50 00 F +48 22 696 50 01 Web: N/A
Singapore Japanese Embassy in Singapore, Singapore 16 Nassim Rd Singapore 258390 Ph +65 6235 8855 F +65 6733 1039 Web: www.sg.emb-japan.go.jp
Slovakia Japanese Embassy in Bratislava, Slovakia Hlavné nám. 2 813 27 Bratislava 1 Ph +421 2 5980 0100 F +2 5443 2771 Web: www.sk.emb-japan.go.jp
Slovenia Japanese Embassy in Ljubljana, Slovenia Trg republike 3/XI 1000 Ljubljana Ph +386 1 470 08 81 / 2 F +386 1 251 18 22 Web: www.sl.emb-japan.go.jp
South Korea Japanese Embassy in Seoul, Korea (Republic) 22, Yulgok-ro 2-gil, 18-11 Junghak-Dong Consular section: 42, Jong-ro 1-gil, 146-1 Susong-Dong Ph +82 2 2170 5200 F +82 2 734 4528 Web: www.kr.emb-japan.go.jp
Spain Japanese Embassy in Madrid, Spain C/ Serrano, 109 28006 Madrid Ph +34 91 590 76 00 F +34 91 590 13 21 Web: www.es.emb-japan.go.jp
Sweden Japanese Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden Gärdesgatan 10 115 27 Stockholm Ph +46 8 579 353 00 F +46 8 661 88 20 Web: www.se.emb-japan.go.jp
Switzerland Japanese Embassy in Bern, Switzerland Engestrasse 53 3000 Berne 9 Ph +41 31 300 22 22 F +41 31 300 22 55 Web: www.ch.emb-japan.go.jp
Taiwan N/A
Thailand Japanese Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand 177 Witthayu Road Lumphini, Pathum Wan Bangkok 10330 Ph +66 2696 3000 / +66 2207 8500 F +66 2207 8510 Web: www.th.emb-japan.go.jp
The Netherlands Japanese Embassy in The Hague, the Netherlands Tobias Asserlaan 2 2517 KC ‘S-Gravenhage Ph +31 70 346 9544 F +31 70 310 6341 Web: www.ni.emb-japan/go.jp
Turkey Japanese Embassy in Ankara, Turkey Resit Galip Caddesi No. 81 06700 G.O.P. Ankara Ph +90 312 446 0500 F +90 312 437 1812 / 2504 Web: www.tr.emb-japan.go.jp
United Kingdom Japanese Embassy in London, the United Kingdom 101–104 Piccadilly London W1J 7JT Ph +44 20 7465 6500 F +44 20 7491 9348 Web: www.uk.emb-japan.go.jp
United States Japanese Embassy in Washington, the United States 2520 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington D.C. 20008 Ph +1 202 238 6700 F +1 202 328 2187 Web: www.embjapan.org
Uruguay Japanese Embassy in Montevideo, Uruguay Bulevar Artigas 953 Casilla de Correo 1273 Montevideo Ph +598 2 418 76 45 F +598 2 418 79 80 Web: www.uy.emb-japan.go.jp
Tax System
Taxes in Japan are paid on income, property and consumption at the national, prefectural and municipal level. Income tax, also known as resident tax, is paid annually at all three levels.
For tax purposes, people living in Japan are classified into three categories (not related to visa types):
Non-Resident: A person who has lived in Japan for less than one year and does not have his primary base of living in Japan. Non-residents pay taxes only on income from sources in Japan, but not on income from abroad.
Non-Permanent Resident: A person who has lived in Japan for less than five years, but has no intention of living in Japan permanently. Non-permanent residents pay taxes on all income except on income from abroad that does not get sent to Japan.
Permanent Resident: A person who has either lived in Japan for at least five years or has the intention of staying in Japan permanently. Permanent residents pay taxes on all income from Japan and abroad.
Tax rates in Japan are determined based on the taxable income. Current rates are as follows:
National Income Tax Rates
Taxable Income
Tax Rate
less than 1.95 million yen
5% of taxable income
1.95 to 3.3 million yen
10% of taxable income exceeding 1.95 million yen plus 97,500 yen
3.3 to 6.95 million yen
20% of taxable income exceeding 3.3 million yen plus 232,500 yen
6.95 to 9 million yen
23% of taxable income exceeding 6.95 million yen plus 962,500 yen
9 to 18 million yen
33% of taxable income exceeding 9 million yen plus 1,434,000 yen
more than 18 million yen
40% of taxable income exceeding 18 million yen plus 4,404,000 yen
Bank Account
Opening a bank account as an expat in Japan requires several pieces of documentation, including: passport with valid visa, resident card, personal seal, a utility bill and driver’s license. Each bank account will usually include a debit card.
Applicants must have registered as a resident of Japan before opening a bank account. Therefore, it is very difficult for individuals to open an account before arriving in Japan. The major banks in Japan include: The Bank of Tokyo, Sumitomo Mitsui Bank Corporation and Mizuho Bank. Many foreign banks can also be located in Japan, such as HSBC and Barclays.
Working in Japan
Japan has one of the largest economies in the world and the second largest in Asia behind China. The major industries in Japan include electronics, motor vehicles, iron and steel products and plastic products. Japan has extensive trade in place with English speaking countries, including Australia.
Teaching English is an option for expats in Japan on a working holiday. According to TEFL (Teaching English as a foreign language), there is a high demand for tuition in Japan as the language is commonly used for business and tourism purposes.
The country also has a strong skiing industry in its snow fields, which is a major draw for expats from Australia. In the northern part of Japan the country has some of the most developed ski resorts in Asia, with several companies regularly looking for expat workers.
Communication
Japan has outstanding telecommunications services with several mobile phone providers for expats to choose from. There are five mobile phone operators in Japan:
NTT DoCoMo
KDDI
SoftBank Mobile
EMOBILE
Willcom
To sign-up for a phone contract in Japan, applicants will need to provide forms of identification, such as a passport, resident card and proof of employment.
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