Eikaiwa Jobs In Japan: 10 Things TEFL Teachers NEED To Know

There are considerable similarities between teaching as an ALT and at an eikaiwa, but a few differences too. These differences relate to working hours, teaching schedules, responsibilities and class sizes.

Eikaiwas offer:

• longer working hours
• weekend shifts
• part-time and full-time options
• opportunities for overtime
• smaller class sizes 
• a diverse range of students

Dispatched ALT roles offer:

• standard school-day working hours
• Monday to Friday schedule
• mostly full-time with some part-time options
• rotation between schools
• flexible locations
• large class sizes
• mostly school-going learners

Public teaching ALT roles offer:

• standard school-day working hours
• Monday to Friday schedule
• large class sizes
• reliable pay and benefits
• cultural exchange role
• only school-going learners

The major franchises that consistently recruit teachers are Nova, Gaba, AEON, ECC, and Berlitz.

1. NOVA

• One of the most well-known eikaiwa chains.
• Offers a mix of private and group lessons.
• Generally considered a good entry-level position for TEFL teachers but has a reputation for demanding hours and rigid policies.

2. Gaba

• Specialises in one-on-one lessons.
• Provides more flexible scheduling, but teachers work as independent contractors rather than employees (meaning no guaranteed salary or benefits).
• Pay depends on performance, and lesson cancellations can significantly impact your earnings.

3. AEON

• One of the most structured eikaiwa companies, offering full-time salaried positions.
• Teachers must follow a strict curriculum and maintain professional dress standards.
• Offers higher pay and better benefits compared to many other eikaiwas.

4. ECC

• A well-established eikaiwa with a strong emphasis on structured lesson plans.
• Provides competitive salaries, benefits, and comprehensive training.
• Demands a higher level of professionalism and dedication.

5. Berlitz Japan

• A global language school with an established presence in Japan.
• Offers both one-on-one and group lessons.
• Pays more per lesson than some other eikaiwas, but work availability can be inconsistent.

Read more: Inside The Eikaiwa: Revealing The Unfiltered Truth

Deciding to teach in an eikaiwa is a personal choice. This teaching environment might not suit everyone, so you’ll need to decide for yourself if teaching in an eikaiwa is the way you want to go.

Here are a few of the positives of working in an eikaiwa:

• Classes are varied. Student demographics vary from children to adults. 
• Teaching materials are generally provided. 
• You don’t need to speak Japanese. None of the eikaiwas we’re familiar with list proficiency in Japanese as a requirement for English teachers.

While the workload can be more intense and lessons tend to be more grammar-focused than in public schools, the experience is invaluable for professional growth. 

Read more: How Can I Teach English Abroad Without Speaking The Local Language?

• For night owls, it’s ideal because most classes run from the afternoon to evening, leaving your mornings free. You can choose to teach in one location or travel between schools. 
• One hidden benefit is the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in careers outside of teaching. An eikaiwa could be your door into HR or another position in the broader education space. 

For example, language schools like Nova and AEON have foreign managers who started as ALTs before being promoted. While rare, these opportunities exist for those with a clean record, overtime hours, improved Japanese skills, and a proactive approach to teaching.

To be eligible to apply for a position at an eikaiwa, teachers must have the right to work in Japan or satisfy the requirements for a Certificate of Eligibility (COE) in order to apply for a Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa. 

Read more: Your Questions About The Certificate Of Eligibility Answered

These requirements are:

•  a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in an English-speaking country + 10 years’ education in an English-medium school, OR 
• a Bachelor’s degree in English or English Education, OR 
• a Bachelor’s degree and three years’ TEFL experience.

There may be other requirements for each particular eikaiwa in addition to those listed above.

Thankfully, the application and hiring processes to work at an eikaiwa are straightforward. 

Step 1: Research 

Find out as much as you can about various eikaiwas and what they offer. Read testimonials, reviews, blogs, and weigh up the pros and cons of each. 

Consider benefits, location, travel time, paid leave, housing support and work hours. Reach out to current employees on LinkedIn to find out what their experience has been like. 

Step 2: Apply

Once you’ve narrowed down your search, apply to several eikaiwas to increase your chances of getting hired. Make sure you meet the document requirements of your targeted schools.

Step 3: Prepare for your interview

While you wait for a response, do some interview preparation (see below) and think about your demo lesson. Learn about Japanese culture to stand out in your interview. 

Robyn is a TTA who taught in NOVA Japan for a year. Before she accepted that position, she went through a number of interviews with other language schools. This was her experience:

The video interviews followed similar formats with varying degrees of formality. They all began with standard introductions: asking about myself, my motivation for teaching, and specifically why I was interested in Japan—this last point is crucial! 

Several interviews required me to teach a basic grammar point, explain vocabulary in an engaging way, or demonstrate how I’d tactfully correct student errors without dampening their enthusiasm. Thanks to my TEFL training, these tasks felt approachable rather than intimidating. 

Some interviewers even had me pretend they were complete beginners with zero English knowledge, asking me to introduce myself and elicit a response from them, for example: “I’m Robyn, what’s your name?”—using hand gestures and prompting/miming—”I’m ____.”

During one interview (I believe with AEON), they unexpectedly asked me to stand up and show my entire outfit on camera. This caught me completely off guard since I hadn’t worn formal business trousers, so I awkwardly adjusted my camera angle to hide everything below my waist!

From those interviews, I was offered jobs from NOVA and a couple of other schools. 

Step 4: Job offer and visa sponsorship

Read through your contract. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you’re unsure of anything. Gather the required documents for your visa application:

• Passport
• Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
• Job offer and contract
• Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
• Visa application form
• Criminal background check
• Passport-size photos
• TEFL certification 
• Health check

Generally, the same questions tend to pop up in TEFL interviews, which is great news for aspiring teachers. 

Read more: The TEFL Interview: Common Questions And Tips

Here are some of the more common questions:

• Can you tell us about yourself?
• Tell us about your teaching experience. 
• Why do you want to teach English in Japan?
• Why are you interested in [insert name of eikaiwa] specifically? 
• What qualities make you a good candidate? 
• How do you make lessons engaging and interactive?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses? 
• How will you deal with culture shock?
• Why should we hire you?

There is great variation in the types of contracts on offer at various eikaiwas. Find the one that best suits you. The more support and training on offer, the better for inexperienced teachers. 

There are different types of visas on offer that allow you to teach in Japan. 

• Instructor visa
• Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa
• Working Holiday Visa
• Student Visa
• Dependent Visa
• Permanent Resident / Spouse Visa

The most common visa for teaching at an eikaiwa is the Specialist in Humanities/International Services Visa. 

Each eikaiwa pays differently, but as of 2025, salaries in the most popular eikaiwas are as follows:

NOVA: From our research, NOVA teachers earn a monthly salary of between ¥280,000 ($1,900) and ¥320,000 ($2,200), though there is no mention of salary on their website.

Gaba: There is no set monthly salary. Teachers are hired as independent contractors. The initial base rate is ¥1,630 ($11) per lesson. 

AEON: The monthly salary is fixed at ¥275,000 ($1,841), with a base salary of ¥255,000 ($1,707) and a fixed overtime allowance of ¥20,000 ($133)

ECC Teachers are paid a monthly salary of ¥270,000 ($1,808).

Berlitz Japan: Teachers are paid a salary of ¥281,875 ($1,887) a month for a full-time contract, or  ¥1,990 a lesson for a part-time contract.

This is what Robyn had to say:

Life at an eikaiwa also came with some truly odd moments. From handing out free tissues in the streets as a marketing tactic to singing and dancing for crying five-year-olds in kids’ lessons, sometimes you have to accept some experiences are for the character-building binder – you know you will look back and laugh.

Despite the occasional chaos, the job was mostly enjoyable. The students, especially the adults, made it a rewarding experience, and while some lessons were tougher than others, it really was about as easy as English teaching gets. 

Does that sound like your vibe? If you’re thinking about becoming an English teacher in Japan, be sure to check out our page on teaching jobs in Japan for foreigners.