Working in Japan: the contract, the hours, the premiums and the rules of your status

Working in Japan means working under Japanese labour law, and it protects more than the stories about long days suggest: a working week of 40 hours, overtime with at least a 25% premium, and a contract that must be in writing. What disappoints Dutch people: paid leave only comes after six months in the job, and your stay hangs on your work. Whoever changes jobs or spends time without work deals with the immigration agency. How you get the visa is in the work visa for Japan; this article is about the work itself.

What must your Japanese employment contract contain?

Japanese labour law obliges the employer to give you the main terms in writing (by e-mail is allowed, if you wish):

• the term, and for a fixed-term contract the rules for renewal;
• the place of work and the job, and how far they may change;
• start and end times, overtime, breaks, days off;
• the pay: how it is calculated, when and how it is paid;
• how the contract ends, including the grounds for dismissal.

A contract may not contain a fixed penalty for breach of contract, no advance loan offset against your wages, and no compulsory savings plan through your employer. If the terms turn out to differ from what was promised after you start, you may end the contract immediately.

How many hours do you work, and what do you get for overtime?

Rule	What the law says
Normal working time	at most 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week
Break	45 minutes for more than 6 hours, 60 minutes for more than 8 hours
Days off	at least 1 a week, or 4 per 4 weeks
Overtime	only with a written agreement with the union or a workers' representative; in principle at most 45 hours a month and 360 a year
Overtime premium	at least 25%; above 60 overtime hours a month at least 50%
Work on a statutory rest day	at least 35% premium
Night work (22:00 to 5:00)	at least 25% premium
Paid leave	10 days after 6 months in the job and 80% attendance, rising to 20

In special circumstances overtime may be higher, but not above 720 hours a year and less than 100 hours in a month. If you are entitled to more than ten days of leave, the employer must make sure you take at least five.

Wages are paid at least once a month on a fixed day, in full, after deduction of tax and social premiums. The minimum wage differs per prefecture: since October 2025 it is ¥ 1,226 an hour in Tokyo, ¥ 1,177 in Osaka, and ¥ 1,121 on the national average.

Which premiums come off your salary?

As an employee you are insured for healthcare and pension through your employer; for both you pay half of the premium and your employer the other half. If you work at least 20 hours a week and are expected to work at least 31 days, you are also covered by employment insurance, whose premium is shared as well. What the health insurance covers is in healthcare in Japan; what the Japanese pension years yield later, in AOW, pension and tax in Japan.

What does the immigration agency ask of you as an employee?

Your work is your right of residence. Whoever is in Japan on a work status and, without a valid reason, does not do the work for which that status was granted for three months or longer can lose their status of residence. After a dismissal you therefore do not have unlimited time to find something new.

If your contract ends or you start with a new employer, you report it within fourteen days to the immigration agency; that can be done online. Since 15 April 2026 there is an extra requirement for those who mainly work with language, such as translating or a hotel front desk, at an employer in category 3 or 4 of the immigration agency (in essence: not listed and less than ¥ 10 million in withheld wage tax a year): proof of language level B2 in the language you use at work; for Japanese that is JLPT N2. Documents in a language other than Japanese are submitted to the immigration agency with a Japanese translation, including your diploma.

Can you work in Japan as self-employed?

Starting your own business requires the Business Manager status, and that was tightened considerably on 16 October 2025:

Requirement	Since 16 October 2025
Capital	¥ 30 million or more
Staff	at least one full-time employee, such as a Japanese national or a permanent resident
Language	you or a full-time employee at level B2 Japanese (JLPT N2)
Experience	a master's or doctorate in a relevant field, or three years' experience in business management
Business plan	checked by a recognised consultant, accountant or tax accountant
Office	a real business premises; your home as an office is in principle not allowed

For most Dutch people this is not a viable route to Japan.

In Vertrekklaar this is phase 2 of 5 of the journey, step 2.2: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Japan or go straight to step 2.2 in the open plan.