Student Life in Japan: Study, Work and Culture
Academic culture, daily life, the social scene and practical rules — including the 28-hour work limit and the October 2026 minimum wages.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
3 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
Academic life
- Lectures plus tutorials and seminars
- Independent study is expected
- Critical thinking is valued
- Office hours are available
- Exams, papers and presentations
- Group projects are common
- Academic integrity rules are strict
- Grading varies by institution
Daily life
A typical day mixes classes, the library, socialising and exploring. For food, you will rely on supermarkets, university canteens and street food — and on the konbini. Getting around means public transit, often with a discounted student commuter pass.
A few admin tasks come early: joining National Health Insurance at your municipal office (compulsory if you stay three months or more; it then pays 70% of medical bills), opening a bank account, and getting a SIM — shop around for the best student deal.
Culture shock
Five things that surprise most new arrivals:
- Everything is on time. Trains, classes, meetings. Being one minute late is noticed.
- Communication is indirect. People rarely say no directly. Learn to “read the air” (kuuki wo yomu).
- Student clubs are intense. Club activities (bukatsu) are taken very seriously, and they are the main way to make Japanese friends.
- Loneliness is real. The language barrier is significant. Join international communities early.
- Apartments are tiny. A 1K in Tokyo may be 18–25 m². You learn minimalism quickly.
Did you know?
About 15 degrees for casual, 30 for formal and 45 for an apology. Read the room.
Even 20-second timing slips get public apologies, and a five-minute delay earns you an official delay certificate.
No phone calls on trains. Noise complaints are taken seriously.
Many places are cash-only despite the high-tech image. Carry ¥5,000–10,000.
Five or six categories, collected on different days. Neighbours notice mistakes.
A 7-Eleven sells meals, pays bills, has ATMs and prints documents — open 24/7.
Part-time work rules
The “Student” status of residence does not allow work by itself. You need permission to engage in activities other than those permitted from the Immigration Services Agency. First-time arrivals who will live in Japan for more than three months can apply at the airport when they land; otherwise apply at a regional immigration bureau.
The 28-hour cap applies to all your jobs combined. Internships closely tied to your degree, self-employment where hours cannot be verified and contract work without fixed hours need a separate, individual permission.
Minimum wage by city, 2026
Japan raised every prefecture's minimum wage for fiscal 2026. The new national weighted average is ¥1,177 an hour, up from ¥1,121. Each prefecture's new rate starts on its own date between 1 October and 2 December 2026.
| Prefecture (city) | New rate | Previous | From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | ¥1,280 | ¥1,226 | 1 Oct 2026 |
| Osaka | ¥1,231 | ¥1,177 | 1 Oct 2026 |
| Aichi (Nagoya) | ¥1,195 | ¥1,140 | 1 Oct 2026 |
| Kyoto | ¥1,180 | ¥1,122 | 16 Nov 2026 |
| Ibaraki (Tsukuba) | ¥1,136 | ¥1,074 | 18 Oct 2026 |
| Hokkaido (Sapporo) | ¥1,131 | ¥1,075 | 1 Oct 2026 |
| Fukuoka | ¥1,114 | ¥1,057 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Miyagi (Sendai) | ¥1,098 | ¥1,038 | 1 Oct 2026 |
Source: Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, FY2026 regional minimum wages. Work rules: Immigration Services Agency.
Weather
| Season | Typical temperature | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| 🌸 Spring | 10–20°C | Cherry blossoms! |
| ☀️ Summer | 25–35°C | Hot and humid, with a rainy season in June. |
| 🍂 Autumn | 12–22°C | Beautiful foliage. |
| ❄️ Winter | −2 to 10°C | Mild in Tokyo, snow in Hokkaido. |