Teaching English in Tokyo

Tokyo is buzzing with people and action. There is a little bit of everything for everyone in Tokyo, which is why so many people from all over the world flock to this cosmopolitan city to teach English. Find your favorite food and drink at an izakaya, or throw a blanket down on the ground to enjoy one of the many hanabis around the city. Teaching English in Tokyo comes with a strong benefits and salary package that lets you save money while you tour the ancient sites and party into the wee hours of the night.

Teach English in the city that never sleeps

There is certainly a buzz in the air in this truly 24/7 city. If you're a nighthawk, Tokyo is the perfect place to teach English. For a relaxing place after work to have a drink and a bite to eat, check out the many izakayas around the city — from casual to fine dining, there's an izakaya for everyone. Tokyo's late-night festivals only add to the energy. Catch one of the many hanabi around the city for fireworks and light shows like you've never seen.

Cost of living

On the whole, cost of living in Tokyo can be expensive, and unfortunately many schools do not offer financial support for housing. That said, many schools pay between 250,000 and 280,000 yen per month (roughly USD $2,500–$2,800) — a salary that will let you live well in Japan and still save money. Teachers in Tokyo report the cheapest two-bedroom apartment they've lived in was around $1,450 USD excluding utilities, so a one-bedroom is comfortably cheaper. The best way to find more affordable rent is to live closer to a main road. You can live comfortably on about $1,500 per month while shopping at stores like Uniqlo and grabbing quick, delicious meals at local chains like Yoshinoya, Matsuya, and CoCo Ichi for under 600 yen (about $6).

Plenty of TESOL jobs and support in Tokyo

Like many other Asian countries, Japanese schools offer competitive benefits and salary packages. If you want to teach kindergarten, take a look at Education Network. ECC is one of the oldest schools in Japan, offering a solid salary and a well-developed curriculum. There are plenty of other organizations including Gaba Japan and small conversation schools to apply to. For peer support, check out JALT (the Japan Association for Language Teaching), which runs an annual conference and several publications and meetings.

Fun things to do in Tokyo

Beyond being a 24/7 city, Tokyo is famously cramped — many apartments don't allow pets, so teachers often find themselves cuddling fuzzy friends at the city's cat and rabbit cafes. Check out Candy Fruit Rabbit Cafe in Akihabara, a ten-minute walk from the main Akihabara station.

For something distinctly Japanese, catch some sumo wrestling, which runs for 15 days in January, May, and September. Arrive in the morning (after 8 a.m.) for a good seat and rent a radio for English commentary for 100 yen. Afterward, grab a bowl of chanko-nabe — the stew eaten by wrestlers — at a nearby banquet hall.