Are internships in Japan paid?

No, our internships in Japan are not paid. The main focus of the internship is on gaining learning experience in your area of interest within a culturally new environment for you.

Internships are quite uncommon in Japan, as Japanese students typically do not complete internships. In Japan, university graduates usually start at an entry-level position in a company, often with the goal of staying with the same company for their entire career. Therefore, it is difficult for typical Japanese companies to understand why someone would want to join a company for a relatively short time as an intern and then leave again. Japanese companies often view it as doing a favor to allow a foreigner to take part in their company as an intern.

There are often significant cultural differences and differing expectations when it comes to the role. Our team serves as an intercultural mediator between you as the intern and the Japanese companies, supporting and facilitating communication between both sides.

Updated on: 22/07/2025