This post is also available in:
日本語 
Türkçe
※この記事内にはプロモーションが含まれています。
The dream of living in Japan by securing employment there isn’t as difficult as you might think. The IT sector stands out as one of the easiest industries for foreigners to find work in Japan. Due to the significant shortage in Japan’s IT sector, domestic software engineers cannot meet the industry’s demands. The number of foreign workers in the IT sector has grown approximately 5 fold, from 18,030 in 2008 to 90,546 in 2024.
The software development skills you use in your home country’s professional life will likely become much more valuable when you come to Japan, and you’ll be able to find jobs with significantly higher salaries. In this article, we’ll provide information about the steps you need to follow to find a job in Japan’s IT sector and some tips that will make your job search easier.
- The growing need for foreign workers in Japan’s IT sector
- Factors that affect your job search in Japan’s IT sector
- Steps to follow to find a job in Japan’s IT sector
- The highest-paying software and programming languages in Japan
- The Growing Demand for Foreign Workers in Japan’s IT Sector
- What Factors Affect Your Job Search in Japan’s IT Sector?
- Steps to Follow to Find a Job in Japan’s IT Sector
- Top 10 Highest-Paying Programming Languages in Japan (Annual Salary)
- Summary
The Growing Demand for Foreign Workers in Japan’s IT Sector
In recent years, due to Japan’s aging and declining population, there has been a rapid increase in the foreign workforce. The number of foreign workers in Japan, which was approximately 486,000 in 2008, reached 2,302,587 in 2024, representing approximately a 4.7-fold increase.
The labor shortage in Japan continues, and recently, many steps have been taken to address this gap through overseas recruitment.
The IT sector is at the forefront of industries experiencing the most significant labor shortage. According to data from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, the labor shortage in the IT sector could reach 790,000 people by 2030. Recently, companies that don’t require Japanese language proficiency have also increased to fill this gap.
Due to the shortage in the IT sector, software engineers within Japan are insufficient to meet industry needs. The number of foreign workers in the IT sector, which was 18,030 in 2008, reached 90,546 in 2024, representing approximately a 5 fold increase.
To sum up all this data, the labor shortage in Japan’s IT sector doesn’t appear to be closing anytime soon. Japan is truly a paradise of opportunities for foreigners seeking jobs in the IT sector.
Due to the shortage in Japan’s IT sector, many foreigners without IT experience are successfully finding jobs in the IT industry.
What Factors Affect Your Job Search in Japan’s IT Sector?
1. Matching Your Qualifications with the Position Requirements
Before starting your job search in Japan, you need to clearly determine which area of the IT sector you want to work in. After selecting your target position, it’s important to evaluate whether your current experience and skills are sufficient. If you think your technical knowledge or experience is lacking, you can increase your chances of finding a job by completing these gaps through certification programs or additional training.
When hiring foreign workers, employers in Japan also consider risks such as visa sponsorship, language barriers, and difficulties adapting to Japanese culture. Therefore, having qualifications that perfectly match the position you’re applying for will set you apart from other candidates. The employer’s willingness to take on these risks and choose you depends on your ability to meet the position’s requirements completely.
Preference Order in Japan’s IT Sector
Fully matching position requirements > Partially matching position requirements
2. Applying for Jobs from Within Japan
When job hunting in Japan, applying from within the country significantly increases your chances of being hired. This is because bringing in foreign workers from abroad carries many risks for employers.
- Obligation to sponsor the employee’s visa
- Possibility of the employee not obtaining a visa
- Difficulties in adapting to Japanese culture
- Employee’s inability to adjust to the Japanese work environment
- Employee leaving the job shortly due to homesickness
- Communication problems due to language barriers
For these reasons, a candidate applying from outside Japan needs to be competent, experienced, and reliable enough to offset these risks. Otherwise, if there’s a candidate with similar qualifications in Japan, priority will always favor the candidate in Japan.
People who have come to Japan through language schools, university education, or Master’s/Doctoral degree programs are generally viewed by employers as individuals who have adapted culturally and overcome language barriers. This puts them one step ahead in the hiring process. Candidates already living in Japan reduce the employer’s risk perception, increasing their likelihood of being hired.
Preference Order in Japan’s IT Sector
Applying from within Japan > Applying from outside Japan
3- Your Japanese Language Proficiency
Although positions in Japan’s IT sector that don’t require Japanese have increased in recent years, knowing Japanese is still one of the strongest advantages in the hiring process. Between two candidates with the same technical competence, the candidate who knows Japanese will always be one step ahead. This makes a big difference for employers in terms of both communication and team harmony.
Preference Order in Japan’s IT Sector
Candidates who know Japanese > Candidates who don’t know Japanese
In conclusion, for those who want to build a career in Japan’s IT sector, learning Japanese is not just a plus—it’s a strategic investment that expands career opportunities.
Steps to Follow to Find a Job in Japan’s IT Sector
1- Start Learning Japanese
If you’re planning to find a job in Japan’s IT sector and live here long-term, starting to learn Japanese today will provide you with a significant advantage.
Even if you can perform your daily work in some positions without using Japanese, Japanese language knowledge is indispensable for living comfortably in Japan, easily meeting your daily needs, and building strong communication with your Japanese colleagues.
If you want to advance to senior positions or leadership roles in Japan’s IT sector, knowing Japanese becomes not a choice but a mandatory requirement.
Starting to learn Japanese early not only increases your job opportunities but also helps you better understand Japanese culture and easily adapt to working life. This will be a strong investment in your career in the long run.
#To start learning Japanese for free, you can benefit from the websites we’ve compiled in the article below↓↓↓
2- Strengthen Your CV by Obtaining Software Certifications
If you want to find a job in Japan’s IT sector, having a strong CV makes a big difference. Even candidates with no experience in the sector are being accepted for quality, high-paying positions in Japan thanks to IT certifications obtained through online education platforms.
It’s possible to reach your goal in a short time: Many foreign job seekers who regularly participate in certification programs for 2-3 months have managed to receive job offers from positions offering annual salaries of 5-6 million JPY. Therefore, certificates demonstrate not only your technical knowledge but also your motivation to learn.
- Strengthens your CV by documenting your technical knowledge
- Provides entry opportunities to the sector for those starting from scratch
- Internationally valid certificates are preferred by Japanese employers
- You can take courses online anytime, anywhere
Some of the online platforms you can use to get a certificate:
Coursera
Coursera is one of the largest and most well-known online education platforms in the world with over 191 million registered users. With Coursera, you can access the highest quality software courses provided by world-renowned universities and IT giants like Google and IBM.
You can access many courses for free, but you need to pay to access graded assignments and obtain certificates. You can first participate in courses for free, and if you like them, you can pay later to get the certificate. Additionally, with Coursera Plus membership (monthly/$59 “7-day free trial”, annual/$399 “14-day free trial”), you can get unlimited access to certification programs. For those who want to obtain many certificates in a short time, Coursera Plus may be a more economical plan.
- Phyton
- R
- Java
- React
- HTML, CSS and Javascript
- SQL
- C
- C++
- PHP
Udemy
Udemy is a massive online education platform that hosts an extensive and impressive range of courses offered by a global community of expert instructors. In today’s rapidly evolving digital world, staying competitive in the IT and software sector requires continuous learning and skill development.
Whether you’re a career changer looking to transition into technology, a developer wanting to specialize in the latest technologies, or an IT professional targeting your next promotion… Udemy stands out as one of the world’s most accessible and comprehensive online learning platforms to accelerate your career journey.
With practice-oriented course content, real project examples, and flexible learning structure, Udemy prepares you for the digital world of the future by offering the freedom to access knowledge from anywhere, anytime.
- Programming Languages: Python for Beginners, Complete Java Masterclass, JavaScript – The Complete Guide
- Cloud Computing: AWS Solutions Architect, Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, Google Cloud Platform
- Cybersecurity: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA Security+, Cybersecurity Fundamentals
- Data Science & AI: Data Science with Python, Machine Learning with TensorFlow, SQL for Data Analysis
- DevOps & Infrastructure: Kubernetes for DevOps, Docker Mastery, CI/CD Pipeline Development
- Web Development: React Web Development, Full-Stack Web Development, Angular – The Complete Guide
- Exceptional Affordability: Individual courses frequently cost $10-20 during discount periods
- Lifetime Access: Purchase a course once and return to materials forever as technology evolves
- Flexible Learning Options: Choose between individual course purchases or Personal Plan subscription ($20-40/month) for unlimited access to thousands of courses
- Risk-Free Purchase: 30-day refund policy on individual course purchases
- Learn at Your Own Pace: No rigid schedules—study anywhere, anytime on mobile or desktop
- Industry Professionals: Learn from real-world professionals with hands-on experience
- Diverse Content: Courses available for all levels from beginner basics to advanced expertise
- Instant Skill Development: Acquire practical skills you can immediately add to your resume
- Variable Quality: Course quality varies among instructors—always check ratings, reviews, and credentials before purchasing
- Non-Accredited Certificates: Udemy certificates are not officially accredited, but they demonstrate to employers that you have verifiable skills
- Requires Self-Discipline: You need strong motivation as there are no mandatory deadlines or live instruction
- Content Currency: Some courses may become outdated in rapidly evolving fields like AI or cloud computing
- Subscription Limitations: Personal Plan access ends when you cancel; individual purchases are yours forever
There are two main access models depending on your learning goals on Udemy: Monthly Subscription (Personal Plan) and Individual Course Purchase .
| Feature | Monthly Subscription (Personal Plan) | Individual Course Purchase |
| Cost | Tekrarlayan aylık veya yıllık Recurring monthly or annual fee (approximately $20-40/month) | One-time fee per course (prices vary, typically offered at discount) |
| Access | Abonelik devam ettiği sürece, Unlimited access to a curated library of thousands of courses as long as subscription continues | Lifetime access to the specific course you purchased |
| Best For | Those who want to explore multiple topics and try many courses without purchasing each separately | Those who want to focus deeply on a specific skill or topic without recurring payments |
| Important Info | Not ideal for deep study of a single topic; access ends if you cancel subscription | You own the course for life as long as your account is functioning properly |
| Refund | No refund option for subscription plan | 30-day refund policy available for individual course purchases |
| Certificate | Available | Available |
3- Come to Japan Through a Language School
One of the easiest ways to come to Japan by obtaining a visa is to enroll in a language school. Through language school, you can start living in Japan with a long-term visa and have the opportunity to learn Japanese before starting work. During this process, you also have the chance to adapt to the lifestyle, culture, and work environment in Japan.
Advantages Provided by Language School
By attending language school, you not only learn the language but also gain a significant advantage in job applications.
Being already present in Japan and being able to speak Japanese at a certain level increases the likelihood of employers preferring you. This is because, from employers’ perspective, candidates living in the country, adapted to the culture, and having overcome language barriers are always seen as more reliable.
Flexibility in Case of Early Job Finding
If you find a job in the IT sector in a short time while receiving language education, you have the option to leave language school midway and receive a refund of part of the tuition paid. This way, you can quickly step into working life.
#You can use our article below to get detailed information about language schools↓↓↓
4- Enroll in Software Courses That Offer Job Placement Support
One of the most effective ways to accelerate your job search process in Japan’s IT sector is to enroll in software courses that offer job placement support. These courses not only provide technical knowledge but also train students according to the expectations of IT companies in Japan.
A large portion of people participating in software courses consists of individuals who want to make a career change or move to better positions. Therefore, the courses provide comprehensive guidance to help you reach your targeted career by offering both technical education and job placement support.
- CV preparation support
- Portfolio preparation
- Interview practice and job interview training
- Career counseling (coaching)
- One-on-one support in job applications
- Networking with IT companies and providing references
- Information about job opportunities from partner companies
- Job placement guarantee (only in some courses)
These courses aim not only to complete technical education but also to ensure that students reach real job opportunities. Especially courses with high satisfaction rates that successfully integrate their graduates into working life provide a great advantage for foreigners who want to build a career in the IT field in Japan.
Here we’ve compiled reliable and reputable software courses with high success rates.
4.1- DMM WEBCAMP
DMM WEBCAMP is a software course designed for people who seriously aim to make a career change from inexperienced individuals to software engineers.
Reliable Results and Comprehensive Support System
It boasts a 98.8% high job placement success rate and has contributed to the training of over 8,000 software engineers so far. The fact that many course participants start with no experience in the sector and occupation is a confidence-inspiring point for beginners.
Three Selectable Courses
Intensive Short Course: A job-guaranteed course aimed at making a career change to software engineering in as short as 3 months. It’s ideal for those who want to learn intensively, and there’s also a system where the full course fee is refunded if no job is found. This course is included in the government incentive program*.
Specialized Technical Course: A course that provides expert knowledge in artificial intelligence or cloud computing in 4 months. This course is also included in the government incentive program*. For those who meet the requirements, discount support of up to 80% of the course fee is provided.
Work-Study Course: A course aimed at making a career change to software engineering while working, characterized by a flexible learning schedule. This course is also included in the government incentive program*.
Practical Curriculum and Comprehensive Support
DMM WEBCAMP’s curriculum has undergone over 3,000 improvements to reflect participants’ opinions and companies’ needs. Through practical learning that anticipates real development environments such as team development and original portfolio creation, you can acquire skills that allow you to contribute immediately.
From the learning side, active engineers provide question-and-answer support, and in job hunting activities, dedicated career advisors provide comprehensive support from self-analysis to interview preparation and company introductions.
Additionally, a mental support system is in place, and an environment is prepared to prevent giving up.
| Course Style | Online |
| Course Fee | 短期集中コース(Intensive Short Course): Installment: 28,072 JPY/Monthly (First payment 110,000) Lump sum: 690,800 JPY (251,200 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) 専門技術コース(Specialized Technical Course): Installment: 38,706 JPY/Monthly (First payment 110,000) Lump sum: 910,800 JPY (270,800 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) 就業両立コース(Work-Study Course): Installment: 38,706 JPY/Monthly (First payment 110,000) Lump sum: 889,350 JPY (249,350 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) |
| Course Duration | 短期集中コース(Intensive Short Course): 12 weeks + job placement support 専門技術コース(Specialized Technical Course): 16 weeks + job placement support 就業両立コース(Work-Study Course): 24 weeks + job placement support |
| Job Placement Support | Available |
| Job Guarantee | Available (varies by course) |
4.2- RUNTEQ
- RUNTEQ is a highly practical online programming school designed for people who aim to become working software engineers in the web field starting from scratch.
- Since it’s operated by a development company, it offers a curriculum based on real projects totaling 1,000 hours. This way, you not only learn programming language knowledge but also have the opportunity to experience the entire real development process including design, implementation, code review, and improvement.
- Additionally, content prepared to catch the AI era is available. Students learn to develop AI-assisted applications and use AI effectively as a “development partner.” The AI instructor system accessible 24 hours a day helps students maintain their motivation and not give up during the learning process.
- RUNTEQ’s greatest strength is that students can gain experience developing and launching their own service projects from scratch. Thanks to this real project experience, students can create strong portfolios that stand out in the hiring market, contributing to a high employment rate of 94%.
- The school also offers comprehensive career support: one-on-one support is provided to students on topics such as self-analysis, CV preparation, and interview preparation. Even after graduation, there’s an opportunity to continue learning the updated curriculum and an environment for continuous interaction with an active community.
- Additionally, RUNTEQ is included in the government incentive program*. People who meet the necessary conditions can receive government support of up to 80% of the tuition fee.
| Course Style | Online |
| Course Fee | 657,000 JPY (monthly payment options available) (131,400 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) |
| Course Duration | 9 months (over 1,000 hours) |
| Job Placement Support | Available |
| Job Guarantee | Not available |
4.3- Tech Academy
- This is a platform where you study independently online. However, students can ask questions through chat support every day between 15:00-23:00 and receive mentoring services from a personal mentor twice a week for 30 minutes per session.
- The educational curriculum includes real projects you can use in your portfolio.
- There’s a “Tech Academy Career” service where registered students can receive job offers from companies and career advisors based on the software skills they’ve learned.
- There’s an “Employment Guaranteed Software Engineer Training Course「Webエンジニア転職保証コース
」” that guarantees finding a job in software engineering from zero experience within 16 weeks. This course is included in the government incentive program*. If you meet the necessary requirements, you gain a 70% discount right.
| Course Style | Online learning (self-study) + mentoring + chat support |
| Course Fee | 251,900 JPY ~ 635,800 JPY (70% discount if you benefit from government incentive*) |
| Course Duration | 4 weeks・8 weeks・12 weeks・16 weeks |
| Job Placement Support | Available |
| Job Guarantee | Available (varies by course) |
4.4- Data Learning School
- Data Learning School is an online school that teaches data science skills directly usable in the business world.
- After graduation, you’ll have skills at a level where you can immediately start working as a data scientist.
- You can expand your career opportunities by learning the sector’s latest technologies and tools.
- Thanks to community and job placement support, you’ll be helped in the process of transitioning to your dream job.
- Under the guidance of career coaches with work experience, you’ll develop your skills in solving challenges encountered in the business world.
- Guidance is provided according to your learning pace, so you can receive education regardless of age.
| Plan | Coaching Plan | Coaching + Group Mentoring Plan | Coaching + Individual Mentoring Plan |
| Entrance Fee | 110,000 JPY | 110,000 JPY | 110,000 JPY |
| Course Fee | 448,000 JPY | 648,000 JPY | 798,000 JPY |
| Fee you need to pay when benefiting from government incentive* | Not applicable | 156,000 JPY | 268,000 JPY |
| Plan Content | – Data Analysis Courses (Videos and Texts) – Lifetime participation right to Data Learning Guild – In-school chat access – Access to past group mentoring videos – Career coaching: 45 minutes × 24 sessions – Participation in career counseling sessions – Participation in portfolio preparation and counseling sessions | All content in Coaching Plan + Group mentoring: 1 hour × 12 sessions | All content in Coaching Plan + Group mentoring: 1 hour × 12 sessions + Individual mentoring: 45 minutes × 18 sessions |
4.5- SAMURAI ENGINEER
- Samurai Engineer is an online school that offers one-on-one online lessons through dedicated instructors, supporting your process of learning programming skills and finding a job, changing careers, or starting your own business.
- With a completely personalized curriculum specially prepared for each student, you can gain practical skills by receiving education in a wide range including original application development, artificial intelligence, and mobile application development.
- With a dropout rate of only 2.1% among enrolled students, an appropriate environment is provided for students to continue their education to the end.
- With a 99% job placement success rate, this school offers comprehensive support on topics such as finding freelance projects and interview preparation in your job applications.
| Course Style | Online triple support system (Education coach + Instructor actively working in IT sector + Q&A panel) |
| Course Fee | ・Employment guaranteed course 24 weeks (Web engineer): 880,000 JPY (240,000 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) ・Employment guaranteed course 24 weeks (Cloud engineer): 649,000 JPY (129,800 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) ・Web designer course 24 weeks: 415,800 JPY (151,200 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) ・Course for those wanting to become freelancers 24 weeks: 924,000 JPY (364,000 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) ・AI course 24 weeks: 924,000 JPY (364,000 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) ・Data science course 24 weeks: 924,000 JPY (364,000 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) ・Course with personalized curriculum 24 weeks: 990,000 JPY ・Digital skills training course: 566,000 JPY (205,818 JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) |
| Course Duration | 8 weeks・12 weeks・16 weeks・18 weeks・24 weeks・36 weeks |
| Job Placement Support | Available |
| Job Guarantee | Available (varies by course) |
4.6- Aidemy Premium
- Aidemy Premium is an online coaching service that supports learning the latest technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning.
- It offers intensive 3-month “AI Programming” training for professionals aiming to make a career change or use AI in their work.
- Offered completely online, this service closely monitors participants’ progress with dedicated mentors and provides coaching support.
- It appeals to everyone from beginners to people conducting professional research on AI, with 60% of participants consisting of company employees.
- Aidemy is one of Japan’s largest AI learning platforms, with its corporate services used by over 120 companies.
- Aidemy has won many awards in the AI field and has high reliability.
| Course Style | Online |
| Support System | ・Unlimited questions via chat: You can always ask instructors about topics you don’t understand. Responses are given within 24 hours. ・Online counseling: You can discuss your interests or learn topics you don’t understand one-on-one via screen sharing in 25-minute counseling sessions. ・Code review: Instructors review your written code and provide feedback to develop your professional-level coding skills. ・Original AI project and portfolio support: Complete guidance from idea stage to code writing. |
| Course Fee | 3-month plan: 528,000 JPY (105,600~ JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) 6-month plan: 858,000 JPY (218,000~ JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) 9-month plan: 1,078,000 JPY (438,000~ JPY if you benefit from government incentive*) |
| Course Duration | 3 months・6 months・9 months |
| Job Placement Support | Available |
| Job Guarantee | Not available |
5- Utilize Recruitment Agencies and Job Listing Sites
#You can use our articles below to get detailed information about recruitment agencies and job posting sites↓↓↓
6- Start Working in Japan
If you came to Japan with a student visa through a language school, you need to convert your student visa to a work visa. There are documents you need to obtain from your company to apply for a work visa. Carry out this process in dialogue with your company.
Top 10 Highest-Paying Programming Languages in Japan (Annual Salary)
When searching for jobs in the software sector in Japan, to aim for higher salaries, the following table of average annual salaries by programming language can guide you.
| Rank | Software and Programming Language | Average Annual Salary |
| 1 | Go | 7,105,000 JPY |
| 2 | TypeScript | 6,904,000 JPY |
| 3 | Scala | 6,679,000 JPY |
| 4 | Kotlin | 6,649,000 JPY |
| 5 | Ruby | 6,635,000 JPY |
| 6 | Python | 6,529,000 JPY |
| 7 | Swift | 6,416,000 JPY |
| 8 | Sass | 6,360,000 JPY |
| 9 | JavaScript | 6,305,000 JPY |
| 10 | Perl | 6,191,000 JPY |
Summary
In this article, we’ve tried to comprehensively convey to you the steps you need to follow to find a job in Japan’s IT sector. There’s a serious need for workers in Japan’s IT sector that won’t be easily closed in the short term. You can sell your software skills, which you sell cheaply in your home country’s professional life, for many times more by coming to Japan. Additionally, you’ll gain the opportunity to live in Japan, which has an extremely safe, clean, and unique culture, adding a new experience to your life.
If you have any questions about “Career in Japan,” including the IT sector, feel free to ask us without hesitation. You can reach us through social media or the contact form below.
For those looking to develop their careers in Japan and expand international opportunities, this is the perfect starting point.
In addition to introducing the latest job opportunities, we provide solid support for achieving your career goals through individual consultations. 💼✨
📌 Contact Methods
📱 WhatsApp: +81-70-9361-4036
🔗 Various SNS Accounts
📝 Contact Form
📩 Please feel free to contact us first. Let’s advance your career in Japan to the next stage.
If you found this article or our activities helpful, we would greatly appreciate your support with a cup of coffee ☕✨
Language school fees range from 700,000 to 1,000,000 JPY per year. Since this fee will be equivalent to your 1-3 months’ salary, you can consider it as a profitable investment for the future.