How Much Do Part-Time Jobs Pay in Japan? Wages, Night Premiums & Payday
What arubaito actually pay in 2026: minimum wage basics, typical hourly rates by job type, the 25% late-night premium, transport allowance, and when you get paid.
Before you send a rirekisho, it helps to know what a fair offer looks like. Part-time pay in Japan is hourly (時給), floored by a legal minimum wage that differs by prefecture, and topped up by premiums that many first-time foreign workers do not know they are owed.
The minimum wage floor
Every prefecture sets a legal minimum hourly wage, revised each October. As of the FY2025 revision the national weighted average is around ¥1,120, with Tokyo highest at about ¥1,226 and rural prefectures lower. No employer may pay below their prefecture's minimum — including during training (研修期間). Check the current figure for your prefecture on the MHLW (厚生労働省) minimum-wage page before you apply.
Typical rates by job type
- Konbini & supermarkets: usually at or slightly above minimum wage; night shifts pay noticeably more.
- Cafes, restaurants, izakaya: around minimum to +¥100; izakaya evening shifts often pay above cafes.
- Delivery, moving, warehouse: typically +¥100–300 over minimum because the work is physical.
- Teaching your native language: often ¥1,500–3,000/hour, but hours are irregular.
The late-night premium (深夜手当)
Work between 22:00 and 5:00 legally pays at least 25% extra. A konbini night shift at a base wage of ¥1,200 must pay ¥1,500 during those hours. If a job ad quotes one flat rate for a shift that crosses 22:00, ask how the premium is handled — a proper employer will show the split. Students: night shifts still count toward the 28-hour weekly limit.
Transport allowance and other extras
- 交通費 (transport): many employers reimburse your commute, often up to a monthly cap. Confirm before accepting — it changes the real value of the job.
- まかない (staff meals): common in restaurants — free or discounted meals are worth several hundred yen a shift.
- Raises: small increases after months of reliable work are normal to ask about at review time.
When and how you get paid
Most arubaito pay monthly, commonly closing at month-end and paying on the 15th or 25th of the following month — so your first payday can be up to seven weeks after your first shift. Budget for that gap. Wages go to a Japanese bank account; bring your bank book or cash card and residence card when you complete hiring paperwork. Some chains offer same-week payment apps, but monthly is the default.
Reading a job ad's pay line
「時給1,200円〜（22時以降1,500円）研修時給1,150円・交通費支給」 means: base ¥1,200/h, ¥1,500 after 22:00, ¥1,150 during training, transport paid. If any of those parts is missing from an ad, ask at the interview — politely confirming pay details is completely normal in Japan. Once you pick a job to chase, build the resume for it on the part-time resume page.