How many international students are there in Japan?

408,069 as of May 1, 2025, including Japanese language schools (JASSO). The largest groups are from China (131,097), Nepal (100,239) and Vietnam (43,366).

How many hours can international students work in Japan?

With permission for activities outside their status, up to 28 hours a week, and up to 8 hours a day during long school breaks (Immigration Services Agency).

How many international students get jobs in Japan after graduating?

Among higher-education graduates in the 2024 academic year, 38.8% found employment in Japan (JASSO).

Studying in Japan as an international student

Every year, hundreds of thousands of young people come to Japan to study, often starting at a Japanese language school. What happens next: university, a job, permanent residency, or going home? Here are the real numbers.

Who comes to study in Japan

408,069 international students (May 1, 2025, including language schools)
China 131,097 · Nepal 100,239 · Vietnam 43,366 · Myanmar 29,413 · Sri Lanka 17,626 · South Korea 14,612 · Bangladesh 11,392 · Taiwan 7,989 · Indonesia 7,032 · Mongolia 3,994

By type of school, 140,174 were at Japanese language institutions, 106,829 at vocational schools, 92,442 in undergraduate programs and 60,013 in graduate school. Tokyo hosted 140,029 of them, Osaka 43,253 and Fukuoka 25,011 (JASSO).

Part-time work: the 28-hour rule

Students may work part-time with permission, but only up to 28 hours a week, or 8 hours a day during long school breaks (Immigration Services Agency). Rent, tuition and living costs make this limit one of the hardest parts of student life.

After language school, after graduation

Of those who completed Japanese language institutions, 78.1% went on to further study in Japan and 9.9% found jobs in Japan. Among graduates of universities and other higher education in the 2024 academic year, 38.8% found employment in Japan (JASSO). In 2024, 39,766 former students were approved to change their status to work in Japan, 78.9% of them to the "Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services" status. The top nationalities were China, Vietnam and Nepal (Immigration Services Agency).

Staying for good

Permanent residency generally requires at least ten consecutive years in Japan, including five years on a work or residence status (Immigration Services Agency). Naturalization requires, among other conditions, at least five consecutive years of living in Japan (Ministry of Justice).

What the simulator assumes

The special edition uses the country mix, the work limit and the residency rules above. Arrival age, language progress, income and costs, and the odds of admission, job offers and visa approval are game assumptions.

Sources: JASSO surveys of international students (2025 enrollment, 2024 career paths); Immigration Services Agency; Ministry of Justice.

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