What Age Can You Start Working in Japan?

In Japan, the minimum working age is 15 years old (after completing compulsory education), as set by the Labor Standards Act (Rōdō Kijunhō, 労働基準法). However, children under 18 face significant restrictions on working hours, job types, and nighttime shifts that parents, expats, and anyone planning a working life in Japan should understand clearly.

The Legal Minimum Age to Work in Japan

Japan's Labor Standards Act sets 15 as the baseline minimum age for employment, but the law is more specific than that. A child cannot be employed until after the end of the school year in which they turn 15. In practice, this means a student finishing junior high school (chūgakkō, 中学校) at around age 15 can begin part-time or full-time work.

Children under 13 cannot be employed under any circumstances in standard employment. Between 13 and 15, a child may only work in film, theatrical, or entertainment roles, and only with special permission from the Labor Standards Inspection Office (Rōdō Kijun Kantoku-sho, 労働基準監督署).

Restrictions for Workers Under 18

Even after the age of 15 threshold is cleared, workers under 18 (minen-sha, 未成年者) are classed as "minors" under Japanese law and face these important limits:

• No work between 10 PM and 5 AM. Night shift restrictions apply strictly. Employers who violate this face criminal penalties.
• No hazardous work. Jobs involving heavy machinery, mining, certain chemical exposure, or construction are prohibited for under-18s.
• Maximum working hours. Minors cannot work more than 8 hours a day or 40 hours a week, mirroring adult limits but enforced more strictly in practice.
• Parental or guardian consent. A written consent document from a parent or legal guardian is typically required before a minor can be hired.

Most Japanese teenagers work in arubaito (アルバイト), the term for part-time jobs, at convenience stores (konbini), family restaurants (famiresu), or retail shops. These roles are common first jobs for high school students.

Working at 18 and the Transition to Adult Employment

At 18, most employment restrictions lift. Japan also lowered the age of adulthood (seijin, 成人) from 20 to 18 years old in April 2022, under the revised Civil Code. This means 18-year-olds can now:

• Sign employment contracts without parental consent
• Work night shifts (in industries that permit it under general labor law)
• Apply for most professional licenses and certifications
• Open bank accounts and sign rental contracts independently

The drinking and smoking age, however, remains 20 years old — so a young worker in a bar or convenience store can sell alcohol but cannot legally consume it until age 20.

What This Means for Foreign Nationals and Expat Families

If you are a foreign national living in Japan with children or teenagers, the same Labor Standards Act rules apply regardless of nationality. However, visa status adds a critical layer.

Most dependent visas (kazoku taizai, 家族滞在ビザ) held by children of working expats do not automatically permit employment. A teenager on a dependent visa who wants to work part-time must apply for permission to engage in activity other than that permitted under the status of residence (shikakugai katsudō kyoka, 資格外活動許可) at the nearest Immigration Services Agency office.

Without this permission, working — even at a casual arubaito — is a violation of immigration law, regardless of age. This is a detail that catches many expat families off guard.

Students on student visas (ryūgaku, 留学) face the same requirement and are typically permitted to work up to 28 hours per week during term time, and full-time during designated school holidays.

Practical Tips for Parents Raising Teenagers in Japan

If your child is approaching working age while you're based in Japan, here's what to do in practical terms:

Check visa permissions first. Visit the Immigration Services Agency (Nyūkoku Kanri-kyoku) or check their official online portal. The application for activity permission can often be submitted at major immigration offices in Tokyo, Osaka, Nagoya, and other cities. Processing typically takes two to four weeks.

Gather the right paperwork. For minors taking their first job, employers will ask for a jūminhyō (住民票, resident certificate), school enrollment confirmation, and parental consent form. Make sure your household registration (jūmin toroku) is up to date at your local city hall (shiyakusho, 市役所).

Talk to the employer about school schedules. Responsible employers in Japan, particularly large chains like 7-Eleven, Lawson, and FamilyMart, have established systems for hiring student workers and will respect school exam periods. Be direct about schedule constraints during the hiring process (mensetsu, 面接).

Understand the pay rules. Minimum wage (saitei chingin, 最低賃金) in Japan varies by prefecture. Tokyo consistently has the highest minimum wage in the country, while rural prefectures set lower rates. Minors are entitled to the same minimum wage as adults — employers cannot legally pay less simply because a worker is young.

A Note for Parents Who Are Themselves Considering Working in Japan

If you arrived in Japan on a spouse visa (haigūsha, 配偶者ビザ) or dependent visa while your partner works, your own employment rights are tied to your visa category as well. Spouse visas typically allow full work rights, but confirm this against your specific visa documentation. If you are unsure, consult a licensed immigration attorney (gyōsei shoshi, 行政書士) rather than relying on informal advice.

FAQ

Can a 16-year-old work at a convenience store in Japan? Yes. At 16, a teenager can work at convenience stores like 7-Eleven, Lawson, or FamilyMart during daytime and evening hours, provided they have parental consent and do not work past 10 PM. A foreign national at 16 must also have the appropriate visa activity permission.

Does the minimum working age in Japan apply to child performers or influencers? Formal employment rules apply to contracted roles in entertainment. Children under 13 can only work in entertainment with government approval. For social media content creation, the legal lines are less clearly defined, but child labor protections and parental responsibility still apply. Commercial contracts involving minors require guardian co-signing.

What is the penalty for hiring someone under the legal working age in Japan? Employers who violate the minimum age provisions of the Labor Standards Act face up to one year of imprisonment or fines up to 500,000 yen (gojūman-en). Violations of night-shift restrictions for under-18s carry similar penalties. These are not merely administrative — they are criminal penalties enforced by the Labor Standards Inspection Office.