Finding a job in Japan as a foreigner is very doable — but you need to be on the right platforms. Japanese job sites that work great for locals are often useless for foreigners. Here are the ones that actually work.
Best Job Sites for English-Speaking Foreigners
1. GaijinPot Jobs — Best for English Speakers
gaijinpot.com/jobs
Look, GaijinPot is the starting point for most foreigners job hunting in Japan. It’s the largest English-language job board in the country, and a lot of the listings don’t require Japanese at all.
- Many jobs that don’t require Japanese
- Strong in: teaching English, IT, hospitality, customer service
- Free to use
Best for: People with low Japanese level looking for English-environment jobs.
2. Daijob — Best for Bilingual Professionals
daijob.com
Once you’ve got some Japanese ability and want to move up into real corporate roles, Daijob is where it’s at. The jobs here are higher quality and the salaries are noticeably better.
- Specializes in bilingual (Japanese + English) roles
- High-quality jobs at multinational companies
- Salary tends to be higher than average
- English interface available
Best for: People with business-level English who want corporate careers.
3. doda — Best for Mid-Career Professionals
doda.jp
doda is one of Japan’s biggest job boards overall, and they have an English-support service specifically for foreigners. The recruiter support is genuinely useful — don’t skip it.
- One of Japan’s largest job boards
- English-support service for foreigners
- Many job types: IT, engineering, sales, finance
- Recruiter support available
Best for: People with 3+ years of work experience looking for career advancement.
4. LinkedIn Japan — Best for Professional Networking
linkedin.com
LinkedIn works the same in Japan as it does everywhere else. And recruiters here definitely use it — especially for tech, finance, and management roles. Build your profile, connect with people, and let the algorithm work for you.
- Good for IT, marketing, finance, management roles
- Recruiters actively search here
- Build your profile in English
Best for: Mid to senior level professionals, especially in tech and business.
5. Wantedly — Best for Startup Jobs
wantedly.com
Wantedly is popular in Japan’s startup scene. It’s a bit different from other job boards — companies post based on culture and mission, not just salary. A lot of the companies here are international-friendly.
- Company culture focused — you apply based on values, not just salary
- English profiles accepted at many companies
- Many international-friendly environments
Best for: Young professionals interested in startup culture.
6. Indeed Japan — Best for Volume Search
jp.indeed.com
Honestly, if you want to cast a wide net, Indeed is useful. Filter by “英語OK” (English OK) or “外国人歓迎” (foreigners welcome) to cut through the noise.
- Aggregates jobs from many sites
- Huge volume of listings
- Available in English
Best for: Wide search across all industries.
Comparison Table
| Site | Japanese Needed? | Best Industry | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| GaijinPot | No | Teaching, IT, hospitality | Entry–mid |
| Daijob | Bilingual | Corporate, finance | Mid–senior |
| doda | Some | All industries | Mid–senior |
| No | Tech, business | Mid–senior | |
| Wantedly | Some | Startups, tech | Entry–mid |
| Indeed | Some | All industries | All levels |
Tips That Actually Help
Write your resume in both English and Japanese. Even for English-environment jobs, many companies want a Japanese resume (職務経歴書). It shows effort and it’s often required.
Be upfront about your visa status. State your visa type and expiry date in your application. Companies need to know they can legally hire you — hiding this doesn’t help anyone.
Use multiple sites at the same time. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Register on 3–4 and apply broadly.
Talk to a recruiter. Sites like doda and Daijob offer free recruiter support. Use it. They know what companies are actually looking for and they can help you position yourself.
Where to Start
Start with GaijinPot if you want English-environment jobs with no Japanese required. Move to Daijob or doda when you’re ready to go after higher-paying corporate roles. And use LinkedIn to build your professional network while you’re at it — it’s not just for job searching, it’s for being found.