Our Japan Internships

We offer Japan Internships in Hotels around Japan. Our internships are a unique opportunity to gain insight into the Japanese Tourism / Hotel / Hospitality industry. Benefits of our programs include:

1. An insight into traditional Japanese workplace ethics/rules, through a unique and enjoyable work experience.

2. A great learning opportunity for students to practice and improve their Japanese skills.

3. An affordable alternative to study abroad programs.

Our Japan Internships allow students to learn about management within the Hotel / Tourism industry, and how the honorific mode of Japanese is used in an everyday situation. Theory can be taught on campus, but students need opportunities to observe how it is applied in a hotel/tourism/business situation, and to practice it in the country. Tourism/business requires the highest mode of the language in use. With their exposure to the honorifics in use, Japan Internship students will be better prepared to cope with expectations for future positions such as translators, diplomats, etc., which remain essential for economic/diplomatic relations with Japan.

Our Japan internship programs assist with professional skills development of students of degrees including, but not limited to:

	Japanese Language and Studies
	Tourism
	Business management
	Hotel / resort management
	Hospitality management

Japan Internships hotel front desk staff

About our Programs

Japan Internships run almost all-year round. Programs run from 8 - 18 weeks, and can be tailored to suit your availability. There are two internship programs available:

1. Standard Internship Program
An Internship program for Intermediate / Advanced level Japanese speakers

2. Intensive Internship Program
A combined Intensive Language Course + Internship program for Beginner level Japanese speakers

The Intensive Internship program is suitable for beginner-level Japanese speakers who wish to participate in one of our Internships. Intensive program interns complete our Intensive Japanese Language Course for Hotel / Hospitality Internships before departure to ensure they have the minimum Japanese level necessary to function in Japan.

For the duration of their Japan Internship, all students will be regularly supervised to discuss their progress and to ensure they are getting the most out of their work placement. They will also be required to attend an induction seminar, keep a journal, and write a reflective essay about what they learn from the experience. Upon successful completion of the Internship, students will receive a Certificate to acknowledge their participation.

As international work experience and internships are not a common requirement in courses at many Universities, most opportunities that exist do not carry credit but do provide a valuable experience by undertaking formal training in an international context. If you wish to discuss getting credit for your participation in Japan Internships, you will need to seek permission from your course co-ordinator, or the relevant Internship Placement Officer at your campus. Please feel free to Contact us anytime for further information.

Japan Internship Positions

There are various positions available in the Hotels. You may be assigned to check-in customers at the front desk, greet customers in the lobby as a bellhop, as a waiter in one of the many restaurants, or to one of many other positions. As some positions in Hotels are more linguistically demanding than others, you will be matched to positions based on your Japanese ability. In all positions, you will be exposed to the Japanese Honorifics in use every day, which is an extraordinary opportunity to practice your "keigo", that you would not find possible in your home country.

Dormitory Accommodation

	Most Hotels provide Accommodation in or near the hotel where you will be undertaking the Internship program. NOTE: Depending on their Japanese ability, advanced level speakers may be eligible to receive free accommodation (will be determined during the initial interview - see our FAQ section for details).
	Generally, employer-provided dormitory accomodation is either in walking distance, or is a short bus or train trip away.
	The accommodation provided is similar to a university dormitory. Kitchen and bathing facilities will be shared.
	Interns will be able to become friends with the Japanese people in their dormitory, and get to know Japan through contact with Japanese people.
	Note about Bathing: In Japan, single-sex communal baths are part of the culture. Bathing facilities in Hotels are communal. There will be a single room, with a line of showers situated next to each other (where you first wash your body), and a single bathtub which fits about 4-6 people (which everyone gets into after their body is clean). You will be required to bathe naked with your roommates etc. - again, there is nothing strange about this - it has been part of their culture for thousands of years. If this will be a problem, please consider whether Japan Internships are for you.

Program Costs

Interns are responsible for their own travel expense to Japan, and for purchasing Travel Insurance for the entire period of their Internship. The cost varies - expect to pay between USD$1,500 - $2,000 for everything.

Most Hotels provide Dormitory Accommodation and Meals for staff at reduced rates. Depending on their Japanese ability, advanced level speakers may be eligible to receive free accommodation (will be determined during the initial interview - see our FAQ section for details).

Beginner-level Japanese speakers may be required to participate in our Intensive Japanese Language Course for Hotel / Hospitality Internships, which they will have to pay for too.
(Duration: 6 weeks, Cost: AUD$350)

Salary / Hours / Insurance

Interns are employed by their Host company directly. All Internships are paid at approx. 650yen per hour (according to minimum wage law in Japan). As Japanese companies pay on a monthly basis, interns will receive a salary of approx. 110-125,000 yen (Currency Convertor) before tax per month. NOTE: all income is taxed at 20% (see our FAQ section for details).

Most Internships have a 40-48hr/week schedule (about 170-190 hours per month, 6-7 days off per month). An average day is 8am - 5pm (with 1-hour unpaid lunch break), however some positions may start earlier of finish later. Overtime work (10pm - 5am) is paid at 125% of hourly wages (and is expected during busy periods).

All Resort work staff are covered by Japanese "Rousai" Work Insurance while on the job.

Types of Hotels

Interns can choose to participate in Japan Internships in either City Hotels, or Resort Hotels.

City Hotels are located in major Japanese cities, and operate year-round. Due to the cost of living in the big cities, some City Hotels are unable to offer Dormitory Accommodation for staff, in which case Interns are responsible for organising their own Accommodation and Meals for the duration of their Internship. (more)

Resort Hotels are located in rural areas of Japan, and are seasonal (Winter Hotels operate from Dec - Apr, Summer Hotels operate from May - Nov). Resort Hotels offer Dormitory Accommodation and Meals for staff at reduced rates. (more)

Life as an Intern

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