Top Facts About Work In Japan Internship Programs
There are enough good reasons to decide to work in Japan as an intern. Undergoing an internship program in the land of the rising sun can really give you one of the richest cultural experiences you can ever have. Before you decide to truly go for it though, you might want to first go over these important facts about Japan internships.
#1- The costs for internship are a bit high.
There are a couple of good go between sites that let you submit applications and read information without fees. These are good free options but the rest of what you need can be expensive. The cost of flying to Japan plus the necessary travel insurance can go for about $2000 which isn’t cheap at all especially if you’re still a student.
#2- Accommodations and meals aren’t always free.
People who are actually working in Japan as employees and not interns may be able to get free board and lodging. Winter resorts in Hokkaido often offer the benefit of free accommodations and meals. This is not always the case for interns, which means additional costs for you to consider preparing for.
Some hotels house their internship Japan participants for a fee. Dorm-type accommodations can cost you a minimum of 15,000 yen a month. Meals provided by hotels can reach 60,000 yen a month. These seem like big figures but you should expect to spend more if you plan to look for accommodations outside of your employer’s premises. Self-organized board and lodging can reach a grand total of 100,000 per month.
#3- Interns have summer and winter options.
Similar to normal work in Japan for foreign visitors, interns in resorts and vacation spots can have summer and winter programs to choose from. For summer destinations, the resorts in Okinawa are perhaps your best options because of the natural beauty of the region. For winter, you should head off to Hokkaido which is one of the best places on earth for skiing and fun in fine powder.
#4- You can bring your own equipment or you can rent.
It’s more convenient to rent equipment especially if you plan to go for a winter resort. This is simply a practical choice. Rentals for boots can go for around 30,000 yen while winter clothing can go for an additional 20,000 yen. You might consider bringing your own gear if you are a bit on the big size. Most local boots are less than 30 centimeters in length.
#5- You should take the time to study Japanese.
Interns are expected to perform duties similar to regular employees. This includes talking to customers and employers. This really just means that you will have to be familiar with the local tongue. This can be a bit difficult since you’d have to get your head around countless characters in hiragana, kanji and katakana. Add to these the honorific terms that you also need to memorize. There are a couple of different ways you can learn though including on the spot experience based classes and short courses that go for $300.
The idea of going to work in Japan as an intern can get pretty exciting. Just be sure though that you’ve got your head around the basic facts you need to keep in mind. This is especially true for the costs involved.
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