Complete Guide to Japan Internship Programs for Foreigners — Top 15
⚡ 30-second answer: Top 15 programs include Tokyo Internship, METI, JETRO, and AIESEC. Unpaid interns ¥0, paid ¥80,000-150,000/month, stipend-only ¥0-30,000/month. Short-term (1-3 months) works on a short-stay visa; long-term (3+ months) needs a Designated Activities visa. Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, and Fukuoka are the main hubs.
Quick reference Value Unpaid intern stipend ¥0-30,000/month Paid intern ¥80,000-180,000/month Program participation fee ¥0-300,000 Dorm/housing subsidy ¥30,000-60,000/month Last verified June 2026
30-Second Answer
Internships in Japan come in four channels: government-backed (METI, JETRO), university dispatches, private programs (AIESEC, World Internship), and direct applications. Short-term (3 months or less) can run on a short-stay visa; long-term requires a "Designated Activities (Internship)" visa. Median paid intern pay is ¥80,000-150,000/month, with IT and consulting reaching ¥150,000-250,000. Unpaid programs usually cover commute and lunch with a ¥0-30,000/month stipend, while ¥150,000-300,000 fee-based programs (housing and support included) are also common. METI Global Internship is run by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, recruiting 50-80 people/year and placing them at Toyota, Sony, Rakuten and other majors — selection takes 2-3 months from documents to final offer.
Recommended Intern Programs Top 15
| # | Program | Operator | Duration | Monthly stipend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | METI Global Internship | METI | 3-6 months | ¥100,000-150,000 |
| 2 | JETRO Invitation Program | JETRO | 2-3 months | ¥80,000-120,000 |
| 3 | Tokyo Internship | Tokyo Metro. Gov. | 1-3 months | ¥0-30,000 |
| 4 | AIESEC Japan | NPO AIESEC | 1.5-6 months | ¥0-80,000 |
| 5 | IAESTE Japan (STEM) | IAESTE | 2-3 months | ¥80,000-130,000 |
| 6 | Vulcanus in Japan | EU-Japan Centre | 12 months | ¥150,000-180,000 |
| 7 | Japan IT Week Intern | Reed Exhibitions | 3-6 months | ¥120,000-200,000 |
| 8 | Rakuten Internship | Rakuten Group | 3-6 months | ¥180,000-280,000 |
| 9 | Mercari Engineering Intern | Mercari | 2-6 months | ¥200,000-300,000 |
| 10 | SmartNews Intern | SmartNews | 3-6 months | ¥150,000-250,000 |
| 11 | Sony Global Internship | Sony Group | 2-3 months | ¥120,000-200,000 |
| 12 | Toyota Foundation Intern | Toyota Foundation | 3-6 months | ¥100,000-150,000 |
| 13 | Kyoto Consortium Intern | Consortium of Kyoto Universities | 1-2 months | ¥0-30,000 |
| 14 | World Internship Program | Private | 1-6 months | Fee ¥200,000-500,000 |
| 15 | Internship.jp (direct) | Recruit affiliate | 1-12 months | ¥80,000-200,000 |
Cost Breakdown
Costs and what you receive:
- Government (METI/JETRO): ¥0 fee, ¥80,000-150,000 paid monthly
- University dispatch (IAESTE etc.): Fee ¥50,000-150,000, ¥80,000-130,000/month
- Major company paid intern: ¥150,000-300,000/month, no fee
- Private programs (with housing): Fee ¥200,000-500,000, stipend ¥0-30,000/month
- NPO (AIESEC): Fee ¥50,000-150,000, strong local support
- Tokyo Internship: No fee, transit subsidy ¥10,000-30,000
- Airfare: ¥80,000-180,000 (typically self-paid)
- Housing: Share house ¥50,000-90,000/month; dorm ¥30,000-60,000
- Food: ¥30,000-50,000/month
- Transit: ¥10,000-15,000/month (often subsidized)
- Total living costs: ¥80,000-130,000/month
- Insurance: ¥3,000-8,000/month (travel insurance recommended)
- Visa fee: ¥3,000 (Designated Activities)
Paid internships often cover everything except ¥150,000-300,000 (airfare + initial costs) for a 3-month stay.
Support for International Applicants
METI Global Internship and JETRO operate fully in English, with English CVs and recommendations submitted via the portal. Tokyo Internship runs an English site and dedicated LINE for daily Q&A, with housing matching and interpreters. Klook offers a "Tokyo Business District Tour 2-hour" for ¥4,500-7,800 — handy for pre-arrival scouting. AIESEC and IAESTE leverage networks in 100+ countries, with applications routed via your home chapter, plus visa support and on-site advisors. Many paid internships are doable in English only; Japanese requirements vary by role. 2-3 Skype/Zoom interviews with the host company are standard.