Internships in Osaka, Japan

Osaka is a great way to experience the workplace in Japan within your field without the stress of living in the bustling capital of Tokyo. Although Osaka has a more relaxed and warm atmosphere in general, the workplace is still as intense as any other Japanese city. Osakans are undoubtedly some of the warmest people you come across in Japan, but this doesn’t mean they will tolerate slackers. They put in serious work and they expect this hardworking attitude to be adopted by the new intern. 

Popular types of internships in Osaka. Popular internships in Osaka include TEFL and business internships.The intern will have to pay a fee to the company, and in return will receive ongoing support from applying to finishing their internship. Many of these third party companies will also assist interns who have minimal Japanese language skills. It is, however, still advisable to study some Japanese - your sake won’t order itself!). The government in Japan are also affiliated with some internships directly. These are often in Japanese and they are currently in their early stage, so are hard to come by.

Short internships and summer internships vs. long-term internships. Shorter internships in Osaka are a great way to get a feel and experience in your particular field; however, it will not give you the full experience of working in the field long term. This isn’t particularly a disadvantage, as a taste may be all you need, it looks amazing on your resume and improves your chances of being hired for future jobs! Long term internships will enable you to learn more about your specific field, make long lasting relationships and learn more about Japanese work culture. Weigh up all the pros and cons before deciding which will be the most suitable option for you. 

Unpaid vs. paid internships in Osaka. It is common for internships in Japan to not pay in cold hard cash. This doesn’t mean the company is a bad one, in fact, far from it. Companies spend money on internships and rather than give money, give knowledge and insight to the real life workplace. If this is a deal breaker for you, try negotiating with the internship provider, or keep searching - there are endless possibilities out there. It’s crucial to think about your own personal financial situation before flying out to Osaka as Japan can be expensive. Think it through, and choose wisely.