Teachers at private language schools in Japan can expect to work around between 12-30 hours per week, depending on whether they are full-time or part-time. Classes will usually start between 10am to 1pm and last until 6pm or 10pm, five days per week, typically including the weekends.

The number of hours English teachers work in Japan varies significantly depending on whether they are in the JET Program, an Assistant Language Teacher (ALT) for a private company, or working at an Eikaiwa (private conversation school). A standard full-time contract typically specifies 35 to 40 hours per week. For ALTs in public schools, the hours are usually 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM or 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday, with about 20 to 25 of those hours spent actually teaching in the classroom. The remaining time is used for lesson planning, grading, and participating in school activities. Eikaiwa teachers, however, often have irregular schedules that include evenings and weekends to accommodate students who work or attend school during the day. In 2026, while the official "work week" remains stable, many teachers find that "optional" extracurricular activities or administrative tasks can push their actual time at school closer to 45 hours. It is also important to note that Japan has a strong "overtime" culture, though foreign teachers are often (but not always) exempt from the most extreme expectations placed on their Japanese counterparts.