From 2015 to early 2026, I wore a lot of hats. I taught as a part-time lecturer at a private college. I managed content for a clothing brand. I built Pinterest strategies for food and travel blogs. I created learning materials as a freelance instructional designer.
And for the better part of the last decade, I worked as a virtual assistant for five years for a water sports company, three years for a travel company. I was good at it. But in 2025, on my literal tenth year, I asked myself what comes next?
I knew that season of my life had already run its course. I turned 41 that year, and for the first time in a long while, I found myself genuinely ready for something different. Not because my previous path was wrong, but because I could feel myself growing beyond it. I reached a point where I wanted the next years of my life to be about exploring my full potential, continuing to grow, and becoming the best version of myself that I could still be.
That’s when I came across a reel on Facebook. Something made me stop. Assistant Language Teacher in Japan. I watched it twice. Then I watched five more like it.
Here’s the thing about me. I don’t make big decisions without seeing things for myself first. Japan has always been in my bucket list of countries to visit. I’ve watched so many animes and I’m familiar with the cuisine.
But, I needed to know if Japan would feel like home even temporarily. So I booked a tourist visa appointment. I was in Sri Lanka at the time and submitted my application through the VFS Global Center there. I got my visa after two weeks and flew out on April 30th, landing at Narita and what followed was fourteen days that answered my question completely.
I spent a day in Narita and Ueno before making my way north to Hirosaki to catch the cherry blossoms. I stayed four nights. From there, I went to Kodaira to visit an aunt I hadn’t seen in years, then weaved through shorter visits to Shinjuku, Shibuya, Akihabara, Roppongi, and the Hanno Valley in Saitama.
By the time I boarded my flight home, I already knew my answer. Yes. I’m applying to be an Assistant Language Teacher in Japan and I’m doing it under the JET Programme.
I’ve documented the process I went through and I’m sharing this complete guide. It’s broken into five blog posts. Feel free to head straight to the one that’s most relevant to where you are right now in your JET journey.
Part 1 – Preparation
Part 2 – Writing your Statement of Purpose
Part 3 – The Interview and Teaching Demonstration
Part 4 – After You’re Shortlisted
Part 5 – ALT under JET: FAQ Edition
So what does an ALT do?
An Assistant Language Teacher or an ALT works alongside Japanese teachers in public schools to support English education. Depending on the school, an ALT may help plan activities, lead pronunciation practice, create interactive lessons, assist during classroom discussions. Beyond teaching, many ALTs also participate in school events, community activities, and everyday school life in Japan.
There are generally three main ways ALTs are hired in Japan:
- Through the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET)
- Through private dispatch companies
- Through direct hire positions with schools or Boards of Education (BOEs)
A dispatch company is a private company that recruits and manages ALTs, then “dispatches” or assigns them to schools across Japan. Instead of being employed directly by the school or local government, the ALT is employed by the company itself.
Some well-known dispatch companies include Interac, Altia Central, and Borderlink. These companies typically handle recruitment, visas, placement, and basic support for teachers moving to Japan.
Many people consider JET as one of the best ALT pathways because it generally offers higher pay, better benefits, stronger job stability, and more support compared to most dispatch companies. Dispatch companies, however, are often more accessible because they recruit year-round and may have a less competitive application process.
Direct hire positions are less common and usually preferred by experienced ALTs already living in Japan since they can sometimes offer better salaries and more independence.
What is the JET Programme?
JET stands for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme and it was launched in 1987 by the Japanese government to promote international exchange and strengthen foreign language education in Japan.
It is a government-to-government programme administered in the Philippines through the Embassy of Japan in Pasay City, but it isn’t just for Filipinos. There are 82 participating countries and this is one of the reasons I decided to join.
The majority of participants in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme serve as Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs), many of whom come from English-speaking countries. Beyond ALTs, the programme also includes Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) and Sports Exchange Advisors (SEAs).
To know more about the JET Programme, you may refer to their official website.
Why I chose the JET Programme?
I’ve worked as an overseas Filipino worker before, but this time around, my work will be that of a grassroots cultural ambassador. It isn’t only about working in Japan, but about participating in something built on cultural connection and mutual exchange.
With JET, you become part of a larger cultural exchange initiative. You are selected by a government, welcomed by another, and entrusted with a role that goes beyond teaching English. There’s a sense of purpose and representation attached to it that feels very different from a typical overseas work experience.
Also, participants come from all over the world so this makes the experience even more exciting. You’ll meet people from different countries, cultures, teaching backgrounds, and walks of life. For someone like me who has already taught abroad, this global aspect made the opportunity even more appealing. It’s not only about experiencing Japanese culture, but also learning from fellow JET participants from around the world.
You might ask why I chose to apply as an ALT when I had already worked as a main teacher in both Brunei and Sri Lanka. For me, it is about experiencing something completely different.
I’ve never worked in a team-teaching environment before so I’m genuinely excited to experience what that dynamic looks like in an actual Japanese classroom. After years of being the main teacher, I think there’s also something refreshing about entering a role where I can observe, support, contribute, and learn at the same time.
Am I Eligible? Here’s the Checklist for Filipinos.
Before you start gathering documents or losing sleep over your Statement of Purpose, the first question to answer is a simple one. Do you actually qualify?
The good news is that the basic eligibility requirements for the JET Programme are broader than most people expect. You do not need to be a fresh graduate. You do not need a degree in Education. You do not need to speak Japanese. And, this is the one that surprised me most when I first read the guidelines, there is no upper age limit.
Disclaimer: The eligibility requirements below are based on the 2026 JET Programme Application Guidelines published by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines. Requirements are reviewed and may be updated each application cycle. Before you apply, always download the current guidelines directly from the official embassy website https://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000193_00001.html
The non-negotiables
You must be a Filipino citizen. The JET Programme in the Philippines is administered by the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, and your application must go through them regardless of where you are currently living. If you are based abroad, you can still apply. But your documents go to the embassy in Pasay City and you will need to return to the Philippines for your interview if you are shortlisted.
You must have a genuine interest in Japan. This one sounds soft, but it is in the official eligibility criteria for a reason. The JET Programme is not a work visa with a teaching component. It is a cultural exchange programme. Participants are expected to be motivated to participate in and initiate international exchange activities in the local community, and to make efforts to study or continue studying the Japanese language prior to and after arriving in Japan.
You must hold a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Any field. Education, Engineering, Tourism, Business, Communication Arts, it does not matter. What matters is that you have completed a four-year degree. A diploma from a junior college or technical-vocational programme, without a bachelor’s degree, is not sufficient. If you are about to graduate at the time of application, you may still be eligible, but check the specific guidelines for your cycle, as there are conditions around this.
You must be mentally and physically fit. There is a Self-Report of Medical Condition(s) form included in the application requirements. If you disclose a medical history that requires further clearance, you will need to submit a Statement of Physician as well. Be honest on this form. Withholding information that becomes apparent later can disqualify you from the programme entirely.
Your English must go beyond fluency. It must be classroom-ready. The first is pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. As an ALT, your voice is a teaching tool. Japanese students are learning not just vocabulary and grammar but how English actually sounds when spoken naturally. The selection panel will be listening for this during your interview and your teaching demonstration. The second is the ability to form sentences in a comprehensive and logical manner. This one shows up most directly in your Statement of Purpose. The panel is checking whether you can organise thought into language clearly enough to teach it. Your SOP is the first proof of this. Your teaching demonstration is the second.
You must be willing to obey all Japanese laws for the duration of your participation. This sounds straightforward, but it is worth saying plainly. Japan operates differently. Its laws, its systems, and even its unwritten social contracts are taken seriously and followed closely. Compliance is not just a legal requirement. It is a baseline form of respect for the country and the community that is welcoming you.
You must agree to reside in Japan under the status of residence stipulated by Japanese immigration law. Your visa and residency status as a JET participant are arranged through the Embassy of Japan and your host institution. What is required of you is simply that you understand, accept, and comply with the terms of the status of residence designated for JET participants. This is a legal agreement and it is non-negotiable.
You must have a genuine desire to maintain a relationship with Japan even after your JET contract ends. You are being invited into a cultural exchange that the Japanese government hopes will outlast your placement. The programme wants to know that what you take from this experience, you will carry forward and share.
You must be willing and able to adapt to living and working in Japan and be determined to complete your participation responsibly. This requirement asks two things at once and both deserve honest reflection before you apply. The first is adaptability and living abroad will test it in ways you do not fully anticipate until you are there. The systems, communication styles, and daily life in Japan require a genuine willingness to adjust. The second is commitment.
JET is not a programme you dip into and exit early because the placement was harder than expected or the prefecture was quieter than you hoped. When you accept a position, a school, a community, and a set of students are counting on you to show up and stay. The determination to see it through is something the panel will be looking for in everything from your essay to your answers in the interview room.
Be honest with yourself about whether you have it before you submit your application.
You must be genuinely interested in the Japanese education system and in foreign language education in Japan specifically. This is not the same as being interested in Japan generally. The distinction matters. As an ALT, you are stepping into a specific educational context. Japanese schools have their own structure, their own culture, their own way of approaching English language learning and the programme expects you to care about that context.
You must be interested in working with children. This one is easy to overlook because it seems obvious, of course you want to work with children, you are applying to teach. But the operative word is interested, not merely willing.
You must have completed your period of probation by the time you submit your application, if you have a suspended jail term. This is stated plainly in the official guidelines and is included here for completeness. If this condition applies to you, the timeline matters. Your probation must be fully served before your application is submitted, not before you depart for Japan.
The disqualifying conditions
Beyond meeting the basic requirements, there are specific conditions that will make you ineligible regardless of how strong your application is. These are not grey areas. If any of the following apply to you, you cannot participate in the current cycle.
Previous JET participation history. If you have already been part of the JET Programme, you are only eligible to apply again if your most recent participation was before the 2023 JET Programme year. And regardless of when you last participated, the total across all your JET years must not exceed six years. The programme is designed to give the experience to as many people as possible, not to be a long-term career in itself.
Declining a position after being notified. If you were offered a JET placement in the previous cycle and turned it down, without a valid, documented, and unavoidable reason, you are not eligible to apply in the following year. This is worth knowing before you apply, because declining is not a neutral act. If life genuinely got in the way and you had a legitimate reason, it may still be possible to apply, but the determination rests with the embassy.
Time spent living in Japan. If you have lived in Japan for six or more cumulative years since 2016, you do not qualify.
How I Thought About My Preferred Placements
Let me be clear about something upfront. Placement is not guaranteed. You will be asked to indicate your preferences during the application process, but the final decision rests with the JET Programme and your host institution.
You may get your first choice. You may get none of them. What matters is that when you submit your preferences, you have thought them through genuinely and not just written down the most famous city you could think of.
I submitted three preferred placements. They are Fukuoka City, Kobe City, and Saitama City. I want to walk you through exactly how I arrived at those three, because the questions I asked myself might help you think through your own list.
The questions I used to narrow it down
I did not choose my placements based on popularity or what I had seen most on Instagram. I chose them by asking myself a set of honest questions about who I am, what I need to function well, and what kind of experience I actually wanted.
What is there to discover and does it match who I am?
I am someone who is drawn to places that have both history and a living culture, the kind you can walk through on an ordinary Wednesday. I wanted a placement where there was always something to explore on a weekend, something to write about, something to photograph, something to learn from.
What is the population size and diversity like?
As a Filipino living abroad for the first time in Japan, having already spent seven years in Brunei, I know myself well enough to know that I do not thrive in complete isolation. I needed a city with enough population and enough diversity that I would not spend my first year feeling entirely invisible. A city where foreigners are not an unusual sight, where the community is varied enough that I could find my footing without it being a daily struggle.
How is the access to an international airport?
This is practical and I make no apologies for it. Being able to fly home or to travel within Asia without a five-hour train journey first was important to me. All three of my choices have either a major international airport nearby or very good access to one. When you are living abroad and something happens at home, you want to be able to move quickly.
Is there a Catholic church?
Faith is part of who I am. I did not want to spend my JET years without being able to attend mass in a community where faith is practised. This might not be on everyone’s list, but I am including it here because I think Filipino applicants in particular should consider it. Japan has a smaller Catholic community than most countries we are used to, but it exists and in larger, more diverse cities, it is easier to find.
Is there a Filipino community?
Related to the above and not because I planned to spend all my time with Filipinos, which would rather defeat the purpose of the whole adventure, but because having even a small community of people who understand where you come from is a genuine anchor when homesickness hits.
And it will hit. Knowing there is a Filipino store somewhere in the city, or a community mass, or even a Facebook group for Filipinos in that prefecture, makes a real difference.
Is it a mix of urban and traditional?
This one was important to me as a writer and as someone who chose Japan specifically because of its particular beauty, the way modernity and tradition exist side by side without either apologising for the other. I did not want a purely urban placement where everything felt like a business district. I also did not want a placement so rural that I would be the only point of cultural difference for miles.
I wanted the mix. Old temples next to coffee shops. Festival seasons that shut down the whole city. Mountains you can see from the train.
Are there mountains, sea, or both?
I will be honest. This was partly practical and partly personal. Mountains and sea matter to me aesthetically and emotionally. For me, a placement with geographical variety will give me inspiration.
Why Fukuoka, Kobe, and Saitama
Fukuoka checked nearly every box. It is a city that consistently ranks as one of the most liveable in Japan. It’s compact, walkable, with a food culture that is arguably the best in the country, proximity to the sea, easy access to Fukuoka Airport which has international routes, a growing international community, and a pace of life that feels a little less relentless than Tokyo.
It has the energy of a big city without the overwhelm. For someone who writes, eats with intention, and wants to be able to travel within Asia affordably, Fukuoka made sense.
Kobe appealed to me because of its history as one of Japan’s earliest international port cities. It has a long-established foreign community, a visible Catholic presence including a cathedral, a gorgeous mix of Japanese and European architecture, mountains literally behind the city and the sea directly in front of it. Kobe is a city that has always known how to hold different cultures at once. That felt right for me.
Saitama was my more practical choice and I include it here to be honest about that. It is part of the Greater Tokyo area, which means access to everything the capital offers, including Narita and Haneda airports, a large Filipino community, churches, and urban infrastructure, without the intensity and cost of being placed in Tokyo itself. I also visited the Hanno Valley in Saitama during my pre-application trip and felt something quiet and right about it. It was greener and more unhurried than I had expected. That mattered.
A note for you
Your list will look different from mine and it should. The questions that guided me were shaped by my personality, my faith, my age, my history of living abroad, and what I want to write about. Yours will be shaped by yours.
What I want to encourage is this. Do not choose your preferred placements carelessly. Do not write down Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto just because they are the cities you have heard of. Think about who you are on an ordinary day, not your best travel day, not the day you are full of excitement and ambition, but a regular Tuesday when you are tired and a little homesick and you need the place you live in to hold you. Choose for that person, too.
Beyond the practical questions, I also did something simple that I would recommend to every applicant. I followed the official Instagram pages of the cities I was considering. Fukuoka City, Kobe, and Saitama all have active official accounts that post about local festivals, seasonal events, community news, and city life as it actually happens.
Scrolling through those feeds over several weeks gave me a feel for each city’s rhythm and personality in a way that no guidebook could. By the time I submitted my application, these places already felt a little familiar.
It is a small thing, but it costs nothing and tells you a great deal. If a city’s official page excites you, if you find yourself saving their posts, looking up the festivals they announce, feeling a pull toward something you see, that is useful information about yourself.
So now, what comes next?
Deciding to apply is one thing. Actually preparing for the application is another. And that’s where the next part of this journey begins.
In Part 1, I’ll talk about the preparation that went into my JET application, from getting my documents together and working on my application.But before I end this post, here’s something I’d like you to think about:
What if the biggest step toward your next chapter isn’t knowing exactly how you’re going to get there, but being brave enough to ask yourself if you really want to go?
For me, before I could prepare for the journey, I first had to decide whether the destination was worth pursuing. And now that I’m in Japan, I can say that it absolutely was.
See you in Part 1!
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🍀 Let’s Stay Connected
If this post resonated with you, let’s keep in touch. I share more on:
- ✈️ Travel, cozy cafes, food discoveries, and freelance life on Instagram and Facebook
- 🧠 Mindful productivity, instructional design, and digital business on LinkedIn
- 💻 Plus, I regularly share digital products and courses to support freelancers, educators, and startups on all three platforms.
Let’s connect. I’d love to learn about your journey too!
