This article is contributed by Scaling Your Company, provides entrepreneur coaching for foreign entrepreneurs in Japan and digital marketing services.

As Japan's borders open to more foreigners and the inbound tourism market continues to grow, the opportunities for freelance work are on the rise. Whether you're an English teacher, a marketing enthusiast, a tourist guide, a creative professional, or even a model, there are increasing opportunities to earn a living as a freelancer in Japan through platforms like Zehitomo and more. In this article, we will explore various avenues for securing freelance work in Japan, focusing on top-paying opportunities.

English Teaching

One of Japan's most common freelance work types is English teaching. It's an excellent way to kickstart your freelancing career, as it offers a wide range of hourly pay rates, typically 1,500 yen to 5,000 yen. For those with experience, executive-level coaching in English can even command rates as high as 20,000 yen per lesson. Most freelance English teachers, however, earn in the 2,000 to 3,000 yen per hour range, making it an accessible starting point for many.

Here are some websites where you can find opportunities to teach English online, with pay rates exceeding 2,000 yen per hour:

Craigslist / Gaijinpot

Jobs in Kansai: Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara

Teaching English in Japan

Top Paying Online Teaching to Japanese Students

Carefinder

Marketing

The demand for marketing professionals who can communicate with English-speaking audiences is on the rise in Japan, thanks to the growing number of foreigners visiting or living in the country. If you have digital marketing experience, consider contacting digital marketing agencies that specialize in targeting English speakers. Attending events like the Tokyo Digital Marketers meetup can be an excellent way to network with agency owners who may be willing to subcontract some of their work to you.

For those who lack experience, gaining paid freelance work can be challenging. In such cases, an internship might be the right path to gain valuable experience. Some companies, such as Scaling Your Company, do offer internships to budding digital marketers. You can also check job boards like Creative Tokyo and Canvas for other opportunities.

To enhance your marketing skills, refer to their articles on digital marketing in Japan and social media marketing. 

Tourist Guides / Writers

With the influx of tourists in Japan, there is a growing demand for tourist guides. Companies like Arigato Tours provide opportunities for freelance tour guides to explore Japan's cultural and natural wonders. You can also consider offering specialized tours, such as bicycle tours, food tours, or luxury travel experiences. These niche markets offer great potential for freelance work.

Jobs in Japan

Twenty Tour

The Backstreet Guides (Japanese)

Gaijin Pot (Writers)

Creative Professionals

If you have a passion for photography or videography, there are numerous avenues for freelance work in Japan. For videographers, subcontracting work from digital marketing agencies can be a fruitful option. Many agencies seek video production services to enhance their content and engage with the English-speaking audience. A quick Google search or a LinkedIn browse in cities like Kyoto and Tokyo can help you find agencies looking for experienced videographers. Creative Tokyo and Canvas Tokyo are once again good places to find English-speaking jobs, with some freelance opportunities. 

Modeling

Modeling is another exciting freelance opportunity in Japan. With various modeling agencies in the country, you can explore part-time modeling gigs. Consider contacting the following modeling agencies below:

Avocado Modelling Agency in Tokyo

Free Wave

D’Xim

BRAVO Models

Alpha Modelling in Tokyo

Websites for Freelance Work in Japanese

For those who want to explore more freelance work in Japanese, several platforms are worth considering:

Lancers.jp

Coconala

Crowdworks

Follow the tips provided in this article, and you'll be well on your way to increasing your freelance work in Japan. Best of luck in your freelancing endeavors!

About Scaling Your Company

Scaling Your Company, founded by serial entrepreneur Tyson Batino, is a dynamic enterprise dedicated to fueling business expansion throughout Japan. With a highly effective team headquartered in Tokyo and Hokkaido, they offer cost-effective advisory services to empower small business owners and startups to achieve remarkable growth. Their mission is to catalyze a 5x to 10x, or even more, increase in annual revenues, providing personalized assistance in tackling marketing, operational, hiring, and management challenges. Furthermore, they proudly introduced a cutting-edge marketing agency in April 2023, specializing in crafting websites and delivering localized SEO and MEO services within Japan and beyond.