7 Ways to Get to Japan For Free (or Almost Free)

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How to get to Japan for free
7 Ways to Get to Japan For Free

“Free” in Japan usually means your biggest costs are covered: tuition, flights, housing, or a stipend. Below are seven real paths your readers use to land in Japan with minimal out-of-pocket expense, plus links to apply from abroad.

7 Ways to Get to Japan for Free
MEXT Scholarship

MEXT is the gold standard for “free” study in Japan. For undergrad, master’s, PhD, teacher training, Japanese studies, and more, MEXT typically covers full tuition, a monthly stipend, and in many cases international airfare. There are two routes: apply through your local Japanese embassy (Embassy Recommendation) or through a Japanese university (University Recommendation). Both start at the links below and open on a country-by-country calendar each year.
Start here: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarships/mext-scholarships/
Program outline from MEXT: https://www.mext.go.jp/en/policy/education/highered/title02/detail02/sdetail02/1373897.htm
Application page example for 2026 Embassy Rec: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/smap-stopj-applications-undergraduate.html

Why this is “almost free”: tuition and stipend are covered. You budget for visa fees and personal costs. The upside is huge if you want a degree and long-term life in Japan.

7 Ways to Get to Japan for Free
JASSO and Prefectural Scholarships

If you already have admission to a Japanese school or you are in an exchange program, JASSO grants can help with living costs. On top of that, local governments and private foundations: Tokyo, Kanazawa, Rotary foundations, and dozens more offer scholarships with monthly support or lump-sum awards.
Overview and JASSO programs: https://www.jasso.go.jp/en/ryugaku/scholarship_j/index.html
Full quarterly list for 2025-26 with prefectural and foundation awards (PDF): https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/_mt/2025/04/EN_2025-2026Scholarship_Pamphlet.pdf
“Other scholarships” directory: https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/en/planning/scholarships/other-scholarships/

Tip: These are competitive but plentiful. Many schools have a staff member who helps you apply once you arrive.

7 Ways to Get to Japan for Free
JET Programme (Teach English or CIR)

JET is a paid job with relocation covered. As an ALT or CIR, you receive a set annual salary and your contracting organization pays for your flight to Japan and, after successful completion, a flight home. You also get national health insurance and local government support on arrival.
General site: https://jetprogramme.org/en/
Salary and contract details: https://jetprogramusa.org/contract-information/
Flights and FAQ: https://jetprogramusa.org/faq/

Why this is “almost free”: your employer covers flights and salary starts on day one, which removes most arrival costs.

7 Ways to Get to Japan for Free
WWOOF Japan

WWOOF is a cultural exchange with host farms and families who provide room and board in exchange for help. It is not paid work and does not sponsor a visa. Many participants join under a Temporary Visitor or Working Holiday status, but you are responsible for having the correct visa for your activities. Always confirm with your embassy or immigration before you go.
WWOOF visa page: https://www.wwoofjapan.com/home/index.php?Itemid=101&catid=11&id=63%3Avisas&lang=en&option=com_content&view=article
Immigration note from WWOOF: https://www.wwoofjapan.com/home/index.php?Itemid=298&id=57&lang=en&option=com_content&view=article 

Why this is “almost free”: hosts cover food and housing. You pay travel and insurance. It is a great low-cost way to test rural life before committing.

7 Ways to Get to Japan for Free
Language School Discounts and Grants

Full scholarships for language school are rare, but many schools offer merit grants, fee waivers, or sizable discounts for long-term students. Examples:

ISI scholarship info: https://www.isi-education.com/application/scholarship/
ISI full-coverage program for specific applicants: https://www.isi-education.com/support-refugees
KAI tuition grants and special skills scholarship: https://www.kaij.jp/support/scholarship/ and https://www.kaij.jp/support/specialskills/
GenkiJACS discount programs and long-course pricing discounts: https://www.genkijacs.com/discounts.php and https://www.genkijacs.com/18month-course.php

How to use this: ask schools if they have internal awards after one term of high attendance and grades. Combine with part-time work rights on a Student visa to keep net costs low.

7 Ways to Get to Japan for Free
Working Holiday Visa

If your country has a WHV agreement with Japan, you can arrive without a pre-arranged job and start working part-time immediately, which reduces your upfront savings needs. Age limits and funds required vary by country.
Official WHV page with partner list: https://www.mofa.go.jp/j_info/visit/w_holiday/index.html

Why this is “almost free”: you bootstrap your life on arrival by working right away, often with staff housing in resort towns or rural areas.

7 Ways to Get to Japan for Free
Company Relocation Packages

For IT and skilled roles, some companies sponsor your visa and provide relocation packages that include flights, shipping, temporary housing, and language lessons. Two public examples:
Mercari relocation support: https://careers.mercari.com/en/work-in-japan/
LY Corporation (LINE Yahoo) relocation and English-first onboarding: https://www.lycorp.co.jp/en/recruit/landingpage/work-in-japan/

Where to find roles: search boards that explicitly tag “Visa sponsorship” and “Hire from overseas.”
GaijinPot jobs: https://jobs.gaijinpot.com/
Japan Dev tech jobs with relocation: https://japan-dev.com/japan-jobs-relocation/
SSW Support Site for non-degree roles: https://www.ssw.go.jp/en/ 

CONCLUSION
How to Pick Your Path

• If you want a degree with the lowest cost: start with MEXT and JASSO.

• If you want paid work quickly and have a degree: consider JET or company relocation.

• If you want a quick landing with flexible work: check Working Holiday.

• If you want low living costs while you test Japan: consider WWOOF plus a future SSW route.

• If you want to build Japanese fast: use language school discounts and study toward JLPT N4 for SSW eligibility later.

Need Help Landing a Job in Japan?
Here are a few ways I can support you:

✅Resume Writing Tutorial + Templates
Step-by-step written guide + the exact Japanese resume formats I used to get hired. Perfect if you’re not sure how to write a 履歴書 or 職務経歴書.