Arriving in Japan as an English Teacher (ALT or Language School): Your First Weeks

Updated: 2026-09-17

Quick answer

Miya, the GetConnectedJapan guide, walking along a quiet residential street pulling a small suitcase on a calm sunny morning. — My first morning in a new town usually goes on finding the station, the municipal office and the way to school.

Hi, I'm Miya, and I help newcomers settle into life in Japan. Coming to teach English, whether as an assistant language teacher (ALT) at public schools or as a teacher at a language school, is a little different from arriving as a student or moving for an office job. You may be placed in a town you didn't pick, you might work at more than one school, and your year follows the Japanese school calendar. This guide walks through what the first weeks usually look like, so landing feels less like a leap.

The short version: expect some kind of orientation, then a move to your placement town, where your employer or a supervisor often helps with the first practical steps. Within 14 days of moving into your home, register your address at the municipal office with your residence card. Sort out housing, your commute and the rhythm of your schools. Once your residence card is in hand, set up a Japanese phone line so your schools and supervisor can reach you. Details vary a lot by employer, so always check the guidance your own employer gives you.

Orientation and your first few days

Many employers run some form of orientation for new teachers, sometimes in a larger city before you travel on to your placement, sometimes after you arrive in town. It often covers daily life in Japan, classroom basics, how team-teaching works and who to contact when something comes up. The length and format differ widely, so read whatever your employer sends before you fly and keep it somewhere you can open offline. If you're unsure whether someone will meet you or how to reach your placement, ask your employer in advance rather than working it out at the airport.

Jet lag, new faces and a lot of paperwork tend to arrive all at once, so don't expect to absorb everything. Write down the name of your supervisor or contact person, the address of your home and school, and the details of your first working day. Useful Japanese words include tantōsha (担当者, the person in charge of you) and kyōiku iinkai (教育委員会, the board of education), which often manages ALTs at public schools. It's perfectly normal to ask the same question twice in your first week.

Your residence card and registering your address

At the major arrival airports, your residence card (zairyū kādo, 在留カード) is usually issued when you pass through immigration. If you land somewhere it isn't issued on the spot, your passport is generally stamped and the card is sent to you after you register your address. Check the details on the card before you leave the counter, and keep it with you, since foreign residents are generally required to carry it. The Immigration Services Agency (出入国在留管理庁) explains the current rules on its website.

Once you've moved into your home, register your address at the city, ward, town or village office within 14 days; this creates your resident record, the jūminhyō (住民票). Bring your residence card and passport, and ask your supervisor whether someone from your school or employer can come with you, as this is quite common. At the same visit you may also deal with National Health Insurance and pension, unless your employer enrols you in its own insurance, and your My Number notice is usually posted to your address afterwards. Ask at the counter which steps apply to you, since it depends on your contract and your municipality.

Being placed in a town you didn't choose

Many ALTs, and some language-school teachers, are placed in towns they didn't pick, often outside the big cities. That can mean a small station with fewer trains, shops that close earlier, and neighbours who notice the new teacher quickly. It can also mean a real sense of community, local festivals and students who wave at you in the supermarket. Give yourself a few weeks before deciding how you feel about it.

In your first days, walk or cycle around to find the supermarket, the pharmacy, the post office, the nearest clinic and the municipal office. Check the last train and bus times, because in smaller places they can be earlier than you expect, and ask colleagues whether people generally get around by car, bicycle or bus. If you plan to drive, ask your employer early about licence rules, since whether a foreign licence can be used depends on the country that issued it. Learning your area's rubbish-sorting rules in the first week will also win you friends quickly.

Employer-arranged housing or finding your own

Some teachers move into housing their employer arranges, sometimes the same flat the previous teacher lived in, while others are expected to find their own place. Employer-arranged housing can make landing much easier, but ask what's included: furniture, utility contracts, internet, and what happens to items the last teacher left behind. Also ask whose name the lease is in and what you'll need to do when you eventually move out. Taking photos of the condition on your first day gives you a record from the start.

If you're finding your own place, expect the usual Japanese rental steps, which can include a guarantor company, move-in costs and a screening. Having your residence card, a contract or letter from your employer and a Japanese phone number generally makes applications smoother. Setting up electricity, gas and water often means calling or applying online in Japanese, so ask a colleague for help if you need it. Until your own place is ready, check whether your employer can suggest somewhere to stay short-term.

Working across several schools

ALTs are often attached to a base school and also visit other schools on set days, and language-school teachers may teach at more than one branch or at client sites. Keep a simple weekly calendar showing which school you're at, the start time, how you get there and who your contact is at each one. Each school may have its own habits, such as where to put your shoes, when the staff meeting is and where you sit. It's normal to ask the teacher you work with most for a quick tour on your first visit.

On your first day at each school you'll usually give a short self-introduction (jikoshōkai, 自己紹介) in the staff room (shokuinshitsu, 職員室), and sometimes to students at an assembly. Bring indoor shoes (uwabaki, 上履き) if you're told to, and a simple yoroshiku onegaishimasu (よろしくお願いします) goes a long way. Many schools hold a short morning meeting (chōrei, 朝礼) where the day's schedule and changes are shared. If you miss something, ask your contact teacher afterwards rather than guessing.

Understanding the school calendar

The Japanese school year generally starts in April and is usually split into terms, with a long summer break around late July and August, a winter break over the New Year, and a short spring break before the new year begins. Opening and closing ceremonies, sports days, exams and school trips all shape the schedule. Depending on your contract, you may still go to work during student holidays, for example to prepare lessons or help at another school. Check with your employer what's expected of you during breaks and when you can take leave.

Teachers who arrive mid-year join a school that's already in full swing, while those who start in spring arrive at a busy time with new classes and staff changes. Either way, schedules change often, with lessons cancelled for events or moved at short notice. Many schools share updates on paper in the staff room, but supervisors and colleagues may also message or call you. Keep your school calendar handy and don't hesitate to confirm the next week's plan before the weekend.

A Japanese number your schools can reach

Here's something that becomes clear in the first week: your schools, your supervisor, your housing contact and the municipal office will usually want a Japanese phone number. A timetable change, a note about a cancelled lesson or a lift to a visiting school often comes by phone or through a messaging app, and in a new town you'll also lean on a transit app and a map app to find your way. That's why getting a Japanese number with data right after you receive your residence card is really part of starting your post. Setting one up is simple — you apply online with your residence card, verify with a quick eKYC, and eSIM-capable phones can often connect the same day in about fifteen minutes.

Have a look at our setup guide for eligibility and the step-by-step, and confirm current terms on the page before you apply. Register your address, learn the rhythm of your schools, and make sure the people you work with can reach you. Your first weeks will be full, but they tend to settle sooner than you expect. I'll be right here to help.