Side hustles for foreigners in Japan that are actually legal

English tutoring, translation, guiding, content, pet sitting, helping newcomers. What each pays, what it takes, which need a licence, and the residence-status check to do first.

Last updated 4 October 2026

Before anything: can you take side work?

Permanent residents, spouses of Japanese nationals or permanent residents and long-term residents can take any legal work. Most other residents need permission from immigration first, and freelance work needs individual permission. Five minutes with your residence card saves a lot of trouble. Side work on your visa.

The options, compared

Side hustle	What it takes
Private English (or other language) lessons	Fluency and patience. Find students through language apps, cafés and word of mouth. Online lessons work from anywhere.
Translation	Strong written Japanese plus your own language. Short documents and letters are steady work; legal translations often need certification.
Interpreting and guiding	Paid guiding in Japan doesn't need a national licence (only the title 全国通訳案内士 is reserved), so you can guide tourists for a fee. Good local knowledge matters more than history dates.
Helping newcomers with life admin	Having done it yourself: the ward office, the bank, leases, calls. Little set-up, steady demand around March–April and September–October. How it works.
Content: video, blogs, social media	Slow to pay off, but compounding. Sponsored posts and ad income are taxable side income like any other.
Pet and house sitting	Trust and reviews. Usually through apps; check whether the app treats you as employed or self-employed.
Selling things you make	Markets, Creema, Minne, BOOTH. Food sales need hygiene permits.
Delivery apps	Quick to start, but check your status carefully: it's self-employed work, and several visa types aren't allowed to do it without permission.

Things that need a licence

Preparing and submitting visa or official applications for others for a fee: licensed immigration and administrative lawyers (行政書士).
Tax returns and tax advice for others: tax accountants (税理士), even when free.
Brokering apartment rentals or sales: licensed real estate agents (宅建業).
Finding people jobs for a fee: licensed employment agencies.
Driving people for money: professional driver licences and permits.

Helping someone do these things themselves, coming along, explaining, translating, is fine. What Pros can't do draws the line.

How to pick one

1Start from what people already ask you for. If friends keep asking you to read their letters, that's your side hustle.
2Pick something you can start this week, with no equipment and no stock.
3Price for your first three reviews, then raise it.
4Keep a simple record of income and expenses from day one. Tax on side income.

Keep reading

Get paid for what you already know about living in Japan

Your Japan know-how is worth money to people who just arrived. What they pay for and how to start.

Side work in Japan: what your residence status allows

Which statuses can take any work, which need permission, and why freelance is different.

Tax on side income in Japan, in plain English

The ¥200,000 rule, the resident tax step people miss, expenses, and when to file.

Sources

Facts checked against these official sources. Rules change and differ by city: if something here looks out of date, tell us at support@progaijin.com.

All guides for Pros