Japan Minimum Wage 2026 by Prefecture — and What a Student Earns at 28 Hours a Week

Japan's minimum wage is set separately for each of the 47 prefectures and revised every autumn. For FY2026 (令和8年度) the national weighted average rose by ¥56 to ¥1,177 an hour, after a ¥66 rise the year before. Below is every prefecture's new rate, the date it takes effect, and — something most lists leave out — what that rate means in real money for an international student working the maximum 28 hours a week.

Key numbers at a glance

• Highest: Tokyo, ¥1,280 (from 1 October 2026), followed by Kanagawa at ¥1,279 and Osaka at ¥1,231.
• Lowest: Miyazaki, ¥1,085, with Kochi and Okinawa at ¥1,086.
• Biggest increases: Saga (+¥65), Kagoshima (+¥64), and Kochi and Okinawa (+¥63). The largest cities rose the least in yen terms (Tokyo, Kanagawa and Osaka +¥54).
• The gap is narrowing: the difference between the highest and lowest prefecture fell from ¥203 last year (Tokyo ¥1,226 vs ¥1,023) to ¥195 this year.
• Staggered start dates: rates take effect between 1 October and 2 December 2026. Until your prefecture's date, the previous rate still applies.

Full table: FY2026 minimum wage and 28-hour earnings

“Per week” is the hourly rate × 28 hours. “Per month” is that weekly figure × 52 weeks ÷ 12 months. Both are before tax and without night premiums or transport allowance — the legal floor for the most a student may work in term time.

What the table tells you

At the 28-hour limit, a student earning the minimum wage in Tokyo makes about ¥35,840 a week (around ¥155,000 a month). In Miyazaki the same hours pay ¥30,380 a week (around ¥132,000 a month) — roughly ¥23,700 less every month. Rent is also much lower outside the big cities, so a higher wage does not automatically mean more money left over.

These are floors, not typical pay. In cities, many konbini, restaurant and warehouse jobs advertise ¥50–¥200 above the minimum, and any hours between 22:00 and 5:00 must be paid at least 25% extra. Use the table to spot an advert that is below the legal minimum — and to check the training wage (研修時給), which is also not allowed to fall below it.

During the long vacation

During the long holidays set by your school, students with work permission may work up to 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. At the Tokyo minimum that is up to ¥51,200 a week; at the national average, ¥47,080. Check the exact vacation dates with your school before taking extra shifts — the 28-hour limit applies again as soon as term restarts. See the 28-hour rule explained.

How the minimum wage is decided

Each summer, a national council under the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare publishes a guideline increase for three groups of prefectures (ranks A, B and C). Each prefecture's own council then decides its final figure, which can be higher than the guideline, and the new rate takes effect after a public-notice period. That is why the effective dates differ, and why MHLW notes that a scheduled date can still move if objections are filed.

Which rate applies to you?

• The rate for the prefecture where you work, not where you live. If you live in Saitama and work in Tokyo, Tokyo's rate applies.
• The rate in force on the day you work. A shift on 30 November in a prefecture whose new rate starts on 1 December is still paid at least the old rate.
• Some industries have a separate, higher industry minimum wage (特定最低賃金). If one applies, the higher figure wins.

If you are paid less than the minimum

Paying below the minimum wage is illegal regardless of what your contract says, and it applies to part-time, temporary and foreign workers equally. Keep your payslips and shift records, raise it with your manager first, and if it is not corrected, contact the local Labour Standards Inspection Office (労働基準監督署). Our guide to part-time pay in Japan covers night premiums, overtime and payslips, and tax on part-time pay explains the deductions.

Common questions

• Does the minimum wage apply to foreign workers and students? Yes. It applies to everyone employed in Japan, whatever their nationality, visa or contract type.
• Is transport allowance included in the minimum-wage check? No. Commuting allowance, overtime pay, night premiums and bonuses are left out when checking whether your hourly rate meets the minimum.
• My job pays monthly. How do I check it? Divide the monthly pay (without those allowances) by your scheduled monthly hours. The result must be at least the hourly minimum for your prefecture.
• When is the next change? Rates are revised every year, usually taking effect from October. We update this table when the new figures are published.

Plan your own hours

To see what your actual job pays — including the night premium and your real shift pattern — use the free wage calculator. When you have found a job worth applying for, build the resume on the part-time resume page.