Konnichiwa! I’m Karen, Program Manager for our internships in Japan. Ever wonder what a typical day might be like as an intern in Japan? Come with me to check it out and learn about our internships abroad.
We offer internships in Tokyo across several career fields: Business Development, Information Technology, Marketing & Communication and Youth Development & Education. Looking for something outside of the city? No problem - don’t miss our Sea Turtle Conservation internships in the beautiful prefecture of Okinawa.
Starting your day
Interns in Japan wake up around 6am during the week, to get ready for their day. You might either make yourself breakfast in the kitchen of your shared accommodation, or grab a coffee and breakfast from a convenience store (called combinis in Japan). The combinis have a great range of food (sandwiches, bento box meals, salads and pre-cooked rice / noodles) that are extremely yummy and affordable. A recommended budget of at least ¥2,000 per day (about US$20) is suggested for meals.
Navigating through the city
During the week, breakfast will usually be followed by a short walk from your shared accommodation in Tokyo, to either a bus stop or subway station. Due to the expanse of Tokyo, it’s normal for interns to commute for at least one hour each way, to get to their assigned internship placement. A recommended budget of around US$70 - US$110 per month will likely suffice for your public transportation needs.
The commute might sometimes require changes of metro line and platform. However, the subway system is bilingual (in English & Japanese), numbered and colour-coded, efficient, precise and user-friendly, making it easy to get around and discover Tokyo. We always advise interns in Tokyo to download Google Maps, as this will really help you. There is also a reasonable amount of stair-climbing and walking involved, as in any other big city, so you need to have a good pair of shoes too.
Starting your internship
You’ll arrive at your Tokyo internship placement between 8am or 9am (depending on the business hours of the placement organization). This is where you will be doing the tasks assigned to you according to the internship of your choice. Your supervisor will also run through the tasks for the day with you and you’ll also get to mingle with your team members as well.
At midday, you can step out of the office for lunch (about an hour), stretch your joints and get some fresh air. There will be plenty of choices to whet your appetite, so you might join your colleagues for some ramen noodles, yakitori (grilled chicken skewers), katsudon (breaded pork cutlet on a bed of rice), sushi or another bento box from the combini. After lunch, you will return to your placement where you will continue with your assigned tasks for the day before finishing up at around 6pm.
Want to know more? Click here to check out more of my insights and recommendations!
Exploring the city attractions
There’s plenty to do in Tokyo in the evenings. Belt along to your favourite tunes with friends at a karaoke, stroll along the scenic Sumida River (a popular cherry blossom viewing spot in spring), explore Sensoji Temple in Asakusa, shop until you drop at Ginza or enjoy a traditional kabuki play at Ginza. Don’t forget to also take an Instagram photo at the world famous Shibuya Crossing or the iconic Tokyo Tower. Wind down for the day to reflect on everything you learned, and how you can’t wait for the coming weekend to meet up with your friends for some fun-filled activities!
Depending on your interests and budget, some suggested weekend activities include:
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Visit Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea: The world famous Disney resorts need no introduction and the Tokyo Disney Resort is home to two world class theme parks and resides just a few miles outside of one of the grandest cities in the world.
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Rent a kimono: This is such a fun activity and it will be a very memorable experience to remember for many years to come. Our local coordinators in Japan offer a Kimono Dressing Workshop that interns can purchase as an Add-On in addition to their internship.
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Watch a sumo wrestling match: Sumo is a Japanese style of wrestling and Japan’s national sport. It originated in ancient times as a performance to entertain the Shinto deities. You can purchase tickets for a tournament through an official vendor or at the stadiums. If you want to get up close with the sumo wrestlers and witness them in training, we suggest the Sumo Wrestling Training Visit Tour that interns can purchase as an Add-On in addition to their internship. This guided tour offers an exclusive experience to witness sumo wrestlers in action during their morning training in a sumo stable. This is a unique opportunity to watch the wrestlers push themselves to the limit in a tradition that combines sports and Shinto rituals.
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Visit the Imperial Palace: This is the official residence of Japan’s Imperial Family, located a short walk from Tokyo Station. Visitors can view the Nijubashi, two bridges that form an entrance to the inner palace grounds, moats, massive stone walls and plenty of greenery and landscaped gardens around the palace.
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Check out the dynamic vibes of Harajuku: Home of teenage fashion and a mecca for cosplay lovers. Harajuku has many trendy shops, fashion boutiques, used clothes stores, crepe stands and fast food outlets geared towards the fashion and trend-conscious teens.
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Eat your heart out in Tokyo: There are simply too many fantastic places but we suggest districts like the Ginza Corridor Street (a highly popular area is brimming with restaurants and bars from all over the world) and the world famous Tsukiji Outer Market for super fresh seafood.
Rest and reflection
Finish your day (or week) reflecting on everything you learned during your internship, as well as all the cultural aspects and how these unforgettable experiences are contributing to your personal and professional growth. All internships with Intern Abroad HQ include experiential learning exercises - these weekly journaling prompts provide you with an insightful framework to work on your personal and professional development. They can even help you to gain course credit! Wind down for the day to reflect on everything you learned, and how you can’t wait for the coming weekend to meet up with your friends for some fun-filled activities!
Ready to get started with your own internship experience?
Our step-by-step guide on how it works provides you with more information on how to get started. The process is user friendly - just submit your application to begin. It doesn’t cost anything to apply and won’t take more than 5 minutes. However, your formal expression of interest provides the foundation for us to help you take the next steps.
310+ internship programs across 26 countries
Placements tailored to your academic requirements or career interests
Exclusive experiential learning curriculum
We help you develop and articulate the soft skills most favored by employers
Most affordable & flexible
We organize everything, including local accommodation, from only $1129 USD
