Types of Side Jobs Where You Can Use Your English Skills and How to Choose One | Interpreting, Guiding, and Translation: Things to Check Before You Start

Key Points of This Article

• Side jobs where you can put your English skills to use include interpreting, tour guiding, accompanying business delegations on site visits, translation, and teaching English online.
• When choosing a job, consider these three factors—"required English proficiency," "available time," and "previous experience"—to make it easier to find a job that suits you.
• Following a 2018 amendment to the law, it is now possible to work as a paid tourist interpreter-guide without a license. However, only licensed individuals may use the title “National Certified Interpreter-Guide.”
• Before you start, be sure to check your employer’s work rules and the conditions under which you’ll need to file a tax return.

The Background Behind the Rise in Side Jobs Utilizing English

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO), the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan in 2025 reached a record high of 42,683,600 (JNTO Inbound Visitor Statistics). In addition to tourism, people also visit Japan for factory and property inspections, trade shows, and business negotiations.

The main challenges these visitors face in Japan are language barriers and unfamiliarity with the area. People who are proficient in English and understand Japanese customs can assist them in their spare time, even while continuing their main jobs.

Types of Side Jobs Where You Can Use Your English Skills

Even among “jobs that use English,” the required English proficiency and work styles vary greatly. Here are some typical examples, along with their work styles.

1. Interpreter (Business Negotiations, Trade Shows, Site Visits)

This role involves acting as a liaison between Japanese and English during business negotiations, trade shows, and factory tours for visitors from overseas. Since industry-specific terminology often comes up, having knowledge of the relevant field in addition to strong English skills is a major advantage. People who have worked in international trade or technical roles as company employees can directly apply that experience.

2. Tour Guide (Tourist Guidance)

This job involves accompanying visitors to Japan as they tour tourist sites and providing guidance in English. It includes not only explaining the history and culture of famous sites but also assisting with ordering meals and navigating public transportation.

On January 4, 2018, the amended Interpreter-Guide Act came into effect, changing the status of interpreter-guides from a “professional qualification with exclusive practice rights” to a “qualification with exclusive use of the title.”While it is now possible to work as a paid tour guide without a license, only those who have passed the exam and registered may use the title “National Licensed Tour Guide” or similar designations (Japan Tourism Agency: Overview of the Revised Licensed Tour Guide Act).

3. Accompanying Delegations on Inspection Tours and Business Meetings (Coordinator)

This role involves accompanying overseas business executives and investors, arranging transportation and visits to various locations, and providing on-site guidance. While some assignments do not require the same level of specialized English proficiency as an interpreter, they can still be handled with conversational English skills, organizational abilities, and a good knowledge of the local area.

4. Translation

This involves translating documents, websites, emails, and other materials from English to Japanese or from Japanese to English. A key feature of this work is that it can be done from home at your own pace. Since accuracy is essential, it’s helpful to identify a specific field of expertise to make it easier to select suitable assignments.

5. Online English Conversation Instructor

This involves teaching English conversation via video calls. While it can be done from home and is easy to start with short sessions—such as early mornings or evenings—it often involves working on a schedule where you take reservations at set times.

How to Choose a Side Job That’s Right for You

If you’re unsure, considering the following three points will help you narrow down your options.

• Required English proficiency: Some requests for city tours or on-site accompaniment can be handled with everyday conversation. Interpreting for business negotiations or trade shows, however, requires a high level of English proficiency and specialized knowledge of the field.
• Available Time and Location: If you’re only free on weekday evenings, translation or online work that you can do from home is a good fit. If you can set aside blocks of time on weekends or holidays, you can also choose to work as a local guide or accompaniment.
• Previous Experience: Industry knowledge, familiarity with the local area, and expertise in specific hobbies (such as food, alcohol, or pottery) can be a strong asset when combined with your English skills.

Things to Check Before You Start

Your Employer’s Work Rules

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare’s Model Employment Regulations were revised in January 2018 to remove the provision stating, “Employees shall not engage in work for other companies or organizations without permission,” and new provisions regarding side jobs and concurrent employment were established (Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare: Side Jobs and Concurrent Employment).However, actual policies vary by employer. Be sure to check your company’s employment regulations, including whether notification is required.

Conditions Under Which You Must File a Tax Return

Even salaried employees who receive wages from a single employer and undergo year-end tax adjustments must file a tax return if their total income from sources other than wages exceeds 200,000 yen (National Tax Agency: No. 1900 – Salaried Employees Required to File a Tax Return). Since the specific rules vary from person to person, please consult your local tax office if you are unsure.

Residence Status for Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals living in Japan should verify whether the activities for which they receive compensation are permitted under their status of residence. Depending on your status of residence, you may need permission to engage in activities outside the scope of your status.

Use Your English Skills with jpwork hub

jpwork hub is a service that connects international visitors to Japan with people living in Japan who want to utilize their English or other foreign language skills. By registering as a partner, you can list services such as interpretation, on-site accompaniment, sightseeing tours, and dining recommendations at rates you set yourself.You can decide for yourself whether to accept a request based on the schedule and details, so you can even use this as a side job just on weekends.

Registration is free, and fees are charged only when a request is confirmed and payment is processed. Since we’ve just launched the service, we can’t guarantee a specific number of requests, but we welcome those who would like to join us as our first partners to help grow the service together.

View details on partner recruitment

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I earn money providing English-language sightseeing tours even without a license?

Yes. With the enforcement of the amended Interpreter-Guide Act in 2018, it became possible to work as a paid interpreter-guide even without a license. However, only those who are licensed and registered may use the title “National Interpreter-Guide” or similar designations.

What level of English proficiency do I need to get started?

It depends on the type of work. For city tours and on-site accompaniment, some assignments can be handled with everyday conversational English, but interpreting for business negotiations or trade shows requires a high level of English proficiency and knowledge of the relevant field.

Do I need to file a tax return even if my side income is small?

If you are a salaried employee receiving a salary from a single employer and undergoing year-end tax adjustments, you generally do not need to file an income tax return as long as your total income from sources other than your salary is 200,000 yen or less. If it exceeds 200,000 yen, you must file a return.

Photo credits: The townscape of Narai-juku at the beginning of the article: Patricia Haller-Anguela / Unsplash License Unsplash.The Thousand Torii Gates at Fushimi Inari Taisha in Kyoto: Luka Peternel / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized) Wikimedia Commons. Tokyo Station and Marunouchi Station Plaza: Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped and resized) Wikimedia Commons.