Minimum wage in Japan 2026 by prefecture: rates, dates and how to check your pay

The minimum wage in Japan for FY2026 has a national weighted average of ¥1,177 an hour, up ¥56 from ¥1,121, as of October 2026. Each prefecture sets its own rate, from ¥1,085 in Miyazaki to ¥1,280 in Tokyo, and the new rates start on different dates between 1 October and 2 December 2026. The minimum applies to you whatever your nationality or visa, including part-time work.

What is the minimum wage in each prefecture in 2026?

Japan has no single national minimum. Each prefecture has a regional minimum wage (地域別最低賃金), set per hour. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (厚生労働省) published this FY2026 list. Every prefecture rose by ¥54 to ¥65.

Each new rate applies from the date in the last column. For work done before that date, the previous rate applies. The latest starts are Kyoto (16 November), Iwate and Kumamoto (1 December) and Okinawa (2 December 2026), so check the date for your prefecture before comparing your pay.

The ministry calls the ¥56 rise the second largest since its guideline system began in FY1978. The lowest rate is now 84.8% of the highest, up from 83.4% last year.

Does the minimum wage apply to foreigners and part-time workers?

Yes. The labor ministry says the regional minimum wage covers all workers at workplaces in the prefecture, whatever the job type or title: full-time, part-time (パート), arubaito (アルバイト), temporary or contract staff.

Nationality makes no difference. The ministry’s guidelines for employers of foreign workers say they must follow the Minimum Wage Act (最低賃金法) and the Labor Standards Act regardless of the worker’s nationality. They must pay foreign workers at least the minimum wage and must not set lower pay because someone is foreign.

• Technical interns (技能実習生). The guidelines count them as foreign workers, so the same rules apply. The intern’s training plan must also include a document showing that pay is at least equal to what a Japanese person would get for the same work.
• Specified skilled workers (特定技能). The employment contract must follow labor laws and pay at least what a Japanese person doing the work would get. Read more in our specified skilled worker guide.
• Students working part-time. If you work under permission for activities outside your status (資格外活動許可), you are a part-time worker and the same hourly minimum applies. Your weekly hour limit is separate: see working on a student visa.

Even if you agreed to a lower wage in your contract, that part of the contract is void by law. It’s treated as if you agreed to the minimum wage, and your employer must pay you the difference.

Can an employer pay less than the minimum wage?

Only with the prefectural labor bureau director’s permission, and only for a few groups: workers whose ability to work is markedly limited by a disability, workers in a probationary period, some trainees in accredited vocational training, and workers doing particularly light or intermittent work. Your employer must apply through the labor standards inspection office (労働基準監督署). Being foreign is not one of the reasons.

What counts toward the minimum wage?

Only the basic wage paid every month counts. The ministry lists six kinds of pay that don’t count:

So a job that “pays ¥1,300 an hour including transport” may not meet the Tokyo minimum. Take the commuting allowance out first, then compare.

How do I check my hourly rate from a monthly salary?

The minimum wage is set per hour, so a monthly salary has to be converted. The rule is: countable monthly pay ÷ average scheduled working hours per month. If your scheduled hours change from month to month, use the yearly average.

Example. Your pay slip shows basic pay of ¥190,000, a job allowance of ¥10,000, a commuting allowance of ¥15,000 and overtime of ¥20,000. You work 8 hours a day, 250 days a year (2,000 hours).

1. Countable pay: ¥190,000 + ¥10,000 = ¥200,000 (commuting and overtime are out).
2. Hourly figure: ¥200,000 × 12 ÷ 2,000 = ¥1,200 an hour.
3. That’s above Aichi’s ¥1,195, but below Osaka’s ¥1,231 and Tokyo’s ¥1,280.

For daily pay, divide by your daily scheduled hours. For piece-rate pay, divide by the total hours you actually worked that month.

What is the minimum wage in Japan per month?

There’s no official monthly minimum, because it depends on your scheduled hours. As an illustration, on 8 hours a day and 250 days a year (about 166.7 hours a month):

These are gross figures before tax and social insurance. To see what reaches your bank account, read our take-home pay guide.

Some industries in some prefectures also have a specific (industry) minimum wage (特定最低賃金). If both apply to you, the higher one wins. Ask your prefectural labor bureau if your industry has one.

Where do I report unpaid minimum wage?

You can report a minimum wage violation to the labor standards inspection office (労働基準監督署) that covers your workplace, or to the prefectural labor bureau (都道府県労働局). The law says your employer must not fire you or treat you worse for reporting. Breaking that rule can mean up to 6 months in prison or a fine of up to ¥300,000. Not paying the regional minimum wage carries a fine of up to ¥500,000.

Keep your contract, your pay slips and a record of your hours. Your employer must also post the minimum wage that applies at your workplace, or tell you about it another way.

Phone help in your language (as of October 2026):

Some languages run only on certain days (for example, Vietnamese on the free hotline is Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday to Sunday); the ministry’s page lists the days. The 0570 numbers are charged: ¥9.35 per 180 seconds from a landline and ¥22 per 30 seconds from a mobile. Both services close from 29 December to 3 January. Many prefectural labor bureaus also have in-person Foreign Workers Consultation Corners (外国人労働者相談コーナー); the ministry’s page lists their languages and days.

More guides: Labor rights for foreign workers · Paid leave in Japan · Quitting a job on a work visa · Take-home pay