My nephew will study Japanese at a language school next year and is deciding between Kyoto and Osaka. Which city has more part-time work for students with basic Japanese?
Osaka has more jobs overall, especially in restaurants, warehouses and hotels, and pay per hour is slightly higher. Kyoto has plenty of tourism jobs, but some expect better Japanese. Rent is similar or a bit cheaper in Kyoto. Many students in Kyoto commute to Osaka for work, since the train is 30 to 45 minutes. Tell him to check the 28 hours per week limit carefully, as it applies across all jobs combined.
From my Tokyo days, convenience store and restaurant jobs were the easiest start with basic Japanese. Osaka people are known for being friendly and chatty, which helps with speaking practice. Whichever city he picks, a short Japanese CV with a photo and clear available hours makes a big difference when applying.
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