Japan UX Career Guide

Your Guide to a UX Career in Japan

Our new comprehensive guide for those considering a move to Japan as UX professional

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About the Guide

Everything you need to decide if Japan is right for you

We designed this guidebook to provide everything you need to know as a UX professional considering a move to Japan.

The barrier to entry to the UX industry in Japan is higher than engineering - with more Japanese language requirements, less job opportunities and more cultural differences in the day to day work.

The guidebook starts with the benefits & potential downsides of moving to Japan to work in UX, before giving you a crash course in the best companies to work for, your visa options, expected salaries, how to sell yourself to companies, and even how to start freelancing or start a business in Japan.

Unbiased Truth about UX in Japan: The guide starts with an unfiltered comparison of the pros and cons of living in Japan as a UXer - from perks like the high standard of living to downsides such as lower salaries & the weak yen.
The Best UX Jobs: We've ranked the top companies in Japan to work for as a foreign UX professional, taking into account salary, prestige, culture and work life balance.
Salary Expectations: See hard to find information about UX salaries by company and industry, along with advice for reviewing offers from Japanese companies.
Freelancing & Starting a Business: Dreaming of working as a UX freelancer, or starting an agency in Japan? We also cover the legal and visa requirements for starting a business or freelancing in Japan.
Japan Design Career Guide

Guide Content

We've packed 15 years of expertise working &living in UX in Japan into a 25 page PDF guide for UX professionals wanting to work in Japan.
Chapter 1 - Is Japan Right for You?
Still on the fence about your move? We cover the pros and cons of working in Japan and help you work out if it's the right choice for you, from the cost of living to the state of the UX job market and weak Japanese yen.
Chapter 2 - Getting Here: Paths to Japan as a UX Professional
Now you're keen on moving here, we review the different ways you can make the dream a reality, with a focus on visas and non-traditional pathways such as starting as a Japanese language student.
Chapter 3: UX Jobs in Japan
We take a look at the current UX job market in Japan, and rank the top companies for foreign UXers to work at in Japan, from American tech companies to Japanese mega ventures and startups.
Chapter 4: Finding & Applying
We cover the best job boards & recruiters, list our favorite UX networking communities, and provide advice on resumes, selling yourself to companies and getting past language requirements.
Chapter 5: Salary Expectations
We share average salaries by company tier, and compare them to the average salary in Japan and cost of living in Tokyo. We also provide advice & resources for negotiating a high monthly salary.
Chapter 6: Freelancing & Starting a Business
We share how to get set up freelancing in Japan - either alongside your day job, or as a full time freelancer. We also cover how you can start a business, and how the recent business manager visa changes impact your ability to do so.
Chapter 7: Living in Japan Long Term
Finally, we cover everything you need to know to plan a long term life in Japan, from permanent residency requirements to naturalization, updated with the latest legal changes starting in 2026.

Purchase & Download

Purchase the Guide
¥5,980
Around $35 USD
Paths to Japan as a UXer
Visa Information
Best companies to work for
Where to find jobs
How to apply for jobs
Salary Information
Freelancing & Starting a Business
PR & Long Term Residency
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"I'm so happy that this exists! I've been looking for something like this for a long time. It has all the best, most useful information that you could find being a UXer who wants to work in Japan. It's really hard to find information like this"
Rusana, UX Researcher who moved to Japan from Europe

FAQs

Who is this for?
The guide is mainly designed for UX designers & UX researchers from abroad who are considering a move to Japan. However, much of the advice in the guide also applies to those working in other tech roles, such as PMs and engineers, and those already living in Japan.
What makes this different to what's online or on ChatGPT?
If you're looking at this, you're probably aware how little information there is online about working in UX in Japan. We created this guide to compile everything you need to know and save you hours of searching and reaching out to people on Linkedin.
How do I receive the guide?
Click on the purchase button above, and you will be directed to a form to make a secure payment via Stripe. Immediately afterwards, you will be shown a link to download the guide.
Who is the author?
The guide was written by Maxwell Forrest, the founder of Design for Japan, who has lived in Japan for 15 years. He has experience working at Japan's top tech companies in UX design and UX research, followed by time working independently as a consultant and even starting a company in Japan. He is also the founder of Tokyo UX Meetup, and has helped countless UXers find their footing in Japan.
Why do I need to pay for it?
Design for Japan is a community initiative to help international UXers in Japan, and proceeds go towards continuing to run this community.
What if I have any questions?
Feel free to message us through the contact form if you have any questions.

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