22 top tech companies in Japan that hire from overseas

The emergence of hiring from anywhere in the world as a concept might just be the best development that has happened in the recent history of global business culture.

It feels a bit strange to say this, but it may be partially thanks to the pandemic. While hiring from abroad was a trend that was already on the rise prior to 2020, lots of businesses were still reluctant to take a chance.

They didn’t want to deal with the bureaucracy of visa procedures, nor did they think it was worth it.

With the emergence of remote work as a permanent concept, businesses started to question how things were done before. The globalization of the workforce helped companies realize that hiring from abroad was nothing to be afraid of.

In the tech industry, considering the fact that there’s a need for software engineers all over the world, it’s no wonder some companies immediately warmed up to the idea and are now enjoying the benefits of a larger pool of candidates. 

I talked about this previously in my post “Work from anywhere in Japan,” but this state of affairs caused hiring from abroad and remote working to become acceptable and even popular in Japan, which is known for its strict work culture and its commitment to doing things in the most traditional way imaginable.

Now that it’s perfectly normal for most tech companies in Japan to hire from overseas, I want to talk about the best Japanese-based tech companies that do so and introduce each one in this post.

Let’s jump right in.

Zeals

Zeals is a company that provides AI-powered customer service tools. 

The company has been providing great customer support through its AI-powered chatbot since 2014. Their product “Zeals” allows customers to shop online by simply talking to an AI chatbot assistant, which aims to provide customers with classic Japanese hospitality.

Zeals is open to hiring from anywhere in the world, which means that you can apply even if you’re from overseas. The best part is that you can also work remotely — in your native country without relocating.

The company has full flex time for developer teams, and other departments also work on flex time with core hours between 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM. The dev team at Zeals speaks primarily in English.

Zeals also has competitive time-off benefits as the company provides 10 days of paid time-off after the first three months of employment in addition to the national holidays, a year’s end holiday, and a summer holiday.

Mercari

Mercari is Japan's first unicorn startup, and they provide the largest C2C marketplace in Japan. The Mercari app allows customers to easily buy and sell “previously loved” items.

The company works on a flex-time basis, with core hours being between 12:00 PM and 4:00 PM. With Mercari’s “Your Choice” policy, employees can choose to work from home or at the office, and they hire from overseas too, of course.

Mercari has one of the best time-off benefits in Japan, with 10 days of paid leave in the first year, which increases by one each year. However, the company also provides 10 days of sick leave in addition, which isn’t really common in Japan (see my “Vacation Days in Japan” post).

You also don’t need to worry about spending your PTO days for special occasions and incidents, as the company also provides additional days for a variety of occasions. 

Mercari doesn’t require Japanese, as most teams work in English.

Mujin

Founded in 2011, Mujin provides “intelligent robot controllers” using a technology called motion planning. This technology allows industrial robots to enter areas where the environment is dynamic and unpredictable.

The Tokyo-based company hires from abroad, and it has a pretty diverse environment with employees from 26 different countries. They sponsor visas for employees from abroad and provide a relocation fee in addition to covering flight ticket expenses.

Moreover, Mujin also helps foreign employees find housing in Japan and provides temporary housing in the meantime.

The company doesn’t require Japanese for developers, as the dev teams work in English. The work hours are fixed and are between 8:45 AM and 17:45 PM, with an hour-long lunch break in between.

Mujin offers 10 days of PTO in the first year in addition to national holidays, and you can also take additional condolence and maternity leave. 

KOMOJU

KOMOJU is a company that provides a gateway to global, cross-border payments and customers worldwide. They are a service trusted by small online stores and e-commerce giants.

The company hires from overseas and will provide visa support for candidates from abroad. In addition, KOMOJU allows new hires to start working from abroad while their visa applications are being processed. They also allow full remote work from anywhere in the world! The only stipulation is that your work hours must have some overlap with the JST time zone.

KOMOJU has a very generous vacation policy. They offer up to 21 annual vacation days on top of Japanese public holidays.

The language spoken may depend on the team, but KOMOJU’s dev team uses mostly English.

Givery

Givery aims to bridge the gap by assisting clients in sourcing, recruiting, and nurturing top-tier engineers.

They value work-life balance, offering flexible working hours and paid leave. Employees have the freedom to work from anywhere globally, though adherence to Japanese working hours is necessary. Additionally, Givery offers visa sponsorship and relocation assistance for those interested in moving to Japan.

While English serves as the primary mode of communication within the development and tech team, proficiency in Japanese would be advantageous.

Money Forward

MoneyForward is one of the most popular FinTech companies in Japan. The company offers various financial services — from managing personal finances to providing financial services for businesses.

The company hires from overseas, and they offer visa support and a relocation fee to cover moving expenses. They also cover flight tickets and help employees find an apartment in addition to providing temporary housing.

At MoneyForward, employees can work from home up to four days a week, which is a policy the company intends to continue moving forward. 

Money Forward provides the usual 10 days of PTO with the addition of three days of summer vacation, two days of winter vacation, and national holidays. 

The work hours at Money Forward are completely flexible, as you can choose which hours you work as long as you complete your daily tasks.

Although the primary language is Japanese at the company, the dev teams work fully in English, so Japanese isn’t required.

Zookeep

ZooKeep is working on simplifying talent acquisition and providing clear insights into pipeline status and health for your team.

ZooKeep employees are encouraged to follow their own working style. While the company values the importance of spending time together to build a healthy work culture, they also acknowledge the diverse needs of their team members. As a result, both full-remote and hybrid working options are provided to accommodate individual preferences.

ZooKeep prioritizes the health and well-being of its employees. Recognizing the significance of personal wellness, Zookeep offers support to facilitate individuals in pursuing their own health goals. This includes providing financial assistance for activities such as gym memberships, yoga classes, or other preferred forms of exercise.

Employees have the option to work fully remote, with the additional choice of working from the office if preferred. Applicants not currently based in Japan are still encouraged to apply. Remote work is available until a visa can be secured for relocation to Japan.

PayPay

PayPay is a FinTech startup that provides payment solutions and was founded in 2018. The company quickly became a success story after its launch and is now one of the most popular payment apps in Japan.

Paypay Card, PayPay’s subsidiary, was subsequently established in 2021 to provide users with more accessible and convenient FinTech services that were previously not possible with credit cards and credit services by integrating with the PayPay payment platform.

PayPay, and PayPay Card, frequently hire from overseas and provide visa support. In fact, the company has employees from over 35 countries, and 70% of the employees are from outside of Japan.

The company also provides flight tickets and temporary housing in addition to a relocation fee. They’ll also help you with translation for your visa and residence permit documents. And if things couldn’t get any better, they cover the deposit fee for permanent apartments for employees.

Both English and Japanese are the official languages of PayPay, but you don’t need to speak Japanese to join. PayPay works on a fixed work hours basis between 10:00 AM and 6:45 PM. 

The company provides the standard 10 days of PTO in the first year in addition to year-end holidays, childbirth leave, and national holidays.

Code Chrysalis

Code Chrysalis is a Silicon Valley-style coding bootcamp based in Tokyo.

Their mission is to create the next generation of full-stack software engineers and tech leaders in Japan, promote and recruit more women in technical careers, and build a community for anyone interested in technology.

Code Chrysalis operates on a principle of flexible working hours, provided you can participate in crucial client meetings and occasional company events. At Code Chrysalis, you have the option to work fully remotely, with the exception of essential client meetings or company events depending on your role. Transportation expenses are paid, should you choose to work in the office.

At Code Chrysalis, visa support is provided. The HR team can offer guidance on housing, transportation, and any other requirements individuals may have.

This is a great company for those passionate about education in the tech industry!

ExaWizards

ExaWizards is a startup that offers AI-based solutions to a wide variety of companies from different industries. They create custom-made SaaS products to help businesses solve specific problems.

The company recently started hiring from overseas again, and they have a diverse environment with employees from 16 different countries. They also sponsor visas and provide language courses for candidates from abroad. 

ExaWizards’ primary language is Japanese, but candidates who don’t speak Japanese can still apply — there are teams that speak mainly in English as well. Still, the company prefers at least conversation-level Japanese.

The company works on full flex time, which means there are no core hours. The work system is currently fully remote due to the pandemic, which may change in the future. 

ExaWizards provides 12 days of PTO in the first year, which goes up to 15 the next year, and employees from overseas get 2 additional “travel days“ as well.

Nanameue

Nanameue is a startup that was founded in 2013. The company is the creator of one of the most popular chat apps in Japan, which is called “Yay!,” and also has AI-powered products that provide business solutions.

The company hires from overseas, provides visa support to employees, offers temporary housing and a relocation fee, covers flight tickets, and helps with finding a more permanent living place of residence.

Nanameue also boasts a diverse working environment, with 50% of its employees from abroad. This also means that Japanese isn’t required, and the primary language is English. 

However, the company also provides language learning support for employees that want to learn Japanese.

Nanameue has a flex time system with core hours between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM, and employees are free to work remotely as long as they come to the office at least twice a week.

The company’s PTO offering is the standard 10 days with the addition of year’s end and summer holidays, as well as national holidays.

Autify

Autify is a startup that was founded by a group of Japanese students in San Francisco in 2016. The company provides an AI-based software testing automation platform.

Autify works fully remotely, and in fact, they don’t even have a physical office in Japan anymore, but they still hire candidates from overseas and sponsors visas. In addition, the company also offers relocation money, as well as a remote work allowance.

Autify also supports working from abroad, and 20% of their employees are located outside of Japan.

The primary language at Autify is English, and knowledge of Japanese isn’t required at all. However, they do offer English learning support for candidates who don’t speak English as their first language and want to improve.

Autify works on a flex-time basis, and there are no core hours. The company provides the standard 10 days of PTO and an additional five days of sick leave on top of the national holidays in Japan.

HENNGE

Founded in 1996, HENNGE is a Tokyo-based B2B company that provides a cloud security service called “HENNGE ONE” among others.

Not only does the company hire from overseas, but they also offer visa support, as well as help with finding accommodation. HENNGE also covers their employees’ flight tickets.

The company recently went fully remote after the pandemic and provides a remote work allowance to improve employees’ home office conditions.

HENNGE has a flex time system with core hours between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM, but employees with small children can request to shorten their work days.

The primary language at HENNGE is English, and knowing Japanese isn’t required for engineers. However, the company supports candidates who want to learn Japanese by covering their language lessons and certification costs.

HENNGE offers the standard PTO, which is 10 days on top of national holidays. In addition, there’s a four-day summer vacation and five days of extra vacation yearly to take care of family and friends.

WealthPark

WealthPark was established in 2018, and it’s a startup that focuses on asset management. They make apps and provide services for investors and real estate companies to manage their assets from anywhere at any time.

The company is open to hiring from overseas and does provide visa support. In fact, 50% of the employees at WealthPark are non-Japanese. However, candidates from abroad can start working remotely right away until the pandemic measures are completely lifted. 

The primary languages of WealthPark are Japanese and English, but as 90% of the engineers at the company are from other countries, Japanese isn’t required. 

The company works on a flex-time system with core hours between 11:00 AM and 4:00 PM, and a standard work day doesn’t start before 10:00 AM and is done by 7:00 PM.

WealthPark provides more than 120 days off in a year, as they provide summer and year’s end vacations, congratulatory leave, and childbirth/care leave in addition to the standard PTO days and national holidays.

Tektome

Tektome, an Architectural Design AI Platform, stands at the forefront of technological innovation in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.

Tektome adopts a flexible work style, providing a soft core time frame from 10:00 to 16:00, centered around meetings and standups. Employees can enjoy the convenience of remote work for 2-3 days per week, with the option for extended periods of remote work, lasting up to a month per year.

As for time off, employees accrue paid leave over the first year of employment, with 5 days granted after 3 months of employment, an additional 5 days after 6 months, and a further 11 days after 12 months. Furthermore, Tektome values work-life balance by observing weekends, national holidays, and company holidays at the end of the year as non-working days.

Tektome does not require Japanese skills to join the team. They offer relocation support, help you cover the flight to Japan, provide one month of accommodation, and they’ll assist you with visa processing.

RESTAR

The B2B software company, RESTAR, focuses on the real estate market. Their platform allows real estate companies and financial institutions to manage and analyze their real estate-related data.

The company already has a number of engineers from overseas, and they welcome new candidates from abroad. They currently don’t offer fixed relocation support, but according to the company, this can be negotiated.

Both English and Japanese are the primary working languages at RESTAR, and Japanese requirement depends on the position applied.

RESTAR has a regular work schedule, with the usual work hours being between 11:00 AM and 6:00 PM. Employees are allowed to work from home as long as they’re located within Japan. The company states that this will be the case, even after the pandemic is over.

The company also offers shorter work hours for employees with small children. As for the holidays, RESTAR offers five days of PTO every quarter year, which makes for a whopping 20 days of PTO annually in addition to public holidays.

Axelspace

Founded in 2008, Axelspace is a micro-satellite company that provides ways to observe Earth. They aim to democratize space technology and optimize it for daily use.

The company has a diverse team, with 40% of employees being from abroad. Overall, the company has employees from 16 countries and sponsors visas to hire new employees from abroad as well.

Both English and Japanese are Axelspace’s main languages, and most positions don’t require knowledge of Japanese at all. The company still urges candidates to check job listings, as some positions do require Japanese.

Axelspace currently allows working remotely as long as the employees are all located in Japan. They work with a flex-time schedule with no-core time at all.

The company has very competitive PTO perks, providing 20 days in addition to a year-end holiday and public holidays. Employees are also free to take additional days for personal life events.

Cybozu

Cybozu is a software company that’s been in business since 1997. The company brings individuals together as they specialize in providing groupware solutions.

Cybozu hires from overseas as the company provides both visa sponsorship and relocation support, but this is only provided after successfully completing three months. 

Remote work is fully supported at Cybozu, and the employees can work from anywhere even after the pandemic is over. The company also provides a remote work allowance.

Although the primary language spoken at Cybozu is Japanese, some teams speak primarily English. Therefore, knowing Japanese may not be required, but that depends on the position.

Cybozu doesn’t work on a flex-time basis, but they do have flexible hours, depending on your team. The usual work hours are between 9:00 AM and 6:00 PM. 

The company provides well-above average PTO days as they provide 20 days in addition to five days of sick leave, five days of personal leave, and an additional five days to take care of family. The public holidays are also days off at Cybozu and don’t count toward the PTO.

lowiro

lowiro is all about crafting unforgettable, story-driven games. With their diverse skills and global perspective, they're shaking up the gaming scene and leaving their mark on the industry.

lowiro’s offers flexibility and hybrid work policy. They work on flex time with core hours for all teams, and the ability to work remotely when necessary. You will also have the choice to work in either their Tokyo or London office for a portion of the working year, at your own discretion.

What's more, their main language is English, so applicants don't need to worry if they have little to no Japanese skills.

Plus, if you're from another corner of the world, lowiro's got you covered. They sponsor work visas for both candidates living outside and inside of Japan. When you're ready to make the move, they'll help you find an apartment with their relocation support. It's all part of their commitment to building an international team that's as diverse as the games they create.

Migaku

Migaku stands at the forefront of language-learning innovation, pioneering a platform that revolutionizes the way we acquire new languages. Their vision is to make learning languages a seamless and enjoyable experience, accessible to all.

But it's not all work at Migaku. With a generous 36-day holiday schedule, they believe in the mantra of "work hard, play hard". Details on how they balance productivity and downtime are reserved for the interview process, ensuring candidates understand the full extent of the company's commitment to fostering a healthy work-life balance.

Additionally, Migaku embraces remote work, offering flexibility to its team members worldwide. And for those considering a move to Japan, Migaku provides visa sponsorship to qualified candidates. With a strong emphasis on international collaboration and inclusivity, Migaku welcomes talent from all corners of the globe, regardless of their Japanese language proficiency.

Scene

Scene aims to propel the transformation of the physical world by empowering innovators in the manufacturing industry. This technology start-up operates on a full flex-time schedule, recognizing that flexibility fosters productivity and creativity.

While Scene's office is nestled in the vibrant district of Shibuya, team members have the freedom to work remotely from any location for up to 15 days a year, ensuring a healthy work-life balance.

Scene's engineering team primarily communicates in English, although Japanese language skills are considered a valuable asset.

As a testament to their dedication to fostering a diverse workforce, Scene proudly sponsors visas for qualified candidates, facilitating opportunities for international talent to contribute to their vision.

Scene offers paid holidays to ensure that employees have the opportunity to recharge and rejuvenate. Additionally, team members enjoy New Year's holidays and special leave for personal milestones.

Fujitsu Launchpad

Fujitsu Launchpad is part of the Fujitsu Limited family. As a corporate venture studio, Fujitsu Launchpad aims to nurture and grow ventures from their inception, turning ideas into impactful realities.

Fujitsu Launchpad embraces full remote work, allowing team members to contribute from anywhere in the world. While they do prefer employees to work in time zones close to Japan, they recognize the value of a global perspective and accommodate those working from overseas.

The company understands the importance of work-life balance, offering every team member 20 days of paid leave per year, in addition to all national holidays in the country where they reside, whether it's Japan or elsewhere.

While Japanese language skills are considered a plus, they're not required for Fujitsu Launchpad engineers.

And for those considering a move to Japan, Fujitsu Launchpad provides relocation support and sponsors work visas for both candidates living outside and inside the country, ensuring a smooth transition for new team members.

Work at Japan’s Top Tech Companies From Overseas

Historically speaking, Japan’s had a notorious work culture. 

As I explained in my post on Japanese work culture, it used to be that employees would practically live at their workplaces, and completely devoting yourself to your job was the norm. All of this makes the improvements that we see today feel even more surreal. 

Yet, it’s true.

Especially in the tech industry, the standards are quickly catching up with the rest of the world, and the work conditions are getting better with each passing day. 

Flexible work hours and working remotely are almost considered norms in tech, and there are many companies like the ones I mentioned above that have great competitive work conditions and benefits, provide visa support, and most of them even offer relocation fees.

Some also help find accommodation for employees that relocate, and they cover the deposit fees as well. These aren’t just an exceptional bunch, either. There are many more great companies like these in our Japan Dev company list that I couldn’t fit into this post. 

Considering all this and the fact that Japan has some of the fastest-growing startups in the world, I can safely say that Japan is a great place to look for a job, no matter where you are in the world. This is why before I go, I’d like to leave you with a couple of resources for finding your dream job in Japan.

If you want to start your job search in Japan today, here’s my guide to finding a job in Japan as a software developer. While you’re at it, make sure to also take a look at my other posts on headhunters in Japan and my guide to acing job interviews in Japan, which I’m sure will be immensely helpful on your journey.