Job Discussion Forums

getbehindthemule · Joined: 15 Oct 2015 Posts: 712 Location: Shanghai

It seems that having free time to go back to Japan is a priority, in addition to a decent wage, so you should def go for a primary/middle/high school position.
You will basically work 8-9 months of the year in many of these positions in SH, not including the numerous 3 day breaks. Long hols will usually include: 7 days off in October, 4 weeks off in Jan/Feb and 8-10 weeks off in Summer. Christmas hols also (week or less) at IS or at privately ran schools.

isitts · Joined: 04 Jun 2010 Posts: 193 Location: Korea

isitts · Joined: 04 Jun 2010 Posts: 193 Location: Korea

Also, food for thought...(and kind of goes against what is suggested above), you could work down in Shenzhen...which is close to Hong Kong...which also has direct flights to Hokkaido. Be a 5-6 hour flight...but with the long holidays of a public school, wouldn’t be that bad.

It’s a bit a task getting into HK and then getting to the airport. But one of the teachers I worked with routinely flew out of HK instead of Shenzhen because flights were cheaper.

I would also consider just looking for jobs in other cities in Japan. I had seen some pretty interesting jobs offered in Tokyo. I know costs have risen in Japan and you might find higher paying jobs in China, but a city in Japan might be less expensive overall. I would think a domestic flight from Tokyo would be cheaper than an international flight from China.

Anyway, good luck with your decision. Hope you find what works the best.

getbehindthemule · Joined: 15 Oct 2015 Posts: 712 Location: Shanghai

Just to add a note on trips to Pudong airport:

I work in Xuhui which is a popular school district and Pudong airport is quite the hike if using public transport. But there's no need to use public transport (bus, subway, etc.)! Although I have occasionally used the free airport bus that travels from People's Square.
Taxi's being so cheap, even that long journey only come to approx. 180 kuai. I usually get a nice comfy private car from the airport to my apartment door for 200 as I know a couple of guys over the years.
At the airport they will try and fleece unsuspecting punters for 500, then go down to 300 but I never pay more than 200 these days. If you cant get them down in price much better to join the public taxi queue which is often a short waiting time surprisingly.
But well worth the money travelling in comfort from door to door! In my home country I would need to pay well over 1000 for a similar journey by taxi!!