Sad as it may be, every now and then a JET member decides that they cannot continue their job mid-contract, and that they need to break contract and leave the JET Programme. Many circumstances lead to this decision, and it is important to carefully consider the effect that your choice will have on your students, […]
Tag: jet life
Paying Up Front
Imagine these scenarios. There’s an upcoming work conference and your school takes care of your shinkansen ticket and hotel room reservation, and then asks you for money. Or, without giving you a single yen, they ask you to take care of it all yourself. Or perhaps one day someone at your school comes up to […]
Contracting Organizations: Explained
Although JET participants are members of the JET Programme, each JET is actually employed by a local contracting organization and not by CLAIR or the JET Programme. Think of CLAIR and JET as the middlemen, where they are the organizations who set up the framework to introduce us to our bosses. And since different JETs […]
Restaurants
Last updated: November 2025 Japanese Food (和食) Sushi(寿司) Conveyer Belt Sushi (回転寿司 Kaiten Zushi) Prior to COVID, sushi travels around the restaurant on a conveyor belt. However after COVID, this stopped as several health incidents and concerns were raised. You would usually order from a tablet and the sushi gets delivered on the conveyor belt […]
Purchasing your return flights
Last updated: October 2025 As you prepare to finish up on the JET Programme and head back home, one of the entitlements that JETs get are a free (or reimbursed) flight back home that is covered by your CO. This should be stated within your notice of appointment or contract provided by your CO. Conditions […]
Getting Car Insurance
Last updated: October 2025 Driving in Japan really resolves a lot inconveniences and does become a massive lifeline especially those living in the rural areas. As such like anywhere else in the world, it does however come with its downsides, notably getting your car damaged and/or getting into an accident. This is why it is […]
Driving in Hyogo
Last updated: October 2025 This is a one stop shop combining all the previous blog posts for all things relevant to driving in Hyogo. Although a long post, it contains everything from road rules, parking driving in winter and DUI. Hope this is a helpful guide for your current or future driving endeavors. Road rules […]
Mental Health, Counseling and Support Groups
Last updated: September 2025 In times of serious stress it can be good to contact a professional counsellor or the peer support line. Sometimes isolation, physical or linguistic, can make simple problems very stressful, and sometimes very disheartening. Rather than letting problems get on top of you, have a look at these options and find […]
Recontracting and Transfers
In autumn, your school/BOE should give you a form with the title “JET Programme Re-contracting Procedures.” This is the form that you use to indicate if you want to recontract, apply for a transfer, or apply for a type-change. If you want to apply for a transfer and you haven’t received this form, talk to […]
Immigration Offices
Whether you need to extend your period of stay or change your status of residence, at some point you will probably need to head over to one of the joint government buildings (合同庁舎) in Hyogo. You have two places to choose from: Kobe and Himeji. In addition, if you live up in the Tajima region, […]