Tech Salaries in Tokyo 2026: What Software Engineers Actually Earn in Japan

Tokyo is one of the world's great cities and one of its most misunderstood tech markets. The standard narrative - low salaries, brutal overtime, impenetrable Japanese language barrier - is increasingly outdated, but not entirely wrong. The reality is more nuanced: there are two very different tech job markets operating in Tokyo simultaneously, and which one you access largely determines your experience and compensation.

Market A: Japanese corporate tech. NTT, Fujitsu, NEC, Hitachi, Sony, Panasonic - Japan's industrial giants have large software engineering departments. Pay is stable, job security is extraordinary, benefits are comprehensive, and overtime culture (while improving) is still present. Salaries top out around ¥8M-¥10M for senior engineers. Career progression is slow and hierarchical. Market B: International-minded tech. Google Japan, Amazon Japan, Mercari, SmartNews, Line (LY Corporation), PayPay - these companies pay globally competitive salaries, operate primarily or fully in English, and compete for talent internationally. Senior engineers here earn ¥15M-¥25M+. Work culture is closer to US or European norms.

The gap between these two markets - ¥7M-¥10M for corporate tech vs ¥15M-¥25M+ for international-minded companies - is the widest salary divide of any major tech city in the developed world. Which market you enter matters enormously.

Software Engineer - ¥4.5M-¥29.9M

Software engineers in Tokyo earn ¥4,500,000-¥29,900,000 per year, with a median around ¥9,500,000. Salary range: ¥4.5M-¥29.9M/year Median: ~¥9.5M/year USD equivalent (¥150/USD): ~$30K-$199K, median ~$63K

The ¥4.5M floor represents entry-level engineers at traditional Japanese companies. The ¥29.9M ceiling reflects senior engineers at FAANG offices or Mercari's engineering leadership. The median of ¥9.5M is a mid-level engineer at a decent company - comfortable by Tokyo standards but significantly below comparable roles in Singapore, London, or US coastal cities in USD terms.

The premium tier (~¥12M-¥25M+):

Google Japan - senior software engineers in Tokyo approach or reach US-equivalent banding adjusted for Japan. The Tokyo office works on Maps, Search localization, and major infrastructure projects

Amazon Japan - AWS and retail engineering, competitive with Google. Senior engineers ¥15M-¥22M

Mercari - Japan's most prominent tech success story. Eng-first culture, English as default language, ¥12M-¥22M for senior engineers. Probably the most accessible high-paying option for international engineers

PayPay / LINE (LY Corporation) - fintech and messaging infrastructure at scale, ¥10M-¥18M

SmartNews - news aggregation AI, US-listed, pays US-style compensation in Tokyo

The mid tier (~¥7M-¥12M):

CyberAgent, DeNA, GREE, Mixi - Japan's game and internet companies, good culture, fair pay

Rakuten - e-commerce, known for its "Englishnization" mandate, ¥8M-¥12M

Yahoo Japan - internet portal, more traditional, ¥7M-¥11M

The corporate tier (~¥5M-¥8M):

NTT, Fujitsu, NEC, Hitachi, Toshiba - job security is the main draw; pure engineering career growth is limited

For full data, see the Software Engineer salary page for Tokyo.

The Yen Factor

Tokyo salaries look dramatically different in USD depending on when you are reading this. The JPY has weakened significantly since 2022:

For engineers relocating to Tokyo and spending in JPY, this doesn't matter - ¥9.5M buys the same Tokyo lifestyle regardless of the exchange rate. For engineers comparing Tokyo against USD-denominated markets (US, Singapore, or remote roles), the weak yen has made Tokyo look significantly less competitive than it was five years ago.

The practical implication: if you are choosing between Tokyo and Singapore, the USD math currently favors Singapore. If you are choosing between Tokyo and staying in Japan, the lifestyle and career development case for Tokyo is strong regardless of exchange rates.

Japanese vs Foreign Company Work Culture

The difference in work culture between Japanese and foreign tech companies in Tokyo is stark:

Foreign tech companies (Google, Amazon, Mercari):

English as primary or co-equal language

Direct feedback culture, relatively flat hierarchy

Performance-based compensation - significant variation based on output

Easier path to promotion for high performers

More standard vacation usage (Japanese labor law mandates paid leave, but actual usage varies dramatically by company)

Traditional Japanese companies (NTT, Fujitsu):

Japanese language required

Hierarchical, consensus-driven

Seniority-based pay progression - hard to accelerate

Extreme job security - layoffs are culturally and legally very difficult

Very comprehensive benefits: housing subsidies, commuter passes, retirement funds

For international engineers, the realistic options are foreign tech companies and the small tier of Japanese companies that have explicitly gone English-first (Mercari, Rakuten, SmartNews). The traditional corporate tech path requires near-native Japanese proficiency and represents a fundamentally different career trajectory.

Cost of Living in Tokyo

Tokyo's reputation as expensive is partially misleading. Housing and transport are efficient; international goods and dining are expensive.

Housing:

Studio apartment (23 wards, 30-40min from central): ¥80K-¥130K/month

One-bedroom apartment (good area): ¥120K-¥200K/month

One-bedroom near Shibuya/Shinjuku: ¥150K-¥250K/month

An engineer earning ¥9.5M (~¥620K/month after tax) spending ¥120K on rent has ¥500K for everything else. Tokyo's food (konbini meals for ¥400-¥700, ramen for ¥900-¥1,200, grocery staples cheap) and transport (monthly Suica pass ¥10K-¥20K) mean day-to-day expenses are manageable.

The lifestyle - safety, public transit, food culture, cultural richness, internet quality - is exceptional in ways that don't show up in salary comparisons.

Tokyo vs Other APAC Tech Cities

In raw USD, Tokyo and Singapore are comparable at the median level right now - largely because of JPY weakness. At the senior/FAANG level, Singapore (S$176K = ~$130K) outpaces Tokyo in USD terms. Tokyo wins on lifestyle and unique access to Japan's tech ecosystem.

Getting to Tokyo as an International Engineer

Visa: The Engineer/Specialist in Humanities/International Services visa is the standard work visa for software engineers. It requires a relevant degree (computer science or related field, or equivalent experience) and a job offer. Processing takes 1-3 months. Japan offers a Highly Skilled Professional (HSP) visa for high-point candidates that provides faster permanent residency pathways - senior engineers at major companies typically qualify. Language: Functional Japanese significantly expands your options and quality of life. For international-minded companies, N5-N3 level (basic to intermediate) is sufficient. For traditional companies, N2 or above is required. Learning Japanese is a major time investment (1,500-2,000 hours to functional proficiency) but rewarding for long-term life in Japan. Housing: Renting in Tokyo as a foreigner has historically been difficult - many landlords refuse foreign tenants. This is improving, but using agencies specializing in foreign tenants (Sakura House, UR Housing, foreigner-friendly agents) or securing a company housing arrangement first is advisable.

Is Tokyo Worth It?

Yes, if:

You are targeting a foreign tech company or English-first Japanese company (Mercari, Rakuten)

You have existing Japanese skills or are committed to learning

You value lifestyle - safety, food, culture, infrastructure - above maximizing USD income

You want unique access to Japan's gaming, robotics, or consumer internet industries

Think twice if:

You are optimizing USD compensation - Singapore or US remote roles pay more right now

You need everything in English immediately - Tokyo works, but requires more adjustment than Singapore or London

You are not open to Japan's longer-term social integration - Tokyo rewards commitment

Tokyo is a remarkable city for engineers who choose it deliberately. The lifestyle returns on the investment - if you invest in the language, the culture, and the right employer tier.

See how your current role stacks up: check your salary fit against a real job posting, or browse software engineer salaries globally to compare Tokyo against other markets.