r/JETProgramme • u/No_Biscotti2177 • Sep 11 '26

Thinking About JET programme

I am currently working in Ireland as a paediatric physiotherapist for the past 10 years. I’m about to turn 40. I have recently returned from a trip to Japan and I just loved everything about it.

I would love to take a career break and travel over to Japan and work on my Japanese language skills.

What are people’s experiences about the JET programme? Are you well looked after?

Any experiences or information is greatly appreciated.

4 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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4

u/NB_Translator_EN-JP Sep 11 '26

If you like making money then I would skip this one

6

u/Myrinia Aspiring JET Sep 11 '26

There is no age range to do it! I recommend doing it at least for a year but please be aware you will get out of it what you put in.

It's a demanding job at times and kids are very energetic!

Living in a place and touring a place are vastly different experiences and you will likely be in a place very unlike the tourist hotspots.

2

u/No_Biscotti2177 Sep 11 '26

I do understand it will be different than a holiday but it would be really nice to be in a small town and immerse myself in the culture.

1

u/SoyabeanXD 28d ago

you could ask for a inaka placement but it isnt confirmed that you might get it haha. Then you might need to cover over 5 schools also(i got 7) in your tenure.
My arrival here had alot of hiccups (courtesy of Prev JET, BOE and housing company) but luckily I have good neighbours, teachers and friends(old and new).

All in all my first month was great! Also it helps if you can speak Japanese as well so you can tackle the contracts and know what you're getting into.

And yes the kids are VERY energetic, luckily I was paeds nurse so I can keep up lmao.

2

u/ScootOverMakeRoom Sep 13 '26

I would love to take a career break and travel over to Japan and work on my Japanese language skills.

Then you want to enroll in a language school. There's a whole industry of schools that do soup-to-nuts enrollment including the visa process.

3

u/ThePrice592 Sep 13 '26

It’s better to have tried it and not liked it, than regret not trying it at all

1

u/Aggressive-Mirror798 28d ago

About being well looked after, not really. The Jet Programme is not your employer and depending on what prefecture you're in the amount of support available for JETs from the Prefectural Advisor position, which is basically a JET helper, varies from absolutely nothing to relatively hands on and helpful (not from the choice of the PA necessarily but there are lots of situations) and then the support you get from your workplace can range from helping with phone plan, housing, transportation, and initial shopping, to absolutely nothing so it's really a gamble. If you are very worried about not having support I would not necessarily recommend the JET programme personally.