Every international student in Japan has googled 7-Eleven baito jobs at least once. Tokyo stores now pay a minimum of ¥1,280 per hour as of October 2026, and that number climbs another 25% after 10 p.m.
But the hourly rate is only part of the math. A 2026 immigration monitoring system now tracks student work hours across multiple employers simultaneously, and schools are required to audit your hours every three months.
This article is for the foreign student already in Japan, or about to arrive, who wants a konbini job without accidentally wrecking their visa status.
How Much Does 7-Eleven Pay Per Hour in 2026?
7-Eleven baito wages in Japan follow prefectural minimum wage floors, and most stores pay at or slightly above that floor.
Tokyo's minimum wage rose to ¥1,280 per hour in October 2026, up from ¥1,226 the previous year, per Japan's Central Minimum Wages Council fiscal 2026 revision.
Osaka sits slightly lower. Stores there list openings around ¥1,100 to ¥1,200 per hour based on current MyNavi Baito postings. Rural prefectures like Miyazaki start at ¥1,085 per hour.
Night Shift Premium at Konbini Jobs
Japan's Labor Standards Act requires employers to pay a 25% premium for hours worked between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. On Tokyo's ¥1,280 base, that pushes your effective rate to ¥1,600 per hour.
I think the 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. window at ¥1,600/hour in Tokyo is the most underrated shift for student visa holders.
Most advice tells foreigners to avoid overnights because they're tiring. True. But the math changes the conversation: seven hours on a single night shift earns you ¥11,200 before tax.
Do Wages Go Up Over Time?
Annual raises at konbini jobs are small, often ¥10 to ¥30 per hour after a full year. Tenure alone does not drive raises here. Stores sometimes offer slight bumps for Japanese language ability or POS register experience, but do not expect a structured pay scale.
| Location | Day Shift (2026) | Night Shift (10 p.m. to 5 a.m.) |
|---|---|---|
| Tokyo | ¥1,280 | ¥1,600 |
| Osaka | ¥1,100 to ¥1,200 | ¥1,375 to ¥1,500 |
| Rural (Miyazaki, etc.) | ¥1,085 | ¥1,356 |
The gap between Tokyo and rural prefectures narrowed to ¥195 per hour in fiscal 2026, down from ¥203 the year before.
Visa Rules for Foreigners Working at 7-Eleven Japan
The student visa (留学) does not automatically permit paid work.
You need a separate permission called shikakugai katsudō kyoka (Permission to Engage in Activity Other Than That Permitted) from the Immigration Services Agency of Japan before your first shift.
You can apply for this at the airport immigration counter when you land. The permission is free and tied to your residence period.
The 28-Hour Weekly Cap and How Japan Tracks It
Student visa holders can work a maximum of 28 hours per week during academic term. During official university breaks, that cap loosens to 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week.
The 28-hour limit is not per employer. It is your total across every job. Starting in 2026, the Japanese government introduced a system that cross-checks MyNumber payroll data across workplaces simultaneously.
If you split 20 hours at one 7-Eleven and 15 at a Lawson, immigration will catch it.
New 2026 Reporting Rules
Two changes hit in 2026 that most baito guides have not caught up with:
- Language schools are now required to audit each student's work situation approximately every three months, checking whether you hold work permission, where you work, and how many hours you log
- Starting July 1, 2026, all international students must report any changes in their part-time employment to their university
- Penalties for exceeding 28 hours remain severe: visa revocation and a re-entry ban of up to five years under the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Act
Which Visa Types Can Work at a Konbini?
Not every residence status qualifies. A quick breakdown:
- Student visa (留学): Allowed after obtaining work permission. 28 hours/week during term, 40 hours/week during breaks
- Working holiday visa: Allowed. Usually no hour restrictions
- Dependent visa (家族滞在): Allowed after work permission. Same 28-hour cap
- Spouse or permanent resident: No restrictions
- Tourist visa: Not allowed. Period.
How to Apply for a 7-Eleven Baito as a Foreigner
The application process is straightforward but has a few paper-based quirks that trip up first-timers. Job boards like TownWork and the 7-Eleven Japan recruitment page list openings by location.
Many stores also tape "スタッフ募集" (staff wanted) posters in their front windows. If you spot one at a store near your apartment, walking in and asking directly sometimes works faster than online applications.
The Paper Resume Requirement
Stores typically expect a handwritten resume (履歴書). Yes, handwritten. Japanese hiring culture reads a handwritten application as a sign of sincerity. You can buy blank 履歴書 forms at any 100-yen shop or konbini.
Fill it out in Japanese if you can. If your writing is shaky, ask a Japanese friend or your university's international student support office for help. A sloppy resume gets tossed faster than a late one.
What Happens in the Interview
Store managers tend to be practical. They want to know three things: your availability, your visa status, and your Japanese level. Bring your residence card (在留カード) and proof of work permission.
Some managers accept limited Japanese, especially in busy urban locations with large expat foot traffic. Others want at minimum daily conversation ability. There is no single pattern, so each application is somewhat of a coin flip.
What the Actual Work Looks Like
A typical 7-Eleven shift covers stocking shelves, running the POS register, preparing hot food items (nikuman, oden), handling courier package pickups, cleaning surfaces, and checking product expiration dates.
New hires usually start on restocking and cleaning before moving to the register. The learning curve is steep during the first two weeks, then it flattens fast.
Shifts and Scheduling
Stores divide the day into early (6 a.m. to 9 a.m.), mid (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), evening (5 p.m. to 10 p.m.), and overnight (10 p.m. to 6 a.m.) blocks. Student workers tend to cluster in evening shifts, but those fill up quickly.
The overnight shift pays more and has fewer customer interactions. Do you panic when a customer rattles off a sentence in rapid Kansai-ben? Overnights give you breathing room. Fewer customers, more stocking, less verbal pressure.
How Much Japanese Do You Need?
Minimum functional level: basic greetings and numbers. "Irasshaimase" (welcome), "Arigatou gozaimasu" (thank you), and being able to read katakana for shelf labels will get you through restocking.
Register work demands more: confirming payment methods, asking about points cards, handling age-verification prompts for alcohol and tobacco.
Reading basic kanji for expiration dates (年, 月, 日) saves you from embarrassing mistakes on the shelf. Some stores provide checklists and translated manuals, but count on that being the exception rather than the rule.
The Thing About Splitting Hours Across Two Konbini
I would push back on the common strategy of working two part-time konbini jobs to maximize hours. The 2026 cross-workplace monitoring system means immigration now pulls payroll data from every employer linked to your MyNumber card.
Getting caught working 35 combined hours during term can end your time in Japan.
Stick to one store. Build reliability there. A manager who trusts you will offer extra shifts during university breaks when you are legally allowed to work 40 hours per week.
The long-break income bump matters more than squeezing an extra four hours per week during term.
Questions People Ask About 7-Eleven Baito Jobs in Japan
Here are the searches that keep coming up for foreign students looking at konbini work.
- Q: Can I get hired at 7-Eleven with zero Japanese?
Some stores in tourist-heavy areas like Shinjuku or Dotonbori will hire with minimal Japanese, especially if you speak English or Chinese. But zero Japanese makes register work nearly impossible, and most managers want at least greeting-level ability on day one. - Q: Do 7-Eleven stores in Japan provide training?
Training is usually on-the-job and brief. Expect two to three shifts shadowing another worker. Some locations have laminated task checklists in the back room. Formal training programs are rare at the franchise level. - Q: How long does it take to get the work permission for a student visa?
If you apply at the airport immigration counter on arrival, you can receive it the same day. Applying later at a regional immigration bureau takes one to three weeks. The permission itself is free. - Q: Is konbini work worth it financially for students in Japan?
At 28 hours per week and Tokyo's ¥1,280 rate, gross monthly income sits around ¥143,360. After tax and insurance deductions, expect roughly ¥120,000 to ¥130,000 in hand. Rent in shared housing outside central Tokyo runs ¥40,000 to ¥60,000, so it covers basics but not luxury. - Q: Can I switch to a different 7-Eleven location if I move?
Each 7-Eleven franchise is independently owned, so switching locations means reapplying with the new store's owner. Your work permission stays valid as long as your visa period has not expired, but you must report the employer change to your university under the July 2026 rule.
Conclusion
The 7-Eleven baito job is not a career move, and nobody pretends it is. It is a predictable income stream in a country where rent waits for no one.
The 2026 monitoring rules make compliance less optional and more survival-level for student visa holders. If you can stock shelves, count change, and say "irasshaimase" without flinching, the door is open at roughly 21,000 stores across Japan.
References
7-Eleven Japan recruitment page
