The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has organized a special opportunity for international students wishing to work in the tourism and hospitality industry to observe and experience actual workplaces firsthand.
On September 24, 2026, Tokyo began accepting applications for the "3rd Workplace Tour and Networking Event" aimed at international students dreaming of entering the tourism industry. This program is designed to provide practical support to foreign talent looking to build a career in tourism, one of Japan's leading growth industries.
With the rapid surge of foreign tourists in recent years, Japan's tourism and hospitality industry has been growing at a fast pace. Consequently, hotels and restaurant chains in major cities like Tokyo are actively hiring foreign talent who possess multilingual communication skills and cultural adaptability. However, as an international student, opportunities to personally inspect the internal working environments of Japanese companies or have in-depth conversations with current employees are rare. This event, hosted by the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, is designed to bridge this information gap and help international students successfully secure local employment.
Opportunities to Visit Actual Hotels and Major Food Service Companies
During this workplace tour program, participants will visit a famous hotel and a major food service company located in Shibuya, the heart of Tokyo. The two participating companies are:
- Hyatt House Tokyo Shibuya: A global brand hotel located in Shibuya's newest landmark, offering specialized services for long-term guests.
- WDI JAPAN Co., Ltd.: A comprehensive food service company globally operating restaurants and food and beverage businesses with various concepts.
Participants will not just tour the facilities from a customer's perspective; they will also get to observe the back office (office spaces) and the behind-the-scenes operations where services are prepared, which are normally closed to the public. This offers a valuable opportunity to gain a deep understanding of the specific work processes and workplace atmosphere of Japan's tourism and service industries.
Lively Networking Sessions with Current Foreign Employees
After the on-site tour, there will be a networking session with senior foreign employees currently working at each company.
For international students preparing for job hunting in Japan, the voices of current employees are an invaluable source of information. Participants can freely ask questions and receive answers about how these senior foreign employees landed their jobs at Japanese companies, the rewards and challenges they experience in their daily work, and tips on adapting to Japanese workplace culture as a foreigner. This will provide practical tips for writing self-introduction letters and preparing for interviews in the future.
Program Schedule and Application Method
This event will be held on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, and will be run in two separate groups for the convenience of the participants' schedules.
- Group A: 10:00 – 15:30
- Group B: 11:30 – 17:00
The program is open to international students who wish to work in the tourism industry within Tokyo. Participation is completely free, but the number of participants is strictly limited to ensure an intimate tour and in-depth networking.
This is a small-scale program with only 12 spots available in total—6 participants per group on a first-come, first-served basis—so interested students should apply quickly. The final application deadline is Wednesday, November 18, 2026, and recruitment may close early once the capacity is reached.
Japan's tourism industry continues to expand alongside the growing number of inbound foreign tourists, and the demand for foreign talent with multilingual skills and a global mindset is higher than ever. We hope you will take advantage of this Tokyo-sponsored tour program to experience Japanese workplace culture ahead of others and build a stepping stone for a successful career.
Tools: Internet Finder
Source: 東京都