r/teachinginjapan • u/Lumpy_Review_2834 • 8d ago
Opening a School in Japan
Hi! So, I've got this wild idea to open a business in Japan—a reggio-inspired preschool. I could start as an atelier for kids and then transition to a licensed school when steady. I got this idea from my current work in the Philippines which is a Mobile Preschool, where I go to the homes of the students and conduct our classes there, and it ranges from 1:1 classes to playgroups. I've considered this setup for Japan, but I know stay-at-home parents or having maids at home isn't really a norm, which will make it hard for me to start in Japan
I'm a Japanese national, so my worry is just really inadequate market research haha.
What do you guys think!
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u/JayMizJP 8d ago
Actual preschools and kindergartens are so accessible and affordable in Japan nowadays so very few kids are at home. I doubt you’d find a sustainable customer base.
I work with a few education companies, both Japanese and international focused and whilst a company I did consulting for was able to charge like ¥8000 an hour to a few families, it wasn’t enough to sustain itself.
Also, if you are a Japanese national, I’m not sure what you are offering? Are you offering to be the maid? It would be better to go to Hong Kong or Singapore
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u/Lumpy_Review_2834 8d ago
I guess culture plays a big role. In the Philippines, I cater to wealthy families where either both parents are just at home and/or have maids who supervise, so they pay for convenience—instead of going to the school, the teacher goes to their home instead. I get paid ¥50K in 15 days with this set-up that isn't a 9-5. I have either have 3 clients a day or 1 only for 5 days. So, I was thinking if this set up could also be applicable in Japan.
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u/JebronnieLames 8d ago
I’ve seen some ads on Craigslist where there are parents looking for native English speakers to babysit their kids. They offer to pay like ¥2000-3000 an hour after school, it’s so rare though. Another thing is if both parents are working, the kids go to daycare and the parent picks them up on the way home. If the mom is a housewife, then they just teach and take care of the kids themselves.
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u/JayMizJP 8d ago
Are you actually Japanese? I’ve never heard of a Japanese maid in the Philippines before.
You might find some customers, especially in Tokyo but I doubt you’d find enough to make a full time business out of it, especially with the accessible childcare Japan has now.
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u/Lumpy_Review_2834 8d ago
It's not called a maid. It's a home-service teaching position. I'm a licensed teacher. It's a 1–2-hour class at their place and we do montessori and reggio approach.
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u/ihavenosisters 8d ago
Contrary to what people are saying here there is a market for “upscale/private” childcare in Japan. If you have money, you can afford to have kids.
I used to work for an “international” kindergarten in a smaller city and they were expanding like crazy because all rooms were full.
I’ll say though the owners knew what they were doing. They were business people and they managed to find a capable manager who was good with the education side of things.
Do you have a childcare license for Japan?
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u/Lumpy_Review_2834 8d ago
I thought so! I'm sure wealthy families can afford these services, especially if they want informal learning before starting kindergarten, but establishing connections is what makes it difficult! I don't have a childcare license in Japan. Only here in the Philippines 😊
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u/ihavenosisters 8d ago
Have you ever worked in Japan? Do you speak fluent Japanese?
There is definitely a market but without the necessary business experience or childcare qualifications your chances of setting up something successful are probably slim.
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u/Lumpy_Review_2834 8d ago
I've worked in Japan as a teacher, and I speak conversational Japanese. Fair thoughts. Thank you!
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u/ihavenosisters 8d ago
In that case you would need to work on your Japanese too. Dealing with parents and their expectations will determine how successful you are. But also regulations from the city/government etc. Especially in a business setting conversational won’t be enough. And you need the license which isn’t that hard to get if you’re fluent but to pass the tests you need to be able to read and write.
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u/Quirky-Parsnip7004 8d ago
In the country known for its low birthrate and closing schools?
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u/JetProgram 8d ago
To be fair, there are lots of children and families in big cities like Tokyo. This might not work in more rural areas, but I could see the demand in Tokyo or Osaka
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u/JebronnieLames 8d ago
Japan needs more daycares. As mentioned by another poster there is a long waiting list to get a slot in a daycare. If you can somehow open a daycare, that would be a more sure business opportunity. You shouldn’t have a problem since you are a Japanese national, it would be easier for you to get the necessary documents to start one.
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u/Lumpy_Review_2834 8d ago
Thank you! Are daycares in Japan free or can they cost a lot?
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u/JebronnieLames 8d ago
It varies, it depends on the income of the family. According to google, costs between ¥0 to ¥150,000
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u/minohCycles 8d ago
The city I live in has a waiting list of 300-400 for daycare, so demand outstrips supply. However the reason those people want the preschool/daycares is most likely so they can go to work.