PhD RA Position Salary in Kanto Region

Good day, everyone!

I recently received some exciting news: I’ve been accepted by a Professor at a university in the Kanto region to pursue my PhD starting in October 2026. As part of the offer, the Professor mentioned he would provide a Research Assistant (RA) position with a salary to help support my studies.

In my initial research here on Reddit, I’ve seen figures around 1,700 Yen per hour for RA roles, but I know this can vary significantly depending on the university and the specific lab funding.

I was hoping to hear from anyone who has been (or currently is) a PhD Research Assistant in Japan. Specifically:

• Salary: Is 1,700 JPY/hour a standard rate for PhD RAs in the Kanto area, or does it fluctuate based on the field (Engineering/Science)?
• Hours: Are there strict limits on how many hours you can work as an RA (e.g., the 28-hour/week limit for student visas)?
• Working Conditions: Is the RA work usually integrated into your own thesis research, or is it typically separate administrative/lab maintenance work?
• Taxes/Insurance: For those on an RA salary, how much of a "dent" do national health insurance and local taxes usually make in your take-home pay?

I’d appreciate any insights or personal experiences you can share about the reality of balancing PhD research with an RA position.

Thank you very much in advance!