Internship in Japan

Hi everyone,

My wife is about to graduate with an Expert Pastry Chef diploma (known school in France). She’s passionate about high-end, artistic pastries and has long dreamed of doing an internship in Japan, where the attention to detail and dedication to craft really resonate with her.

We’re now seriously exploring the possibility of a pastry internship (stage) in Japan—either in a traditional Japanese patisserie or a high-end fusion bakery.

I wanted to ask:

• Has anyone here done or arranged an internship in Japan in the culinary/pastry field?

• Is it feasible visa-wise (especially for unpaid internships)?

• Are there known places that accept foreign interns in pastry kitchens?

• Any tips on how to approach Japanese establishments or whether I should go through an agency or school connection?

I’d really appreciate hearing any personal experiences, suggestions, or warnings. We’re not looking for something long-term (a few months would be ideal), and we understand some Japanese etiquette and basic language, though not fluent yet.

Thanks in advance!