Working holiday in Japan – how realistic is it to find work without a degree or knowing Japanese?

Hi,

I’m 21, from the UK, and looking into doing a working holiday visa for Japan. I don’t have a degree, so teaching English isn’t an option, but I’d still really like to experience the country properly, ideally spending some time in Tokyo.

I’ve heard that Tokyo can be hard for non-Japanese speakers to find work, which makes sense, but I’m wondering what the realistic options are. I’d be happy doing just about anything, cafes, resorts, hospitality, retail, whatever, as long as I can live relatively comfortably and experience the city and culture without just burning through savings.

If anyone’s done a working holiday recently, how tough was it to actually get hired and cover your costs? Are there certain areas, chains, or industries that are friendlier for English speakers? And roughly how much money would you recommend bringing to start off with?

Any advice or personal experiences would mean a lot, thank you!