Thinking about expanding your global team? Japan is becoming an increasingly attractive option. With its highly skilled workforce, strong engineering culture, and reputation for precision and quality, Japan offers access to exceptional talent across software development, design, robotics, finance, and advanced manufacturing.
But hiring in Japan isn’t always straightforward. The country has some of the world's most comprehensive employment laws, with strict regulations governing social insurance, working hours, paid leave, taxes, and termination procedures. For companies new to the Japanese market, understanding these regulations — and staying compliant — can be time-consuming and overwhelming.
That’s why many organizations choose to partner with an Employer of Record (EOR). An EOR manages payroll, benefits, contracts, and compliance on your behalf, allowing you to hire Japanese talent without opening a local entity or navigating every detail of Japan’s Labor Standards Act.
If Japan is on your radar, this guide highlights six EOR providers that can help you hire smoothly and compliantly from day one.
Key takeaways:
- Japan is home to a highly educated and specialized workforce, especially in engineering, tech, and advanced industries — making it a popular hiring option for global teams.
- Local labor laws in Japan are complex, and statutory benefits, social insurance, and compliance rules are strict, so partnering with an EOR helps reduce risk.
- RemoFirst offers one of the most affordable and transparent EOR options for hiring in Japan, making global hiring more accessible for startups and SMBs.
Best Japan Employer of Record Quick View
Check out our guide to hiring remote workers in Japan.
Why Japan Is a Strong Global Hiring Destination
Japan has long been recognized for its highly educated, detail-oriented workforce, with strengths spanning engineering, IT, finance, biotechnology, manufacturing, and design. The country produces a steady stream of graduates from world-class universities, many of whom possess strong English skills, particularly in tech-forward cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Fukuoka.
Japan also offers:
- A deep culture of professionalism and reliability
- Strong digital infrastructure and a growing startup ecosystem
- Employees accustomed to hybrid and cross-border collaboration
- A stable economy with high-quality talent at competitive global rates
Hiring remote employees in Japan lets you tap into this talent without the need for a local office. Partnering with an EOR ensures you do so compliantly.
Here are the top EORs to consider for employing remote workers in Japan.
RemoFirst
RemoFirst is a standout choice for companies hiring in Japan because of its affordability, transparent pricing, and fast onboarding.
With plans starting at USD 199 per employee/month (and USD 25 per contractor), RemoFirst is one of the most cost-effective EORs on the market — with flat, predictable pricing and no hidden fees.
RemoFirst works with teams of all sizes, from small startups making their first Japanese hire to global organizations managing distributed workforces across multiple APAC markets.
With RemoFirst, you get:
- Fully compliant Japanese employment contracts
- Onboarding within days
- Payroll, tax withholdings, and social insurance management
- Equipment shipping (laptops, monitors, etc.)
- Benefits administration, including PTO, bonuses, and allowances
- Visa and work permit support when needed
- A dedicated account manager and 24/5 live support
Employers can also offer private health coverage through RemoHealth and RemoHealth Local.
Although RemoFirst doesn’t own entities in Japan, we partner with experienced in-country specialists with decades of HR and payroll expertise — giving you reliable compliance at a fraction of the cost of traditional EORs.
We continue to expand integrations (including ADP Workforce Now) to make managing global teams even easier.
Want to see how simple and affordable hiring in Japan can be? Book a demo.
Remote
Remote operates its own legal entities in Japan and most countries it serves, giving it tighter control over payroll, compliance, IP protection, and employment processes.
The platform is known for its extensive range of integrations, including Workday, Xero, BambooHR, Greenhouse, and Zapier, as well as API capabilities that enable companies to create custom workflows or integrate EOR features into existing systems.
Remote manages mandatory social insurance enrollment, resident taxes, paid leave requirements, and statutory benefits, while ensuring that employment contracts comply with strict local standards.
However, customers frequently mention slower-than-expected onboarding times, which can be especially noticeable in Japan due to detailed documentation requirements. Some users also report experiencing delays in customer support and occasional inconsistencies with payroll timelines or reimbursements. Remote is also reported to have less robust analytics than some competitors.
With pricing starting at USD 699 per employee/month (and contractor fees beginning at USD 29 per person/month), Remote tends to be a better fit for organizations with larger budgets or companies that rely heavily on integrations, rather than smaller teams looking for a more affordable and hands-on experience.
For more information, see how RemoFirst and Remote compare or read Remote’s G2 reviews.
Deel
Deel operates its own legal entities in most countries, including Japan, which allows it to manage compliance, payroll, IP protection, and employment processes in a centralized way.
The platform offers a wide range of HR integrations and APIs, making it appealing for organizations with complex tech stacks or established global HR workflows. It integrates with tools such as Zapier, Slack, Xero, and QuickBooks, making it a flexible choice for organizations with complex HR and accounting stacks.
However, the platform can feel overwhelming for smaller teams, and customers often mention slower support responses and onboarding that takes longer than expected due to Japan’s documentation requirements.
Deel’s pricing starts at USD 599 per employee/month plus add-ons, making it one of the costlier options.
Learn how RemoFirst stacks up against Deel, or check out Deel’s G2 reviews.
Oyster
Oyster provides full EOR support in Japan, covering payroll, benefits, tax compliance, and legally compliant employment contracts.
Its platform is user-friendly for distributed HR teams and integrates with tools like BambooHR, Slack, and QuickBooks, which helps streamline cross-border processes. Oyster also offers localized perks and access to Oyster Academy, a training platform designed to support globally distributed employees.
However, customers frequently mention slower support responses, reimbursement delays, and onboarding that can take longer than advertised.
Combined with a starting cost of USD 699 per employee/month, with higher-tier pricing for any add-ons and additional services, Oyster is generally better suited for larger companies with bigger HR budgets rather than startups seeking a lean, cost-effective solution.
Take a look at how RemoFirst and Oyster compare, or check out Oyster’s G2 reviews.
AYP Group
AYP Group is a regional EOR provider designed for Asia-Pacific expansion, offering compliance support and payroll management in Japan, as well as in markets such as Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia.
Many companies appreciate AYP’s deep regional expertise and hands-on guidance, which can help them navigate Japan’s highly regulated labor landscape.
AYP Group's transparent pricing and guaranteed compliance make it ideal for companies expanding into Japan and the broader Asia-Pacific region. Dedicated local experts provide strategic HR advisory and hands-on support.
Where AYP falls short is in platform sophistication — it offers fewer automation tools, limited integrations, and a more traditional service model compared to global EORs. This can make the experience feel slower or more manual for scaling teams.
AYP’s services are more suited to small and medium-sized enterprises specifically looking for an EOR to cover only the Asia-Pacific area.
Check out AYP Group's G2 reviews.
Papaya Global
Papaya Global delivers a centralized global payroll and workforce management platform with strong automation features, including AI-assisted error detection and consolidated multi-country reporting.
Its intuitive dashboard enables companies to manage payroll, time-off requests, document management, and payslips. The platform also leverages AI to enhance budget forecasting and identify potential payroll errors before they occur.
Papaya integrates with widely used HR systems, including BambooHR, Workday, HiBob, and Expensify. Additionally, it offers a mobile app that enables employers and employees to manage key HR tasks on the go.
However, pricing is not transparent and can increase quickly depending on modules and add-ons. Support is primarily handled through email, which some users find too slow when faced with Japan’s documentation-heavy regulatory requirements.
Papaya is well-suited for enterprise teams that prioritize automation and reporting, but it may feel overly complex and expensive for smaller companies hiring just a few Japanese employees.
Learn more about how RemoFirst compares to Papaya Global, or check out Papaya Global’s G2 reviews.
Compliant and Cost-Effective Hiring in Japan
Japan’s labor laws are detailed and highly regulated, from mandatory social insurance contributions to strict rules governing working hours and paid leave. Managing these requirements on your own can be challenging, especially if you’re hiring your first employees in the region.
Partnering with an EOR helps you stay compliant while eliminating the need for a Japanese entity, saving time and money and reducing legal risks.
RemoFirst makes global hiring simple, affordable, and compliant, whether you’re hiring your first employee in Japan or expanding across multiple countries. Our flat pricing, transparent model, and hands-on support make it easy to grow your team without unnecessary overhead.
And with coverage in 185+ countries, we can support your hiring needs wherever your team grows next.
Ready to hire in Japan? Schedule a demo to get started.
