On July 28, 2026, the Central Minimum Wage Council of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare announced its recommendations for Japan’s regional minimum wages for fiscal year 2026.
If each prefecture adopts the recommended increases, the national weighted average minimum wage will rise to ¥1,176 per hour, an increase of ¥55 (4.9%) from the current average of ¥1,121 in fiscal year 2025.
Recommended Increases by Region
Japan’s 47 prefectures are divided into three groups—A, B, and C—based on their economic conditions. The recommended increases are as follows:
| Rank | Prefectures | Recommended Increase |
|---|---|---|
| A | Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Aichi, Osaka | +¥54 |
| B | Hokkaido, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Mie, Shiga, Kyoto, Hyogo, Nara, Wakayama, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi, Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, Fukuoka | +¥56 |
| C | Aomori, Iwate, Akita, Yamagata, Tottori, Kochi, Saga, Nagasaki, Kumamoto, Oita, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Okinawa | +¥56 |
Final Minimum Wages Will Be Determined by Each Prefecture
The announced figures are recommendations, not the final minimum wage rates.
Each prefecture’s Local Minimum Wage Council will review regional wage levels and economic conditions before making its recommendation. The final minimum wage for each prefecture will then be determined by the Director of the Prefectural Labour Bureau.
What This Means for Foreign Workers
Japan’s minimum wage applies to all workers, including foreign nationals employed in Japan.
This includes international students working part-time, as well as foreign workers holding residence statuses such as Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) and Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services. Employers are required to pay at least the applicable minimum wage.
The new minimum wage rates are expected to take effect sequentially after they are officially approved by each prefecture.
By Hajime Saito
X: @hajimesaitoYJC
