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Japan's Regional Minimum Wage Rises to 1,177 Yen — Tokyo Highest at 1,280, Miyazaki Lowest at 1,085

Your hourly wage may be about to change without you noticing — the new rate phases in from October 1, but the exact date differs by prefecture.

Japan's Regional Minimum Wage Rises to 1,177 Yen — Tokyo Highest at 1,280, Miyazaki Lowest at 1,085
  • The nationwide weighted-average minimum wage this year is 1,177 yen/hour, up 56 yen from last year.
  • Tokyo has the highest rate (1,280 yen) and Miyazaki the lowest (1,085 yen) — the rate that applies depends on your prefecture of work.
  • The effective date differs by prefecture, spread from October 1 to early December 2026.

The minimum wage just went up by 56 yen

If you work a part-time job or are a technical intern, from October it's worth checking whether your hourly wage actually matches the new rate.

According to the MHLW's page, the revised minimum wage for every prefecture has now been announced, and the nationwide weighted average comes to 1,177 yen per hour.

That's a 56-yen increase from last year's 1,121 yen — the second-largest jump since the guideline system began in 1978 (Showa 53).

Tokyo highest, Miyazaki lowest

The highest is Tokyo, at 1,280 yen per hour. Kanagawa comes in almost as high, at 1,279 yen.

The lowest is Miyazaki, at 1,085 yen. The ratio between the highest and lowest rates is 84.8%, and that gap has narrowed for 12 straight years.

Note: the minimum wage that applies is based on the prefecture where you WORK, not the one where you live.

The effective date differs by prefecture

The date the new rate takes effect isn't the same everywhere — the earliest prefectures start October 1, the latest not until December 2.

MHLW also notes that these effective dates are still "planned" and may change depending on any objections filed after the announcement.

Before your next payday, check the official site yourself for your prefecture's effective date and rate to be sure.

Words in this article

最低賃金さいていちんぎん
minimum wage
時給じきゅう
hourly wage
改定額かいていがく
revised amount
発効日はっこうび
effective date
都道府県とどうふけん
prefecture
異議いぎ
objection

Notes

This article was checked on September 28, 2026.

The effective date may change, so before you get paid, reopen the original page to confirm the latest information for your prefecture.

Source: 厚生労働省 (28 Sept 2026)