[Sangetsu]

To qualify for a work visa without a degree you would need 3 years consecutive teaching experience, which you would have to be able to verify with pay stubs or tax records. This will qualify you for a work visa, but most schools (better than 90%) will require a degree.

Once you have 3 years experience, you can begin inquiring at the smaller schools. It might take some time, but you'll probably find someone willing to hire you. Keep in mind that quite a few of these schools are quite sketchy, and will try to take advantage of you. If you can put up with their nonsense for one year, you should then be able to move to a mainstream company which offers more in the way of pay and benefits.

As for the available work here, news today is that enrollments at all English conversation schools is on the rise, especially since Rakuten instituted an "English Only" rule in the workplace. Though Rakuten is an internet retailer working in a predominantly Japanese market, all Rakuten employees will be required to communicate in English at all times, even in the break room. Other multinational companies are also setting up minimum English standards for their employees, and the current thought is that English conversation schools, particularly those which specialize in business English, are going to enjoy a boom in business.

Part of the reason for these changes is increased trade ties with China and India. Many Japanese companies who have partnered in one way or another with Chinese and Indian companies actually use English to communicate with each other, as it is more widely taught in these countries.