For foreign residents who are attempting to save money or simply make ends meet, having a side job while working in Japan can be very beneficial. For foreigners who are familiar with the distinctive working culture of Japan, this is a typical practice.
However, many newly arrived foreigners might believe that because working a second job requires such strict scheduling, all part-time jobs in Japan are inaccessible. They are fortunate in that this is not always the case.
08 Side Jobs To Make Extra Money In Japan
There are forms of side employment that are more flexible and manageable, even though some employers do demand absolute loyalty and dedication from their staff.
English teacher
One of the most common side occupations for foreigners working in Japan may be this one. Jobs as an English teacher or tutor are frequently flexible, allowing you to work from home, after conventional job or school hours, or on the weekends. The duties of an instructor can include everything from leading English play sessions for preschoolers to business-level courses for secondary or elementary school students.
Another option is to provide private English classes as a freelance independent contractor using websites like Hello Sensei or Eigo Pass.
Service Staff
There are many options for you if you’re willing to work part-time as service personnel. Restaurants, bars, cafés, izakayas, shops, and convenience stores are all opening in Japan.
You might serve customers as a waiter, dishwasher, or busboy. This might be perfect for any international worker since these jobs typically operate on a shift structure, allowing you to focus on your primary job without being distracted by your other one.
Working as a shop or store assistant may be another choice for you. Additionally, it’s simple to work because assistants often only have to organize shelves, unpack products, clear aisles, keep an eye out for suspected shoplifters, attend to clients, and keep track of inventory.
Social media
Are you sick and weary of hearing that you spend too much time on Instagram? You may now make your addiction to social media a part-time career, though! Social media managers are continuously in demand by businesses. Providing feedback from Instagram and Facebook newsfeeds, running targeted ads, and using your Google detective abilities are all standard tasks associated with this kind of work.
Game Localization tester
Take off! For individuals who are in the workforce and are avid gamers, this is the ideal side gig. Before being launched in a new nation or region, video games are frequently put through a rigorous testing process by game testers.
In addition to making sure the games are up to par, testers are crucial in the development of new games. By translating the game from Japanese to the dialect of a new market, they assist in developing the software and hardware of a game for a new nation or region.
The primary objective of a localization tester is to ensure that the game is pleasant and simple to understand in the target market. They must stay within the parameters of the game’s subject and substance while also taking into account a nation’s cultural setting.
The only two prerequisites set forward by video game firms for game localization testers are a passion for video games and fluency in both Japanese and another language. Because these are the four largest markets in the world, Japanese video game firms frequently seek out players who are fluent in Chinese, English, Korean, and Western European languages.
Freelance Interpreter
Translation work can be the job for you if you’ve lived in Japan for some time and want to put your language abilities to the test. Japanese businesses frequently seek out native speakers to translate press releases, websites, and other materials from Japanese into other languages.
Translators frequently serve as the intermediary between overseas clients or suppliers and the regional Japanese business. If you speak Japanese well, it’s worth updating your LinkedIn profile with that information and setting up a profile on a freelancer website like Gengo or CrowdWorks.
Delivery driver
With more and more food delivery juggernauts like UberEATS, Rakuten Delivery, and Docomo’s D-Delivery making their mark on the nation, food delivery has grown tremendously popular in the Land of the Rising Sun over time.
As a result, delivering meals on a motorcycle or bicycle has emerged as a fantastic new method to supplement your income while working in Japan. Being able to select your own schedule is essential because these organizations will only assign you to deliver if your time is open.
You can choose to work a few part-time deliveries for western fast food restaurants like McDonald’s, Domino’s Pizza, and KFC if your schedule is more flexible. But you would probably have to work shifts at these places.
Vlogger
The most accessible job on this list is undoubtedly that of a YouTuber. You essentially need a camera or phone, a laptop, a pleasant personality, some imagination, and fundamental editing abilities.
Although some traditionalists might not view Japanese vlogging as a lucrative endeavor, the sums of money spent on advertisements and sponsorships on vloggers’ channels might argue otherwise.
Start a blog or vlog about your travels in Japan to monetize your own day-to-day experiences and adventures there! Social media influencers frequently use the power of the internet to generate substantial income. Earn money by producing sponsored content, running advertisements, providing services, or making use of affiliate links to travel agencies and tours.
Konbini Personnel
Working in konbini, or convenience stores, which can be found all over Japan, is another common side job. The four biggest brands at Konbini collectively employ more than 50,000 foreign workers as part of a recruitment campaign. Frequently, you have the freedom to work as little or as much as you like each week, and occasionally you even get to take the leftovers home!
You can work a part-time job at a konbini during their graveyard shifts or after regular business hours. You must speak Japanese well enough to communicate with supervisors and clients. To get a sense of what it’s all about, visit the recruitment pages for Lawson and 7-Eleven.