Cleaning and housekeeping jobs are widely available in Japan for locals and foreigners alike. Wondering how to land a housekeeping job in Japan? Read on and find out.
First Published: 2020-07-14
Updated: 2024-08-15
Table of Contents
- Many Vacancies for Cleaning and Housekeeping Jobs in Japan
- Types of Housekeeping Jobs in Japan
- Requirements of Housekeeping Jobs in Japan
- Japanese Qualifications for Full-Time Cleaners
- Housekeeping Salary in Japan
- Find Housekeeping Jobs in Japan with LGS
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Many Vacancies for Cleaning and Housekeeping Jobs in Japan
Japan has a growing demand for cleaning and housekeeping jobs, driven by several factors. This demand has led to numerous job vacancies in various sectors, offering opportunities for both locals and foreign nationals.
Here’s a closer look at the reasons behind this trend and the types of opportunities available:
Ageing Population and Declining Birthrate
Japan has one of the fastest-ageing populations in the world. As more elderly people require nursing care and assistance with daily chores, there is an increasing need for housekeeping and cleaning services, both in private homes and care facilities.
Inbound Tourism Boom
Japan is a popular tourist destination, and this has led to a boom in the hospitality industry. Hotels, ryokans (traditional inns), and other lodging facilities are constantly in need of housekeeping staff to maintain high standards of cleanliness and guest satisfaction.
Major cities like Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto, where tourism is concentrated, see a particularly high demand for housekeeping workers.
Increase of Dual-Income Families
The rise of dual-income households in Japan has significantly contributed to the increasing demand for residential cleaning services. With both partners working full-time jobs, many households find it challenging to manage household chores, including cleaning. This has led to a growing reliance on professional cleaning services to maintain a clean and organized living environment.
In addition, the higher combined income makes affording cleaning services, that might have been considered luxuries in the past, affordable.
Part-Time and Flexible Work Opportunities:
Many cleaning and housekeeping jobs in Japan offer part-time or flexible work options, which are appealing to students, homemakers, and retirees. This flexibility helps fill gaps in the labor market but also contributes to the high number of job openings.
Competitive Salaries and Benefits:
While the pay for housekeeping jobs can vary, many positions offer competitive salaries, especially in areas with high demand. Benefits such as transportation allowances, bonuses, and accommodation are sometimes included, making these jobs more attractive.
Writer's Pick
Types of Housekeeping Jobs in Japan
Housekeeping jobs in Japan are diverse, catering to various industries and settings.
Here’s an overview of the different types of housekeeping jobs available:
Hotel Housekeeping
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Room Attendant: Responsible for cleaning guest rooms, making beds, changing linens, dusting, and replenishing room amenities. Room attendants ensure that rooms meet the hotel’s standards before guests check-in.
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Public Area Cleaner: Focuses on cleaning and maintaining the public areas within the hotel, such as lobbies, hallways, elevators, restrooms, and other common spaces.
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Laundry Attendant: Handles the washing, drying, ironing, and folding of linens and towels used in the hotel. Laundry attendants may also manage guests' laundry services.
Ryokan Housekeeping
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Room Attendant: Similar to room attendants for hotel housekeeping but with the added knowledge of tatami floor cleaning and futon arrangement that is classic of traditional Japanese ryokans.
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Onsen or Bath Attendant: Onsen (hotspring) and shared baths are common at ryokans. Housekeeping involves cleaning and maintaining these shared facilities, as well as restocking amenities.
Residential Housekeeping
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House Cleaner: Provides cleaning services to private homes, including tasks such as dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and kitchen and bathroom cleaning. House cleaners may work for a cleaning company or be self-employed.
Commercial Cleaning
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Office Cleaner: Focuses on cleaning office spaces, including dusting, vacuuming, emptying trash bins, and sanitizing restrooms. Office cleaners may work outside of regular business hours to avoid disrupting office activities.
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Industrial Cleaner: Works in factories, warehouses, or other industrial settings. This role involves cleaning large spaces, machinery, and equipment, often requiring specialized cleaning techniques and safety measures.
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Janitorial Services: Janitors are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness of public buildings, such as schools, hospitals, and government offices. Their duties may include general cleaning, waste management, and minor maintenance tasks.
Specialised Cleaning
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Window Cleaner: Specialises in cleaning windows of buildings, both residential and commercial. This job often requires working at heights and using specialised equipment to ensure windows are spotless and streak-free.
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Laundry Attendant: This position involves handling, cleaning, and maintaining various types of fabrics and garments to meet high standards of cleanliness and care. Laundry workers can be found in hotels, hospitals, dry cleaning businesses, and large laundry facilities that serve both private and commercial clients.
Requirements of Housekeeping Jobs in Japan
The keyword for finding cleaning and housekeeping jobs in Japan is 清掃 (Seisou). Each workplace will have their own set of requirements, but these are the general requirements.
Language Skills
Basic Japanese language skills are sufficient for housekeeping jobs in Japan. Some jobs might require conversational Japanese to communicate with guests or coworkers. But otherwise, it is a hands-on job where communication is minimal.
Shift & Location Flexibility
Many housekeeping jobs are shift-based. This means that you might work early mornings, late evenings, weekends or holidays, etc. timings that are convenient to the workplace. For example, guest room housekeeping at hotels is between check-out and the next check-in time, and office cleaning is kept before or after office opening hours. Flexibility in working hours is crucial to accommodate these varying shifts.
Depending on the job, you might be required to work in different areas within the same establishment or even across multiple locations. For example, those working for cleaning services as dispatch cleaners might have to travel to different client sites.
Physical Stamina
Housekeeping and cleaning staff require physical strength and stamina. They have to carry cleaning tools, soiled linen or garbage which can be heavy. Their work may require lots of bending over or squatting which can lead to strains. In addition, at work sites where air-conditioning or heating are not available, it may often be hot or cold, and some people find it physically demanding.
Time Management
If you are a commercial cleaner or hotel housekeeper, you will have a limited time to finish cleaning before the facility opens or check-in time arrives. You will need to work fast and efficiently while making sure to complete your task by the time limit.
Japanese Qualifications for Full-Time Cleaners
Many job postings for housekeeping and clears welcome those without experience, and many do not inquire into your education background. Depending on the cleaning work, various skills and knowledge may be required, such as for specialised cleaning, but it is rarely required at time of joining the company. Therefore, cleaning and housekeeping jobs are easy for those who have no prior work experience and academic background.
However, if you are interested in gaining full-time employment as a cleaner, the following qualifications may be advantageous to you. With these qualifications, you can prove your skills and aim for a job with better pay and benefits.
Building Cleaning Technician (ビルクリーニング技能士)
- National Qualification Exam for building cleaning works
- Available in 4 levels: Basic & Grades 1~3
- No work experience is required to take the exam up to Grade 3
Building Sanitation Technician (建築物環境衛生管理技術者)
- National Qualification Exam for the environmental sanitation of specific buildings (total floor area of 3,000 m or more, 8,000 m or more for schools)
- At least 2 years of work experience is required to be eligible to sit for the exams
Cleaning Operations Supervisor (清掃作業監督者)
- National Qualification Exam to become a site supervisor or manager of cleaning process and cleaning staff
- Requires attending a 2-day course before sitting for the exam
- Only those who have obtained the previously mentioned Building Cleaning Technician (Grade 1) or Building Sanitation Technician qualifications are eligible to sit for this exam
Housekeeping Salary in Japan
The average salary of a housekeeper or cleaner in Japan is around 3 million to 3.5 million yen a year. The starting salary is around 2.5 million yen a year.
For dispatch and part-time cleaners, the average hourly wage ranges from 1,056 yen to 1,876 yen. Hourly wage is affected by workplace, experience and required skills.
Find Housekeeping Jobs in Japan with LGS
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