Working in Japan at Kyoto’s HOTEL LiVEMAX has its ups and downs, but one thing’s for sure, it’s a great way to earn a little extra yen!
If you’re on a working holiday visa in Japan, chances are you’ll need some form of income to supplement your travels.
After working at HOTEL LiVEMAX in Kyoto on a part-time basis, I’d highly recommend taking on a cleaner role if you’re a foreigner who doesn’t speak Japanese.
Read on to see how a typical day as a hotel cleaner in Japan unfolds!
Scenic Ride To Work!
Living in the heart of Mukaijima about 10 kilometers out from central Kyoto, I begin the day with a cycle of about 30–40 minutes to my workplace.
My route to work is truly a magnificent one, riding through major Kyoto landmarks including the Yodogawa Bridge, Fushimi Inari-Taisha Shrine, and the Kamo River.
The awesome thing about cycling in Japan is the mere fact that everyone is doing it!
This makes cycling to work very safe as cars are hyper-aware of cyclists whizzing about, and there are plenty of cycle paths and flat grounds along the way.
In The Heart Of Kyoto!
Working right next to the big Kyoto Tower is certainly a dream come true.
Just outside Kyoto station, HOTEL LiVEMAX is in an ideal location that makes it easy to enjoy a quality post-work feed or meet up with friends!
As someone who has plenty of overseas friends visiting Japan this year, my job location makes it super easy to organize meet-ups with them after work.
It’s also super easy to commute to Kyoto station with tons of train lines connecting to this central business district and tourist hub!
Minimum Wage, Great Incentives!
Okay, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows working a minimum-wage job, and it can certainly be physically exhausting work (especially if you’re a little out of shape).
Nevertheless, when you consider the extra commission that you get for each hotel room you complete, it works out to be a worthwhile job.
HOTEL LiVEMAX has 9 floors worth of hotel rooms to manage, so there is always plenty of work to do here!
A base rate of 1,100 yen (7.50 USD) may not seem like much, but when you consider the additional rates per room cleaned, you can kick it up to as high as 2,000 yen (13.50 USD) per hour!
Basic Room Preparation Duties
A typical day as a hotel cleaner in Japan involves cleaning and preparing rooms for new guests before they check in.
Tasks include replacing towels, refilling amenities, cleaning bathrooms, changing linens, and making beds.
You will be given a little trolley with cleaning equipment and fresh towels and linen to take with you as you make the rounds from room to room.
Despite my initial reluctance to do physical labor work, I found the work to be surprisingly fulfilling as I get to admire the work I’ve done while knowing that a real person will be enjoying the room I’ve prepared.
Traditional Japanese Tatami Rooms!
Even though you’re in a building for the entire shift while on the job, you get little reminders here and there that you are in fact still in Japan.
For instance, many of the rooms I’ve cleaned were traditional Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats!
As a Japan enthusiast, it’s exciting to be working in such rooms, doing tasks like folding futon mattresses and vacuuming tatami floors.
When you’re on the higher floors of the building, the job becomes even more exciting as you get to enjoy the awesome views of Kyoto city from the window!
Owning The Job!
Job satisfaction ultimately comes down to what you make of it, and in this case, I make sure to own what I do!
I like to stay caffeinated on the job with a good old combini coffee that I carry around with me in my trolley.
Given the individualistic nature of the job, I also don’t hesitate to plug in my earphones and listen to some music or podcasts on the job too!
All-in-all, hotel cleaning jobs in Japan are easy to get and they are always looking for foreigners that are willing to work, even if you don’t speak the language!
Of course, if you are planning to visit Japan, you’ll need a way to get around the country as efficiently and affordably as possible. Japan Rail provides an abundance of travel passes to suit your travel needs. So whether you are traveling individually or as a group, the JR Pass is every traveler’s go-to for getting around and making the most of your time in Japan!