"Earning Money While Traveling"... This Part-Time Job Explodes in Popularity Among Japanese University Students and Seniors [New Jobs]

Resort + Part-time Job Portmanteau
Earn Money While Staying at Local Tourist Attractions

Editor's NoteWith super-aging and ultra-low birth rates, along with the advent of the artificial intelligence (AI) era, new changes are occurring in the world of jobs. We introduce the world of new jobs that open the way for new challenges in working life or a second act in life.

There is a popular part-time job in Japan that both university students preparing for working holidays and seniors over their 60s enjoy. It is called 'Rizoba.' A coined term combining 'resort' and 'arubaito' (part-time job), it literally means working part-time at famous tourist resorts to make a living.

New Part-Time Job Type in Japan with Many Local Tourist Attractions

The Tsukiji Outer Market in Japan is bustling with visitors.
[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Japan, where local tourism products have developed in various ways, also has abundant 'local resorts.' Traditional accommodations like ryokan, ski resorts, and hotels are representative examples. Rizoba is a new type of job activity where people work part-time at these facilities while enjoying life in vacation spots.

Rizoba became popular mainly among international students preparing for working holidays or university students who want to relax at vacation spots during school breaks but have limited budgets. On Japan's largest Rizoba job recruitment platform, 'Rizoba.com,' there are many job openings targeting university students during summer and winter vacations.

The working period is usually 2 to 4 months, and working hours are mostly over 10 hours a day. Since it is a vacation spot part-time job, the working hours are long and the work is tough. However, the hourly wage is generally higher than typical part-time jobs. Most Rizoba hourly wages range between 1100 and 1400 yen, which is significantly higher than Japan's current minimum wage (1054 yen).

But above all, the biggest advantage of Rizoba is that accommodation and meals are provided free of charge within the hotel. This allows saving on transportation and various expenses, creating an optimal environment for saving a large sum of money.

Popular Among Middle-Aged and Older Adults as Well

Japan's largest resort booking site, 'Resoba.com'.
[Image source=Resoba.com capture]

Rizoba is now spreading beyond young people to seniors as well. Since most of the Rizoba tasks involve service work such as dishwashing, cleaning, and customer service, it is ideal for middle-aged people approaching retirement. Also, it has the significance of spending domestic travel time earning money after retirement, something they could not enjoy fully while working as full-time employees.

In fact, on job platforms like Rizoba.com, it is easy to find Rizoba job openings targeting middle-aged and older adults. Recently, a trend has formed where middle-aged and older adults who met through Rizoba gather and socialize. This reflects Japan's current situation of labor shortages due to aging and represents a new 'labor trend.'

Surprisingly, the fact that it is a part-time job where one can utilize their 'career' also gives middle-aged and older adults an advantage. Those with extensive experience in customer service-related roles may receive higher hourly wages, and accommodations with many foreign tourists require a certain level of English proficiency. Rizoba for middle-aged and older adults is an opportunity to leverage the skills honed during their working years.