The Best Jobs in Japan Aren’t on Job Boards

Get Matched With the Best HRIS/ATS Software, for Free!

Researching HR systems shouldn’t feel like a second job.

The old way meant hours of demos, irrelevant product suggestions, getting bombarded with cold emails and sales calls.

But there’s a better way.

With SelectSoftware Reviews, spend 15 minutes with an HR software expert and get 2–3 vendor recommendations tailored to your unique needs—no sales pitches, no demos.

SSR’s free HR software matching service helps you cut through the noise and focus only on solutions that truly fit your team’s needs. No guesswork. No fluff. Just insights from real HR experts.

Why HR teams trust SSR:

✅ 100% free service with no sales pressure
✅ 2–3 tailored recommendations from 1,000+ vetted options
✅ Rated 4.9/5 by HR teams and trusted by 15,000+ companies

Skip the old way—find your right HRIS/ATS in a new way, for free!

Get Your Free HR Software Matches

The Japan Work Report
Serious about working in Japan?

Stay ahead in Japan's job market with weekly insights tailored for foreign professionals in our paid newsletter. Each issue includes curated job listings (with salary ranges), visual breakdowns of hiring trends across 5 industries, and recruiter-level tips to help you land a role. Whether you're job hunting now or planning your next move, this newsletter gives you the data and direction you need — in one place, every Friday JST.

• Exclusive Job Listings

• Salary & Language Info

• Visa & Location Details

• Hiring Trend Insights

• Actionable Recruiter Tips

• Tailored For Foreign Professionals

Upgrade here

Where are you applying?
Most people are looking in the wrong places.

If you’re applying to jobs in Japan and hearing nothing back, I want to ask you one thing:

Where are you applying?

Chances are, it’s one of the big ones:

• GaijinPot

• LinkedIn

• Indeed

And that’s fine. But here’s the truth most people miss:

In this newsletter, I’ll break down exactly where those jobs are and how people are landing them.

Local Government Programs
Local Government Programs You’ve Never Heard Of

Japan’s rural towns and lesser-known prefectures are quietly launching programs to bring in foreign workers. Why? They’re struggling with:

• Population decline

• Aging communities

• Shrinking workforces

So local governments are partnering directly with businesses to solve the problem.

These programs often include:

• Job matching (with vetted employers)

• Japanese language training

• Monthly rent subsidies

• Visa and relocation support

• Mentorship from community volunteers

But here’s the issue: they’re almost never written in English, and you won’t find them on LinkedIn.

Real Example:

A small town in Tottori Prefecture pays a ¥300,000 relocation grant to foreign workers who join local farms, tourism offices, or care centers. They help with everything from visa paperwork to getting your driver’s license.

How to Find Them:

• Visit a Hello Work office that supports foreigners.
  Here’s the Tokyo branch

• Ask about “Chiiki Katsudō” (regional revitalization)

• Search Japanese-only prefectural websites or connect with community NPOs

Talk to recruiters
Recruiters With Hidden Job Pipelines

Some of the best roles in Japan never get posted publicly.

Why?

Companies want vetted candidates, not a flood of applications from unqualified people. So they skip job boards and go directly to recruiters, especially in sectors like:

• Supply Chain and Logistics

• Retail area management

• B2B tech and SaaS startups

• Multinational back offices (finance, HR, operations)

I know this because I work in this space. And many times, I get roles where the company says:

If you’re a qualified candidate and not hearing back from job boards, this is your shortcut.

What to Do:

• Build a relationship with a recruiter who understands your goals

• Be honest about your visa situation, skills, and flexibility

• Respond quickly when opportunities arise, timing matters

And yes, if you’re reading this, you’re already in the right place. I regularly help people land roles that never show up online.

The right sites
Foreign-Friendly Sites That Actually Filter for Visa Support

You’ve probably heard of GaijinPot. But there are other job sites, designed specifically for foreigners, that let you filter for visa support and Japanese level.

Most people don’t even know these exist.

Here are a few that are actually worth your time:

🔹 YOLO JAPAN

Focuses on part-time and full-time jobs for foreigners, including factory work, hospitality, and driving. Many listings include “visa support available” filters.

🔹 Jobs in Japan

Includes full-time and contract work with both Japanese and international companies. Good for English teaching, bilingual roles, and niche industries.

🔹 WORK JAPAN (app)

Mobile-first platform popular for finding jobs in food service, logistics, and factory work. Many include simple Japanese or no-language-needed filters.

Outreach
Direct Outreach That Actually Works

You don’t need to wait for a job post to appear.

If there’s a company you’d love to work for, especially a smaller startup or regional employer, you can:

• Look up their site and check for a “採用情報” (Careers) page

• Find the hiring manager or founder on LinkedIn

• Send a short, well-written pitch explaining what you offer

• Mention you’re based abroad but serious about relocation

You’d be surprised how many founders and HR managers are open to hiring foreigners, they just don’t know where to find them.

I’ve helped people land interviews at companies with no active job listings, simply because they reached out first and showed initiative.

Template Idea:

CONCLUSION
You’re Not Behind. You’re Just Not Looking in the Right Places

It’s not that you’re not good enough.
It’s not that Japan doesn’t hire foreigners.
It’s that most people only search in the obvious places and give up too soon.

But if you:

• Check local government programs

• Partner with recruiters (like me)

• Use the right foreigner-friendly platforms

• Reach out directly to employers you care about

Then your chances of finding a real job with visa support go way up.

Learn how to make AI work for you

AI won’t take your job, but a person using AI might. That’s why 1,000,000+ professionals read The Rundown AI – the free newsletter that keeps you updated on the latest AI news and teaches you how to use it in just 5 minutes a day.

Sign up to start learning.

Need Help Landing a Job in Japan?
Here are a few ways I can support you:

✅Resume Writing Tutorial + Templates
Step-by-step written guide + the exact Japanese resume formats I used to get hired. Perfect if you’re not sure how to write a 履歴書 or 職務経歴書.