No Japanese Required Jobs in Japan: Student-Friendly Part-Time Work

Even if you’re a student who can’t speak Japanese, there are “start-right-away” part-time jobs.
When choosing no japanese required jobs, focus on two things: how much speaking is needed at work, and whether the tasks are standardized (manual-based).

Whether you can do it depends on “how much talking” and “how standardized the work is”

Here, “how much talking” means how much Japanese communication you need during the job. Roles with a lot of customer service, phone calls, or explanations tend to require more Japanese. On the other hand, back-of-house tasks or jobs with simple instructions are often manageable even with limited Japanese.

“Standardized (manual-based)” means the work follows fixed steps, rules, and checklists. The more standardized the job, the fewer phrases you need to learn at the beginning—making it easier for Japanese beginners to start.

Below are beginner-friendly no japanese required jobs, listed from least talking required.
If you want to browse jobs right away, check these curated pages first.

Next, we’ll summarize each job type: “What is it?”, “How much talking?”, and “Who it’s good for”.

Almost no talking: factory / warehouse work (sorting, picking, light work)

These jobs use very little Japanese, so they’re easy for beginners to start. Tasks are divided, instructions are short, and once you get used to the flow, it often becomes repetitive and predictable.

・Talking level: Low (greetings + quick confirmations)

・Good for: People who like focusing quietly / enjoy physical work

・Tip: Learn basic words for “place”, “number”, and “time”

Links: Factory jobs ／ Warehouse jobs

Low talking: cleaning / bed making

Cleaning and bed making are often highly standardized. Communication is minimal, and the work is easier to follow—making it a reassuring first job.

・Talking level: Low (brief explanations and checks at the start)

・Good for: People who like careful work / prefer fixed steps

・Tip: Learn words for tools, locations, and “finished” reports

Links: Cleaning jobs ／ Bed making jobs

Short conversations: kitchen helper / dishwashing / back-of-house (no customer service)

Even in restaurants, if you’re not on the floor, kitchen helper or dishwashing roles reduce the amount of talking. Instructions are short and tasks are often fixed, so Japanese beginners can start more easily.

・Talking level: Low to medium (short instructions inside the kitchen)

・Good for: People who learn by doing / like teamwork

・Tip: Check that the role is kitchen support or dishwashing in the listing

Link: Restaurant jobs

Low to medium talking: delivery staff

Delivery jobs vary depending on the role. If it’s more about support and preparation, talking tends to be lower. Try choosing listings with less customer interaction first.

・Talking level: Low to medium (more hand-offs = more talking)

・Good for: People who like moving around / can keep time

・Tip: Check if the job is mostly hand-offs or more back-end support

Link: Delivery staff jobs

Next, let’s look at how to choose job listings where it's easier to get hired, even with limited Japanese skills.

Even if you worry “I might not get hired because I can’t speak Japanese,” changing how you choose listings can make a big difference. Focus on whether the workplace is used to hiring foreigners and whether the job is designed to be easy to understand.

Easier-to-get-hired jobs can be found with “tags”

On YOLO JAPAN, you can search using tags. If you’re not confident in Japanese, start with tags that show the workplace expects Japanese beginners.

Three things to check in the job listing

After narrowing down by tags, check the listing details. These three points reduce mismatch.

① Are the situations where you need to talk clearly stated?
Listings that clearly mention customer service/phone calls/explanations are easier to judge and reduce surprises.

② Can you imagine the work flow?
The more concrete the tasks—and the more training/manuals— the easier it is for beginners.

③ Is there info that foreigners work there?
Workplaces with foreign staff often speak slower and communicate more clearly.

Choose listings that match these points, then pick a job type from the previous section to get closer to “starting right away.”

If you’re not confident in Japanese, it can be harder to check details carefully. Here’s a checklist to help you avoid suspicious postings before you apply.

Warning signs to check before applying

Signs of a safer job posting

YOLO JAPAN is a job site for foreign residents in Japan, so it’s easier to find no japanese required jobs you can apply for with confidence.

4 reasons we recommend YOLO JAPAN

If you want to start with “less talking” roles, these feature pages are also helpful.

Common questions from students who aren’t confident in Japanese.

・If you’re not confident in Japanese, start with jobs that have less talking × standardized tasks

・Using tags like #Japanese not required can make it much easier to find good listings

・As you get used to it, you can slowly increase short conversations and improve your Japanese