TYPE-A
Visit
Look, listen, ask. With a thank-you payment.
HOW-TO / CHOOSING FACTORY WORK IN JAPAN
Choose your factory job by visiting or trying it first.
A job posting can’t tell you how loud the line is, how hot the floor gets, or who will teach you. With Cura (クーラ), you can visit a factory with no résumé or interview, or work a paid one-day trial shift, before you decide. This page is a guide to how it works.
Find a workplace on CuraThe Cura app is in Japanese.See how it works ↓
- No résumé, no interviewApply for visits and trial shifts in the app
- Free for job seekersNo fees to sign up or apply
- No sales callsLook for work at your own pace
- 41 job typesIncluding factory, manufacturing and warehouse work
SEC.01 — HOW IT WORKS
How it works, in 6 steps
From signing up to deciding whether to stay. You choose between a visit and a trial shift at step 03.
- 01
Sign up in the app
Sign up in the Cura app. It’s free for job seekers, and nobody will call you with sales pitches.
POINTIf you’re considering work that needs a qualification (such as forklifts), keep your certificate of completion, license or other documents handy. Qualifications are checked with documents.
- 02
Find a workplace
Browse factory, manufacturing and warehouse postings and find workplaces you’re interested in.
POINTReading the job guides first — what the work involves and how much demand there is — keeps you from choosing on a vague impression.
- 03
Apply for a visit or a trial shift
Apply in the app, with no résumé or interview. Choose a visit if you just want to look, or a trial shift if you want to actually do the work.
POINTNot sure? Start with a visit. It’s also the easier option if you haven’t decided on a job type yet.
- 04
Go to the site on the day
Head to the workplace as instructed. What to bring and wear differs by workplace, so check the posting and instructions beforehand.
POINTThe commute is part of the trial. Travel at the time you’d really start work and you’ll know whether you can make the trip every day.
- 05
Paid visits (a thank-you payment) and paid trial shifts
Visits come with a thank-you payment, and trial shifts are paid. Amounts differ by posting, and you can check them before you apply.
POINTWork that legally requires a qualification or training (forklift operation, arc welding, etc.) can’t be done on a trial shift without it.
- 06
Decide for yourself whether to continue
You’re never obliged to take the job. If you like it, you can discuss working from one day a week or changing jobs. If it’s not a fit, just look for another workplace.
POINT“This one wasn’t right for me” is a useful result too. Note down what didn’t fit, and your next choice will be quicker.
Not a fit? Go back to STEP 02 and find another workplace
SEC.02 — VISIT vs TRIAL
Visit or trial shift — what’s the difference?
Both are ways to get to know a workplace before you join. Choose based on what you want to find out.
TYPE-B
Trial shift
Actually work, and see. Paid.
| ITEM | Visit | Trial shift |
|---|---|---|
| What you do | See the site, hear an explanation, ask questions | Actually do part of the job |
| Payment | Yes (a thank-you payment for the visit) | Yes |
| What you learn | Equipment, size, noise and smells, safety measures, the people and atmosphere | Work steps, physical strain, the flow of the day, how you get on with coworkers |
| Best for | You haven’t narrowed down the job type or workplace yet / you want a feel for the place first | You have a shortlist / you want to see if you can do the work with your own hands |
| Note | Even when only looking, you follow site rules such as wearing protective gear | Work that requires a qualification or training can’t be done without it |
Factory-specific note: some work legally requires a qualification or training — for example, forklift operation (forklift operator training（フォークリフト運転技能講習）for a max. load of 1 ton or more, and special safety training（特別教育）even under 1 ton) and arc welding (special safety training). Even on a trial shift, you can’t do that work without the qualification or training. Qualifications are checked with documents.
SEC.03 — CHECK BEFORE YOU GO
What to bring and wear on the day
Factories and warehouses each set their own safety and hygiene rules. Below are general examples. The actual rules differ by workplace, so always check the posting and instructions.
LIST-01 / WHAT TO BRING (TICK AS YOU GO)
FIG.02 / EXAMPLE CLOTHING AND GROOMING
- 1Cap or helmetSome workplaces lend them, others ask you to bring your own.
- 2HairYou’ll often be asked to tie back long hair (so it can’t get caught in machinery).
- 3Accessories and watchesYou’ll often be asked to remove rings, necklaces and watches (to prevent entanglement and foreign matter).
- 4ClothesLong sleeves and long trousers that cover your skin are the basics. Some workplaces lend work clothes.
- 5ShoesSome workplaces require safety shoes. If not, wear comfortable closed-toe shoes.
Food factories and clean rooms have procedures such as changing into dedicated work clothes, caps and masks and washing hands before entering, and you may be asked not to wear nail polish or perfume.
SEC.04 — WHAT TO LOOK AT
What to check on a visit, by job type
Even in the same factory, what to look at depends on the job. Start with the points common to every job.
COMMON / EVERY JOB
JOB-01
Skilled production work
Machining, welding, machine assembly
- Welding fume measures (ventilation, protective gear)
- Real overtime, shifts and weekend work
- Who teaches you, and Trade Skill Test support
JOB-02
Equipment maintenance
Inspecting, repairing and improving production equipment
- How often call-outs, on-call and weekend work happen
- Mechanical or electrical, and number of lines
- Who teaches you, and support for qualifications
JOB-03
Design & production engineering
Mechanical / electrical-electronic design, production engineering
- Concept design, or mainly detailed design?
- Number of lines, and any overseas trips
- Rules on access to confidential information
JOB-04
Quality control & assurance
Inspection, QC, QA
- Mostly visual, or instruments and vision systems?
- Acceptance criteria and authority to stop shipments
- How often customer audits and complaints happen
JOB-05
Production control & purchasing
Production planning, process control, procurement
- Which systems are used
- How often plans change, and coordination load
- Orders and payments in line with the Toriteki Act
JOB-06
Warehouse & forklift
Receiving and shipping, inventory control, forklift operation
- How training is arranged and who pays
- The specified voluntary inspection sticker
- Weight of loads and temperature inside
SEC.05 — DATA
Six factory jobs, by the numbers
The jobs-to-applicants ratio（有効求人倍率）is the number of openings per job seeker. Above 1 means there are more openings than job seekers. It differs a lot by job, so use it as a guide when choosing.
Equipment maintenance (machine maintenance and repair)4.04
Skilled production (metal products manufacturing and processing)1.98
Design (manufacturing engineers, development)1.88
Quality (product inspection, excluding metal products)1.71
Production control & purchasing (production-related clerical)1.36
Warehouse (transport and handling workers)1.08
All occupations1.10
Design (electrical-electronic engineers)≈¥7.04M
Design (mechanical engineers)≈¥6.59M
Equipment maintenance (general-purpose machinery etc., maintenance and repair)≈¥5.71M
Production control & purchasing (production-related clerical)≈¥5.44M
Quality (machine inspection)≈¥5.23M
Skilled production (metal machine tool operation)≈¥4.84M
Warehouse (other transport and handling workers)≈¥4.07M
All occupations≈¥5.46M
The names in parentheses are the statistical categories. The equipment maintenance category also includes car mechanics and others. The detailed categories and caveats for each job are in the job guides.
REF / Sources
- 一般職業紹介状況（長期時系列表 第21表）・雇用関係指標（年度） — Employment Referrals for General Workers (long-term time series, Table 21) and annual employment indicators (Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW), released May and Aug 2026 (FY2025 figures))Jobs-to-applicants ratio (有効求人倍率) for regular jobs at Hello Work, including part-time; not seasonally adjusted. Does not include openings on private job sites or through recruitment agencies.
- 令和7年賃金構造基本統計調査 — Basic Survey on Wage Structure 2025 (full-time workers, by occupation) (MHLW, published Mar 2026)Full-time (general) workers at companies with 10+ employees, men and women combined. The "estimated annual pay" is our own calculation — monthly scheduled cash earnings × 12 + annual bonuses — not an official annual income figure.
SEC.06 — AVOID MISMATCH
Fewer “this isn’t what I expected” moments
Among the personal reasons people gave for leaving their previous job (all industries, excluding “other”), working conditions, relationships at work and income rank near the top. None of these is easy to judge from a job posting. Check them with your own eyes and ears on your visit or trial day.
01
Working conditions such as hours and days off were poor
Men 8.5%/Women 12.9%
Ask about real shifts, overtime and weekend work
02
Relationships at work were not good
Men 8.9%/Women 11.5%
Talk with the people who would teach you and work with you
03
Pay and other income was too low
Men 9.9%/Women 8.6%
Check allowances, overtime pay and how raises work
The figures are shares of all reasons, including “other personal reasons”, and are not for manufacturing alone. This does not mean that a visit or trial shift will stop you from quitting.
REF / Sources
- 令和7年雇用動向調査結果の概況 — Survey on Employment Trends 2025, summary (MHLW, published Aug 31, 2026)
SEC.07 — FAQ
FAQ
Do I need a résumé or an interview for a visit or trial shift?
No. You can apply for visits and trial shifts in the app without a résumé or interview.
Does it cost anything?
Cura is free for job seekers. Visits come with a thank-you payment, and trial shifts are paid. Amounts differ by posting.
Will I get sales calls after signing up?
No. Cura doesn’t make sales calls, so you can look for work at your own pace.
If I do a visit or trial shift, do I have to work there?
No. You’re never obliged to take the job. If it doesn’t feel right, it’s fine to look for another workplace.
Should I start with a visit or a trial shift?
If you haven’t narrowed down the job type or workplace yet, start with a visit. If you have a shortlist and want to see whether you can do the work, a trial shift is a good choice. You can apply for either first.
Can I do a trial shift without a forklift or welding qualification?
For work that needs no qualification, yes, depending on the posting. But work that legally requires a qualification or training — such as forklift operation (forklift operator training for 1 ton or more, and special safety training even under 1 ton) or arc welding (special safety training) — can’t be done on a trial shift either.
How are qualifications checked?
Qualifications are checked with documents. Have documents ready that prove them, such as a certificate of completion or a license.
Do I need to bring my own work clothes and safety shoes?
It depends on the workplace. Some lend them and some ask you to bring your own, so check the posting and instructions beforehand.
If I like a workplace, can I work there just one day a week?
If you like it, you can discuss working from one day a week, or changing jobs, with the workplace. What kind of arrangement is possible differs by workplace.
Does Cura have jobs outside factories and manufacturing?
Yes. Cura covers 41 job types, so you can find workplaces in many fields besides manufacturing and warehousing.
NEXT STEP → 01
Start by going to see
one workplace.
No résumé, no interview. If it’s not a fit, just look for the next one.
Find a workplace on CuraThe Cura app is in Japanese.
Recruiting for a factory or manufacturer? See this page.