Finding a job in Shizuoka
The quiet Japanese city is no less dynamic, on the contrary. Shizuoka is an agricultural, fish farming and industrial stronghold where activity has remained solidly stable despite the crises. The city attracts economic powers, is becoming more international, and is multiplying its campaigns to attract young workers. How to find a job in Shizuoka? Here's the practical guide.
Map of Shizuoka Prefecture
Shizuoka prefecture is located in Suruga Bay, in the south of the main island of Honshu, not far from Yokohama. It is much less densely populated than its close neighbor. There are about 467 inhabitants per square meter, against 8,630 inhabitants per square meter for Yokohama. It should be remembered that Yokohama is the 2nd most populated city in Japan, with 3.7 million inhabitants. Shizuoka prefecture has 100,000 less.
The capital city, which is also called Shizuoka, is home to 693,389 inhabitants. Located in the south of the prefecture, facing Suruga Bay, Shizuoka is the 2nd most populated city of the prefecture. It is just behind Hamamatsu and its 790,718 inhabitants, a large coastal city in the southwest, facing the Pacific Ocean. The 3rd largest city is Fuji. Located in the northeast, the city with 245 392 inhabitants overlooks the Suruga Bay. Fuji is world famous because of its famous mountain, Mount Fuji. In Japan, it is respectfully called "Fuji san" ("san" means "madam" or "sir" in Japanese).
Shizuoka City
Shizuoka City is divided into 3 districts (ku): Aoi-ku, Shimizu-ku and Suruga-ku. Aoi-ku is the most populated district, with 249 297 inhabitants. The others follow closely (231,066 and 213,026 inhabitants). The 40-49-year-olds are the most numerous (96,816), just before the 70-79-year-olds (95,559). Next come the 60–69-year-olds (86,674 inhabitants), and the 50-59-year-olds (92,820 inhabitants). The thirty-year-olds (30-39 years old) come in 5th place, with 71,729 inhabitants. A little more than in other regions of Japan, the aging of the population is felt in Shizuoka. The city is gradually losing its inhabitants. They were more than 700 000 in the early 2000s (729 980). They are a little more than 693,000 today. (Source: Statistics Bureau of Japan)
History of Shizuoka
Shizuoka is the quiet city of Honshu. Located one hour from Tokyo by Shinkansen, the prefecture is famous for its hot springs, its landscapes, its gastronomy, and Mount Fuji.
The history of Shizuoka is also the history of Tokugawa. Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa, famous for having reunited Japan in 1600, grew up in Shizuoka, at Sunpu castle. Under the influence of Tokgawa, the city became the political and cultural center of the country. It is also in Shizuoka that the shogun lived his last years. He rests in the Kunozan Toshogu shrine. Tokugawa has deeply marked Shizuoka. The city keeps many marks of the presence of the shogun.
Shizuoka is also the city of artists. Many came to be inspired by the unique landscapes of the city. Hokusai and Hiroshige, the masters of ukiyo-e painting, immortalized the unique landscapes of Shizuoka. World famous for his "Great Wave of Kanagawa", Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) also painted a series of prints "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji". Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) reproduced the pine forest of Miho-no-Matsubara (the pine plain of Miho Peninsula), an emblematic landscape of the Shizuoka coastline, with 54,000 that stretches over 7km.
The city of Shizuoka and its international opening
Since the 1950s, Shizuoka has been forming partnerships with foreign cities, becoming twin cities, sister cities, to deepen international exchanges on both the economic and cultural levels. Shizuoka is twinned with Stockton, Omaha and Shelbyville (USA), and Cannes (France). Shizuoka has established a friendship with Hue, a city in Vietnam.
The economy of Shizuoka Prefecture
The economy of Shizuoka Prefecture is based on 3 main pillars: agriculture, industry and tourism.
Agriculture
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Shizuoka's agricultural production will amount to 1.887 billion yen in 2020. The prefecture ranks 19th in the nation, and accounts for 2.1% of the country's agricultural production. This is down from previous years when Shizuoka was 17th with 1.979 billion yen in 2019. In 2015, the prefecture was in the top 15. It was even in the top 10 in the very early 2000s.
Shizuoka Prefecture is known for its production of mikan (tangerine-sized citrus fruit, very common in Japan). It is the star fruit of the prefecture, which produces nearly 120,000 tons. It is followed by rice (74,100 tons) and fresh tea leaves and wild tea (39,100 tons). Shizuoka is one of the leading tea producers in Japan. A tea that is exported well, thanks to the port of Shimizu (attached to the city of Shizuoka in 2003). The prefecture also produces lettuces, tomatoes, onions, potatoes, melons, strawberries, etc. It is also known for its beef cattle and pork breeding.
Fishing
As a coastal prefecture, Shizuoka has a rich fish industry. Shimizu is famous for its fish market. Known all over Japan, it is nicknamed "Kashi no ichi" (the river market). Tuna, oysters, shirasu (baby fish fry), shrimps, etc. Tofu and vegetables are also available. The fish farming activity energizes the whole region: from the fishermen to the restaurant owners (also present on the market), through the salesmen, the manufacturers and repairers of boats, agricultural and fish farming tools, and clothes, not to mention the logistics, transport and packaging. Many jobs are directly or indirectly connected to each other.
Industry
Shizuoka Prefecture is in the top 5 in Japan in terms of the number of factories. It was home to 8,786 factories in 2019. A number that is slightly decreasing. The prefecture had 9002 in 2018. Osaka had the most factories in 2019 (15,522), ahead of the prefectures of Aichi (15,063), Saitama (10,490), and greater Tokyo (9887).
In 2019, Shizuoka's industrial sector employed 413,000 people. The prefecture ranks 3rd in the country. Again, the figure is down slightly from 2018, when 413,309 employees worked in the industry.
Big companies in Shizuoka
Many large companies have settled in the prefecture to benefit from the privileged position of Shizuoka: facing the Pacific Ocean, and of its port, road and air infrastructures (Shizuoka airport, nicknamed "Mount Fuji airport", located in Makinohara). Numerous companies require a qualified workforce, especially for technical jobs.
Industries located in Shizuoka city
- Shizuoka gas, Shimizu LNG (natural gas distribution, chemical products)
- Megane top (health stores, appliance stores, medical equipment manufacturing)
- Itec Corporation (metal, minerals (except oil), metal products, warehousing and storage)
- Murakami Corporation (motor vehicle parts, transportation equipment, glass)
- Hagoromo Foods Corporation, Inaba Foods (seafood processing and packaging, fruits, vegetables, miscellaneous food manufacturing, animal feed)
- Star Micronics (metalworking machinery manufacturing, computer materials and peripherals, navigation tools, measurement, medical equipment)
- Shimizukoshiryo (animal feed, animal slaughtering and processing, wholesale)
- Try Sangyo (food wholesaler, seafood preparation and packaging)
- Shizuoka Denso (lights, electrical equipment, automotive parts)
- IAI Corporation (machinery manufacturing, navigation instruments, medical equipment)
- Seiko Corporation (foundry, machinery manufacturing, household appliances wholesaler, electrical and electronic products)
Industries located in Hamamatsu
- Suzuki Motor Corporation, Yamaha Corporation, Kawai musical instruments manufacturing
- Yutaka Giken (motor vehicle parts, metal materials production)
- Hamamatsu Photonics (semiconductors and electronic components)
- F.C.C. (transportation materials, turbines, automotive parts)
- Roland Corporation (production of various materials, musical instruments)
- Roland DG (computers and electronic equipment)
- Asti Corporation (automotive parts, semiconductors, electrical equipment)
- Suzuki Auto Parts, Kyowa Leather Cloth (textile, plastic, leather)
- Kurabe industrial (electrical components and equipment)
- Nissei electric, Aoitec (semiconductors, computers, electrical components)
Tourism in Shizuoka
Shizuoka is also a land of tourism. First of all, the inhabitants of the nearby regions often come to enjoy the calm of the prefecture for a weekend or more. Many Tokyoites come to rest in Shizuoka. Other tourists are foreigners who also come to enjoy the calm, the charm and the gastronomy of the prefecture.
Mount Fuji, the star mountain, attracts many tourists. An economy has developed around this market, including hotels, traditional inns (ryokan), restaurants, stores, museums, etc. Entertainment companies have also set up in the prefecture. With them, there are other jobs in various categories, from 100% artistic jobs to jobs of creation and maintenance of entertainment equipment (games center, games and attractions, etc.).
Entertainment companies in Shizuoka
- Shizuoka Kikaku (promotion of independent artists, writers and performers)
- Fujisan Shizuoka Kokyo Gakudan (management and promotion of art companies)
- Shizuoka Golf Garden, Konagai Sangyo (sports performances, entertainment)
- Shinsei, Sendai Sport Garden and Fujisan Hagoromo (entertainment)
- Sailing K.K. (repair and maintenance of entertainment equipment)
Entertainment companies in Hamamatsu
- Hamanako Sogo Kankyo Zaidan, Sports JP, Fukaya, Fuji Sogo Shoji (entertainment)
- Fujita Golf Service, ISK, Hamanishi Golf Club (sports shows, performances)
- Miyasen (entertainment, accessories, clothing)
Living and working in Shizuoka
Can you live and work in Shizuoka? Of course, you can. The city offers many advantages, starting with its lower cost of living than the capital or other very large cities. The important thing is to ask yourself the right questions. Do you speak Japanese? Have you taken the time to study the job market of the city, the prefecture? What is your background? What are your experiences and skills? Take the time to prepare yourself well to live your expatriation at best.
The job market in Shizuoka
Why Shizuoka? Did you get a job offer? Are you coming to discover the place? For the love of Mount Fuji? To specialize in a particular activity? Japanese people who move to the prefecture are the first to ask this question. It is said that it would be difficult to find a job in Shizuoka. However, there are plenty of companies, as this guide shows. Like many others, the prefecture is facing a double challenge: to fight against the departure of its inhabitants and to make itself attractive to attract newcomers.
Shizuoka wants to attract foreigners
Like foreigners looking for a job, Japanese people will rather go to the capital, Tokyo, or to other big cities: Yokohama, Osaka or Fukuoka. To promote Shizuoka, websites have been created, such as "Shizuoka seikatsu" (life in Shizuoka). A job search service is available to bring together job seekers and companies. To attract foreigners, the prefecture has also created the website "Work and life in Shizuoka". Entirely in English, it helps immigrants settle in, find work and integrate. The site redirects to job search associations and companies that are recruiting (these other sites are in Japanese).
Shizuoka wants to attract young people
The prefecture has also developed the website "30 san ni nattara Shizuoka ken (when I turn 30, I will live in Shizuoka) - live your dreams in Shizuoka". The site, in Japanese, compares life in Shizuoka with that in other cities. In Shizuoka, we have more spacious houses, we spend less time in transportation, we have more time and places for sports, cultural activities...
How to find a job in Shizuoka?
Whether you are looking for a small job or a permanent job, you will find many offers on the Internet. Be careful: small jobs (baito) will not allow you to have a work visa in Japan. You can access them when you already have a visa, for example, to study in Japan. But no company will sponsor you for a baito. To get a work visa, you will need to get a full-time contract.
Put all the chances on your side by learning Japanese seriously. Ideally, you should master it before moving to Japan (if you are not already in Japan). If you are already in Japan, invest in a good language school. These few months or years will not be a loss but an investment. Keep in mind that leading websites that help you find a job, like Shizuoka seikatsu, are in Japanese. The same goes for company websites. Even when they have an English version, it is often incomplete. You will also need Japanese to build your professional network.
Tips for living and working in Shizuoka
Shizuoka Prefecture is said to be a good place to live. The coastal region is known for its peace and quiet. Less stress than in the big cities, for a better quality of life. Take advantage of your new surroundings to reconnect with nature and good food. Shizuoka is also famous for its gastronomy.
Be prepared. While it's impossible to anticipate everything, proper preparation will put you in the best position for a successful move to Japan. Learn about Shizuoka, and discover the prefecture, its history, its cities, etc.
Take your time. Life in Japan is an adventure of every moment. Not everything will be as you imagined. These are the hazards of settling overseas, and they are also part of the adventure. Take part in sports and cultural activities. Take advantage of the leisure activities that Japan offers. Discover new ones. This is how you will build, little by little, your new life in Japan.
Useful links:
Shizuoka de (shushoku suru) (work in Shizuoka)
30sai ni nattara Shizuoka ken – live your dreams in Shizuoka
