Most articles about hotel cleaning jobs in Japan are written by job boards. This one is written by a hotel operator. We run two small hotels in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, with 22 and 24 rooms, and we hire cleaning staff ourselves. Here is how a cleaning shift really works, what is hard about it, and what to ask before you apply.
The shift: usually daytime, sometimes late night
At our hotels, a typical cleaning shift runs from about 10:00 to 16:00. That fits the rhythm of most hotels: guests check out in the morning, and rooms must be ready before new guests arrive in the afternoon.
Some hotels also clean late at night. This depends on the type of hotel. Hotels that offer short daytime stays as well as overnight stays turn rooms over many times a day, so cleaning continues into the evening and night. If you can only work daytime hours, say so when you apply.
The team: room cleaners and bathroom cleaners are separate jobs
This surprises many people. At our hotels, room cleaning and bathroom cleaning are done by different people. They are two separate roles, not one person doing everything.
A usual team is two room cleaners and one bathroom cleaner. The exact number changes with the size and number of rooms that need cleaning that day. The team works floor by floor. Each person starts wherever they can, so the room cleaners and the bathroom cleaner move through the same floor at the same time.
- Room cleaners: make the bed, change linens, clean floors and surfaces, remove trash, and set out amenities.
- Bathroom cleaner: cleans the bath, shower, sink and toilet, removes mold and water stains, and leaves everything dry.
Because the roles are separate, you can ask which one you would do. They feel different. Room cleaning is more walking, lifting and bed-making. Bathroom cleaning is more scrubbing and detail work in a small space.
How fast you need to work
Speed matters in this job. Industry guides say a standard hotel room takes about 30 minutes to clean on average, and some hotels ask for 20 minutes or less. A single or twin room takes about 15 to 30 minutes. One cleaner often handles 10 or more rooms a day at a typical overnight hotel.
Hotels with short stays work differently. In central Tokyo, one room may be cleaned 3 to 7 times a day, and a team can turn a room around in about 15 to 20 minutes. This is one reason those hotels split the work between room and bathroom staff.
New staff are not expected to hit these speeds on day one. Speed comes from repeating the same steps in the same order.
The hardest parts
We will be honest. These are the parts people find hardest:
- Weekend and holiday rushes. Rooms empty and fill quickly, so the amount of cleaning jumps and the time between rooms gets short.
- Bathrooms. Removing mold and water stains and leaving no drops behind takes time and care.
- Bed-making. You stand, bend and lift all day, and the bed still has to look perfect.
If you are used to physical work, you will adjust quickly. If you are not, start with fewer days per week.
Questions to ask before you apply
- Will I do room cleaning, bathroom cleaning, or both?
- What are the shift hours? Is there any late-night work?
- How many people work in one team?
- How long is training before I work on my own?
You can find hotel cleaning jobs for foreign residents on StayWorksNow. Each listing shows the source and the date it was last checked.
Sources
- Value Staff: tips for faster hotel room cleaning (Japanese)
- House Care Lab: guide to cleaning jobs at short-stay hotels (Japanese)
- Omotenashi HR: bed-making tips (Japanese)
Related Japanese guide: ホテル客室清掃の仕事の流れ