"I only want to work on my days off" or "I need money right away" — one-day gigs answer exactly these needs. From single-day short-term jobs to quick gigs that fit into your spare time, the options for flexible work have expanded dramatically in recent years.
But you might be wondering: "What kinds of jobs are available?" "Can I get paid the same day?" "How do I spot sketchy listings?"
This article introduces 20 recommended one-day gigs organized by category, covering their pros and cons, how to find safe opportunities, and important tax considerations. Whether you're new to one-day gigs or looking for better options, this guide has you covered.
One-day gigs (tanpatsu baito) are part-time jobs lasting just one to a few days. They offer a flexible work style with no ongoing employment commitment — you work only when you want to.
Let's clarify some commonly confused terms. "Short-term jobs" typically refer to fixed-period work lasting one week to three months — longer than one-day gigs. "Day labor" historically meant daily-hire work, but under Japan's 2012 Worker Dispatch Law revision, dispatch work of 30 days or less is generally prohibited, with exceptions for those aged 60+, full-time students, individuals earning over ¥5 million, or households with ¥5 million+ income.
Today's one-day gig apps work through direct employment contracts between the worker and the hiring company, making them legally distinct from prohibited day-labor dispatch.
The biggest advantage is the freedom to work on your own schedule. With no shift commitments, it's easy to balance with a main job or studies.
Many positions offer same-day or weekly pay, making it easy to get cash quickly for unexpected expenses.
There are also many no-interview, no-resume-required listings. The simplicity of applying through an app and showing up to work is an advantage traditional part-time jobs can't match. Plus, trying various industries and roles helps you discover new interests and strengths.
On the flip side, income instability is a clear drawback. Monthly earnings fluctuate depending on available gigs and your schedule.
The work also tends to be simple and repetitive, offering limited career development opportunities. Some gigs don't cover transportation costs, which can significantly reduce your effective hourly rate. Social insurance coverage is also generally not provided.
Sorting, inspecting, packing, and picking products in warehouses. This is the most common one-day gig with the highest number of listings, and no experience is needed. Hourly rates range from ¥1,100–1,500, with night shifts offering premium pay.
Setting up, running, and dismantling concert venues, sports events, and exhibitions. Hourly rates of ¥1,200–1,800 are relatively high, and earning ¥10,000+ in a single day is common. The exciting atmosphere is an added bonus.
Helping load and unload furniture and belongings during house moves. Physically demanding but well-paid at ¥1,300–1,800/hour with many same-day payment options. Peak season (March–April) brings especially high demand.
Counting vehicles and pedestrians at designated locations. Since you're mostly seated, it's accessible even for those with limited stamina. Daily pay ranges from ¥10,000–12,000, and the work requires minimal interaction with others.
Distributing and collecting test papers and monitoring for cheating at certification exams and practice tests. Hourly rates are ¥1,100–1,500, and the tasks are straightforward. Most exams are held on weekends in quiet environments.
Handing out flyers and samples on streets and near train stations. Hourly rates are ¥1,100–1,400, with many short shifts (2–4 hours) ideal for filling spare time. Good for outgoing individuals as it involves interacting with passersby.
Cleaning office buildings, shopping malls, and hotels. Hourly rates are ¥1,100–1,400, with many early-morning short shifts (2–3 hours) available. Great for those who prefer working independently and quietly.
Working as hall or kitchen support at restaurants, cafés, and izakayas. Hourly rates are ¥1,100–1,500, and this is one of the most commonly listed roles on gig apps. Food industry experience is a plus but not required for most positions.
Stocking shelves, replenishing products, and managing inventory. Hourly rates are ¥1,050–1,300, with premium pay for early morning and late-night shifts. Many one-day listings focus solely on stocking without register duties — ideal if you prefer minimal customer interaction.
Offering product samples and conducting demonstrations at supermarkets and retail stores. Hourly rates of ¥1,200–1,600 are relatively high, with daily earnings of ¥10,000+ being common. Communication skills are essential, and the work is rewarding for outgoing personalities.
Delivering food through platforms like Uber Eats and Demae-can. You work at your own pace with performance-based pay per delivery. Typical earnings are ¥1,000–2,000 per hour, with potential for more during peak times and incentive campaigns.
Handling customer inquiries via phone and chat for businesses. Hourly rates of ¥1,200–1,600 in climate-controlled offices. One-day trial positions are available, and manual-based responses make it accessible even without call center experience.
Remote data entry is a classic one-day gig that anyone with a computer can do. Tasks vary from survey tabulation and business card data entry to e-commerce product listings. Hourly rates are around ¥1,000–1,200, and work hours are fully flexible.
Answer web surveys or evaluate services at physical stores as a mystery shopper. Surveys pay a few yen to a few hundred yen each, while mystery shopping pays ¥3,000–10,000 per assignment. Mystery shopping also lets you experience services while earning money.
Writing blog posts and articles on assignment. Per-character rates range from ¥0.5–3, with the potential to increase rates as you gain experience. CrowdWorks and Lancers are the standard platforms for finding writing gigs.
One-off photography or videography assignments covering events, real estate properties, and product shots. Pay ranges from ¥5,000–30,000 per job, with skilled photographers able to land premium assignments.
Participating in clinical trials for new medications and health supplements. Outpatient visits pay ¥5,000–30,000 per session, while overnight stays pay ¥20,000–50,000 per night — making this one of the highest-paying gig options. Health screening clearance is required beforehand.
Teaching students at their homes or online. Hourly rates of ¥1,500–3,000 make this popular among university students. Platforms like StreetAcademy and Coconala make it easy to offer one-time lessons in various subjects.
Live-in work at hot spring inns, ski resorts, and beach houses. Hourly rates are ¥1,100–1,500, but with free accommodation and meals in most cases, your living costs are nearly zero. Minimum stays start from about one week, combining work with a travel experience.
Carrying construction materials into buildings and work sites. Extremely physical but among the highest-paying one-day gigs at ¥12,000–18,000 per day. Many shifts start early in the morning and finish by noon, freeing up your afternoons.
There are three main ways to find one-day gigs: using gig-matching apps, searching job listing sites, and registering with staffing agencies. Each approach has different strengths, so choose the method that suits you best.
One of Japan's largest gig-matching apps offering no-interview, no-resume same-day work. It covers a wide range of roles from restaurant work to office tasks, with instant payment upon shift completion.
A one-day gig app strong in office work listings like data entry and administrative tasks. Average hourly rates tend to be higher, and it offers pathways to transition into long-term employment.
A veteran job site specializing in short-term and one-day gigs with many same-day and weekly payment options. Its calendar-based search lets you find jobs by selecting your available dates, making schedule management easy.
A major job site with robust one-day and short-term gig sections. Its "Work Experience" video feature lets you preview workplace atmosphere before applying, helping avoid mismatches.
A job site with especially rich listings for students seeking short-term and one-day gigs. Its excellent filtering lets you search efficiently by conditions like "same-day pay," "no interview," and "one day only." Major corporate listings provide added reliability.
Unfortunately, some fraudulent listings do exist among one-day gigs. Watch out for these red flags:
First, be wary of listings offering pay far above market rates. Claims like "anyone can earn ¥50,000 a day" or "make ¥100,000 in one day" may involve illegal work or scams. Vague job descriptions that don't clearly explain the actual work content are also suspicious.
Any listing requesting registration fees, deposits, or training material costs is almost certainly a scam. Legitimate part-time jobs never require applicants to pay money. Be especially cautious of listings shared only through personal social media or LINE accounts.
To find one-day gigs safely, use well-known apps and job sites with clear operating companies, and choose listings that clearly state the company name, address, and contact information. If something feels off, check the company's reputation online before applying.
Even one-day gigs come with tax obligations. If you're an office worker doing gigs as a side job, you must file a tax return when annual side income exceeds ¥200,000. Students and freelancers whose sole income is from gigs must file when annual earnings exceed ¥1.03 million.
Income tax may be withheld even for same-day pay gigs. When daily wages exceed ¥9,300, income tax may be deducted automatically, so always collect your withholding tax statement.
Students on their parents' tax dependency should note that exceeding ¥1.03 million in annual income removes dependency status, increasing their parents' tax burden. Exceeding ¥1.3 million also means losing dependent status for social insurance purposes.
For working between classes and club activities, flexible gig apps are your best bet. Use summer and winter breaks for event staffing or resort work to earn bigger amounts at once. Stay mindful of the ¥1.03 million annual limit if you're on your parents' tax dependency.
Weekend-only gigs or remote options like data entry and writing work well without affecting your main job. To keep your side job private from your employer, select "self-payment" for resident tax during tax filing.
Short shifts (2–4 hours) near home work best between household chores and childcare. Supermarket stocking and cleaning shifts with flexible hours are good options. Keep the ¥1.03 million annual income ceiling in mind if you want to stay within spousal tax deduction limits.
One-day gigs offer a modern, flexible way to work on your own terms. With apps like Timee and Sharefull enabling no-interview, same-day work with instant payment, it's never been easier to start.
From the 20 one-day gigs introduced in this article, find the ones that match your stamina, skills, and schedule. Start by downloading 2–3 gig apps and registering today — you could be working and earning as soon as tomorrow.
Just be sure to prioritize safety and tax awareness. Avoid suspicious high-pay listings, stick to reputable services, and keep track of your annual earnings to file tax returns when necessary.
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