採用情報 / RECRUIT

For those of you looking for a part-time job that's a little unique, but where you can work with peace of mind.
Thank you for visiting COTARU's part-time job recruitment page. At COTARU, we strive to prevent mismatches such as "it wasn't what I expected" or "it was different from what I was told," by carefully describing the job content and working environment. Because of this, it may take a little longer to read than typical "one-click application" job sites. However, this is because we want you to properly consider "what it means to work here" for you.

Some people say, "It seems popular, so it's hard to apply..." but that's not actually the case!
Every year, 3 to 5 university students join our team, and our hiring rate after interviews is relatively high. Some stay with us from their first year of university until graduation, and some started as part-timers and became full-time employees, and are currently on maternity leave. We are proud that so many of our staff members stay with us for a long time.

As you gain experience, you'll be able to get involved not only in cashiering and customer service, but also in product development and suggesting improvements to the store. One of the characteristics of COTARU is that you can gain a variety of experiences that go beyond just being a part-time worker. As the store is located in a tourist area, the level of busyness fluctuates depending on the season. However, this also means that during quieter periods you can take on new challenges or use the time to improve your skills, allowing for a well-balanced work style.

I hope this page conveys even a little bit of COTARU's atmosphere and philosophy.
After you apply, we will usually contact you within 2-3 days to schedule an interview at a time that is convenient for you. If you're even slightly interested, please feel free to apply.

All of our staff are looking forward to working with you.

Apply

About COTARU

COTARU is a unique and welcoming shop located in the city of Otaru. Originally starting as a bicycle rental service, it now also offers soft serve ice cream, soup curry, hot sandwiches, and other light meals. It aims to be a place that can be enjoyed by both locals and tourists alike, whether it's to spark a stroll around town or simply to drop in and relax. The shop is staffed by people of various generations, including university students and housewives.

We're a group of people who love Otaru, and we enjoy our daily work by bringing together our individual strengths.

Things I value in my work; things I want my staff to value.

COTARU is a small, practical space for creating your "future self." The shop is visited by tourists and locals alike, people of all ages and nationalities.

It is precisely because you work in such an environment that you naturally gain insights into "how we can make customers even happier" and come up with ideas for new services and products. First, after you have become thoroughly familiar with basic tasks such as cashiering and customer service, we will assign you "individual tasks" that match your interests and strengths. These tasks vary widely, including creating POP displays, suggesting products, planning events, and disseminating tourist information.

What's important is taking action and saying, "Let's try it." Keeping your eyes open and ears open every day, and having the attitude to challenge yourself without fear of failure, will gradually build confidence and skills. Each staff member's challenge contributes to the appeal of COTARU.
We value this cycle of growth.

Message from the staff

COTARU was my first part-time job, but I feel comfortable working here because of the calm atmosphere and the environment where people naturally communicate with each other.

Senior staff members patiently teach you anything you don't understand, and there's a relaxed atmosphere where you can easily share ideas. The shop has a diverse group of people, including students and housewives, and it feels more like a flat organization than a hierarchical one. After getting through busy periods, we sometimes go out for meals together. Shifts can be flexibly adjusted to fit classes, tests, and trips home. Even if you have no experience, I think you'll naturally get used to it in about a month through the curriculum.

Job introductions

At COTARU, we don't expect you to handle customer service or the cash register from day one. Your first day is treated as an "onboarding experience," where you get to know the workflow and the atmosphere of the store. You can start officially only after you're comfortable, so even those with no experience can feel at ease.

After joining the company, you will undergo a training period of approximately 50 hours. You will gradually increase your skills by learning things one by one, such as how to use the cash register and how to prepare products.

cash register

We take requests and orders from our customers. We also have English menus available, so we can serve international customers with ease. Once you become more comfortable, we also value communication with our customers, incorporating everyday conversation.

Product manufacturing and supply

Initially, you'll learn how to swirl soft serve ice cream, make drinks, and operate the espresso machine. Gradually, you'll take on kitchen duties and get a grasp of the overall workflow. Based on what you've learned, you'll create and serve products with care and dedication.

DALL·E 2024-01-31 18.32.09 - Create a simple line drawing illustration in a square format,

Floor check

To maintain a comfortable space for our customers, we always pay attention to the store environment, both inside and outside. We check things like the cleanliness of tables and floors, the volume of background music, and the air conditioning, putting ourselves in the customer's shoes, to maintain a comfortable environment.

DALL·E 2024-01-31 19.04.18 - Create another simple line drawing illustration in a square f

Tourist information

お客様によっては、これから小樽観光を控えている方もいらっしゃいます。会話を通じてお客様のしたいことや食べたいものを探り、グルメやスポットを提案することで小樽観光の楽しみを広げるお手伝いもしています。

Flexible working style

No prior experience is necessary.

You'll start with simple tasks, and senior staff will provide thorough support for anything you don't understand or are unfamiliar with. Once you're comfortable, you can enjoy chatting with regular customers and tourists. In an environment where you can experience both the tourism and food service industries, you can enjoy new encounters and learning, and even those with no experience can work with peace of mind.

You can work only on weekdays, only on weekends, or only within the limits of being a dependent.

COTARU has a diverse staff, ranging from students to housewives. Those with school or club activities during the week can work on weekends, while those who want to spend weekends with family can work on weekdays. We offer flexible work arrangements to suit your lifestyle. While we can't always accommodate every request, we strive to adjust shifts to your preferences as much as possible.

Flexible shifts allow you to prioritize childcare. You can also consult with colleagues about urgent matters.

全スタッフがホール・調理を兼任することにより、スタッフの急な不在にも対応できる体制を整えています。お子さまの体調不良などで急な予定変更が必要な時も、周りのスタッフに相談して調整が可能です。スタッフ同士で助け合う環境が整っているので、家庭と両立しながら安心して働けます。

Overtime is rare. Paid leave is, of course, provided.

We strive to create a workplace where employees can leave on time, so there is almost no overtime, and you can secure plenty of time for your private life. It is an environment where you can value work-life balance. In addition, paid leave is granted according to the length of employment, so you can take time off for travel or to refresh yourself. The paid leave utilization rate for our staff is 100%.

COTARU's history

2018

COTARU, a rental bicycle shop, has launched in the Otaru Miyakodori shopping street.

2021

April: COTARU relocates and reopens at its current location.
May: Roasted sweet potato sales begin
June: Soft serve ice cream sales begin
October: Trial operation of rental campervans begins.
November: Trial sales of spice curry begin.
November: Electronic money support

2022

March: Master Sanyutei Shiuka's first rakugo performance is held.
July: Homemade soda and shaved ice (limited time offer) go on sale.
October: Premium parfait series goes on sale.
December: Rental space opens on the 2nd floor.

2023

January: Soup curry sales begin.
February: Roast beef bowl sales begin.
June: Changed the terrace seating to allow pets.
December: Started offering soft-serve ice cream made in-house.
December: Chinese steamed buns go on sale.

2024

March: Hot sandwich sales begin
October: Opened a store at KITAUNGA DISTRICT, a project commemorating the 100th anniversary of the completion of the third warehouse.

2025

February: Booth at Otaru Yukiakari no Michi (Snow Light Path)

Application Guidelines

Job type

Store and service operations

Business content

1. Customer Service: • Cashier duties • Tourist information and general customer service tasks.

2. Rental Services - Rental and management of electric assist bicycles

3. Food Manufacturing - Assisting in the production of soft serve ice cream, snacks, etc.

4. Store operation and management - Cleaning inside and outside the store - Decorating according to the season and events

5. Marketing and Creative Work: • Creation of promotional materials such as POP displays and menus • Photography, social media posting and management • Planning and development of new products, services, and events

salary

Hourly wage: 1100 yen

Various allowances

■ Otaru Guide Allowance

・Meister: 120 yen/hour

・Level 1: 80 yen/hour

・Level 2: 30 yen/hour

■ Foreign language allowance

(English)

TOEIC score of 800 or higher / Eiken Pre-1st Grade or higher: 200 yen/hour

TOEIC score of 650 or higher / Eiken Grade 2 or higher: 100 yen/hour

(Chinese)

HSK Level 5 or higher / Chinese Proficiency Test Level 2 or higher: 200 yen/hour

HSK Level 3 or higher / Chinese Proficiency Test Level 4 or higher: 100 yen/hour

(Korean)

TOPIK Level 5 or higher / Korean Language Proficiency Test Level 2 or higher: 200 yen/hour

・TOPIK Level 2 or higher / Korean Language Proficiency Test Level 4 or higher: 100 yen/hour

Working conditions (duration, days, hours, holidays)

・Employment period: 2025/7/01~2025/9/30
Days and hours: 2-5 days a week (shift system), approximately 4.5-8 hours between 9:00 and 19:00.

• Trial period: Approximately 1 to 3 months (salary and other conditions remain unchanged)
Overtime: Generally none (may be 15-30 minutes depending on the day's business conditions)

Holidays and vacations

paid holiday

Compensation and benefits

• Transportation expenses provided according to company regulations • Employee discounts • Meal subsidy program • Aprons provided • Break room available • Electric-assist bicycles available for loan (company regulations apply)

Work place

047-0032
3-1-1 Inaho, Otaru City, Hokkaido

Eligible individuals and qualifications

＼ At COTARU, we welcome all kinds of "likes" and "things you want to try"! ／
No specific educational background or experience is required. Beginners and homemakers are welcome.
This job is perfect for people like this:

I love Otaru!
I like eating and drinking.
I like traveling and sightseeing.
I enjoy customer service and talking to people.
I like creating things with my friends.
I prefer taking initiative rather than waiting for instructions.
I can provide cheerful and energetic customer service.
I want to put my language skills to good use and talk to foreign customers.
I am interested in planning and developing products and services.

＼ We especially welcome the following people! ／

We are looking for someone who can work on weekends and public holidays.
Those who can work at least two days a week
Those with tourism-related qualifications such as "Otaru Guide"
Those who can speak English, Chinese, or Korean at a conversational level.
Basic knowledge of generative AI such as ChatGPT is required (sufficient skills include asking simple questions, understanding how to use different AIs, and checking output results).