Welcome to the world of Uber Eats in Japan! As a foreigner living here, becoming a delivery partner offers a unique blend of flexibility, income, and a chance to explore your city in a new way. With Uber Eats being the most downloaded food delivery app in the country, the opportunity is significant. But to truly succeed, it’s not just about working hard—it’s about working smart.
This guide is designed to help you navigate the when, where, and how of delivering with Uber Eats in Japan. We’ll break down the best times to work, how to identify high-demand areas, and share strategies to help you maximize your earnings from day one.
Understanding the Japanese Food Delivery Landscape
Food delivery, or “demae” (出前), has a long history in Japan, but the rise of app-based platforms has revolutionized the industry. Unlike in many Western countries, tipping is not customary in Japan, so your earnings will come directly from delivery fares and promotions calculated by Uber. The platform’s bilingual app makes it highly accessible for non-Japanese speakers.
For many in Japan, the gig economy offers a welcome alternative to the country’s traditionally rigid work culture. The “freedom” to set your own hours is a frequently cited benefit among local delivery partners, allowing them to fit work around their lives, not the other way around. As one driver told Rest of World, “I’m glad I found this way of working. It’s great fun to drive freely through the city.”
While earnings can be good—some dedicated drivers report making up to 400,000 yen per month—your income is directly tied to your strategy. Knowing when and where demand peaks is the first step to success.
The Golden Hours: When to Hit the Streets
Timing is everything. Being online when order volume is highest is the most fundamental way to increase your earnings. Demand fluctuates predictably throughout the day and week.
Daily Peak Times: Lunch and Dinner Rushes
The most lucrative periods on any given day are the mealtime rushes. According to Uber’s own data, these are the key windows to be active:
- Lunch Rush: 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM
- Dinner Peak: 5:00 PM to 9:30 PM
During these hours, more people are ordering, which means more delivery requests, higher potential for consecutive trips, and often, peak-time promotions. Working a “split shift” by focusing on these two windows can be more profitable than staying online all day.
Weekly Rhythms: Weekends and Holidays
Unsurprisingly, weekends are prime time for food delivery. From Friday evening through Sunday night, order volume is consistently higher as people relax and order in. National holidays also see a significant spike in demand. Planning your schedule to be available during these periods can provide a substantial boost to your weekly income.
The Weather Advantage: Capitalizing on Rainy Days
Bad weather is good for business. When it rains or gets cold, fewer people want to venture outside, leading to a surge in delivery orders. At the same time, fewer drivers may be willing to brave the elements. This combination of high demand and low supply often results in higher earnings and more frequent “surge” pricing. As Uber notes, you can expect more orders on rainy days, but always prioritize your safety on slippery roads.
Location, Location, Location: Mastering the Heatmap
Knowing when to work is half the battle; knowing where is the other half. The Uber Driver app includes a powerful tool to guide you: the delivery heatmap. This feature shows you, in real-time, which areas of your city are busiest.
Identifying Hotspots in Major Cities
In large metropolitan areas like Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya, hotspots are typically concentrated in areas with a high density of restaurants and offices or residential buildings.
- During the lunch rush (11am-2pm), position yourself near business districts and commercial centers like Shinjuku or Marunouchi in Tokyo, or Umeda in Osaka.
- For the dinner peak (5pm-9:30pm), dense residential areas and entertainment districts with many restaurants, such as Shibuya in Tokyo or Namba in Osaka, become prime locations.
The heatmap uses colors (red is busiest) and icons to show you exactly where the demand is. Regularly checking the map can help you move from a quiet zone to a busy one, minimizing downtime.
Beyond the City Center: Regional Expansion
While major cities are the traditional hubs, don’t overlook opportunities elsewhere. In March 2025, Uber Eats announced a major expansion into 22 new regional cities across 10 prefectures. This move opens up new, less-saturated markets where you can become one of the first and most active delivery partners.
Advanced Strategies for Maximizing Earnings
Once you’ve mastered the basics of timing and location, you can employ more advanced strategies to boost your income.
Leveraging Promotions and “Quests”
Uber frequently offers promotions to incentivize drivers during high-demand periods. Keep an eye on your app for:
- Boost: A multiplier on your fare for deliveries in specific areas at specific times.
- Surge: Dynamic extra earnings added to your fare in areas with very high demand.
- Quests: Bonuses for completing a set number of trips within a certain timeframe (e.g., an extra ¥2,000 for completing 20 trips over the weekend). As one driver noted, “if you build up the number of orders, you can accomplish your quest, and the money piles up.”
Actively pursuing these promotions, especially Quests, can significantly increase your effective hourly rate.
The Rise of the Robots: A New Frontier
The future of delivery is already here. In early 2024, Uber Eats, in partnership with Mitsubishi Electric and Cartken, launched autonomous robot deliveries in parts of Tokyo. Japan became the first international market for this service, thanks to new laws allowing delivery robots on public streets.
While currently limited to small areas, this technology represents a significant shift in the industry. For now, it co-exists with human delivery partners, but it’s a development to watch as it may change the nature of short-distance deliveries in the future.
Getting Started: Your Checklist for Delivering in Japan
Ready to hit the road? The signup process is straightforward. Here’s what you’ll need to get started:
- Age: You must be at least 18 years old.
- Vehicle: You can deliver by bicycle, scooter (50cc-125cc), or car.
- App: Download the Uber Driver app to create your account.
- Documents: You’ll need to upload required documents for verification. This process typically takes up to 72 hours.
Important Note for Motorized Vehicles: If you plan to use a scooter or car, you are legally required to have a valid driver’s license, a license plate for your vehicle, and compulsory automobile liability insurance. Uber is very strict about this. Registering a motorized vehicle as a “bicycle” can lead to permanent account suspension. Always wear a helmet when using a scooter.
Ready to Start Earning?
You now have the strategic knowledge to make your time with Uber Eats in Japan both profitable and enjoyable. By understanding peak hours, mastering the heatmap, and leveraging promotions, you can take control of your schedule and your income.
The final step is to get on the road. Use the link below to begin your application. It’s your first move towards joining a community of thousands of delivery partners finding freedom and opportunity on the streets of Japan.
コメント