Front Desk Staff — Hanamiya Hotel

(please note : you need to be in Japan to be considered for this role and need to know business-level Japanese, send your resume in English & Japanese)
Position overview

• Openings: 2 full-time seats
• Position type: Full-time front desk / guest-facing operations
• Reports to: Hotel management at Hanamiya Hotel
• Employment type: Full-time contract employee. Initial one-year contract. On good performance, the contract is expected to be renewed, with potential for promotion to seishain (permanent employee).
• Work location: Initially Hanamiya Hotel — 155 and 155-1 Tenno-cho, Kiyamachi-dori Matsubara-agaru 3-chome, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto
• Access: About a 4-minute walk from Kyoto-Kawaramachi Station
• Depending on business and operational needs, the work location may later change to another Shiki Properties or Shiki Group location in Kyoto or elsewhere in Japan. Any material relocation will be discussed with you in advance.

About Shiki Properties

Established in 2014, Shiki Properties is a growing operator and developer of boutique accommodation in Kyoto and Osaka — hotels, machiya townhouses, short-term rentals, and monthly rentals.

We are an international team working in an international environment, while staying rooted in Japan. Our portfolio is built around Japanese aesthetics and the careful preservation of Japanese culture and traditions — from restored machiya and quiet hospitality spaces to small hotels that reflect local craft, seasonality, and a sense of place. Guests and colleagues come from many countries; the day-to-day language of the business is both Japanese and English.

About Hanamiya Hotel

Hanamiya Hotel is a newly built, six-room boutique upper-upscale hotel scheduled to open in October 2026. It sits on the Kamo River (Kamogawa) in one of Kyoto’s best visitor areas, with some of the largest riverside suites on this stretch of the river — including the second-largest suites on the Kamogawa. Guests stay in generous, highly finished rooms with a true sense of place above the river.

A high-end sushi restaurant is already operating on the first floor and will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner, with seasonal kawadoko riverside dining also planned.

The owner is an experienced hospitality professional with a listed hospitality business. Day-to-day hotel operations are run by Shiki Properties. With only six rooms, the hotel is designed for close, personal service and stays that reflect Kyoto’s food, culture, and seasons.

Role summary

You will be the face of a boutique upper-upscale riverside hotel — the first and last impression for every guest. You provide warm, precise, personal service at check-in and throughout the stay, while keeping a small luxury hotel with landmark Kamogawa suites running smoothly.

Beyond the desk, the role includes concierge work, room and public-area quality checks, reservation and billing support, and close coordination with housekeeping, maintenance, and the restaurant partner. This is a hands-on launch-team role for a boutique luxury hotel — not a large-chain call-centre desk, and not a multi-property network coordinator seat.

Key responsibilitiesGuest service

Deliver warm, professional, personal hospitality from arrival through departure.

Handle check-in and check-out efficiently and calmly.

Verify guest identity and complete legally required guest registration under Japan’s Hotel Business Act.

Respond quickly to guest questions and requests.

Create memorable stays through attentive service at a six-room luxury scale.

Concierge

Recommend restaurants, culture, sightseeing, transport, and seasonal experiences.

Arrange restaurant bookings, taxis, luggage forwarding, and special requests.

Coordinate celebrations and tailored guest experiences.

Reservations and administration

Support hotel reservations and guest communications.

Process payments and billing accurately.

Maintain guest profiles and reservation records.

Prepare clear daily operating notes and handovers.

Quality control

Inspect guestrooms and public areas before arrival against Hanamiya standards.

Report cleaning or maintenance issues immediately.

Protect the presentation of reception, lobby, and guest-facing spaces.

Operations coordination

Work closely with housekeeping, maintenance, the restaurant partner, and hotel management.

Coordinate room readiness and in-stay requests.

Assist with room allocation and daily occupancy planning as directed.

Monitor front-desk supplies and guest amenities.

Assist with light room preparation when operations require it.

Guest relations and safety

Handle VIP arrivals and sensitive requests with discretion.

Resolve concerns professionally; escalate when needed under hotel rules.

Collect guest feedback and flag service improvements.

Follow emergency procedures for fire, earthquake, medical, or other incidents and protect guest safety.

RequirementsExperience

At least 2 years in hospitality, hotels, luxury retail, or high-touch customer service.

Boutique or luxury hotel experience strongly preferred.

Opening or pre-opening experience is an advantage.

Skills

Outstanding guest service and professional presence.

Strong communication and calm multitasking in a small luxury environment.

Excellent attention to detail.

Comfortable with digital hotel tools, accurate logging, and shift handovers.

Team-minded; reliable on weekends, holidays, and rotating shifts.

Languages

Japanese: business level or above (required). You must handle phone calls confidently with guests, restaurants, taxis, and local partners.

English: business level (required).

Chinese, Korean, French, or other languages: highly valued.

Other

Valid Japanese driver’s licence preferred.

Able to work rotating shifts, weekends, and holidays. Overnight duties only if included in your shift pattern or separate arrangement.

Compensation and benefits

• Monthly salary: ¥260,000 – ¥300,000 depending on experience and skills. Typical offer around ¥280,000 for a strong fit.
• The monthly salary above includes a fixed overtime allowance of about ¥38,000 for 20 hours of overtime per month.
• Example at ¥280,000 total: basic salary about ¥242,000 + fixed overtime allowance about ¥38,000 (20 hours). Exact yen amounts are confirmed in the offer and labour conditions notice.
• The fixed overtime allowance is paid in full each month whether or not the full 20 hours of overtime are worked.
• Overtime beyond 20 hours in a month is paid separately in addition to the fixed allowance.
• Bonus: up to 2 months per year depending on performance and contract terms.
• Transportation expenses reimbursed per company policy.
• Employee discounts; training for hotel opening standards.
• International working environment and the chance to help open a new boutique upper-upscale hotel on the Kamogawa in central Kyoto.

Employment terms

• Full-time contract employee.
• Initial contract: one year.
• On good performance: expected contract renewal.
• Potential promotion to seishain (permanent employee) based on performance and business needs, with further growth paths across Shiki Group hotels and operations.

Growth and career at Shiki Group

This role is a chance to help open a flagship boutique hotel and grow with Shiki Group.

On strong performance, opportunities may include contract renewal, promotion to seishain (permanent employee), senior front desk / shift-lead responsibility, moves across other Shiki hotels or desks, and longer-term progression into broader guest-operations or leadership tracks within Shiki Group.

We invest in training, multi-skill development, and real responsibility early — especially for opening-team members who want to build a career, not only hold a shift.

How to apply

Please submit your resume and detailed work history in Japanese and/or English to [email protected] with the subject line:

"Hanamiya Front Desk Staff Application - [Your Name]"

Selection process

Application screening → initial interview → possible practical exercise (case study) → final interview → offer

Note

These two seats are Hanamiya Hotel front desk roles for the opening team. They are separate from other Shiki multi-desk operator openings.