Paid to Watch

Car counting, one of the more curious part-time jobs. As far as casual observers are concerned, you're paid to sit in a chair all day, staring into space and occasionally clicking a counter. Car counters are actually recording the number of cars and passers-by to determine the flow of traffic -- whether traffic signals, road signs, and roads are all being utilized to their greatest efficiency. Workers are hired on a per-day basis, receiving around 10,000 yen (105 dollars) for 12 hours on the site, with about 7-9 hours of actual work time. The downside is that you have to brave rain, the sun, and suspicious looks from paranoid people.