mid-November - April
6 months
CAD $1199
Our team of experts will find you a ski resort job in Japan, help you arrange your accommodation and apply for your work permit. We work with you every step of the way, from revising your resume to prepping you for the interview and setting up your medical coverage and residence permit.
Flights, medical insurance, visa and/or work permit application fees, local transportation, food & rent.
Apply now for our Japan Ski Working Holiday Program and book a call with a travel expert! Applications close June 28th as the Japan Ski Season recruitment runs from June – July. Start planning now before it’s too late!
We work with reputable employers in Japan to find you the right ski resort job relevant to your skill set. Positions are limited so we recommend you apply early. In the event you do not land your first choice role, staying open to other jobs will ensure you get a spot in the upcoming season.
There may be a variety of visas available for Canadians to do a ski season in Japan, but the most popular one by far is the Working Holiday Visa!
The Working Holiday Visa is meant for Canadians to live and work in Japan for up to a year, with the primary purpose to enjoy the country and travel around while making money at the same time. Pretty cool concept, eh?
The ski season in Japan generally starts in November and ends at the end of March every single year! You must be available for the full season from November to March. Short-season contracts may be available at some resorts, but we only accept applicants who can commit to the full season so that we can get you the best job offers possible.
The ski resorts host their interviews starting in June, so registering before that will maximize your chances of getting first dibs to all the available jobs for the upcoming season! We recommend signing up with us before the interviews start some time in April or May.
Nope, not at all! You do not need to speak any Japanese, as all the jobs we advertise are English-based. The interviews will also be held in English and done online from Canada via Zoom, Google, Meet, etc. For this reason, you will have to be extra careful with the time difference between Japan and Canada!
However, we do recommend you to learn some basic Japanese before you arrive, so that it can help you on a day-to-day basis, such as getting on the local bus or grocery shopping!
No, our Japan Ski Resort program helps you secure a job first, so you’ll know the exact date you need to be in Japan. This ensures that your job and accommodation are arranged before you apply for your visa. However, if you’d prefer to get your visa first and fly to Japan earlier, we can discuss that option too! Just let us know if you plan to arrive before the ski season starts.
The Japanese consulate needs to see at least $3,500 CAD if you have round-trip tickets booked or $4,500 CAD if you don’t have both tickets booked at the time of your visa application. Once you get to Japan, your first paycheck won’t be until your first month is completed as Japan pays monthly, so please budget accordingly!
Staff housing in Japan varies depending on the ski resort where you work. You could share a room with up to three roommates for as little as $50 CAD/month, or enjoy the privacy of your own room! Be sure to ask about housing options during your interview to get all the details.
We got you covered from A to Z! We guarantee a job contract at a ski resort in Japan by helping you prepare your resume and cover letter, apply for jobs on your behalf, and walking you through all the interview prep!
Once the job is confirmed, we walk you through the entire visa application process step by step. Then, we host a fun group orientation so that you can meet your future colleagues! We also provide information about health insurance, phone plans, taxes, future jobs after your ski resort… You will have all the information you need to have the most epic year in Japan.
This varies according to your job position and your employer, but the average hourly salary is $13-18 CAD.
In Japan, you get paid monthly. Your subsidized accommodation and taxes will be automatically deducted and reflected on your paycheck. Please budget accordingly so that you have enough money to last until your first official paycheck!
Our ski resort partners are located exclusively in Hokkaido, the northernmost island in Japan. Most of our partners are based in Niseko, renowned as one of the top destinations in the world for powder snow! We also have partners in the popular ski towns of Furano and Rusutsu. The nearest town with a train station is Kutchan, just a 15-minute drive from Niseko.
Of course! We highly encourage you to learn Japanese while you are there by practicing it with locals. You will have some local colleagues, along with the unlimited opportunity to practice at restaurants, convenience stores, supermarkets, etc. Kill two birds with one stone by adding international experience to your resume AND learning a new language!
Some ski resorts have summer seasons, so you may be able to come back for the summer season! You can discuss this opportunity with your employer. You can also find another job if you would like to explore the rest of Japan, such as Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto! Remember that the visa is for a whole year!