Japan Ski Resort Job

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 2 years, 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 sometime in May or June.

As a Recognized Organization of Canada, we can submit your visa for you for a $150 CAD add-on if you are a BC (outside Metro Vancouver) or Yukon resident. Not From these Provinces? We can still help you with everything else!

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.

During the Admissions Consultation Call, we’ll discuss your job preferences, assess your chances of placement, and provide tailored advice to help you land a role at one of Hokkaido’s iconic ski resorts. By the end of the call, you will have all your questions answered with all your expectations set! Furthermore, we have a well-established relationship with highly esteemed ski resorts in Hokkaido, where our ski resort partners trust that our participants are qualified, committed, and awesome!

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!

New working holiday visa rules mean many international workers from previous seasons may be returning or even staying in Japan longer, leaving fewer openings for new applicants. This is why we have introduced a FREE Admissions Consultation Call to guide you through the process.

Recent changes allow you to stay in Japan for up to 2 consecutive years—perfect for experiencing back-to-back ski seasons. Imagine making the most of Niseko’s world-renowned powder two years in a row!