Season in Japan

Well travel is fucked and to make up for it I've been contemplating trying to do a season in Japan next year (that is if travel isn't still fucked). Just wondering if anyone has experience or advice in doing this - where to work, what kind of jobs are there for foreigners, how to get a visa, etc.

I have some experience ski patrolling, but I don't know if that's something they take foreigners for.
 
Hakuba = steep

Hokkaido = pow

If you go to Hakuba there is a couple of ski shops that hire. Plus you have a good range of mountains in the Hakuba valley, I think there’s like 12 mountains you can access with the HV season pass - which also includes bus trips everywhere. Bring touring gear.

In terms of Hokkaido Nisekos pretty popular. Or you could work at Rusutsu as a ski instructor, I believe they have staff accomodation as well.

Or if you’re going next year just save up all your cash and spend 6 weeks in Hakuba at a cheap hostel then spend the other 6 in Hokkaido. You can do it pretty cheap and it beats having to worry about working on pow days :D
 
Not sure if you're still thinking of this as a possibility. Japan is not open to foreigners right now. That being said, if you are qualified enough to get a job and get sponsored on a skilled labour or comparable visa, you could get in. That will basically be limiting your resorts and companies to choose from. Most likely limiting you to foreign-owned companies in which the owners are already situated in Japan and have positions open for english-only candidates. So do your homework when it comes to job listings. Most positions this season and last, you will need to have at least basic Japanese skills. But there are some out there.

For this season, your most likely options would be any of the resorts within Hakuba, Niseko/Rusutsu/Moiwa/etc, Nozawa Onsen and Myoko. Some other options would be Shiga Kogen, Zao and Furano if you don't go until a later year when things are more normal. It's highly unlikely you will get a job as a foreign patroller, especially now but even in normal times. Unless you have something highly specific and can market that skill accordingly to a specific resort that could use it. Your best option for getting sponsored will be ski instructing, retail, rentals, or guiding. But again, most of those positions are only geared towards Japanese domestic tourists this year so very limited with only English. Check out foreign-owned companies like Rhythm, NH Holidays, etc. for your best options at the moment. Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions.
 
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