Have some questions?

To join Winter Work Japan, you must:

• Be 18+ before 15th October of the year you travel
• Be 18–30 when applying for your Japanese Working Holiday Visa
• Meet the Japanese Working Holiday Visa requirements
• Available to start late November or by 7th December (contracts usually run until March/April)
• Available for at least 7 months for your intended travel period on the Working Holiday Visa (visa up to 12 months)
• Have no tattoos in areas that are not easily coverable with clothes, such as face or hands (if you have tattoos, please let us know) 

Please note: Japan is still a relatively traditional and conservative culture. Resorts often expect staff to present themselves professionally, so extreme hairstyles, visible piercings, or bold fashion choices may limit the roles available to you.

Most placements begin from mid-November to early December. Exact dates are confirmed on your employment contracts.

You’ll need to be available to start before 7th December and be available to work until at least 15th March (some resorts stay open in April too). There are no January start dates for ski resorts.

Most resorts will hire staff aged 20+, but we can also place 18–19 year old's. If you’re under 20, you’ll typically be considered for housekeeping or kitchen hand positions. Having previous work experience (even part-time) can open up more options. Roles are determined by the employers and resorts directly.

Note: the drinking age in Japan is 20+

There’s a mix of hospitality and resort-based roles. Common jobs include:

• Housekeeping and Cleaning
• Kitchen Hand
• Dishwashers
• Restaurant Staff
• Chefs and Line Cooks
• Reception and Bell Person
• Drivers (some Japanese preferred)

Roles are offered based on previous experience and determined by the employers. We can't guarantee any certain job roles or locations. 

Expect a full-time work week: usually 5-6 days a week, usually 8 hour day + lunch break. Depending on the resort: 

• Shift times can vary, often including evenings and weekends, or could start as early as 5:30am

• Overtime is common and generally expected during busy periods (often an additional 2–3 hours). Your employer will confirm expectations and applicable overtime rates

• Peak season (Christmas and New Years) can be especially busy with more overtime expected than usual. Most people receive 6-8 days off per month during this period, however can differ by resort

• Flexibility and teamwork is key. Resorts may require you to help out in a different area or department of the resort

Note: the reality is that you are unlikely to get on the slopes on working days, so you may need to wait for days off to shred. 

Salary

You’ll be paid Japanese minimum wage which varies by prefecture. Wages depend on your resort’s region, your role and your experience. You could earn between ¥900-¥1,500 per hour (around £4–£8 per hour). These minimum wages per prefecture are a guide:

• Nagano: ¥908/hour (around £4.30)
  
  
• Iwate: ¥854/hour (around £4.10)
  
  
• Hokkaido: ¥920/hour (around £4.50)
  

Pay is monthly, so bring enough to cover your costs until your first pay day (remember this might be a month or so after starting work). You may also need to pay a small bond for your lift pass or bedding linen.

Non-Resident Tax

Anyone working in Japan for under 12 months pays around a 21% non-resident tax. This is standard for Working Holiday Makers and cannot be claimed back at the end of your stay.

Other Deductions from Salary

Expect the following deductions from your monthly salary: national insurance & pension enrolled by employer, staff accommodation and meal deductions*

*Dependant on your resort

We can't guarantee anyone a specific resort or location. You can let us know on your application where you’d like to go, but final placements depend on availability and the resorts' needs. We’ll always try to match you somewhere that fits your vibe and skills.

Accommodation is typically subsidised and deducted monthly from your pay, costing anywhere between ¥5,000–¥35,000 per month (roughly £25–£185/month), depending on the resort.

Expect shared dorm-style housing with 2–6 people per room, shared bathroom and either a Western style bunk bed or a traditional Japanese futon. This could be hostel-style dormitory or homestay living with a local family, dependent on resort. Generally you'll have basic kitchen amenities like microwave and kettle, perfect for those ramen nights.

The following is a general guide only on room types that are sometimes offered. Costs and room types will differ by resort, and may be subject to availability:

• Shared - 2-6 people per room, usually up to ¥20,000 per month
• Traditional - 2-4 people per room, usually up to ¥10,000 per month
• Private (subject to resort) - ¥10,000-¥35,000 per month

Note: some employers may assign accommodation by gender. You may not know your staff accommodation address or type until closer to your start date, or sometimes even when you arrive at the resort!

You’ll need to show proof of savings, and possibly proof of flight ticket, when applying for your Japanese Working Holiday Visa. This is usually done by providing a recent bank statement in your name that meets the minimum requirement set by the embassy. Here are the requirements per Embassy:

UK participants applying in London; either:

• £2,500 in cleared funds; or
• £1,500 in cleared funds, plus evidence that you hold a return ticket (round-trip) from UK to Japan.

UK participants applying in Edinburgh; either:

• £2,500 in cleared funds; or
• £1,500 in cleared funds, plus evidence that you hold a return or onward journey ticket to and from Japan. If your intention is to stay in Japan for 12 months, then a one-way ticket plus additional letter from a parent confirming financial support may be sufficient, however up to discretion of embassy.

Irish participants applying in Dublin; either:

• €3,200 in cleared funds; or
• €1,600 in cleared funds, plus a return or onward journey ticket to Japan

Depending on where you reside and what passport you hold will depend on the embassy you need to go to for your Working Holiday Visa.

• London: For UK participants (including those residing in Northern Ireland) but not those areas listed in Edinburgh jurisdictions below. 

• Edinburgh: For UK participants residing in Scotland or the following council districts in the north of England: County Durham, Cumberland, Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, North Tyneside, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside, Stockton-on-Tees, Sunderland, Westmorland and Furness.

• Dublin: For Irish participants or Irish passport holders residing in Northern Ireland.

You cannot apply for your visa outside of your home country.

The Japanese Working Holiday Visa is designed for cultural exploration and travel first, with work as a way to fund those travels; and gives travellers the flexibility to travel, experience daily life in Japan and take up short-term employment to support their stay in Japan.

Here is a list of requirements: 

• Valid UK or Irish passport
• Visa Application form
• ID photo - 35mm x 45mm taken within last 6 months, plain background, passport style
• Outline of Intended Activities and Travel Plan - A proposed month-by-month itinerary outlining your travel and tourism plans in Japan. It should be realistic, explain why you’ve chosen specific locations, and cover between 7 and 12 months of your intended stay. The focus must be on travel and cultural experiences rather than just work or skiing, and it should complement, not repeat, your motivational statement. 
• Motivational Statement - An A4 letter outlining why you want to travel to Japan on a Working Holiday Visa, what interests you about the country, and what you hope to gain from the experience, without repeating your Intended Activities and Travel Plan. 
• Proof of funds - A UK or Ireland bank statement covering 3 months to show either:
  • £2,500 for UK/€3,200 for Irish participants in cleared funds; or
  • £1,500 for UK/€1,600 for Irish participants in cleared funds along with appropriate evidence participants are in possession of flight tickets (see FAQs for flight ticket requirements per each Embassy)
    • The statement must show the account holder’s name and UK or Ireland address.
    • Traveler's cheques, credit cards, loans and overdrafts are not acceptable as evidence of sufficient funds.
    • If you have received gift money from your parent(s), please include a signed statement from them confirming the gifted funds.
    • For married couples applying together for two Working Holiday Visas, minimum proof of funds required is £4,500 UK/€2,300 Irish participants. 
    • Further information regarding source of funds may be requested by Embassy.
• Proof of travel insurance (usually Dublin Embassy only) - Evidence of cover for the full duration of your intended stay (minimum 7 months, up to 12 months). Your policy must include winter sports and personal liability cover. Note, this is also a Winter Work Japan requirement even if not applying for visa in Dublin. 

See more about the specifics from each embassy here according to where you will apply below:

Embassy of Japan in the UK (London) website

Consulate General of Japan in Edinburgh website

Embassy of Japan in Ireland website

Yes. You are responsible for your own travel insurance - this must include snow sports cover and personal liability, and cover you for your entire intended stay in Japan (at least 7 months and up to 12 months).  We'll walk you through some options or you can find your own.

Note: if you are an Irish passport holder, you will need to show proof of insurance at your appointment in Dublin that covers you for your entire intended stay in Japan. 

You will absolutely make friends easily!

Most people head to Japan solo, which means everyone’s in the same boat from day one. You’ll meet people from all over the world at work, in staff accommodation and during your arrival orientation.

If you apply with a friend or partner, we’ll do our best to place you at the same resort, but this can’t be guaranteed, as it depends on your experience and totally up to the resorts if they have the jobs available. 

By the end of the season, you’ll have a solid crew - and a group chat that definitely outlives winter.

Sometimes called 'Season Passes', this is dependent on the resort you are placed at. Some resorts offer staff discounted lift passes for local hills. You should expect to pay upfront, and a security deposit may also be required. Discounts may apply to selected hills only, so confirm the details with your resort when you receive your contract. 

Keep in mind that ski and snowboard equipment hire is often an out of pocket expense. There are also stores you can go to during your Arrival Orientation down-time that you can purchase new or second-hand equipment from, or even think about bringing your own ski or snowboard from home! (Maybe even use companies like Yamato Black Cat Transport* or other luggage forwarding companies to get your equipment delivered direct to your resort) 

*Third party company, at your own expense

Japan’s ski season typically runs from mid-December to late March. In higher-altitude and northern resorts (like Hokkaido), skiing can start in late November and sometimes continue into April, dependant on the snowfall.

Resorts usually start contracts between mid-November and mid-December, and often end around mid-March (sometimes into April).

Peak snow conditions are usually January and February - prime powder season.

An arrival orientation is included with your Winter Work Japan fees. Exact itinerary may differ by location and date of orientation, but here is a general guide:

Day 1 - Travel Day

Airport meet & greet, you'll travel with Winter Work Japan staff from the arrival airport (specified to you in advance) on public trains to the arrival hostel. You will be given a ¥1,500 Suica travel card that will be used towards your train journey from the airport and hopefully cover you for some additional travel during your orientation.

You'll receive a ¥1,000 Konbini voucher, use this for breakfast or snacks from most convenient stores (like 7-Eleven or Lawsons). This could get you a couple hot Bento meals or lots of yummy snacks and fun drinks. 

Day 2 - Orientation Day

We'll have a session on living and working in Japan, we'll cover basics like who you can contact in an emergency, what you need to set up when you arrive in your resort location (ie. Residence Card) and all other helpful tips.

We go a walking tour and see some of the picturesque sights, we might need to jump on a train in between!

We'll do a fun group lunch, sometimes this can be an interactive Okonomiyaki (savoury Japanese pancake) lunch.

Day 3 - Free Day

Go exploring with your new friends! Winter Work Japan team will also be on call if you have any queries.

Day 4 - Travel to Resort

Time to say goodbye to your orientation group and start your resort adventure. You'll get yourself to your resort, sometimes there are large groups of staff from your orientation group that you can travel with.