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Our mission is to make your entire experience in Japan as enjoyable as possible!

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QUESTIONS?

#1 Read our FAQs below.

#2 Email us.

#3 Urgent? Call our Support Line in Japan (+81) 80-2445-0138. 

While we’re here for you 24/7 in emergencies, in other circumstances please call us during normal (Japanese time-zone) working hours, or email us and we’ll get back to you ASAP!

Postal: 673-0033 Hyogo-ken, Akashi-shi, Hayashizaki-cho 3-502-62-608  JAPAN

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Watch videos from our staff video competitions we run every year!

FAQs

We held an online information session Sunday, March 5th, 2023 (via Zoom) about the following topics:

– The Japan working holiday Visa program
– Why a Working Holiday is a great introduction to Japan
– Tips on how to make the most of your Working Holiday Visa
– boobooSKI’s Ski & Beach Resort Work programs
– The process of securing a position and applying for the visa
– Hear from one of our past resort staff about her experience
– Q&A to answer any viewer questions

For anyone thinking of doing a Working Holiday in Japan in general, or joining us on our resort work programs, we tried to provide an informative seminar! We hope you find it valuable.

FAQs BEFORE your trip

Application FAQs

No. As long as you complete your contract.

A Processing Fee of 50,000 yen is usually charged, but collected at the end of your contract to help minimize the financial burden on you. However, in appreciation for doing a good job, we completely waive the fee if you complete your contract.

In short, you don’t pay any processing fees up-front, and nothing at all if you complete your contract.

We only charge a 10,000yen (USD$100) Transport Fee when you arrive in Japan which covers Delivery to, and Orientation at, your Resort.

Niseko positions: Yes. Our Placement fee of USD$499 guarantees you a job in Niseko.

Simply put, most resorts around Japan are happy to pay us to source staff.

Niseko is world-famous, so it is much easier for employers there to find staff themselves. Thus we are unable to ask them to pay us for our effort = we have to pass our cost on to you.

There’s no reason to be nervous in the Interview; it’s just a relaxed, casual chat, to get an idea of whether you’re suited to Resort work in Japan or not. Your interviewer will ask you a couple of quick questions about yourself and your interest in Japan, and then a couple of simple questions in Japanese, to get an idea of your Japanese level. Depending on how long you’ve been studying Japanese, your Interviewer will tailor the questions to suit your level.

Having a friendly nature and positive attitude is much more valuable for Resort jobs than your Japanese skill. If you’re enthusiastic and open-minded, we’re sure you’ll make a great impression in the interview.

Remember we’re seeking applicants with a genuine interest in Japan. You will need to respect Japanese culture, and make effort to abide by their rules and customs while you’re there. Resorts don’t want staff who are only interested in the powder snow.

There is no specific minimum level. If you have studied at all, you have a great chance of getting a job through us (because we have positions for almost all levels). Having a genuine desire to learn, is much more important than your current Japanese-speaking ability.

Even if you don’t speak any Japanese at all, we have quite a few positions available every year around Japan.

Alternately, our Niseko Placement fee of USD$499 guarantees you a job in one of Hokkaido’s best resorts (in Niseko).

Yes, you can request where you would like to work, or what position, but we can’t guarantee you will be successful in securing a position there (it depends on your availability, Japanese ability, experience etc). But we always do our best to accommodate your preferences.

It’s very likely, but it depends on your availability, Japanese ability etc. We’ll discuss your specific likelihood with you during your interview(s).

Sorry, but all resort dorms are single-sex, so you won’t be able to stay in the same room together. The only other option would be for you to rent a separate apartment for yourselves nearby (costs approx. 50,000 yen per month + additional fees), though these can be difficult to find.

In the past, most couples have just accepted they won’t be able to spend much private time together for the few months they are working at a resort. You’ll likely have different days-off, and there won’t be any private area for you to hang out so meeting each-other means going out to nearby restaurants/bars – which will cost at least the price of a drink.

It’s important you are prepared for this, and go with the right mindset: wanting an experience where you meet lots of new people, not one where you’re together 24/7.

Please think seriously about whether this will be a problem for you, before you apply. Thank you for your understanding.

Any type of qualification (from any country) is ok (in fact many resorts don’t even require a qualification).

Resorts around Japan pay us a fee to source staff. As we get paid by resorts, we don’t charge you anything except the Orientation/Transportation Fee of 10,000yen (which includes delivery to your Resort and a full Orientation to prepare you for your experience).

Niseko positions: Resorts in Niseko are not willing to pay us for staff. Therefore, we must pass the cost onto you. Our Niseko Placement fee of USD$499 guarantees you a job in one of Hokkaido’s best resorts (in Niseko).

Visa FAQs

Only AFTER you have Received a Tentative Offer, accepted it, AND been approved by your resort (we’ll send full details on how to do so, at that time).

Note: You must apply for your Working Holiday Visa in your country of residency. If you plan on traveling to other countries before Japan and need to get your Visa early, please contact us for more information.

The actual amount depends on your country, but at the time you apply for your Working Holiday Visa you must show that you have a few thousand dollars available in your bank account. The Visa office needs to know you have sufficient funds to pay for your airfare, and support yourself while living in Japan. You’ll need to submit a bank statement as proof.

As many of you are students, we know this much money can be hard to raise. Before their Visa application, many applicants receive gifts from their parents, of a few thousand dollars. This is fine, as long as you show the Visa office an accompanying letter from your parents, explaining they have given you the money for your stay in Japan.

It varies depending on your nationality, but the Visa can take up to 3+ weeks to process. It’s really important to provide all the necessary documentation; Japanese are very particular about this, and could result in delays.

A Japanese Working Holiday Visa is valid for 12 months for all nationalities except Australians, who can extend their Visa for a further 6 months while they are in Japan (total 18 months).

No, you can only get a Japanese Working Holiday Visa once. If you want to return to Japan to work/live in future though, you can. Many foreigners enter Japan on a 3-month Tourist Visa, then get sponsored by a Japanese company (eg. English language school), which gives them a 1 or 3-year Working Visa.

A Working Holiday Visa allows you to work part-time jobs while traveling Japan, which is why it is the visa that you need to join our programs: seasonal, part-time jobs. The visa can only be obtained by people from countries which Japan has a reciprocal Working Holiday Visa agreement with, and must be applied for in your country of citizenship. Click here to see that list of countries. 
 
A Working Visa can be applied for by a person of any nationality and it can be applied for anywhere, however the main difference is that a full-time job, contracted for a minimum of 1 year is required to be lined up first. Once you find such a job, both yourself and your future employer (your visa “sponsor”) need to submit paperwork to immigration, after which you will be screened to ensure you have the appropriate qualifications for the job. If your Working Visa application is successful you can go to Japan to fulfil that job.
 
A Working Visa is not suitable for our programs. Occasionally applicants tell us they were told by embassy staff they need to apply for a Working Visa, however this is incorrect and likely because the embassy is mistaken about what you intend to do. For short-term, part-time work, a Working Holiday Visa is your only option. We give more information about how to apply for your visa after your position is confirmed.

No, unfortunately we cannot offer Visa sponsorship. A company has to guarantee a job for 12-months continuously in order to provide sponsorship. As ski and beach jobs in Japan are only seasonal, this isn’t possible.

To be eligible for Resort Work, you must be currently in Japan, holding one of the following Visas, which is valid for the entire time you wish to work in a Resort:

VISAS WHICH DO PERMIT SHORT-TERM WORK IN RESORTS

Working Holiday Visa
Spouse Visa
Permanent Residency
Child of Japanese National Visa
Japanese Citizen (holding a Japanese passport)

NOTE: Unfortunately, as resorts are unable to provide Visa sponsorship, foreigners with the below Visas are not eligible to Work in Resorts, and are therefore unable to apply for our programs. This is government regulation – if you have any questions about Visas, please contact the Department of Immigration directly. We’re sorry for the disappointment, but thank you for your understanding.

VISAS WHICH DO NOT ALLOW SHORT-TERM WORK AT RESORTS

*Working Visa (including Specialist in Humanities)
Dependent Visa (even with a work permit, only permits up to 28hrs work per week, which is less than the minimum required to work in resorts)
Student Visa (as above)
Engineering Visa
Other Specialist Visas (Artist / Cultural Visa etc.)
Any other Visa which is not listed on this page

Preparing for your Trip FAQs

In general, you should wait until AFTER your Visa is Approved, before buying your flight (in the unlikely case your Visa is declined).

However, some consulates require proof of flights when you apply for your Visa. One way to show proof of flights without actually paying for them, is to visit a travel agent and get flights held, along with a quote/itinerary. That will satisfy the consulate, and once you have the Visa you can either go ahead and pay for those flights, or cancel them and get other (cheaper) flights instead.

Of course! As long as you can be at the designated meeting point when everyone else arrives, you’re welcome to travel wherever you like. After your contract, we recommend you travel on (with your new friends) too!

Note: You must apply for your working holiday visa in your country of residency. If you plan on traveling to other countries before Japan and need to get your visa early, please contact us for more information.

Yes. You will need to purchase Travel Insurance (including coverage for snow sports (Ski apps only) for the entire length of your Resort contract. This will cover you for accidents outside of work (you will already be covered by work insurance during work hours).

In addition, due to a recent change in government policy, all foreigners are now also required to enter the Japanese National Healthcare System. Thankfully, this is only a minimal expense of approx. 2000yen (USD$20) per month.

Finally, a few select ski resorts require staff to enter their own additional Ski/Snowboard Insurance scheme aswell (approx. 3000yen per season).

Until you receive a Tentative Offer, then get approved by your resort, you don’t need to do anything. We’ll send you all the steps to prepare (ie. get your Visa, flight, travel insurance, pack your bags…), one by one after your position is approved.

If you really want to plan ahead, you can read our “Ultimate Working Holiday Guide“, and all the information on this FAQ page.

We recommend you rent ski gear, as it’s convenient, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get a cheap staff discount from your resort! Buying and bringing your own board/skis over on the plane can be expensive, and troublesome to carry around. In addition, there’s no way to send objects larger than 150cms from Japan back home, so if you do decide to bring your own gear, make sure you don’t go over the airline baggage allowance limit, as you’ll have to bring them back with you on the plane.

NOTE: Japan’s largest boot size is about 28cms, so if you have bigger feet than that, you should buy your own ski/snowboard boots, and bring them with you to Japan.

If you decide to buy gear in Japan, expect to pay (for average-quality new gear): Board/binding/boots or ski/boots/poles sets = 30~40,000yen. Jacket / Pants = 20,000yen for a set. Gloves / Goggles = up to 10,000yen each.

Unfortunately, each year a few staff are injured in a snowboarding or skiing accident, and are forced to give up their Ski jobs. The most common injuries are to the head and wrists. Fortunately, these injuries can be easily prevented by two simple items of safety gear: a helmet and wrist guards. Don’t be cheap about safety!

DURING your trip

Resident cards are automatically generated and given to you by immigration officials upon your arrival to Japan into Narita, Haneda, Chubu, Kansai or Itami Airports. If you enter Japan through a different airport your Resident Card will be sent to you about 2 weeks after your register your address at the local city office – which we give you assistance with.

In addition to Travel Insurance, you’ll need to join the Japanese National Health Insurance program, which is compulsory for all adult residents of Japan. You’ll enter this after arriving in Japan – at the same time as you register your address at the local city office, which we give you assistance with.

Once you arrive in Japan, you’ll be met at the designated meeting spot (to be announced after you receive a tentative offer), and delivered to your resort by bus/van.

On the way, you’ll be given an Orientation about what to expect from the experience, receive your official job offer, sign your contract, and go through important points to remember about your stay. This is covered by a ¥10,000 (USD$100) transportation fee, which will be collected while you are on the bus.

Yes. Uniforms will be provided for all staff, though you may be required to bring your own shoes, stockings, skirt/pants or white shirt. We’ll send uniform details to successful staff before departure to Japan.

Yes. During busy holiday periods (Ski: Xmas/New Year’s Break + mid-February, Beach: Jul-Aug Summer Vacation), your resort will ask you to work overtime, as they tend to be understaffed around this time.

During these periods, please accept you may not have much free time (in some cases, staff have to work up to 50-60hrs a week!). After the busy periods though, things quiet down a lot, and you’ll have about 6-7 days-off a month, working a standard 40-48hr week.

NOTE: Work hours depend on snow conditions (eg. if there’s no snow, you’ll be working less because the resort won’t be as busy).

Try to look at the busy periods on the positive side. It’s a fantastic opportunity to: a) Learn Japanese, b) Make new friends at work, and c) After the busy periods end, you’ll have a sizeable paycheck to go out and live it up a little!

Most contracts are only 3-4 months long. Changing jobs would mean being re-trained in a new one. Given the short time you’re there it makes more sense to train you up in one position and have you perform that for the duration of your contract.

That being said, there are different aspects/roles within each position and as time goes by you’ll learn new aspects of your job and be given more responsibilities. 

VEGETARIANS: Please be aware that it is extremely difficult to live and work in Japan as a vegetarian. Read a Blog post from a past Vegetarian staff.

Unfortunately, Resorts cannot cater to specific dietary needs (vegetarian, diabetic etc). If you have dietary constraints, you’ll need to buy your own food each day (as staff aren’t permitted to use kitchen facilities to prepare their own food).

PLEASE NOTE: Japanese food is high in fish and meat. In the past there have been vegetarian staff who could only eat the side salad (very small) which accompanies the regular menu, and as a result, they began to complain of lack of energy, and became sick etc. Please understand that kitchen staff prepare food in bulk, for hundreds of staff dishes every day, so you can’t expect them to go out of their way to prepare something especially for you.

If you have particular dietary needs, please think seriously about whether you’ll mind making a trip to the nearest supermarket / convenience store every day to purchase food (as there won’t be kitchen facilities for you to use). Thank you for your understanding.

Resorts do not provide kitchen facilities for staff, so you will need to accept meals provided by the resort. Of course, you can always keep snacks / food that doesn’t require cooking in your room, or go out to restaurants anytime you wish.

Most resorts pay cash, which you will collect from your resort office each month.

A few resorts may require you to open a Japanese bank account, into which your salary will be paid monthly. Banks are located near the resorts, so withdrawing money won’t be a problem.

In this case, we will show you where the bank is, and how to fill out the forms. You will not be able to open a bank account on Day 1, as you have to first wait until city hall processes your change of address.

Yes. When you open a bank account in Japan, you will be given an ATM card which allows you to access your money via ATMs all around Japan (though your card probably won’t work internationally).

Ski jobs: Approx. 90,000yen after-tax take-home pay per month (including meals, accommodation, and ski pass). See sample monthly cost breakdowns Here.

Beach jobs: Approx. 125,000yen, minus 20% tax (23,000yen), food (5,000yen), and dormitory (15,000yen) = 82,000yen after-tax take-home pay per month.

According to Japanese law, all foreigners on Working Holiday Visas must pay 20% income tax.

You can only file a Japanese tax return (to try to get some of your tax back) if you stay in Japan for more than 12 months. Otherwise, you can’t. In addition, filing a tax return is a complicated process. Taxback offer a useful service if you need.

You may wish to travel to the big cities on the weekends. However, they’re the busiest time for resorts, so your days-off will almost always fall on weekdays. In addition, you may not always have two consecutive days-off at a time, so it’s best to explore Japan at your own leisure before or after your Resort work experience.

All resort staff must have valid travel insurance for the entire period of their contract, so in case of an accident, you’re completely covered by your insurance policy for the costs. You’ll also be covered by “rousai” Japanese Work Insurance while on the job.

In case of an accident, you’ll be taken to a local hospital for treatment. Rest assured; we have English-speaking staff contactable 24/7 to assist you anytime.

In the event of an accident which prevents you from performing your job, unfortunately your resort will be forced to dismiss you. For this reason, we can’t stress enough how careful you should be; please be responsible!

Any staff who break their contract with the resort must vacate the staff dormitory within two days of their final day of work.

Please be honest about your availability when applying online. Staff who leave early inconvenience the resort by leaving them short of staff, and may result in future foreign staff not being able to work there.

Furthermore, if you quit early, the 50,000yen Processing Fee will no longer be waived.

Yes, many staff work consecutive seasons in Ski, then Beach Resorts. Just keep in mind that there will probably be a break between jobs (after the Ski Season finishes end-March, because most Beach jobs don’t start until June or so; or after the Summer season, from Oct/November until Ski jobs start in December).