Job Information

Important details about Resort work in Japan

Working in Japan Resorts is not a way to earn lots of money – it’s a lifestyle job, where the fun times you have with your new Japanese friends, carving fresh powder, or swimming in tropical ocean are the biggest benefits!

Resort jobs are a unique opportunity to work and travel in Japan. Even after all your living expenses while you’re over there, (unless you’re partying in your dorm every night with your co-workers!) you’ll be able to save up some cash to continue your travels, or do some great shopping in Ginza afterwards… but most importantly, it’s an experience that you will never forget! So what are you waiting for? Apply for this year’s programs now!

Hours / Salary / Insurance

Most Resort work staff in Japan have a 40-48hr/week schedule (about 170-190 hours per month)**. An average day is 8am – 5pm (with 1-hour unpaid lunch break), however some positions may start earlier of finish later. Overtime work (10pm – 5am) is paid at 125% of hourly wages (and is expected during busy periods).

Hourly wages are approx. 650yen before tax (Ski Instructor jobs in Hokkaido have higher pay). As Japanese companies pay on a monthly basis, you’ll receive a salary of approx. 110-125,000 yen (Currency Convertor) before tax per month**.
NOTE: all income is taxed at 20% (see our FAQ section for details).

All staff are covered by Japanese “Rousai” Work Insurance while on the job. Staff are responsible for getting travel insurance to cover themselves outside of working hours.

**IMPORTANT: Please note that the above work hours / monthly salary figures are only estimates, and can fluctuate greatly depending on how busy the Resort is. No Resort can guarantee minimum work hours, due to seasonal weather conditions etc. (eg. if there’s no snow, that probably means less customers, which of course means not as much work time for everyone). Thank you for your understanding.
Benefits: Accommodation, Meals & Ski Pass

Ski Resorts (in Nagano, Niigata, Gifu, Gunma)
Dormitory style Accommodation, Meals, and a Season Ski-pass are all provided FREE by the Resorts.

Ski Resorts (in Hokkaido)
Dormitory style Accommodation and a Season ski-pass are provided FREE by the Resorts. Meals are provided at subsidized rates (approx. 1000yen per day).

Beach Resorts (in Okinawa)
Dormitory style Accommodation and Meals are provided at subsidized rates. Summer resorts do NOT offer free meals or accommodation as of 2010.

Why aren’t Meals or Accommodation free at some Resorts?

As standard practice, most resorts do not provide free meals or accommodation to Japanese staff. Receiving these free up to and including the 2008 season, was a special arrangement foreign staff were fortunate to have. Due to the highly competitive climate of the hospitality industry, resorts are under increasing pressure to minimise expenditures. One immediate cost cutting measure is to reduce the intake of part-time staff. The summer resorts in particular have drastically reduced their intake of part-time staff. As a consequence, no foreign staff were hired for the 2009 summer season. We continue to try our best to secure positions for the coming seasons.

In a bid to make hiring foreign staff more economically viable, the cost of meals (and accommodation for Beach staff) is now deducted from salaries in some regions (as it is with regular Japanese staff). (see our FAQ section for costs). We hope you understand that securing jobs for as many of you as possible is our highest priority.

Benefits: Language practice

Working in Japan is a perfect opportunity to practise your Japanese – we throw you in the deep end. Regardless of which position you work in, you’ll be surrounded by Japanese friends / co-workers every day, so you’ll have A LOT of time to improve. With a little effort, you’ll easily reach a conversational level while you’re there.
Busy Periods

During the busiest times of year at Resorts (Xmas/New Year’s Break + mid-February for Ski Resorts; Jul-Aug University Vacation for Beach Resorts), you’ll be expected to work overtime. During these periods, please accept that you may not have much free time (in some cases, staff have to work around 10 days in a row!). After the busy periods though, things quieten down a lot, and you’ll have around 6-7 days-off a month. Rest assured – by the end of your contract, you’ll have enough great memories to last a lifetime!

Try to look at the busy periods on the positive side – it’s a fantastic opportunity to: a) Learn Japanese, speaking with your co-workers all day on the job, b) Make new friends at work and afterwards, relaxing and chatting in your dorms, and c) After the busy periods end, you’ll have a sizeable paycheck, so you can go out and live it up a little!
Uniforms

Uniforms will be organised for all staff (it’s important to correctly fill in your body sizes when you apply online). You may be required to bring your own shoes, stockings, skirt/pants or white shirt. We’ll send uniform details to all successful staff before departure to Japan.
Qualifications

Besides a First-Aid certificate for Ski Patrol, no qualifications are required for Resort work in Japan. Ski Instructors without any experience may be restricted to teaching beginner and intermediate lessons. Of course, any qualifications you may have will be advantageous when applying for a position.