SKI AND SUMMER RESORT JOBS IN JAPAN - the #1 WAY TO Learn Japanese in Japan

The positions you'll be eligible for depend on your Japanese speaking ability. After you apply online, we'll call you to assess your Japanese. The positions listed below are in ascending order (easiest to hardest) of Japanese ability required (click for full details):

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Ski Instructor (click for more details)

Ski Jump

Working Hours: A typical day starts at 7:30am and finishes at 5:00pm (1-1.5 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is called 'Nighter' - hours are 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include clearing away snow after a big dump. Setting up guide ropes leading up onto the jump boarding ramp or steps.

Regular Duties: Helping customers safely board the lifts/steps to the top of the ski jump. Giving verbal instruction to customers who aren't familiar with ski jump facilities. In the event of heavy snowfall, lift paths may need to be cleared. A physically demanding position. A good job for true beginners to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'.

Lifts

Working Hours: A typical day starts at 7:30am and finishes at 4:30 or 5:00pm (1-1.5 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is called 'Nighter' - hours are 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include clearing away snow from around the boarding ramp onto the lift, and wiping off snow that has settled on the lift seats overnight. Guide ropes leading up onto the lift boarding ramp will sometimes need to be erected.

Regular Duties: Checking customer tickets and clipping if required. Helping customers safely board the lifts - giving verbal instruction to customers who aren't familiar with riding lifts. Stopping lifts in case of emergency. On snowy days lift seats will need to be regularly cleaned (brushed) before customers sit down. In the event of heavy snowfall, lift paths may need to be cleared. A physically demanding position. A good job for beginners to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'.

NOTE: In general, Japan is still a smoking society. Most lift offices (where you spend about half your working time) have at least a couple of staff who smoke inside. Therefore, if you are sensitive about smoking, it might be best to refrain from applying for a lift job.

Housekeeping

Working Hours: A typical day starts at 7:00am and finishes at 10:00pm. An average 9 hour shift (1 hour unpaid lunch break) covers either the earlier morning/afternoon or the afternoon/night.

Regular Duties: Cleaning rooms after customers have checked out. One main duty is removing dirty linen, and resetting the room with clean bedroom and bathroom linen. Collection of rubbish and cleaning of bathroom is also a very important function of House Cleaning staff. Vacuuming and wiping of visible surfaces to make clean for new customers is an integral duty as well. Restocking of room fridge and other amenities is the final important task. This is not a glamorous job, but it is a very important job for the running of a hotel or resort. A good job for beginners to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'.

Restaurant

Working Hours: A typical day starts at 6:00am and finishes at 10:00pm. An average 9 hour shift (1 hour unpaid lunch break) covers two out of three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping/vacuuming your work area each morning. Most restaurants operate on a 'cashless' ticketing system - negating the need to fill cash registers with the days 'float'.

Regular Duties: Serving drinks and dishes to customers at their tables, clearing them away after customers have finished, and wiping down tables in preparation for the next customers. Some of the ski resorts have self-serve facilities, whereby customers serve themselves (leaving only the clearing of tables for restaurant staff). Showing customers to tables and taking orders. Restaurant work may sometimes includes the serving of food onto dishes for customers, and even simple food preparation duties, such as making hotdogs, sandwiches or pizzas. A good job for beginners to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'.

Ski Rental

Working Hours: A typical day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 5:30pm (1 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is called 'Nighter' - hours are 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning, and filling cash registers with the days 'float'.

Regular Duties: Helping customers with any queries and offering recommendations about Ski Equipment (eg. Skis, Snowboards etc). Briefing customers on the safety and handling of equipment. Taking customer details (name, address, contact numbers) when organizing rental equipment. Ringing up customer rental charges on the cash register and controlling cash inflows-outflows (great care needs to be taken in giving the correct change to customers). Helping customers choose appropriate sized equipment (according to body weight and height, etc.). Adjusting stances on skis/boards to suit boot sizes. Waxing of skis/boards and general maintenance of equipment. Collecting rental gear from customers at the end of each work day and checking stock levels to make sure all rental equipment has been returned. Closing and balancing cash registers at the end of the work day. A good job for beginner-intermediates to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'.

Ski Patrol

Working Hours: A typical day starts at 6:30am and finishes at 10:00pm. Your shift (which may be split) will usually be about 9 hours (1 hour unpaid lunch break) during this period.

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your Patrol centre each morning. Checking Ski-run conditions to make sure slopes are safe - includes erecting safety fences and warning signs around dangerous zones. Checking avalanche-prone areas.

Regular Duties: Dealing with injured customers by attending to injuries with basic First Aid, and delivering customers to Ski Patrol centre for ambulance pick-up. Cautioning customers who may be breaking resort rules. A good job for intermediates to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'. Helping customers with queries on the slopes.

Gift Shop

Working Hours: A typical day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 5:30pm (1 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is sometimes available between the hours of 5:30pm - 10:00pm.

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning, and filling cash registers with the days 'float'.

Regular Duties: Helping customers with any queries, and offering recommendations about gifts and cakes. Ringing up customer purchases on the cash register and controlling cash inflows-outflows (great care needs to be taken in giving the correct change to customers). In limited cases, gift-wrapping may be required. Closing and balancing cash registers at the end of the work day. A good job for beginner-intermediates to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'.

Bellhop

Working Hours: An average shift is 9 hours (1 hour unpaid lunch break). Shift times may vary greatly throughout the month. A typical day starts anywhere between 7:00am and 12:00pm and finishes 8 or 9 hours later. Overtime work is applicable to shifts exceeding 9 hours.

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning.

Regular Duties: Taking care of customers' baggage and delivering baggage to rooms (no tipping in Japan). Guiding customers to the front desk for check-in and helping with any other queries. A good job for intermediate-advanced speakers to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: As the initial contact point with customers entering the hotel, greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello' is crucial.

Ticket Sales

Working Hours: A typical day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 5:30pm (1 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is sometimes available between the hours of 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning, and filling cash registers with the days 'float'.

Regular Duties: Selling customers tickets and helping with any queries. Ringing up customer purchases on the cash register and controlling cash inflows-outflows (great care needs to be taken in giving the correct change to customers). Closing and balancing cash registers at the end of the work day. A good job for beginner-intermediates to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'.

Slope Concierge

Working Hours: A typical day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 5:30pm (1 hour unpaid lunch break).

Morning Preparation: None

Regular Duties: This position was created to assist with queries and give information to customers out on the slopes. Skiing around and offering help to customers who look lost or need help with something. Guiding customers to facilities. Pro-actively approaching customers and offering assistance. Checking on customers to make sure they aren't injured, and contacting patrol if required. Cautioning customers who may be breaking resort rules. A good job for intermediate-advanced speakers to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'.

Information/Concierge

Working Hours: Shift start times may vary throughout the month. A typical day consists of a 9-hour shift (1 hour unpaid lunch break) anywhere between 7:00am and 9:00pm. Overtime work is available.

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include briefly organizing your work station each morning.

Regular Duties: Taking care of customers' enquiries and offering recommendations about events / restaurants / sights / facilities etc. A good job for intermediate-advanced speakers to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello' is crucial.

Hotel Front Desk

Working Hours: An average shift is 9 hours (1 hour unpaid lunch break) . Shift times may vary greatly throughout the month. Reception is open 24hrs and shift times can fall anytime during the day. Shifts are rarely split - you will be working a 9 hour block. Overtime work is applicable to shifts exceeding 9 hours.

Morning Preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning.

Regular Duties: Helping customers check-in and check-out. Taking the occasional reservation and answering the telephone (putting telephone calls through to other departments). Helping customers with any queries about hotel facilities etc. and offering recommendations about services. Ringing up customer bills on the cash register and controlling cash inflows-outflows (great care needs to be taken in giving the correct change to customers). A good job for intermediate-advanced speakers to learn Japanese in Japan.

Additional Duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly 'hello'.