December to March
Ski resort jobs
Lift operations, ski and snowboard rental, hotel front desk, housekeeping and restaurant roles. Many employers train new staff before the season, and staff housing is common.
Working holiday jobs in Japan: Everyone Deserves to Explore
Jobs, visas and on-the-ground support for your working holiday in Japan, from first application to your first day in Japan.
Our team
The people who’ll get you exploring
Rob
Head of “Making It All Work”
A traveller with a mission. Never taken a snowboarding lesson, yet confidently calls himself the “best snowboarder in the office”!
Dani
The Friendly Voice with all the Answers
Lifetime traveller. Always ready for a chat, especially when it comes with a laugh or two!
Rin
Our Local Legend in Osaka & Kyoto
Your guide to urban Japan. Always ready to share the best spots!
Juri
Our Hero in the Mountains
A connector at heart. Racing to the top of any mountain, sun or snow!
Our mission
Borders are just lines on a map. We help people cross them, to live and work in Japan, take in a new culture, and go home seeing the world a little differently.
Every application is a person about to change their life. We treat every one that way.
Read our missionOur programs
Where could you be this season?
Hokkaido · Dec – Apr
Niseko
Perfect for mountain lovers and those searching for Japan's amazing powder.
- Visa support and a pre-departure course
- Accommodation included
- 2x Japanese language lessons as standard
Open for applications
Nagano · Dec – Apr
Hakuba
Alpine ski seasons in the Japanese Alps.
- Visa support and a pre-departure course
- Accommodation included
- 2x Japanese language lessons as standard
Kanto · Year-round
Tokyo
Big-city working holidays in the capital.
- Visa support and a pre-departure course
- Apartment and housing assistance
- 2x Japanese language lessons as standard
Kansai · Year-round
Kyoto
Perfect for culture enthusiasts and history lovers.
- Visa support and a pre-departure course
- Apartment and housing assistance
- 2x Japanese language lessons as standard
Kansai · Year-round
Osaka
Perfect for foodies and city explorers in Japan's kitchen.
- Visa support and a pre-departure course
- Apartment and housing assistance
- 2x Japanese language lessons as standard
Okinawa · Apr – Oct
Okinawa
Island life in Japan's subtropical south.
- Visa support and a pre-departure course
- Apartment and housing assistance
- 2x Japanese language lessons as standard
Hokkaido · Dec – Apr
Niseko
Perfect for mountain lovers and those searching for Japan's amazing powder.
- Visa support and a pre-departure course
- Accommodation included
- 2x Japanese language lessons as standard
Open for applications
32 countries · one working holiday visa
The whole world comes to work in Japan
Is your country one of them? Our working holiday Japan guide has every country, its quota and how to apply.
How it works
Step into Japan
01 / 05
Sign up
Tell us about you, your dates and the kind of work you're after. It only takes a few minutes.
- Sign up: Tell us about you, your dates and the kind of work you're after. It only takes a few minutes.
- Hello call: A quick video chat so we get to know you and what you want from your time in Japan.
- We sort your job: We match you with our partner employers and handle the applications and interviews for you.
- Visa & prep support: Accepted! We guide you through the visa, your Japanese CV and the pre-departure course.
- Arrive & start: Land in Japan with your job waiting. Now the fun part: your adventure begins.
32 countries · now boarding
Your flight to a season in Japan is boarding
✈ DEPARTURES → JAPAN
TOKYO
FROMSPOTS / YR
STATUS
Gates open all year, across Japan
Where the work is
Working holiday jobs in Japan
A working holiday visa lets you take most kinds of work in Japan. Most people work in tourism and hospitality, where seasonal employers need extra staff every year and many roles don’t need fluent Japanese.
Here’s what the work looks like, where it is and when.
All year
Hotels and ryokan
Front desk, housekeeping and guest services in hotels, and live-in roles at traditional inns in the countryside. English is often an advantage with international guests.
All year
Restaurants, cafés and city jobs
Kitchen and front-of-house work, cafés, bars and convenience stores in the big cities. A good first job if you want to live in Tokyo or Osaka.
April to November
Summer and seasonal work
Beach and island resorts in Okinawa, summer seasons in the mountains, and farm and harvest work in autumn.
Questions & contact
Still got questions?
Here are the answers people look for most. If yours isn’t here, ask us directly.
Our Season Programme includes visa support and a document check, a Japanese CV (履歴書) and interview prep, a pre-departure course and planning call, 2 Japanese lessons, accommodation help where it isn’t provided, and support all season. You pay the £650 once your visa is granted and you’ve finished the course, with nothing to pay before then.
Ideally apply 3-4 months before you want to start work. For ski resort jobs that means September-October. This gives enough time for your visa and the pre-departure course. Roles with our partner employers fill first come, first served, so the earlier you apply the more choice you have.
It’s not required to have experience - many employers provide training for entry-level positions. We help you present your experience in your Japanese CV and prepare for interviews, whether you’re a complete beginner or have relevant background.
Requirements vary a little by country, but for Japan you need to be aged 18 to 30 when you apply, hold a passport from a country or region with a working holiday arrangement with Japan, have enough funds for the start of your stay, and be in good health. Our visa guides cover each country, and the Season Programme includes visa support and a document check.
Staff accommodation varies by employer and location. Many resort jobs include shared rooms or dormitory-style housing provided by the employer. City jobs are less likely to include accommodation, and the Season Programme includes help finding a place where it isn’t provided.
Yes! Tell us you’re travelling together when you apply, and we’ll plan your season with both of you in mind.
Ask the team
Real people, replying within a day
