APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN
Your Japan season, sorted before you fly
Helping Hand gets you visa-ready, prepared and supported, from your visa to your last shift. You only pay once your visa is granted.
Nothing to pay until your visa's granted
Support all season
Japanese lessons included
How it works
Three steps to your adventure
- 1
Tell us about you
Fill in a short form, then we'll invite you to a hello call to get to know you and what you're after.
- 2
Get Japan-ready
The Season Programme sorts your visa and Japanese CV, with Japanese lessons and our pre-departure course so you know what to expect before you fly.
- 3
Head off on your season
We're with you all season, a message away whenever you need help, from your first day to your last shift.
Where you can go
Pick your area
One package, one price, wherever you go. You only pay once your visa is granted and you've finished the course.
HOKKAIDO
Niseko
Perfect for mountain lovers and those searching for Japan's amazing powder.
£650
paid once your visa's granted
- 2 Japanese language lessons included
- Visa application help
- Accommodation included
- Japanese CV and interview prep
- Pre-departure course and planning call
- Support all season
- Insider travel tips
Not sure where to go?
Apply here and we'll help you decide. Same package, same price, open now.
Japan Ski Season
ANY SKI RESORT
Want a winter on the mountain? We help you choose the resort.
£650 after your visa
Anywhere in Japan
ANY JOB, ANY SEASON
Any job, any season. We help you decide where to go.
£650 after your visa
Join the waitlist
Osaka
KANSAI
Perfect for foodies and city explorers in Japan's kitchen.
£650 after your visa
Kyoto
KANSAI
Perfect for culture enthusiasts and history lovers.
£650 after your visa
Tokyo
KANTO
Big-city working holidays in the capital.
£650 after your visa
Hakuba
NAGANO
Alpine ski seasons in the Japanese Alps.
£650 after your visa
Okinawa
OKINAWA
Island life in Japan's subtropical south.
£650 after your visa
Countryside Japan
RURAL JAPAN
Perfect for slow travellers who want to see the real, rural Japan.
£650 after your visa
FINDING YOUR OWN JOB?
Support Only · £350
- 2 Japanese language lessons
- Visa application help
- Pre-departure planning call
- Support all season
- Job search guides
Prices in other currencies are a guide. We convert at the latest rate on the day you pay.
WHY HELPING HAND
Safe, local and with you all the way
£0Upfront
Nothing to pay until your visa is granted and you've finished the course.
LocalKnowledge
We know Japan's seasonal job market inside out.
StartTo finish
From your visa to your last shift, we're a message away.
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!
FAQ
Good questions
Once your visa is granted and you've finished the pre-departure course. Nothing is due before then.
The Season Programme: visa support, your Japanese CV and interview prep, the pre-departure course, 2 Japanese lessons and support all season.
Yes, with up to 5 business days' notice and no penalty. We refund anything we haven't delivered yet.
Yes! Tell us you're travelling together when you apply.
As early as you can. Ideally apply 3-4 months before you want to start work (for ski resort jobs, that means September-October). That gives time for your visa and the pre-departure course.
Helping Hand is open to anyone aged 18 to 30. That matches the Japanese working holiday visa, which has the same age limit for every partner country: you must be 18 to 30 when you apply.
Not at all! Just be ready to get learning on the slopes during your free time.
It's not required to have experience - many employers provide training for entry-level positions, whether you're a complete beginner or have relevant background.
Staff accommodation varies by employer and location. Many resort jobs include shared rooms or dormitory-style housing with your employer. City positions are more likely to not include accommodation but we will help in navigating this. With your employer, we will help you understand what's included and assist with alternative arrangements if needed.
Ask the team
Real people, replying within a day
