The ultimate winter work adventure

Many resorts have strict age requirements. If you’re aged 18-19, your placement opportunities can increase if you speak some Japanese and can show current or prior work experience (working casually on weekends or school holidays).  

We place in a wide range of positions including Guest Services, Drivers, Food & Beverage, Housekeeping, Front Desk, Retail, Instructors and Maintenance.

We are unable to guarantee your placement as this will depend on your age, experience and flexibility, however in 2025 all applicants were offered jobs.

Depending on the resort, lift passes will either be free or discounted. For discounted passes, you should expect to pay a fee upfront plus a security deposit.

We place in many of the most popular winter resort areas of Japan. You are welcome to nominate an area where you would like to work, however we are unfortunately unable to guarantee that location.

Most jobs will require you to work evening and weekends. Hospitality workers are normally rostered on 5-6 times a week at 8 hours per shift. Work hours can vary and can start as early as 5:30am. Evening shifts may run until 23:00. Food and beverage roles may mean split shifts – breakfast and lunch or lunch and dinner.

A ski instructor will generally work between 8am to 5pm, including weekends and public holidays. In total you should expect 6-8 days off per month with no days off during peak season (Christmas/New Year).

Flexibility is required when it comes to working hours and shifts. Some smaller resorts may relocate you to other areas of the resort to work during quieter days or weeks. Overtime is common in Japan. 

You will be paid the minimum wage which varies by prefecture. The average hourly rate in 2026 is ¥1,300-1,500 depending on experience.

Yes. Accommodation is arranged by your employer for the duration of your contract. While housing is secured on your behalf, you are responsible for the cost of your accommodation.

Rent is deducted directly from your salary and typically ranges from ¥5,000 to ¥60,000 per month, depending on the employer and accommodation provided.

Most participants stay in shared accommodation and should expect to share a bedroom with one to three other people. Accommodation may include either a Western-style bed or a traditional Japanese futon. Wi-Fi is generally available; however, at the beginning of the season it may take 1–2 weeks to be connected.

The jobs that are offered as part of Winter Work Japan are primarily filled by travellers just like you! They are travelling alone and will be wanting to find friends as well. You will find that you will naturally find friends among those with whom you work and live. You will also have the chance to meet and connect with others at our arrival orientations in Tokyo.

Yes. As a working holiday visa holder, you will pay a flat rate of 20%. You will also have a deduction out of your monthly pay for the Japanese pension, as well as a contribution to the national health insurance.

Yes, single sex dormitory rooms are available subject to availability. Please note that single sex rooms do incur a small surcharge. Please speak with the Winter Work team for details.

Prior work experience is preferred. Experience can include part-time roles, such as working weekends or Thursday evenings at a café, restaurant, or retail store, as well as full-time professional employment. Applicants without previous work experience may still be considered if they have Japanese language proficiency or other skills that would be valuable to a prospective employer. If you're unsure whether your experience or skills meet our requirements, please contact us before starting your application.

Employers generally try to house staff with others of a similar age where possible. Staff accommodation typically is made up of employees aged 18–30. Employees are all nationalities so it is a great environment to meet people from around the world.

Dormitory-style accommodation is usually single-sex, while shared houses may be mixed-gender but almost always have single-sex bedrooms. Room allocations are ultimately determined by the employer based on availability.

You are welcome to make the request, and employers will try to accommodate it where possible. However, room allocations depend on accommodation availability, staffing requirements, and gender arrangements, so requests cannot be guaranteed.

In most cases, no. Accommodation in Japan's ski resort towns is in very high demand and can be difficult to find independently. One of the major benefits of Winter Work Japan is that your accommodation is secured before you arrive, and normally at a significantly lower cost.

A lot of staff accommodation is located outside the main resort villages. Employers typically provide a staff shuttle service or designated transport between the accommodation and the workplace, which may not be available if you arrange your own housing. If you would like to source your own accommodation, you can discuss this with us before placement. However, approval is entirely at AIFS and your employer's discretion, and in most cases requests are unable to be accommodated.