How to choose the best ski job for you

Picture yourself stepping out of work and onto ski slopes covered in 14 meters of fresh powder. After a day of exhilarating skiing, you can indulge in a warming local meal and then relax your muscles in a onsen. This. Is. The. Life.

And believe it or not this is just a typical day working a ski season in Japan, Niseko offers all of this and more.

You'll leave with unforgettable memories of shredding thigh (sometimes waist) deep powder snow with your like-minded buddies. Niseko is a place where you can challenge yourself, push your limits, and discover what you're truly capable of.

We understand that applying for a seasonal role can be overwhelming, especially when you're unsure of where to start or what to expect. However, fear not, as we have outlined a variety of roles available at HTM that you can apply for.

If you're still uncertain after reading this article, our careers team is always available to assist you. You can find their contact information at the bottom of this page.

Our ski school GoSnow is the largest in Grand Hirafu, which is one of the four resorts that make up Niseko United. We offer a diverse range of positions, including:

• Instructors
• Ops team
• Guest services
• Drivers
• Ninja Kids Daycare Staff
• and more!

Please note that some positions require professional certifications and experience, such as instructors.

We have a variety of roles where you will be interacting with guests from all over the world.

From Concierge, to Front Desk, to Ski Valet, we have a variety of roles where you can assist in helping make sure our visitors have the very best holiday in Niseko!

While Japanese language skills are not always a requirement, possessing basic to intermediate language proficiency can be a significant advantage for potential applicants. This is particularly true since most customers are foreign visitors.

There are numerous customer/ guest services brands to choose to work at with HTM:

• Skye Niseko, our luxury condominium style hotel right on the doorstep of the resort
• Ki Niseko, winner of Japan’s best boutique ski hotel five years running
• Niseko Central, Niseko's premier accommodation provider managing close to 200 rooms
• YamaSport, ski and snowboard rental store work in two convenient locations

Look no further! We are currently offering a variety of seasonal positions at two of our restaurants, both known for their exceptional Japanese and local Niseko-style dishes:

• Kumo Restaurant: Serving authentic flavours of Japan through a modern and casual izakaya feel, Kumo Restaurant is Niseko’s place to eat, drink and enjoy

• An Dining: Local fine-dining restaurant specialising in Niseko cuisine and devoted to using fresh, seasonal Hokkaido ingredients from the four seasons

Whether you're interested in working as a waiter, chef de partie, or bartender, we have a position to suit a variety of skills and interests in both of our restaurants.

Through our Numerous hotels, ski schools, and rental shops we offer both transportation and delivery services to our guests, to make their holidays even more stress-free and convenient. These services are provided by drivers who are responsible for shuttling guests around town and to and from the slopes, or delivering their gear.

To qualify for these positions, an international driver's license is required, which can be obtained in your country of origin. The driving based roles are varied

• GoSnow: As an operations assistant at GoSnow, you are helping to ensure the smooth running of the school. It's suited for those who who relish working in the great outdoors, don't mind getting their hands dirty, and are eager to assist with a diverse range of tasks. Since we have two lesson bases, you may occasionally need to transport guests and staff between bases and their lodgings
• Skye Niseko, Ki Niseko: Shuttling guests around Hirafu village and sometimes to Kutchan town, in our Ki and Skye branded shuttle buses
• HTM: Staff shuttle bus driver to transport staff between Kutchan and Hirafu
• YamaSport: Offering a free pick up and drop off service of skis and boards around accommodation within Hirafu
• FoodWork: Food and beverage driver, transporting food from FoodWork in Kutchan to various locations around Hirafu
• SkyExpress: Convenient airport transfer service for our esteemed guests traveling between New Chitose Airport and Niseko. As this service is a paid one, it is mandatory for our drivers to be Japanese citizens, as per the law. Therefore, if you are applying for this position from abroad, we regret to inform you that you may have to consider one of our other driving positions above instead

Once you have an idea of the type of role you'd like to do, we'd like to recommend two resources for you.

Firstly, the Niseko Winter Staff Facebook Group is an excellent platform to learn about everything Niseko. With nearly 9,000 community members who have worked and lived in Niseko, you can rest assured that they are more than willing to help answer any questions you may have before you arrive. You may even be able to score a sweet deal on a pair of skis or snowboard on this page too.

Secondly, you can check out all of our live winter seasonal job listings here. Every winter we hire for a variety positions, including hotel reception staff, drivers, bar staff, baristas, wait staff, kitchen staff, and more. You can find all the available opportunities on our website or email your resume and CV to [email protected].

Now, let's get into all the nitty gritty admin side of things!

The biggest obstacle to working in Japan is naturally the paperwork, never fear as HTM is here to help as much as possible with helping you acquire the correct visa.

Every employer in Niseko requires their employees to have a valid working visa. The easiest way to obtain this visa is by applying for a working holiday visa.

Japan offers citizens under the age of 30 from 19 countries the opportunity to supplement their travel experience with paid work. Some of the countries whose citizens are eligible for this visa include:

• Australia
• New Zealand
• Canada
• the United Kingdom
• Ireland

We'd love to hear from you!

Feel free to send your CV to [email protected]. We hope you've enjoyed this read about the variety of opportunities at HTM Niseko.