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19/20 Japan Season

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milo-mcsenderson
Posts: 652 - Karma: 8,598
Wassup NS,

I'm graduating in June and after a summer of earning some money at home I'm planning on spending the winter in Japan (hopefully chase winter to NZ after). I am asking for some general advice but here is where I stand at the moment.

I have done a season in Whistler 15/16 (shoulda done two but got this stupid degree didn't I?) and I worked for this ski school there. Whilst I loved the job I definitely envied how much my friends managed to ski for themselves whilst I was teaching. Don't get me wrong it's the best job in the world but I went there to ski and ski teaching is a different ball game.

So my first questions are job related:
What jobs do people recommend getting?
Where is best to look for jobs online?
How easy is it to get jobs/do I need one before I go?

Secondly is more where to go. My instincts/some friend knowledge is pointing me at Rusutsu and/or Hakuba as I hear Niseko is a bit too like Japan's Whistler / generally super busy on pow days. and I kinda want a more authentic experience/have already done a rowdy ski town. Although not averse to the idea. Is there anywhere else that would be a good place to look or any compelling arguments on the Rusutsu v Hakuba question?

Finally, like all ski towns accommodation can be few and far between so is there a best practice for this? I understand again working for mountains you might end up with staff housing and stuff like that which in my experience is a laugh but how easy is it to organise before you arrive/how early does it need to be done?

My main goal for this season is to meet a good crew and do a fair bit of backcountry stuff and also shoot a heap of photos and videos and generally gorge myself on Ramen. Gonna be working all summer so should have a few thousand pounds saved up before I got and want to spend some time in Tokyo before heading to resort.

TL:DR give me your Japow tips!

P.S if you're planning a season out there hmu!
Apr 14 2019 10:19PM
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e.littt
Posts: 414 - Karma: 2,348
Damnn this is literally what I want to do post grad but I got one more year..
Apr 14 2019 10:32PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52051 - Karma: 167,338
Thread for jerb advice. One of the only regions I'm super keen on living but have basically no leads on work. Although I know a guy that just took over a mtn this last season running the park.Might hit him up for some advice.

I think ski school you have decent options. These brittish guys I worked with in Africa did NZ and Japan instructing. I can't remember what company they went through for Japan but from the way they made it sound it was fairly seamless.

Hope you find a good gig. And if anyone knows any terrain park deetz holla. That said probably going to stay in tahoe another season or 2 and then head to europe. But the thought of Japanese pow gets me rock hard. Found a $430 flight to tokyp a few years ago and almost quit my job at the end of march to go for 2 weeks. They ended up getting 3 or 4 feet of pow when I would have been there and the mtn I finished my contract with kept trying to fuck me over. That said I still couldn't have bailed on the local kids but damn, that was tough. Pretty much can never get off in the northern hem winter, so I need to work there or get super lucky and get like 10 days off to make it worthwhile(which will never happen)
Apr 14 2019 10:34PM
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jps2.0
Posts: 477 - Karma: 2,410
hakuba is way too busy now in mid jan on a pow day the lift lines can be 45mins for an old double chair
its cause epic pass holders in Australia get a week free and has flooded the resort
time to find a new place
Apr 15 2019 6:58AM
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milo-mcsenderson
Posts: 652 - Karma: 8,598
jps2.0hakuba is way too busy now in mid jan on a pow day the lift lines can be 45mins for an old double chair
its cause epic pass holders in Australia get a week free and has flooded the resort
time to find a new place

Rututsu?
Apr 15 2019 8:34AM
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milo-mcsenderson
Posts: 652 - Karma: 8,598
theabortionatorThread for jerb advice. One of the only regions I'm super keen on living but have basically no leads on work. Although I know a guy that just took over a mtn this last season running the park.Might hit him up for some advice.

I think ski school you have decent options. These brittish guys I worked with in Africa did NZ and Japan instructing. I can't remember what company they went through for Japan but from the way they made it sound it was fairly seamless.

Hope you find a good gig. And if anyone knows any terrain park deetz holla. That said probably going to stay in tahoe another season or 2 and then head to europe. But the thought of Japanese pow gets me rock hard. Found a $430 flight to tokyp a few years ago and almost quit my job at the end of march to go for 2 weeks. They ended up getting 3 or 4 feet of pow when I would have been there and the mtn I finished my contract with kept trying to fuck me over. That said I still couldn't have bailed on the local kids but damn, that was tough. Pretty much can never get off in the northern hem winter, so I need to work there or get super lucky and get like 10 days off to make it worthwhile(which will never happen)

I'm leaning towards ski school simply because it's almost guaranteed work but I want to like do heaps of touring, video/photo shooting and idk if I can get that out of a trip working 5-6 day weeks instructing you know.

Like I said I've done that before and really wanna ski bum it... but also sponsored visas exists and if you play your cards right you can get a lot of experience and chase winter between NZ and Japow for a while.
Apr 15 2019 8:36AM
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CrackHead.
Posts: 363 - Karma: 523
this is my plan in 4 years damn
Apr 15 2019 10:37AM
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theabortionator
Posts: 52051 - Karma: 167,338
milo-mcsendersonI'm leaning towards ski school simply because it's almost guaranteed work but I want to like do heaps of touring, video/photo shooting and idk if I can get that out of a trip working 5-6 day weeks instructing you know.

Like I said I've done that before and really wanna ski bum it... but also sponsored visas exists and if you play your cards right you can get a lot of experience and chase winter between NZ and Japow for a while.


i could never teach for a season again. But eventually ill make it over there
Apr 15 2019 12:26PM
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milo-mcsenderson
Posts: 652 - Karma: 8,598
theabortionatori could never teach for a season again. But eventually ill make it over there

Been chatting to a friend of mine and there may be a workshop job with my name on it... teaching is great and all but skiing 80+ days for yourself is better
Apr 15 2019 12:29PM
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Yas.
Posts: 14 - Karma: 26
I have been to both Rusutsu and Hakuba. My opinion on Hakuba isn't the best but I got unlucky with heaps of rain and bad conditions. Personally I love Rusutsu. Always been lucky and had crazy good pow and little lift lines. But in saying that they have paired with Vail for the upcoming season so that may change the crowds. You can always do a day trips as well, Niseko is about a 30 minute bus ride. I also really enjoyed Moiwa and Kiroro, they were good for day trips. If you get the chance to based in Rusutsu you will not be disappointed.
Apr 15 2019 9:49PM
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tino_
Posts: 59 - Karma: 136
Planning on the same thing as you OP! Looking for info too
Apr 15 2019 11:27PM
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natethegreatt
Posts: 592 - Karma: 570
You are going to want to look into teaching English. You can do that very easily with a college degree. Getting your Level 3 International instructors permit is a long, long process and they just made it even longer. Unless you are already a Level 2 instructor, it will take quite some time and effort to get the International instructing permit. Source: friend teaches snowboarding in Japan.
Apr 17 2019 11:23AM
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