Job Discussion Forums

NorthofAmerica · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 187 Location: Recovering Expat

A combination of family things and restlessness have convinced me to finally move on and quit my teaching job in Japan. However, after said family stuff is over I am still not set on staying away from this strange and interesting little island. I do however have to go back to Canada in March or April for a wedding. Soooo, I am trying to find a temporary job over the winter at a Japanese ski resort.

I currently have a work visa that runs into March of next year but even then I saw on booboo ski, a site for foreigners to work on ski hills, that they want working holiday visas instead. Can I switch my working visa to a working holiday visa from Japan? Has anyone ever worked at a resort in Japan?

Any info about how to get this together would be extremely appreciated:)

wayne432 · Joined: 05 Jun 2008 Posts: 255

I could be wrong, but I think what's going on is that those ski resorts won't sponsor foreigners, so they are asking for foreigners to get working holiday visas. Working holiday visas are like 1-time visas that people can get by applying through their home country (not all countries do this, but I think Canada does). Either way, since you have a visa, you should be fine I think.

Apsara · Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 2142 Location: Tokyo, Japan

As NorthofAmerica probably knows, working visas allow you to work in specific fields, and it's likely that ski resort work isn't covered by the Specialist in Humanities/ Instructor visa that most people teaching in Japan have, therefore they won't hire someone on that kind of visa.

I worked at a ski resort in Nagano for a season but it was 12 years ago now.

As far as I am aware working holiday visas have to be applied for in your home country, no exceptions. Immigration should be able to confirm that for you.

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

North of America,
You cannot change your visa to a working holiday visa unless you have the right nationality and are in your home country.

You don't need the WHV, either, since you already have a valid work visa. Sounds to me like those resorts are just looking to give Australians or Brits or Kiwis or Canadians a break for some short-term work.

By the way, what type is it? Certain work visas don't allow you to do just any sort of job, y'know.

NorthofAmerica · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 187 Location: Recovering Expat

Yeah, I know they won't sponsor me for a work visa because they need to be able to offer 12 consecutive months of work and can't.

I am Canadian, I guess when I go home I will try to switch it over. I was hoping I could do it here since I switched from a holiday to a work visa here.

The site I looked the most at was boo boo ski (google it SAN consulting) and that's where I got my restrictions from. Looks like fun, albeit brokeass fun, and a great way to improve my Japanese. I'll keep checking, thanks for your info

SA_Massive · Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Aust

Sorry can't help. I want to do the same thing. I want to know if Boobooski will hire you if you already have a working visa. Please post if you find out!