Japan Ski Schools

Japan Overview

Everyone that goes to Japan comes home with big smiles and lots of stories! If you are up for a steamy combination of authentic Japanese culture, deep fluffy powder, and a chance to teach skiing in an English speaking ski school then this is for you.

When you arrive on a Ski Instructor Course in Japan you may end up staying longer than you intended. There is a huge amount of snow fall each season and fewer people to snake your fresh lines! There is also a great crew of Instructors from around the world so you will make a load of new friends and have an epic time.

On our Japan Instructor Internship Course the ski instructor training takes place with fully qualified English speaking Instructors from Canyons Ski School – the training base will be Kagura. Accommodation is near the slopes and trainers from Canyons Ski School are certified to a high level through the NZSIA (New Zealand Ski Instructors Association) which is part of the International Ski Instructors Association.

Once successful through your initial training and level 1 examination you will then start work for your employing ski school. Lessons are in English because there are a lot of foreigners who live and ski in Japan who want to learn in English. Places on our Japan Internship Programs are very limited so please contact us asap if you are interested in applying.

Employing Ski Schools

Through our Instructor Internship Program in Japan you will be guaranteed a job offer to work as an instructor at one of four top Ski School Locations.

1. Canyons Ski School, Minakami, Honshu Canyons Ski School is based in the Minikami area 1 hour from Tokyo by bullet train. There are a lot of ski resorts in the local area including Yuzawa and Canyons Ski School have agreements to provide English lessons at most of them, so you could find yourself instructing at a different resort each day! The area receives a crazy amount of snow so you may be investing in some wider skis at some stage, with an average snow base is 3 meters (10 feet)!! There are also a lot of natural hot springs in the area. Click here to check out Gala Yuzawa, one of the main resorts in the area.
2. Evergreen Ski School, Hakuba, Honshu Evergreen Ski School is based in Hakuba and provides lessons to resorts in the local area. Hakuba is on the main island of Honshu, about 1 hour from Nagano and has 9 major resorts in the area. Happo One is the largest and was host to the 1998 winter Olympics. This is an amazing area which receives heaps of snow. As part of the Evergreen Ski School you will get access to discounted avalanche safety courses which Evergreen run through the Canadian Certification System. Instructor Contracts at Evergreen run from before Christmas until the start of March, with the opportunity to stay on after this time. Check out the Hakuba Valley here.
3. ClubMed, Sahoro, Hokkaido Club Med Sahoro is based in the Northern Island of Hokkaido. This area gets hammered with snow and often the only complaint is that people forget what the sky looks like because it’s always snowing! Working for Club Med is a complete experience where you are able to join guests for all meals and also entertainment in the evenings. Sahoro Resort is a fantastic mountain accessed by high speed gondolas, chairlifts and beginner lifts. A wide variety of trails include expert runs up to 39 degrees (not sure who is measuring but that sure is steep!). Check out a trail-map here.
4. Nozawa Onsen, Nagano, Honshu Nozawa Onsen is a village located in Shimotakai District, Nagano, Japan. It is a hot spring and Ski Resort village located just one hour’s drive from Nagano City in the northern part of Nagano. It is one of the original locations for skiing in Japan and has a fantastic history and culture, in addition to a huge variety of terrain and incredible snow fall. Check out a trail map here

Accommodation

The photos above are of the Canyons Ski School Lodge. Instructor internship accommodation has been based here in the past for the training and examination portion of the program. Accommodation has not been confirmed for the coming season but will be similar to the above with shared dorms. It will be located as close as possible to the resort where you will be doing the majority of your training early season, most probably at the base of Gala Yuzawa, close to Yuzawa village. This will be set up so you can shift straight in and feel at home. There will be ski/snowboard storage, kitchen and bathroom facilities and a communal living area.

The Yuzawa area is an awesome location with access to bars / shops etc, and will give you a good feel for traditional Japanese culture.

Accommodation will be organised for you once you start work for your employing Ski School. This will be either provided free of charge or will be a small cost each month.

Message from Canyons Snowschool Manager

“Thank you for your interest in doing your training in Snow Country, Japan with Canyons. We are very happy to be working with Educating Adventures to provide a programme that is a fantastic start to a career in the winter sports industry. It is much more than just passing an exam. The course offers a solid ground in all aspects of instructor work and life and the skills you pick up will set you up thrive in any resort in the world. Japan is a unique place to live and work with so much to offer – deep snow, stunning food and friendly locals. You’re going to be an a completely new environment in every sense and you’re going to love it.”

Patrick Latter – Snowschool Manager

Living in Japan

The price of food and drink in Japan is very reasonable. As an example a good Japanese style meal of meat, rice and vegetables (to keep mum happy) in a local restaurant will cost around 800 Yen – which is $9 USD.

Depending on your employing resort you may also have access to discounted or free food. You will also get all the benefits of being an employee such as staff parties, discounted gear, and many other opportunities.

Many of the new instructors who have come through the EA Internship Program in Japan have stayed on for summer work and returned for further winter seasons! Check out some comments from past crew on our course diaries / blog area here

Where to from here?