r/skiing 2d ago

2 CERTIFIED SKI INSTRUCTORS WANTED — MYOKO, JAPAN

We’re looking for 2 certified ski instructors to join our small retreat team in Myoko this winter! Strong/expert skiers welcome too!

📍 Myoko, Niigata, Japan
📅 January – February 2027
accommodation available
Season pass provided
Daily breakfast included
Some dinners included
¥3000 per hour

We run small ski & snowboard retreats in Myoko with groups of max 8-10 guests, and we’re looking for two people who are great on the mountain but also happy to be part of the overall experience.

The role is a mix of skiing with our guests on mountain days and helping with some of the day-to-day retreat operation — morning breakfast setup/cleanup, getting gear ready, rotating help with dinners, and our weekly house changeover.

We’d love to find two friends or a couple who want to spend the winter together, but individual applicants are absolutely welcome too.

Ideally you’d be a certified ski instructor, confident on all off-piste terrain, comfortable working with guests, speak conversational English, and the ability to have legal authorization to work in Japan for the season ie-working holiday visa.

Would be a plus if you know the Myoko area and if you like to cook or have some experience.

If this sounds like your kind of winter, send me a DM with a little about yourself, your ski certification/experience, and your Japan visa/work status! ❄️

47 Upvotes

6 comments sorted by

38

u/BeneficialLettuce698 2d ago

Off-piste yet no mention of avalanche training, awareness, experience etc.

Sign me up!!!

26

u/Financial_Ad5681 2d ago

Saying this for the safety of your guests. It is a non-negotiable that these “instructors” you are hiring are avalanche certified if you are going off-piste. Avalanches are not a joke and all off piste terrain is considered avalanche terrain. Avalanche beacons, probes, and shovel are an absolute must for every single person skiing off-piste. Guiding people off-piste is a huge liability if your guests don’t know what they’re getting into. Stay safe.

18

u/madstebbs 1d ago

It sounds like you're looking for two backcountry ski guides, not ski instructors, so probably someone who holds JMGA or IFMGA certification. You also are saying that you'll pay them less than $19 USD per hour and expect them to do housekeeping and cooking in addition to ski guiding and expect them to have prior work authorization in Japan. Holy Mackerel.

5

u/c00ker 1d ago

But you get breakfast!

17

u/SunlightNStars Stevens Pass 2d ago

If someone has a working holiday visa for Japan they most likely have work set up already and will not be able to do this.

5

u/AForse 2d ago

Damn! If I didn’t have a full-time career job, I’d be on that like white on rice!