Help at a boutique ski lodge in the heart of the Japanese Alps in Nagano, Japan

Details

• 

  Description

  We are small, friendly business that started with one charming wooden ski chalet and expanded to add another 10 boutique guesthouses and apartments. We are looking for keen individuals to join our fabulous little family of workers!
  
  Most of our properties are nestled at the base of Madarao Mountain, in either Madarao village or the adjoining resort of Tangram, all in the stunning Japanese Alps of Nagano. One property is a 200-year-old traditional guesthouse retreat that has been lovingly restored to meet the needs of our discerning guests. This property is located at the base of Shiga Kogen with the famous Snow Monkeys just 5 minutes’ drive away!
  
  On the bullet train, we're an easy 2 hours from Tokyo and less than 15 minutes from Nagano city - the home of the 1998 Olympics and the centre of a region rich in activities, culture, nature, temples and wonderful cuisine.
  
  All our properties feature beautifully appointed spaces, quality furnishings, cosy lounges, designer fireplaces, Japanese ofuro bathtubs, plush carpet, eco-friendly products, and lovely Japanese art, crafts & photography - adding a cultural richness for both guests and staff to appreciate and enjoy.
  
  We value dedicated staff who share a passion for Japan and genuine care for quality properties. As you'll be part of a close-knit team in a relatively small mountain village, we welcome people with a collaborative, kind, adventurous spirit. We celebrate diversity and have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or harm.
  
  We take great care of our staff, offering training and orientation, excellent accommodation, responsive communications, and many other benefits. Our bilingual Japanese staff contribute significantly to your cultural immersion and learning experience during your time in Japan.
  
  Join us and become part of something truly special amidst the breathtaking mountains of Japan.

• 

  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance
• 

  Interests

  

  Technology

  

  Politics / Social justice

  

  Sustainability

  

  Movies & TV

  

  Charity work

  

  Plant care

  

  Music

  

  Art & design

  

  Architecture

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Gardening

  

  Languages

  

  Photography

  

  Writing

  

  Animals

  

  Sailing / Boating

  

  Dancing

  

  Beach

  

  Team sports

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Fitness

  

  Camping

  

  Winter sports

  

  Mountain

  

  Water sports

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Hiking

  

  Cycling

  

  Adventure sports
• 

  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  With our bilingual Japanese staff and friends, you will have the opportunity to learn about the culture and language of Japan. You will also share a staff lodge with many people from around the world. This is a unique opportunity for a truly enjoyable, adventurous, rich, multi-cultural working holiday experience where lifelong friends will be made.

• 

  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

• 

  Help

  ALL WINTER POSITIONS FILLED!
  We have already hired our wonderful team for the winter 2025-2026 season!
  Unfortunately we don't have the capacity to send anything but a standard response to any new applications.
  
  AUTUMN ROLES AVAILABLE!
  General household and handyperson work in Oct, Nov and/or early Dec, including cleaning, gardening and property preparation. Every day will be different, and full support and supplies will be provided. You’ll have plenty of time to explore our gorgeous mountain region in your time off.
  
  ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR AUTUMN
  A driver’s licence for Japan is essential to drive between our properties. You will have use of a car during your stay.
  Applicants must also have Japanese residency or a Working Holiday Visa for Japan.
  The countries whose citizens can apply for a Working Holiday Visa are... Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany, UK, Ireland, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iceland, Czechia, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, Netherlands, Uruguay, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg.
  
  CONDITIONS FOR AUTUMN
  All positions are paid (per hour). Accommodation with kitchen, bathroom, internet and all living necessities are provided. Some food/staples are provided but mostly you will be responsible for shopping and cooking yourself.
  We prefer longer-term stays but let us know your situation and we'll see if it may work for us!
  
  APPLICATIONS
  Let us know why you want to work for us and have your CV ready to send via email or online link.
  We look forward to hearing from you!

• 

  Languages

  Languages spoken
  English: Fluent
  Japanese: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  A big part of learning culture is learning language. With bilingual Japanese English speakers it is a great place to learn and improve on language skills
• 

  Accommodation

  You will enjoy lovely, clean, staff living spaces with all essential products supplied. Bedrooms are generally twins/doubles. You will have access to a kitchen, lounge, bathroom, drying room, WiFi, laundry, heating/cooling, linen, towels, utilities and supplies such as shampoo, toilet paper, etc. Some food/staples are provided but mostly you will be responsible for shopping and cooking yourself.

• 

  What else ...

  In your time off you will be able to eat incredible food, see the famous snow monkeys, enjoy the warm local onsens, explore the region and so much more. You should have enough time to visit cities like Tokyo, Kanazawa, Nagano, Matsumoto or even Osaka and Kyoto. Some of the smaller towns in the region are the real drawcard though! Nozawa Onsen, Myoko, Shiga Kogen, Obuse, Shibu Onsen, and many others.

• 

  A little more information

  • 

    Internet access

  • 

    Limited internet access

  • 

    We have pets

  • 

    We are smokers

  • 

    Can host families

• 

  Can host digital nomads

  Our dining room is our office in the summer and many of our guests are digital nomads. We have fast internet and even have a fax machine if you need it :)

• 

  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

• 

  My animals / pets

Website Safety

Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host

Feedback (4)