Living in Japan is a unique experience. It’s not like doing a season in Europe or North America. Here you get all the comforts of a developed country but a real cultural experience. Oh… and did we mention the snow?
Language
Let’s be honest… Japanese isn’t an easy language to learn. It has three different alphabets and literally thousands of characters. There are parts of Japan where people don’t speak any English at all – but that’s half the fun!
Fortunately, Niseko is an international resort and as a result of all the international influences, English is spoken in many businesses. It is fair to say that you could get by without speaking any Japanese most of the time. That said, this is still Japan, so bars, restaurants and local supermarkets will give plenty of opportunity to practice basic greetings and phrases. The more Japanese you can learn, the more fun you can have interacting with Japanese locals. And the more effort you make with this, the more you’ll be rewarded with some true Japanese sincerity and kindness.
Etiquette
Japanese manners and customs are very different from those in the Western world. Expect to see formal and extremely polite behaviour when meeting Japanese people (usually with lots of bowing). Hand shakes are becoming more common in business and when meeting foreigners, but be careful if bowing while handshaking at the same time – head butts are not standard forms of greeting!
Onsen bathing, appropriate use of chopsticks, removal of shoes indoors, and slurping noodles are just some of the fun cultural challenges. You will not be expected to behave like the Japanese in every way, but trying to learn a few of the local customs will endear you to your hosts.
Food
Japan has one of the most sophisticated food cultures in the world. There are so many culinary delights to be sampled that it’ll take you way more than a season to try them all.
There are plenty of restaurants in Hirafu and the surrounding area and a 24hr convenience store for late night snacks or quick lunches. Accommodations are fitted with kitchens so you can cook up your own gastronomic delights and trips to the supermarket for ‘mystery’ ingredients makes for an interesting voyage of discovery.
Working in Niseko
Niseko is fast becoming the resort of choice for not only the Australian market but also the Asian market, particularly Hong Kong, Mainland China and increasingly Singapore and Korea. The resort requires a significant number of English-speaking staff to provide snowsports school, hotel, shop, rental bar and restaurant services.
Our 13 week courses have a work placement element where you will teach for a local ski school. During this time you will NOT be required to teach in Japanese, English only.
Overall, Niseko presents a unique opportunity to experience working in a Japanese resort without the necessity of having to be fluent in Japanese.
