mitchpee 10 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Hey guys, So I am looking to move to Hokkaido next winter. I am a local out here in Utah and ski at the Bird/Alta/PC. I was wondering what a good job would be to get in Hokkaido. Also what do the locals think of Americans working there? I have a ton of experience with backcountry in UT, VT, and CO. Are there a lot of great spots to build jumps and AT around everywhere? Thanks guys. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 First thing is to make sure you are able to get a visa to work here. Quite a few Americans live and work in the Niseko area and we don't hold their nationality against them too much Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 Originally Posted By: Go Native First thing is to make sure you are able to get a visa to work here. Quite a few Americans live and work in the Niseko area and we don't hold their nationality against them too much Ah great. Is a visa pretty hard to get currently? Also I do speak Japanese, not extremely well but enough to be polite and engage in conversation. Ski instructing jobs pretty easy to get? Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 I have no idea how you guys go about getting work visas. I'm sure a quick internet search will get you that info. Speaking some Japanese can be helpful in getting a job depending on the position you go for. Instructors don't normally need to speak a word of the local lingo though as they'll only be intructing english speakers. Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted November 17, 2009 Author Share Posted November 17, 2009 Okay great, yeah I heard the Aussies overwhelm the mountains. Link to post Share on other sites
Go Native 70 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Quite a few Aussies but plenty from SE Asia these days as well. Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 17, 2009 Share Posted November 17, 2009 Niseko Resort Area is more like Powder Mountain and Beaver Mountain. If you want Alta, Bird and Wolverine Cirque esque then Hakuba on Honshu is a better fit. Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 Ah that's really helpful in terms of visioning what the areas are. Actually going to ski wolverine tomorrow. Is the snow comparable as everyone says? Link to post Share on other sites
Mike Pow 52 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Better in my experience. Spent the 2003/04 in Park City and skied all the Utah resorts except Brian Head. Had superb pow from December through to April, but had better each of my three winters on Hokkaido. Enjoy the Cirque. Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 Thanks Mike, yeah I have skied here for 3 years and know it pretty well. There is some gnarly stuff and I have gained a lot of backcountry experience. Do they bomb resorts in Japan as much as they do here? I am still a noob when it comes to the Japanese snow scene. Also, how hard was it to get a visa for you or to get out to Japan? Link to post Share on other sites
blu 3 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 no - risks are high, Niseko is well managed, not so elsewhere. Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 Oh okay, any "watch out" for areas? Link to post Share on other sites
gareth_oau 2 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Originally Posted By: MitchPee Oh okay, any "watch out" for areas? yeah just don't go near any apres areas where more than two Aussies hang out Link to post Share on other sites
blu 3 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 check out the guiding services, they may give you an idea. Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 I don't get it, why do Aussies dislike Americans so much? Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 it's not only Aussies Link to post Share on other sites
grungy-gonads 54 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 I like everyone at first. No prejudices from me. I especially like them if they are petite, wear loverly white winter coats (short) and black boots. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 white boots too and beige coats Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 Originally Posted By: thursday it's not only Aussies Uhh I am from Canada, eh! Link to post Share on other sites
gareth_oau 2 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Originally Posted By: MitchPee I don't get it, why do Aussies dislike Americans so much? I think you misunderstood my post? I was inferring that in the apres areas, where two or more Aussies gather, they will become drunk and obnoxious!! LOL Link to post Share on other sites
mitchpee 10 Posted November 18, 2009 Author Share Posted November 18, 2009 Originally Posted By: gareth_oau Originally Posted By: MitchPee I don't get it, why do Aussies dislike Americans so much? I think you misunderstood my post? I was inferring that in the apres areas, where two or more Aussies gather, they will become drunk and obnoxious!! LOL Ahhhh okay good. That's something I can appreciate haha. I can dabble in that. Link to post Share on other sites
rider69 18 Posted November 18, 2009 Share Posted November 18, 2009 Japan is a Visa free travel country. Getting a work Visa though is not easy. This is a bad sugjestion but your best way in might be to teach English. Also look at some of the resort maps and see what you want to ski. This country gets 400 to 550 inches of snowfall in most areas. Snowfall is really the least of your problems in Japan. Link to post Share on other sites
blu 3 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Originally Posted By: MitchPee I don't get it, why do Aussies dislike Americans so much? something to do with inventing the concept of compulsory tipping for service. Link to post Share on other sites
thursday 1 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 If these things were itemized, this thread could go on forever. Link to post Share on other sites
JA2340 16 Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 Yeah, lets not get started ... Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts