Winter is Coming – Join Us for the 2025/26 Season!
The winter season is just around the corner, and we couldn’t be more excited! Recruitment is now open for the 2025/26 season.
Active Life Japan operates in two prime locations:
- Madarao, Nagano – Just 2 hours from Tokyo by bullet train, Madarao features 20 chair lifts and offers easy access (within 40 minutes) to neighbouring resorts like Myoko and Nozawa Onsen. It’s gaining a reputation for welcoming inbound tree-skiing and is known for its unique bowl-shaped terrain.
- Palcall Tsumagoi Resort, Gunma – One of the largest resorts in the region, Palcall boasts the longest gondola in Japan, expansive terrain, and stunning views of Mount Asama. It’s a rising favourite among both local and international powder enthusiasts.
Please note: Basic Japanese communication skills are required for most roles at Palcall.
In Madarao, we operate two hotels just a few minutes’ walk from the slopes:
- Active Life Madarao
- Xplore by Active Life
We also run the International Ski School and Miyuki Snow Sports, our retail and rental business serving guests throughout the resort.
At both locations, we provide a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the Japanese winter lifestyle while working alongside an international team. With years of experience employing seasonal staff, we've built a positive and supportive workplace that values growth and collaboration.
We’re looking for mature, authentic individuals who:
- Show respect for other cultures and people
- Have strong emotional intelligence
- Bring a sense of humour and positivity
- Are reliable and hardworking
If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!
Please send your CV and a brief cover letter including:
- Why you want to work in Japan this winter
- Your preferred location (Madarao or Palcall Tsumagoi)
- The role you’re applying for and why you’re a good fit
Email us at: hr@beactive.life
Let’s make this winter unforgettable — together.
Active Life Japan is an Australian owned Adventure Resort operator that has been in business in Japan since 2016 with properties in the Madarao and Tsumagoi areas. We are committed to healthy living and keeping people active in nature for their full life.
Available Positions:
All rounders
- Housekeeping and General Cleaning Staff
- Hotel Reception and front office Staff
- Bar & Restaurant staff
- Kitchen hands
- Team Admin
Ski and Snowboard rental technicians
Ski and Snowboard Shop retail sales
Chefs and Sous Chefs
Snow Clearing and fleet drivers
Employment:
- Start mid-December 2025 to early/mid-March 2026 (varies with positions)
- Accommodation and Meals provided at a friendly price (breakfast and dinner).
- Paychecks through a legitimate Japanese payroll system.
- Regular time off to ski, snowboard, and travel
- Working hours vary depending on your position, generally range from 20 – 40 hours per week, with plenty of time to ski and ride the beautiful, DEEP, FLUFFY MadaPOW!
Bar & Restaurant Staff
Desired skills & attributes:
- Strong communication skills (English)
- Excellent customer service skills with strong attention to detail
- Experience with cash handling and POS systems
- Adaptable, quick learner with great time management and organisational skills
- Social, energetic and enjoy engaging with customers and colleagues
- Comfortable working under pressure and on your feet for extended periods
- Happy to take direction and receive feedback
- Willing to help set-up and pack-down hotels at the start and end of the season
- Open to cross-training in other hotel functions to help out as required
Requirements:
- Bar staff applicants must be 20 years old & over
- Minimum 2 years of customer service experience, preferably in the hospitality
- Eligible for the Japan Working Holiday Visa (if not a Japanese Citizen)
- Must be able to provide 2 relevant references
Sous chef and kitchen hands
Fancy yourself a whiz in the kitchen? We are after talented and passionate Sous Chefs and Kitchen Hands to work across several of our hotel restaurants and bars for breakfast, lunch, dinners and bar hours (shift work).
Desired skills & attributes:
- Proven kitchen experience
- Strong communication skills (English)
- Excellent time management and organisation skills
- Happy with some early starts and late nights
- Exceptional Food Safety & Hygiene standards
- Ability to work under pressure without compromising the quality of food delivery
- Open to different cuisines and learning new things quickly
- Attention to detail with the ability to multitask
- Happy to take direction and receive feedback
- Basic customer service skills and the ability to work as part of a team or solo
- Willing to help set-up and pack-down hotels at the start and end of the season
- Flexible, adaptable and open to cross-training across other functions and fill in other functions across the hotels as required
Requirements:
- Minimum 2 years’ experience in a commercial kitchen (or relevant experience)
- Eligible for the Japan Working Holiday Visa (if not a Japanese Citizen)
- Must be able to provide 2 relevant references
Hotel Maintenance, Snow Clearing & Fleet Management team
Love playing in the snow on diggers? Are you an all-around handy person to have around?
We are after versatile, strong, and hardworking staff to be part of the Snow Clearing and Fleet Management team. This small team will be clearing the relentless/amazing JaPow from all of the Active Life Properties as well general maintenance across all properties as needed.
Desired skills & attributes:
- Reliable and highly safety conscious
- Comfortable working out in the elements, including driving
- Able to handle early starts, daily snow clearing, and the ability to operate snow clearing machinery (or willingness to learn)
- Physically able to manually dig snow if needed
- Strong communication skills (English) and great time management skills
- Proven knowledge and experience in a trade
- Happy to take direction and receive feedback
- Basic customer service skills and the ability to work as part of a team or solo
- Willing to help set up and pack-down hotels at the start and end of the season
- Flexible, adaptable, and open to cross-training across other functions and fill in other functions across the hotels as required
Requirements:
- Minimum 1-year experience in plumbing, heating, general construction and/or maintenance work
- Valid international drivers’ license
- Eligible for the Japan Working Holiday Visa (if not a Japanese Citizen)
- Must be able to provide 2 relevant references
All Rounders positions
Housekeeping and General Cleaning Staff
We are after thorough, hardworking and professional housekeeping staff to work across all Active Life Hotels (shift work).
Desired skills & attributes:
- Exceptionally high standard of cleanliness
- Strong communication skills (English)
- Organised with strong time management skills
- Excellent attention to detail and uses initiative
- Happy to take direction and receive feedback
- Great team-player while also able to work independently
- Basic customer service skills and the ability to work under time-pressure without compromising the quality of your work
- Willing to help set-up and pack-down hotels at the start and end of the season
- Flexible, adaptable and open to cross-training across other functions and fill in other functions across the hotels as required
Requirements:
- Minimum of 1-year experience in housekeeping duties such as making hotel beds, cleaning, handling hotel linen etc. (or relevant experience)
- Eligible for the Japan Working Holiday Visa (if not a Japanese Citizen)
- Must be able to provide 2 relevant references
Hotel Reception and front office staff
We are after friendly, professional and resilient hotel reception staff to work across several of the Active Life Hotels (shift work). Arguably the most important role in a hotel, so we are after the best in the biz!
Desired skills & attributes:
- Enjoy and take pride in being the face of the brand
- Exceptional customer service skills that never falter
- Strong written and verbal communication skills (English)
- Comfortable with technology such as emails, navigating reservation systems, POS systems and experience with cash handling
- Excellent at multi-tasking and dealing with distractions while maintaining high customer service standards
- Sharp problem solver with a knack for dealing with difficult customers
- Strong attention to detail, time management and organisation skills
- Social, energetic and enjoy engaging with customers and colleagues of different cultures
- Great use of initiative and highly safety conscious
- Happy to take direction and receive feedback
- Willing to help set-up and pack-down hotels at the start and end of the season
- Must be open to cross-training across other functions and fill in other functions across the hotels as required
Requirements:
- Minimum of 4 years customer service experience
- Minimum of 2 years front office/reception experience in a hotel or similar high-pressure environment dealing with a variety of customers/guests
- Eligible for the Japan Working Holiday Visa (if not a Japanese Citizen)
- Must be able to provide 2 relevant references
Team Administrative
We are thinking about the best team working environment. To achieve it, good team administration is the key!!
Desired skills & attributes:
- Excellent attention to detail and happy with the documentation
- Good communication skills English / Japanese (preference)
- Excellent at multitasking and dealing with distractions while maintaining the date line
- Good adaptation skill to work in environment with inexperienced languages
Requirements:
- Eligible for the Japan Working Holiday Visa (if not a Japanese Citizen)
- Minimum of 2 years experiences in administrator / clerk roles
- Must be able to provide 2 relevant references
Year-Round Position
Rental & Shop Manager
Join two of Japan's outdoor destinations in a unique, year-round leadership role. In winter, manage ski rental
operations at Madarao Ski Resort. In summer, transition to Palcall Tsumagoi Bike Park, where you'll serve as
both lead mountain bike mechanic and rental shop manager.
Winter Season - Ski Rental Manager (Madarao Ski Resort)
Responsibilities:
- Manage the day-to-day ski rental shop operations.
- Oversee ski and snowboard rentals, fittings, maintenance, and tuning.
- Train and supervise seasonal rental staff.
- Ensure excellent customer service and efficient workflow.
- Maintain and order inventory as needed.
Qualifications:
- Experience in ski rental shop operations and ski tech work.
- Knowledge of ski/snowboard equipment maintenance and tuning.
- Strong leadership and organizational skills.
Summer Season - Bike Mechanic & Shop Manager (Palcall Tsumagoi Bike Park)
Responsibilities:
- Perform full maintenance and repairs on a fleet of full-suspension mountain bikes.
- Ensure all rental bikes are safe, well-tuned, and trail-ready.
- Manage bike rental logistics and shop operations.
- Lead and train part-time staff in mechanical and customer service tasks.
Qualifications:
- In-depth knowledge of full-suspension mountain bikes and bike park service needs.
- Proven experience as a bike mechanic and familiarity with rental systems.
- Shop management or team leadership experience is a strong plus.
Visa & Eligibility Requirements:
This is a visa-sponsored position. To apply, candidates must meet one of the following:
- Be eligible for a Japanese Working Holiday Visa (check your country's agreement with Japan).
- Hold a bachelor's degree (required for a standard working visa).
Please ensure you meet at least one of these requirements before applying.
Perks:
- Visa sponsorship provided.
- Staff housing available at both resorts.
- Live and work in two of Japan's most scenic and active mountain regions.
- Year-round employment with seasonal variety and leadership growth opportunities.
Sound like your kind of ride?
Apply now to join our team and bring your skills to the slopes and the trails.
