Working holidays in Japan

Canadian passport holders who are 18-30 can work in Japan for up to 24 months via a working holiday visa. You must apply and have your visa approved before your 31st birthday. You then have 12 months to enter the country. A one and done, you’re only allowed one visa per lifetime.

Not Canadian? Check out your Work Japan options on our global JENZA site

Your visa allows you to work for 12 months initially, with the option to extend by a further 12 months in country.

The working holiday scheme is designed to promote international exchange and enhance friendly relationships between Japan and Canada. Intended to deepen your understanding of Japan – the work part of your visa is designed to enhance your holiday and supplement your travel funds. This must be reflected in your application, and we may advise you to change employers every three months to ensure that you are fulfilling the intended work and travel purpose of this visa.

You won't need to schedule an appointment at a Japanese Embassy or Consulate to apply for the working holiday visa. Instead, we've streamlined the process for your convenience. Simply complete your application and send it to our office. Our dedicated team will then take care of presenting your application to the Consulate on your behalf.

Before submitting your application, we'll meticulously review your documents to ensure they are error-free and well-prepared, increasing your chances of a successful visa approval. Rest assured, we've got you covered every step of the way to make the process smooth and hassle-free.

You can apply year-round. However, most nationalities have a quota of Japan working holiday visas that are released each April. These don’t always run out, but where possible, we suggest applying as soon after April to ensure you secure a visa. Applications can take 2-3 months in total, so remember to build that into your timeframes – especially if you’re looking to pre-arrange a ski season job.

Applications for ski season jobs usually open in May/June with job roles that start in Nov/Dec.

All our ski season jobs or hospitality jobs on arrival are English-speaking. So while you don’t need to speak Japanese to do this program, it can improve your experience immeasurably if you take the time to learn some of the basics – especially if you’re travelling before or after your season. As well as being some of the friendliest people in the world, the Japanese are also big on manners – so attempting to speak some Japanese will go a long way and is sure to raise big smiles!

Some of our travellers opt to do online courses before they go, or arrive a few weeks early to do a classroom course. Check out the options and prices for a Kyoto or Tokyo language course in the visa + cost section.

There are three Work Japan options.

‘Own Job – with accom’ is designed to find work when you arrive. Starting in Tokyo or Kyoto, it includes five weeks’ arrival accommodation, comprehensive job counselling with access to job portals where English-speaking jobs are posted, job support for the full 12-months of your visa, CV translating, cover letter writing and more. Jobs are all English-speaking hospitality roles. If you want to find your own accommodation, you can also do this option without the transfer or houseshare.

‘Ski Job’ includes the same inclusions, but with five nights’ accommodation plus a pre-arranged ski season job with one of our ski season employers in Niseko, Rusutsu or Furano on the island of Hokkaido. Unfortunately, you must be aged 20 or over to work for our ski season employers.

Both Work Japan options start in Tokyo or Kyoto. This is because there are certain visa, residential and legal formalities that you need to get sorted before you can start to work for a Japanese employer. Japanese language skills are required for this, so our in-country partners Work Unite will take you to the relevant offices in Tokyo or Kyoto to get these sorted when you arrive.

We recommend all Ski Job travellers to start in Tokyo, as this is easier and cheaper to fly to Sapporo New Chitose airport – the closest airport to Niseko, Rusutsu or Furano.

Starting each Friday, you’ll be met at either Narita or Haneda airport where you’ll be accompanied via public transport (a great way to get intro-d to Japanese public transport and trains!) to your included five nights of Tokyo accommodation where you’ll have the weekend to get over your jetlag and explore Tokyo. You’ll then visit the relevant offices to get all your paperwork sorted that week. You should then book an internal flight from the Wednesday up to Sapporo.

Once you’re booked onto Work Japan, our team will run through everything with you .

• Own Job – with accom: Five weeks’ accommodation living with other working holidaymakers at a houseshare in Tokyo or Kyoto. These are typically shared rooms with communal living and kitchen spaces. Talk to us about your room options.

• Ski Job: Five nights’ accommodation at the houseshare* giving you enough time to sort your residence registration, Japanese bank account and the other required formalities you need to start working. Depending on the employer, you’ll usually have access to subsidised staff accommodation during your ski season job.

*If there isn’t availability, accommodation will be at a hostel.