Become a Snowboard Instructor in Japan
A season with Snowminds is about more than just snowboarding. It’s a chance to embrace a new lifestyle and fully experience a different culture. Japan is the perfect place for that. With its deep traditions, vibrant cities, and some of the best snow in the world, it offers everything you need for an unforgettable winter. Imagine a season filled with rich culture, amazing food, and the legendary powder known as JaPOW.
That’s why we’re excited to offer our snowboard instructor course in Austria and a job in Japan. You’ll have the opportunity to train and qualify as a snowboard instructor while working at a local ski resort. Whether you’re starting with basic riding skills or already have experience, the course is designed to help you grow quickly and confidently. With professional training, cultural immersion, and world-class snowboarding, this season could be your best yet.
Become a certified Snowboard instructor in Kaprun
Train with experienced snowboard coaches and take your riding and teaching skills to the next level in the scenic resort town of Kaprun, Austria. From your very first day, you’ll focus on developing strong fundamentals and gradually progress through practical exercises, technique sessions, and real-time feedback to build your confidence on the board. As you advance, video analysis will help you see your development and understand exactly where to improve. You’ll also dive into snowboard theory, learning how to communicate techniques clearly and effectively to future students. Outside of training, the Snowminds team will keep things lively with social events and group activities, creating an atmosphere where lifelong friendships are made. With expert guidance, a tight-knit community, and structured learning, you’ll be well equipped to start working as a snowboard instructor in Japan. Kick off your instructor journey in Kaprun and get ready for the adventure of a lifetime!
Recommendation: Check out our 5 Star Facebook reviews and learn more about Snowminds from our ski and snowboard instructors!
Course program
Arrival & Day in Kaprun
Upon arrival in Kaprun, you’ll be warmly welcomed and transferred to your accommodation. Once settled in, you’ll attend a welcome meeting where you’ll meet your fellow course participants and your Snowminds Team Leaders. This is the perfect chance to get to know everyone, ask questions, and learn more about what to expect in the coming weeks.
The day will also give you time to explore your surroundings, settle in, and soak up the excitement before training begins. With a supportive team and new friends by your side, you’ll be ready to kick off an unforgettable snowboard instructor journey in Kaprun!
Two-Day First Aid Training
Your course in Kaprun begins with a two-day first aid training, an essential part of your BASI Level 1 qualification. This intensive course will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills needed to handle on-mountain emergencies, ensuring you can respond confidently in real-life situations.
From treating common ski injuries to learning essential rescue techniques, this training is a crucial step in your journey to becoming a snowboard instructor. With expert guidance and hands-on experience, you’ll gain the confidence to keep yourself and others safe on the slopes.
Snowboard Training
You’ll dive into snowboard training, with days packed with practical, on-snow lessons where you’ll learn, refine, and perfect your snowboarding skills. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your technique, the snowboard training days are designed to give you the experience and confidence to progress in your abilities. These sessions will be hands-on and tailored to meet each participant’s needs, with professional instructors guiding you every step of the way.
Level 1 Certification
The course will shift focus to the Level 1 certification program. Over four days, you’ll be evaluated on your skills, knowledge, and performance in both theoretical and practical aspects of snowboarding. By the end of the certification period, you’ll complete your Level 1 certification, validating the progress you’ve made and the skills you’ve gained throughout the course.
The course concludes with your departure, and you’ll leave equipped with valuable training and certification, ready to apply your skills and knowledge when working at your ski school.
You will receive an outline course schedule in your course pack closer to the season. Please note that the schedule is approximate and can be subject to change, depending on factors such as weather and snow conditions.
What do you get from Snowminds?
When you travel with Snowminds we will help you out with all the practicalities. That way you can pack your bags and good vibes and focus on preparing for your next adventure.
What is included in the snowboard instructor course in Kaprun:
- A winter season in Japan as a snowboard instructor
- Level 1 snowboard instructor training course in Kaprun
- Preparation training delivered by top-level trainers before the Level 1 exam
- An internationally recognized English-spoken level 1 certification with BASI
- A job at a local ski school in Japan with organized season accommodation, a season lift pass, and a uniform*
- Hotel Accommodation in Kaprun with breakfast and dinner during your training course
- Roundtrip flights to Japan (from a major international airport)**
- Local transport from the course in Kaprun to your the airport and from the airport in Japan to your ski school***
What you always get when traveling with Snowminds:
- Social activities planned during the course & season
- Snowminds Team Leader to support you during the course
- Invitation to Kick-off event prior to departure (online attendance possible)
- Invitation to Snowminds Reunion Party after your season ends
- A dedicated team to support you before, during, and after the winter season
- Help with the visa application and all other practicalities to prepare for winter
- Pro-deals at Snowminds Store
- Travel protection with Snowminds Money Back Guarantee and membership of the Danish Travel Guarantee Fund
- 24-hour emergency phone during the course and season
- Opportunity further training/ certification
- Opportunity to join our Hawaii trip after your season ends
- A strong community with fellow Snowminders
- A total experience where all the practicalities are arranged for you
What is not included?
- Travel activity after the season incl. transport from your destination to the airport
- Cancellation insurance, travel insurance, and visa fees
- Housing deposit and rent for the full seasonal accommodation
- Snowboard equipment, pocket money and anything not mentioned above
*Seasonal accommodation and season lift pass can be conditional on passing education and maintaining subsequent employment. Employment depends on if you are eligible for a Working Holiday Visa. Please note that you will in most cases get an employment contract from December until the end of February, with the possibility of an extension (not guaranteed).
**Return flights are included from a major international airport including London, Frankfurt, Paris, Amsterdam, or Copenhagen. We will happily arrange flights from other areas, such as Edinburgh or Sydney, upon request and likely extra charges. In all cases, please be aware that there may be additional costs depending on the departure airport, flight availability, and price increases! We will notify you before final flight bookings are made in such cases. You are also welcome to book your own flights, in which case we provide a 700 euro discount for your trip. If you have any questions please just reach out to us.
WHO CAN APPLY TO BECOME A SNOWBOARD INSTRUCTOR IN JAPAN
At Snowminds we pride ourselves in selecting the right people for our team of ski- and snowboard instructors. We are renowned amongst the ski schools for educating competent, energetic and top motivated ski- and snowboard instructors. You don’t have to be an expert on the snow, and no matter what your level is – we have a course that is tailor made just for you. We will make sure you receive the necessary training before your exam so you’re ensured to live out your winter dream as an instructor in Japan. The most important thing for you is to be positive, outgoing, adventurous and ready to work hard to get the memory of a lifetime as a part of the Snowminds team.
What we expect from you:
- You have snowboarded a minimum of 3-4 weeks
- You are positive, outgoing and adventurous
- You are serious, responsible and top motivated
- You are good with kids, teens, and adults
- You enjoy teaching and love being challenged
- You speak English at a conversational level
- You are 18 years or above
- You are eligible for a Working Holiday Visa*
When you have sent your application you will receive an invitation for an interview. During the interview we will evaluate your candidacy while you have the opportunity to get more information about our courses and the experience as an instructor in Japan.
After the interview, we will call you and let you know whether or not we can offer you a spot on our team.
We have a big interest in our courses and the spots fill up quickly. Therefore we have a “first come, first serve” principle with an application deadline each month. This means that the earlier you send in your application, the greater your chances are of joining the team and getting your dream destination.
Use the application form below, where you will find our prices and dates, or fill out the application form above.
*Eligibility for Working Holiday visa depends on different factors such as which passport you hold and your age. Ask us if you are unsure.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
JOB PLACEMENT
The Snowminds job placement and how it works
The job placement means that we will make sure you have a job at a ski school, after you have successfully passed your instructor training. You will already know at which destination you will spend your season at, before departure. The job placement is naturally conditional on your snowboard teacher training, which over 90% of our students successfully pass. Even in the event you do not receive your certification, we still do everything we can to ensure you a job. That way you enjoy your season as an instructor like everyone else and then retake your certification. With 10 years of experience to date, we are proud to say we have always been able to find a job for 100% of our instructors after graduation from our training course.
Please note that you will in most cases get an employment contract from December until the end of February, with the possibility of an extension (not guaranteed).
ACCOMMODATION
Training Course Housing
During the course, you will be accommodated at a hotel in Kaprun, where you will share rooms with fellow participants. Breakfast and dinner are included throughout your stay.
Ski Season Housing
Wherever you go, Snowminds ensures that your accommodation is arranged. The living situation varies by resort, but in Japan, it’s very common to live in dorm-style staff housing with other instructors and resort staff. You should expect to share your space with other colleagues, creating a social and team-oriented environment.
Accommodation costs are typically deducted from your salary as monthly rent. While the setup may be simple, it provides everything you need for the season and a great opportunity to bond with your team. Your ski school will provide you with more details about your specific accommodation before the season starts.
SALARY
Salary
A starting snowboard instructor in Japan typically earns 1,400 – 1,900 JPY per hour, with opportunities for bonuses – such as when guests extend their lessons with you. While this job won’t make you rich financially, it will make you rich in unforgettable experiences.
Your personal spending habits play a major role in how far your salary will go. Some instructors manage on a tight budget, while others prefer to spend more on travel, dining, and social activities. To ensure you can fully enjoy your season, we recommend bringing around €2,000 in pocket money.
Your earnings can also be influenced by your motivation, work ethic, and prior experience, all of which can lead to more hours and opportunities.
TRANSPORT
Transport To/From Japan
Your flight tickets to and from Japan are included in the course price. As we want you to have as much flexibility as possible the transport to the airport after your season isn’t included. This gives you the opportunity to travel around after your season. Many of our former instructors went to discover Japan’s nature, Tokyo, or joined our end of season trip to Hawaii. We have loads of experience when it comes to after season travels, so if that is something you are interested in, you can always bring it up during your interview.
Transport to the Ski School
After your snowboard instructor course is complete and the farewell party is over, we will arrange transport to your ski school. The day of arrival is an exciting one, as you will meet your boss for the first time and you’ll get to settle into your seasonal accommodation.
What our instructors say
Course Price
Snowboard Instructor Course in Kaprun with season in Japan + Job Guarantee
from €8.495
November - April