Hey man, thanks for watching and reaching out! Normally you'll need to get a working holiday visa for Japan and start from there. It's different for each country (I'm not sure where you're from sorry) so you'll want to figure that out first. For Australia, it's a 6-month visa and you're allowed to work in Japan, but their government wants the emphasis on the "holiday" part of it. You can then extend it twice at the end of the 6 months, for up to a total of 18 months. I did this for my first season and worked for a company in Niseko. I then extended my visa at the end of the 6 months, went home for 6 months and was lucky enough to get a remote work job, came back to Japan and extended the visa to 18 months which got me to the end of last season (when these videos were filmed). After you receive the working holiday visa, depending on your financial situation, you'll either want to look for jobs online (Niseko FB groups are usually the best bet) or you can just rock up at the start of the season and find a job. The first option is usually best as most places will provide cheap accommodation for you (a hard thing to come by) and you'll have a guaranteed job when you get there. The second option is a little more difficult due to needing to find your own accommodation, but if you can sort that out, you can rock up and most businesses will be hiring at the start and during the season for all kinds of jobs. Or if you happen to have a work from home job like I do, you can just find long-term accommodation and do a whole season while working from your laptop. You could essentially do this on a 3-month holiday visa like I will be this coming season, or still get the working holiday visa (if possible) and stay for longer. Once again, accommodation is really hard to find so this option isn't the easiest. Feel free to message me on Instagram (@blaize2k) if you wanna chat about it more. I'm always happy to help.
Yeah, they are excellent, but rare. Unfortunately, snow doesn't come from blue skies haha. Makes you appreciate the good weather when it happens though.
@@dumercqmaxime5114 Haha yeah Jimi and Evan are like ghosts sometimes and then all of a sudden you see them 😅 There's still some great footage to come but you may be right about these days.
I haven't been to Canada for a while but have skied a few resorts there when I was younger (Whistler, Big White and Banff). Niseko is way more mellow terrain, very few cliffs/rock drops, no chutes and no double black, super steep stuff. If you are into backcountry, you can find this terrain, but not really in bounds. The resort is also much smaller with far less vertical (at least compared to Whistler). However, what it lacks in terrain it makes up for in powder. It snows almost every other day in January and February. The weather is always overcast or stormy, so you rarely get bluebird days like this one but it's common to have a 5-10cm top up almost every day. Then you also get the 30-50cm days during big storms which are insane.
If you're going to be chasing the deep stuff as much as possible, generally the wider the better. However, a powder focused 106mm will still get the job done perfectly fine. For reference, I run Armada Whitewalker 116's which are pretty much a dedicated pow ski. I ski these all season regardless of conditions. They are wide but I'm happy to sacrifice carving performance on-piste for float in the pow. Most of the hardcore pow chasers you'll see on Benchetler 120's after a big storm. Remember to always carry a shovel, probe and beacon if you're heading out the gates (and know how to use them). It is unpatrolled terrain, and accidents can and do happen regularly. I recommend hiring a local guide to show you the areas as safely as possible if it's your first time.
What’s your favorite resort in Hokkaido? Coming there in February from Utah. Small group of advanced skiers looking to make the most of our time. Love your channel!
Hey, thanks so much for watching and commenting. I'm sure you'll love Japan, especially if it dumps while you're there. It's a hard call between Niseko and Rusutsu honestly. I've really only skied these two resorts and Furano (there's heaps more in Hokkaido). Niseko is great for the backcountry terrain access through the gates. Rusutsu is way less busy and really good for just general in-resort skiing.
@@BlaizeKelly appreciate the response! I’m sort of leaning towards Rusutsu for some reason, although Furano sounds very interesting as well. You clearly have some amazing footage shot at Niseko, but I worry about the crowds. Unfortunately we apparently chose the wrong week to visit (Feb 8 - 14), as all the guides seem to be booked already, so tours are unlikely. Live and learn I guess. Cheers mate!
@@lorenroot7667 Yeah unfortunately everything gets booked out very quickly in Niseko. It's just gotten so popular in recent years. I think you'll enjoy your ski trip wherever you go. There's plenty of powder to experience in Hokkaido.
how are you doing a season out there and how can i do one?
Hey man, thanks for watching and reaching out!
Normally you'll need to get a working holiday visa for Japan and start from there. It's different for each country (I'm not sure where you're from sorry) so you'll want to figure that out first. For Australia, it's a 6-month visa and you're allowed to work in Japan, but their government wants the emphasis on the "holiday" part of it. You can then extend it twice at the end of the 6 months, for up to a total of 18 months. I did this for my first season and worked for a company in Niseko. I then extended my visa at the end of the 6 months, went home for 6 months and was lucky enough to get a remote work job, came back to Japan and extended the visa to 18 months which got me to the end of last season (when these videos were filmed).
After you receive the working holiday visa, depending on your financial situation, you'll either want to look for jobs online (Niseko FB groups are usually the best bet) or you can just rock up at the start of the season and find a job. The first option is usually best as most places will provide cheap accommodation for you (a hard thing to come by) and you'll have a guaranteed job when you get there. The second option is a little more difficult due to needing to find your own accommodation, but if you can sort that out, you can rock up and most businesses will be hiring at the start and during the season for all kinds of jobs.
Or if you happen to have a work from home job like I do, you can just find long-term accommodation and do a whole season while working from your laptop. You could essentially do this on a 3-month holiday visa like I will be this coming season, or still get the working holiday visa (if possible) and stay for longer. Once again, accommodation is really hard to find so this option isn't the easiest.
Feel free to message me on Instagram (@blaize2k) if you wanna chat about it more. I'm always happy to help.
@@BlaizeKelly Thank you so much will be in contact, love the content
such sick footage
Glad you enjoyed it man!
Some of the shots in this video are my favourite of yours for sure 👌
The colours really pop on a clear day as opposed to foggy.
Yeah the sunny days are great!
These clear days are so sick. Makes me want to get into it 😍
Yeah, they are excellent, but rare. Unfortunately, snow doesn't come from blue skies haha. Makes you appreciate the good weather when it happens though.
@@BlaizeKelly that's why you go for the season, take advantage of all days!
Too right
Always dope to meet the local legends on the mountain 😎
Maybe the best footage you got from last season tho ❤️
@@dumercqmaxime5114 Haha yeah Jimi and Evan are like ghosts sometimes and then all of a sudden you see them 😅
There's still some great footage to come but you may be right about these days.
Love this honest pov. Made me laugh, with you, not at you. But wow, that second run and that second day! Yeeew!
@@xenamojo It definitely was two very awesome days in a row.
How does Niseko compare to Canada?
I haven't been to Canada for a while but have skied a few resorts there when I was younger (Whistler, Big White and Banff).
Niseko is way more mellow terrain, very few cliffs/rock drops, no chutes and no double black, super steep stuff. If you are into backcountry, you can find this terrain, but not really in bounds. The resort is also much smaller with far less vertical (at least compared to Whistler).
However, what it lacks in terrain it makes up for in powder. It snows almost every other day in January and February. The weather is always overcast or stormy, so you rarely get bluebird days like this one but it's common to have a 5-10cm top up almost every day. Then you also get the 30-50cm days during big storms which are insane.
Hi there, what ski width would you recommend to be used for skiing outisde of the gates? Is 106 enough?
If you're going to be chasing the deep stuff as much as possible, generally the wider the better. However, a powder focused 106mm will still get the job done perfectly fine.
For reference, I run Armada Whitewalker 116's which are pretty much a dedicated pow ski. I ski these all season regardless of conditions. They are wide but I'm happy to sacrifice carving performance on-piste for float in the pow.
Most of the hardcore pow chasers you'll see on Benchetler 120's after a big storm.
Remember to always carry a shovel, probe and beacon if you're heading out the gates (and know how to use them). It is unpatrolled terrain, and accidents can and do happen regularly. I recommend hiring a local guide to show you the areas as safely as possible if it's your first time.
@@BlaizeKelly Thanks for your advice!
@@BlaizeKelly I plan to find guide through Rhythm, have you used them before? May I know are they good?
I haven't used them for guiding before sorry. But I have bought many things from them, had skis repaired and rented gear and have had no issues.
@@BlaizeKelly I see, thanks for the info!
What’s your favorite resort in Hokkaido? Coming there in February from Utah. Small group of advanced skiers looking to make the most of our time. Love your channel!
Hey, thanks so much for watching and commenting. I'm sure you'll love Japan, especially if it dumps while you're there.
It's a hard call between Niseko and Rusutsu honestly. I've really only skied these two resorts and Furano (there's heaps more in Hokkaido).
Niseko is great for the backcountry terrain access through the gates. Rusutsu is way less busy and really good for just general in-resort skiing.
@@BlaizeKelly appreciate the response! I’m sort of leaning towards Rusutsu for some reason, although Furano sounds very interesting as well. You clearly have some amazing footage shot at Niseko, but I worry about the crowds. Unfortunately we apparently chose the wrong week to visit (Feb 8 - 14), as all the guides seem to be booked already, so tours are unlikely. Live and learn I guess. Cheers mate!
@@lorenroot7667 Yeah unfortunately everything gets booked out very quickly in Niseko. It's just gotten so popular in recent years.
I think you'll enjoy your ski trip wherever you go. There's plenty of powder to experience in Hokkaido.