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Living & Working in Hakuba

So, you’re thinking of doing a season in Hakuba?  Or perhaps you want a change of lifestyle and are making a more permanent move?  Well, we can’t say we blame you!  Whether you are thinking of coming to Hakuba for a few months or a few years we are sure you will find our section on Living & Working invaluable.  With advice on finding work, buying property and more, we aim to guide you through the main processes of life in Japan

Buying Property

hakuba-echolandSpurred on by a love of skiing/boarding or  a simple investment purchase, the past few years has seen a surge in the number of investors snapping up pensions and apartments in the Hakuba valley. The demand for Alpine snowy boltholes is rising year on year and is currently being led by young Australian and international investors who have a passion for the outdoors who are looking to invest some of their hard earned cash. The range of alpine property available means that there is generally still something out there to suit most skiers’ pockets and taste. See "Buying Property in Hakuba" for more.

 
Long Term Accommodation

Happo Winter Coming Soon

 
Finding Work

subway staffLiving and working in the mountains doesn’t need to be a pipe dream. Whether you are looking to fill a gap year by doing a ski season, or if your ambitions lie more for the long term, there are a whole host of options for you to consider. In this section, you can find information on the types of job available, what types of visas and qualifications may help you land the job of your choice, and how and when to apply.See our article on "Working in Hakuba" for more

 
Buying a Car

car in the snowNew and used cars are relatively cheap in the home country of Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda. Brand new kei-class cars, the smallest car type, sell for less than a million yen.

Owning and operating a car, however, involves numerous expenses. These include compulsory inspections (shaken) every two to three years, various taxes mandatory and optional insurance, A liter of gasoline costs roughly 120 yen(June 2009). See more on "Owning and buying a car in Japan".