Green Season Outdoor Guide
Evergreen Outdoor Center – Hakuba, Nagano, Japan
Become a Professional Guide in Japan's Stunning Northern Alps for the 2026 Green Season!
Evergreen Outdoor Center, Hakuba's premier adventure operator since 2000, is seeking experienced, passionate Outdoor Guides (lead or assistant roles) to join our team during the Green Season (summer). Guide guests through breathtaking landscapes—crystal-clear lakes, rushing rivers, lush forests, and towering peaks—delivering safe, thrilling, and unforgettable experiences in English and Japanese.
The bulk of guiding work will consist of three main areas:
- Private tours for all ages (families, couples, small groups of adults, mixed-age groups) – customized, high-quality adventures tailored to guest preferences and abilities.
- Summer camps for kids and teens (ages 7–16, 5-day sessions) – structured, fun, skill-building programs including Nagano Ninjas, Water Wizards & Mountain Masters, and Japan Alps Leadership.
- School groups for kids and teens – educational outdoor sessions for international schools, Japanese school trips, and youth groups, often with curriculum-linked activities and team-building focus.
Our Green Season lineup centers on these group and private experiences, featuring world-class activities such as:
- River Adventures: Whitewater rafting on the Himekawa, Sai and other locations, canyoning in stunning gorges like Kamoshika Canyon.
- Lake Exploration: Canoeing, kayaking, and stand-up paddleboarding (SUP) on pristine Lake Aoki.
- Mountain Pursuits: Mountain biking (gentle rides to technical singletrack), rock climbing (indoor/outdoor), tree climbing, and epic hiking—from easy nature walks to challenging alpine routes.
- Youth-Focused Programs: Age-appropriate team-building games, outdoor cooking/campfires, environmental awareness sessions, leadership challenges, and adaptations for weather or group dynamics to ensure every participant thrives.
Guides play a central role in leading these structured experiences—providing constant supervision (especially for youth groups), age-appropriate instruction, safety management, motivation, and positive role modeling—while delivering personalized, engaging adventures for private guests of all ages.
Work with a tight-knit team of certified professionals to create rewarding outings that prioritize safety, fun, guest enjoyment, and environmental respect. If you have strong experience and certifications in one or more of these disciplines, this is your chance to live and guide in one of Japan's most spectacular alpine playgrounds.
Key Responsibilities
As a Green Season Outdoor Guide, you will:
- Safely lead and/or assist in managing private tours, summer camp sessions, and school group programs, ensuring all participants return happy, healthy, and on time.
- Plan and execute trips: scout routes, assess conditions, manage logistics (pickups/drop-offs, gear setup/distribution), and adapt to weather, group abilities/ages, and daily priorities for optimal safety and enjoyment.
- Anticipate and meet participant needs—evaluate abilities on-site (especially important for children/teens), provide clear briefings, explain schedules/gear requirements, and deliver personalized, engaging experiences across all ages.
- Uphold and improve safety, risk management, and operational standards; participate in in-house training, field sessions, and ongoing skill development.
- Build quick rapport and confidence with diverse guests/participants (international families, kids/teens in camps/schools, Japanese and English-speaking groups); communicate effectively, mentor trainee/new guides on terrain, tour flow, group management, and tail-guiding practices.
- Perform thorough tour preparations/reset (gear checks, site setup, equipment maintenance/cleaning), and handle accurate record-keeping (trip plans, rental forms, incident/accident reports, vehicle logs).
- Provide expert first aid, rescue leadership, evacuation planning, and group care; respond to emergencies (including third-party if safe and feasible) while prioritizing participant safety.
- Carry company phone for constant availability during/after tours; drive company vehicles defensively, adhering to Japanese road laws.
- Take high-quality photos/digital media to capture experiences and support marketing/program memories.
- Analyze weather patterns/forecasts to inform decisions and keep operations smooth.
- Occasionally support office tasks (tidying, gear repair, guest transport, email responses) or other areas as needed.
Specialized Role Elements (depending on assigned discipline and group type):
- Lake/River Guides (Canoe, Kayak, SUP, Rafting): High-level paddling and rescue skills; prepare/maintain watercraft and sites—adapted for kids in camps or private family groups.
- Mountain Bike Guides: Advanced riding and instructing; manage bike setups, trails, and equipment care—suitable for school groups and private riders of varying skill levels.
- Canyoning Guides: Technical canyoning and river rescue expertise; prepare canyon sites and specialized gear—often featured in teen leadership programs.
- Hiking/Climbing Guides: Strong trekking, route-finding (maps/compass), and climbing skills; prepare and maintain hiking/climbing equipment—for all ages from easy family hikes to challenging school adventures.
Additional Duties
Due to the dynamic nature of outdoor operations, you may occasionally assist with tasks outside your primary role (as directed by management), including supporting other programs or filling in as needed.
Requirements
To excel as a Green Season Outdoor Guide at Evergreen, you should have:
- Relevant professional certifications for your discipline(s):
- Rafting: IRF (International Rafting Federation) or equivalent.
- Canyoning: CIC or equivalent.
- Mountain Biking: PMBI Level 1 (or higher) or equivalent instructor certification.
- Swift Water Rescue and/or specialized river rescue training.
- Hiking/Mountain Guiding or climbing instructor qualifications (beneficial).
- Wilderness First Aid (minimum 40-hour course, e.g., WAFA/WFR) and valid CPR/First Aid certification.
- Proven experience leading/professionally guiding in summer outdoor activities (rafting, canyoning, paddling, MTB, climbing, hiking preferred), ideally with mixed-age groups, children/teens, or educational settings.
- Strong technical skills: route finding, weather analysis, rescue leadership, group management (especially youth), and risk assessment.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and leadership abilities—able to connect across cultures and ages, build trust quickly, and mentor others.
- Upbeat, engaging personality with a passion for the outdoors, guest/participant service, and sharing adventure with kids, teens, and families.
- Physical fitness for demanding activities: paddling, biking, climbing, hiking long distances, swimming, lifting gear/participants in variable conditions.
- Valid driver's license (Japanese or International) and clean driving record.
- Eligibility to work in Japan (appropriate visa/status).
- Japanese language ability beneficial (many school groups and private clients are Japanese-speaking), though English is primary for international operations.
What We Offer
- Guide in Hakuba's epic Northern Japanese Alps—access to pristine lakes, rivers, and trails few get to experience.
- Join a respected, long-established team with a strong safety culture, in-house training, and opportunities to grow (mentoring, skill advancement).
- Diverse guiding experience across private tours, youth summer camps, and school programs in a four-season destination.
- A supportive, international environment where passion for the outdoors turns into a rewarding career.
- The adventure of a lifetime—living in one of Japan's top outdoor hubs while making private guests', campers', and students' trips unforgettable.
If you're a certified, experienced guide ready to lead safe, inspiring adventures for families, kids in summer camps, and school groups in Japan's beautiful Green Season, apply now to join Evergreen Outdoor Center for 2026!
(For more about our Green Season activities, visit: https://www.evergreen-hakuba.com/green-season)
