About NIC
Niseko International Clinic is the closest medical facility to the Niseko Hirafu ski resort, one of the most popular ski destinations in the world. During the winter season, we treat a high volume of international tourists and seasonal workers with winter sports injuries and acute medical issues such as infections and skin conditions.
Students will have the unique opportunity to train in a multicultural, high-volume clinical setting alongside international staff, gaining firsthand experience in diverse patient care.
Learning Objectives
- Understand different healthcare systems
- Develop cultural competence in patient care and workplace settings
- Gain hands-on experience with winter sports injuries
- Learn to function in a low-resource clinical environment
Elective Duration (Choose One Option Only)
- 15th of December to End of January
- February 1st to Mid-March
Working Hours: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, 4–5 days per week (shift-based)
- The clinic operates every day during the winter season.
- Punctual arrival is mandatory. No late arrivals will be accepted
- Orientation attendance is required
- Schedule changes are rarely permitted, except in case of illness
Role and Responsibilities
- You will assist doctors at both the NIC main clinic and the Hirafu ski slope clinic:
- Shadowing physicians
- Assisting with clinical examinations and clerical duties
- Splinting and basic first aid
- Assisting with X-ray positioning
- Language support and patient history taking
Application Requirements
- Completion of core clinical rotations (final-year level or equivalent)
- Completed orthopedic rotation
- Official recommendation letter from your medical school
- Passion for winter sports medicine and intercultural communication
- A non-refundable registration fee of ¥50,000 will be required to confirm your placement and cover administrative handling
Pre-Departure Preparation
- Cross-cultural communication in healthcare
- Basic knowledge of winter sports injuries
Required Documents
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Motivation letter (including what you hope to learn and how you will apply the experience)
- Vaccination record (Seasonal flu shot must be completed at least two weeks prior to arrival)
Accommodation
- NIC offers access to shared accommodation within walking distance of the clinic.
- Rental fee: Approximately ¥110,000/month per person for a two-person shared room (based on last year’s rate), payable in advance via international bank transfer once your application is accepted
- Note: The rental fee is fixed and will not be prorated regardless of arrival or departure dates
- Rates may change depending on accommodation costs for the current season
- You may choose to arrange your own accommodation, but housing in Niseko is extremely limited during winter, and NIC housing is strongly recommended
Transportation
- Public transportation is not reimbursed
- No NIC parking is available for private cars
- NIC may provide bus tickets or staff ride-sharing, depending on clinic logistics, but this is not guaranteed
Meals
- Lunch is not provided
- Students must bring their own meals, as there are few cafés or restaurants near the clinic
Other
- A clinic uniform will be provided