[Notice] New !! Important !!
1, From April, weekdays lessons will be available only after 6:00pm,
for the time being.The weekend schedule remains the same.
I will upload the more details later.
I apologize for any incovenience this may casuse.
2，[5,Videos] section has been opened. Please check it. New !!
Vieos of Oshima sensei and his students have been uploaded !!
Oshima's English Ski Lessons-Private English Ski School
I resumed teaching private ski lessons in English at "SNOVA",
mainly on a one-on-one basis after a one-year break in Dec 2025.
I am grateful to have received high praise from many of my clients,
particularly from first-time skiers.
Please find some of customers' reviews below in [3,Reviews] section.
SNOVA is located in Tokyo suburbs, a one-hour train and bus ride from
Tokyo Station.
Lesson information is provided in five sections below.
Please be sure to read them.
I look forward to meeting you on the snow at "SNOVA Shin-Yokohama".
【1.Lesson Outline 】, which you can know about the lessons roughly.
【2,Oshima's English Ski Lessons Q&A 】: full useful information.
For the first-time skier,please read Q9 and Q10
For the first-time SNOVA visitor,please read Q16
【3.Reviews】from the clients of Oshima's lessons, newest first
17,"It has been useful to go at my own pace, and for the lessons to
be 100%
targeted at my skiing rather than a group lesson. Instructor Oshima
has
made me feel in control of my skis after 3 lessons which is a great
result.
（Mar2026, abusolute beginnerF)
16,"This was my last lesson(Lesson 9). Oshima-sensei is a very skilled ski
instructor, and he is aloso very kind.He taught me from a complete beginner
to being able to ski confidently using primitive parallel turns. If
I come to
Japan again, I would love to learn with him again."(Mar2026, "advanced"F)
15, "Mr Oshima was incredibly patient, knowledgeable and great at
adjusting
to our level. The instructions were clear and easy to follow and we
improved so much in just one session. Highly recommend for anyone
learning or wanting to improve their skiing !
The first lesson is so important for absolute beginners, and we feel
very
lucky to have had such a positive start thanks to him."
(Mar2026, absolute beginnerF)
14, "Oshima sensei's technique is very good. He let his student to
simulate
the right position before running into the slope. That make me understand
more about the correct way to ski. At last, I can make primitive
parallel turns. I am very very happy !" (Mar2026, intermediateF)
➡ Please see "2, Ms.T's videos" in [ 5, Vieos ] section.
She managed to make it in just 8 lessons (16hours),
starting as an absolute beginner. Congraturations !
13, "I know more about skiing that I didn't know before, and I feel
comfortable
with his teaching."(Mar2026, beginnerF)
12. "My ski skill is better and better every time I learned with Oshima
sensei.
Now he said that my prallel turn is 90 % complete after 7 lessons.
He is a very great teacher."(Feb2026, intermediateF)
11, "After 12 hours (6 lessons) with Oshima sensei, I almost can make parallel
turns. I feel very very happy. Sensei has very good technique to teach.
Thank you (Feb2026, intermeditate now, started as an absolute beginnerF)
10, "Thank you so much for teaching me the basics! I had soooo much
fun skiing
at Fujiten today. I managed to go down the slope multiple times successfully
and only fell one time. I was so happy! I think I will need to take another
lesson to improve my turns & form."(Feb2026, absolute beginnerF）
9, "I truly appreciate your guidance and support. Compared to my previous
lessons by the other ski school, I felt much more confident on the slope.
Your instructions helped me understand how to control my posture and
speed better. I would be happy to take another lesson."(Feb2026;
beginnerF)
8, "Oshima sensei is very patient. He gave me a time to understand
how to
correct my posture. He also showed me how wrong I was and showed the
right way of posture. Oshima sensei guide me step by step properly.
I like to learn ski with him." (Feb2026, intermediateF)
7, "Oshima sensei teach clearly on the body movement on ski and why
to do
like that.This is very important to learn about the mechanisim of the ski,
slope and the body. Thank you sensei for the wonderful lesson."
(Jan2026, beginnerF)
6, "I really enjoy taking lessons with Oshima-sensei. He teaches very
clearly,
always giving precise instructions along with immediate suggestions whenever
he notices any issues in my skiing technique. I also appreciate that
he can
communicate very well in Englilsh, which makes the lessons easy to follow
and
very effective. I would definitely like to continue learning with him.
(Jan2026, absolute beginnerF)
5, "He is a very great teacher. He pointed every detail in his lesson
and answer
my question clearly.(Jan2026, beginnerF)
4, "Mr. Oshima's lessons were amazing. He helped my daughter gain confidence
in just three lessons and ski independently with basic posture.
I was able to see very visible progress after each lesson. He encouraged
my daughter and praised her progress, which helped her stay motivatied.
I hope my daughter can reach the intermediate level with Mr. Oshima's
continued support."(Jan2026, junior, absolute beginnerF)
3. ”Oshima Sensei is an excellent teacher. He is very kind and helpful.
I appriciate that he explains every step clearly and points out my
mistakes so that I can improve"(Dec2025, absolute beginnerF)
2, “He is an amazing teacher. One of the best
teachers I have had in my life”
（Dec2024,absolute beginnerM)
1, “He is very good at what he does and is a
great instructor.”(Sep2024,beginnerM)
【4.Links】
1.”Oshima's Ski Lessons" Handout ➡ Handout
2.Questionnaire to my clients ➡ Questionnaire
3.Information on SNOVA ➡ SNOVA info
4.Bus Transfer Map from the Stations ➡ Bus Transfer Map
5.Contact Email ➡ oshimalesson@gmail.com
6.Japanese version ➡ http://oshimalesson.com
【1,English Ski Lesson Outline】
① Instructor: Keitaro Oshima
SAJ Certified Full Ski Instructor, Class B Examiner
National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter
Former Director of London offece of JNTO
JNTO：Japan National Tourisｔ Organization
Cambridge English: C1 Advanced （CAE）
Graduate of the University of Tokyo, residing in Yokohama
Former Japanese Government Senior Official
Fluent in English and a seasoned ski instructor
with experience delivering over 200 lessons in English
Member of the Otaru Ski Association (in Hokkaido)
Member of the Kanagawa Ski Instructors Association
Certified Financial Planner (CFP)
Equestrian Skill Certification Level 4, etc
My introduction page on the SNOVA website can be found
at the bottom of the following pages:
➡ English: https://snovashinyoko.co.jp/en/school
② Main Lesson Location: SNOVA Shin-Yokohama
Lessons at other locations are also available upon request.
③ Lesson Format: Primarily one-on-one, private lessons
Small groups of up to about three people are also accepted.
④ Lesson Levels: From complete beginners to advanced skiers.
Especially for first-time skiers, I take responsibility for accompanying them
on the important first step of their "skiing life"
⑤ Fees:
The basic rate is from 5,000 yen / 60 minutes/person
The first and second two-hour lesson: 10,000 yen/2 hours/person
After that, repeat client discount 9,000 yen/2 hours/person
This is a reasonable price for private lessons.
Separately, admission and rental fees for SNOVA are required.
→ https://snovashinyoko.co.jp/info
Lesson fees should be paid in cash or via PayPay on the day of the lesson.
Cancellation until the day before:
free of charge
Same-day cancellation: full lesson fee will be charged
⑥ Booking:
The booking flow is:
【Booking Request】➡【Tentative Booking】➡【Booking Confirmed】
It will take a few days or more to complete this flow.
Please see Q8 in【2, Oshima's Ski Lessons Q&A】for details.
Please contact me at oshimalesson@gmail.com at least 6 days
before your preferred lesson date.
Last-minute bookings cannot be guaranteed,
so please reach out with plenty of notice.
Please provide [8 items] listed below when making a reservation.
If necessary, I will send you a "Reservation Form" upon request.
【８ items 】
１）Email subject line: “Booking Request – Oshima's English Ski Lessons”
2）Please clearly state your name, phone number, and age
(an age range such as “in my 30s” is acceptable).
3）Provide your preferred date and time slots for the lesson
(including the desired lesson duration).
Please list multiple options in order of priority.
4）Whether you will use SNOVA rentals (ski wear, skis, ski boots, etc.) or not.
If you plan to use rentals, please let me know which items you need,
along with your height and shoe size in centimeters.
The rental gear you need will be secured in advance.
5）Ski level and experiences:
Self-assessment, please be specifc.
Also, please provide the details of
・your previsous skiing history.(when, how many days so far, etc)
・your ski lesson history.(when, where, how many times etc)
If you have no skiing experience, please make sure to clearly state that.
Any qualifications you have obtained.
6）Short-term goals, motivation, and purpose for taking the lesson
(e.g., “I will be going to XX Ski Resort on YYdate.” Please be specific.)
7）Current and past sports experience, especially experience
in ice skating, roller skating, snowboarding, gymnastics, etc
8) Experience visiting SNOVA Have you been to SNOVA?
In addition, If you are not currently living in Japan,
please provide your planned arrival date in Japan (Tokyo)
If this is your frist time visit to Japan, please state so.
⑦ Important Notes (Very Important!!)
1）Please arrive at SNOVA at least 30 minutes before your lesson.
2）If it is your first time visiting SNOVA and you plan to use rental
equipment,
Please arrive 45 minutes before your lesson start time.
Fitting equipment can take quite some time.
3）On weekends and holidays, traffic around SNOVA may be extremely congested.
Please allow extra time when traveling.
Copyright(C)2025.KeitaroOshima, All rights reserved
【2.Oshima's English Ski Lessons Q&A 】Table of Contents
Q1. What are the features of ”Oshima's Ski Lessons"?
Q2. What is the instructor like, and what
is his skiing background?
Q3. How much teaching experience does the
instructor have?
Q4. Can you provide information on feedback or evaluations from the students?
Q6. Could you give me more detailed
information about the lesson fees?
Q7. Is it possible to take lessons at any
time?
Q8. Please explain how to make a booking
and the booking process.
Q9. I am new to skiing. What should I be
careful about?
Q10. I am new to skiing. How quickly can I
expect to improve?
Q11. Please tell me the secrets to
improving my skiing skills.
Q12. Please tell me the key points for
mastering the parallel turn.
Q13. I’m struggling with short-radius parallel turns.
What are the tips for doing them well?
Q14. What are the secrets to passing the various certification
tests?
Q15. Please explain the skill levels required for the certification exams.
Q16. What are the characteristics of the slopes at ”SNOVA Shin-Yokohama"?
【2.Oshima's English Ski Lessons Q&A 】
Q3. How much teaching experience does the instructor have?
I have taught approximately 500 lessons in total,
including about 200 English-language lessons for English speaking skiers
at SNOVA.
I have worked with students of all ages, all skill levels, all lesson
formats,
and from a wide range of national backgrounds.
At SNOVA Shin-Yokohama, I also guided a student to pass the Jun-Shidōin
(Assistant Instructor) certification exam on the first attempt
(2024 Tokyo Ski Association).
Q4. Can you provide information on feedback from the participants?
At SNOVA Shin-Yokohama, I ask lesson participants to complete
a feedback questionnaire in Dec 2024.
Here is an overview of the responses.
Q6. Could you give me more detailed information about the lesson fees?
At SNOVA, the fee rate is 5,000 yen for 60 minutes.
the first and second two-hour lesson: 10,000 yen/2hours/person
after that, repeat client discount: 9,000 yen/2hours/person
This is the fee paid to me for the lesson.
Admission fees and rental fees must be paid directly to SNOVA.
SNOVA’s admission and rental fees → https://snovashinyoko.co.jp/info
My lesson fee generally increases in proportion to the total lesson time.
I recommend the 2-hour lesson.
For lessons with family members or a small group, the fee will be determined based on the skill level, age, etc. of each participant.
Lesson fees should be paid in advance on the day of the lesson, either in Cash or via PayPay.
For lessons held outside of SNOVA, fees are negotiable.
As a rough guideline, the fee is 10,000 yen per day.
Please contact me for details: → oshimalesson@gmail.com
・Cancellation until the day before:
free of charge
・Same-day cancellation: full lesson fee will be charged
Q7. Is it possible to take lessons at any time?
At SNOVA, lessons are generally available on both weekdays and weekends until March 2026, but there are exceptions depending on the day or week.
Also, the slope may sometimes be unavailable due to private events or full reservations.
Please contact me by email as early as possible.
Please contact me at oshimalesson@gmail.com at least 6 days before your preferred lesson date. Feel free to send any questions at any time.
Last-minute bookings cannot be guaranteed, so please reach out with plenty
of notice.
The same applies to lessons held outside of SNOVA.
Q8. Please explain how to make a booking and the booking process.
１，Please send a ”Booking Request” via email.
In your email, clealy state the 8 items listed
in section 【1, Lesson Outline 】⑥ Booking
Request must be submitted at least 6 days before your preffered
lesson date at oshimalesson@gmail.com
I will reply within 2days. At this stage,
it will be a "Tentative Booking"(contingent on my abailability)
２，Snova will then confirm the availabilty for slope and rental gear.
Once confirmed, I will notify you
that your booking is ”Booking Confirmed”
３，The booking flow is :
【Booking Request】➡ 【Tentative Booking 】➡ 【Booking Confirmed 】
It will take a few days or more.
４、Before booking, please check here
for SNOVA slope operating status and rules..
Q9. I am new to skiing. What should I be careful about?
1, Arriving Early at SNOVA
For first-time skiers, the preparation required
before you start skiing typically takes longer than expected.
Please arrive at least 30 minutes before your lesson, and 45 minutes
before on weekends and holidays.
Lessons on the slope will begin as soon as you are fully prepared.
Preparation includes:
① Putting
on and taking off ski boots and ski wear:
Ski boots are made of hard plastic and require some knowledge, tips,
and practice to put on correctly. I will help you with this process.
② Handling
ski equipment (skis and poles):
These are specialized tools that you do not use in everyday life.
Knowledge and simple techniques are needed
to carry, attach, detach, and handle them safely.
I will assist you with these steps.
2. Choosing Ski Boots, Socks, Skis, and Poles
①Ski boots:
Ski boots are designed to transfer your body’s power
and movements directly and efficiently to the skis.
The boot size must match your actual foot size for a proper fit.
If your foot moves around inside the boot,
you will not be able to control your skis.
The correct boot should feel snug overall
—this is different from normal shoes,
which are usually larger than your actual foot size.
Even intermediate skiers often misunderstand this point.
②Socks：
Socks should be long enough to cover your shins
to prevent rubbing between the boot and your leg.
Socks that are too thick reduce boot fit;
socks that are too thin may cause cold feet.
Rental socks are not prepared at SNOVA. You need to bring them on
your own.
③Skis:
For first-time skiers, choosing skis that are too long makes them difficult
to control and often leads to fatigue and disappointment.
I recommend shorter skis, 20cm shorter than your height.
④Poles:
Poles are used during my lessons.
Proper use helps with attaching/detaching skis, moving on snow,
and preventing unnecessary falls, giving beginners a sense of security.
The appropriate pole length is approximately your height × 0.67.
However, poles must never be used as brakes while skiing
— this is dangerous.
Details will be explained during the lesson.
3. Ski Wear and Related Gear
①Temperature and required gear:
The temperature on the SNOVA slope is around △３C,
so proper protection against the cold is necessary.
Ski wear, a helmet, and gloves are required, and these can be rented
at SNOVA.
Sunglasses are not needed.
②Underlayers:
You do not need to wear thick clothing under your ski wear.
First-time skiers spend time walking on the snow, turning around,
and climbing small slopes.
This involves considerable physical movement, and it is common to sweat.
Bringing a change of underwear is recommended.
4. Preparing in Advance
①If you are skiing for the first time, it is essential to keep the skis
in a wedge (V-shaped) position.
To do this, you need to rotate both thighs inward and
continuously open the heels while pivoting from the
toes.
Maintaining this posture requires flexibility in
the muscles
along the back of the lower body
(the gluteal muscles, hamstrings, calves, Achilles
tendons, etc.),
as well as activation of the inner thigh (adductor)
muscles.
②If you have normal physical ability,
there is generally no need for excessive concern.
However, I would appreciate it
if you could be aware of the points above in ① advance.
Q10. I am new to skiing. How quickly can I expect to improve?
Progress varies depending on past sports experience and lower-body flexibility,
but based on my experience teaching at SNOVA, the following is a general
guideline
For your reference, please have a look at Video No21-25 in [ 5, Vieos ] section.
[First lesson: 2hours]：for absolute beginners
Lesson content:
・Explanation of ski equipment and how to handle it
(putting on and taking off skis, and how to carry them safely etc.)
・Moving on snow (walking, changing direction, climbing
gentle slopes)
・Sliding straight downhill and stopping in the snowplow
position
・How to stand up safely after a fall
・Video-based feedback
＊Only a few people have been unable to achieve this
in their first lesson with me. Hip flexibility is the key.
[Lessons 2∼3: 4-6hours]:
You will be able to perform continuous turns while maintaining a plough
stance
(commonly called plough turns or snowplough turns).
[Lessons 3∼6: 6-12hours]:
You will be able to perform continuous stem turns
(a combination of parallel and plough positions).
[Lessons 6∼10: 12-20hours]:
Although some plough stance may remain, you will be able to perform
continuous turns in a mostly parallel stance on gentle slopes.
＊These levels are achievable, but not guaranteed.
Q11. What is the key to improving your skiing?
Skiing is a sport in which you glide down a slope
by using gravity as your driving force.
You must control your skis while allowing your body to move downhill
at nearly the same speed as your skis.
To achieve this, the following basics are essential.
More specifically, the key lies in the position of your ski boots.
I explain this clearly on the snow during the lesson.
Always stand perpendicular to the slope, keeping your center of mass positioned directly above your ankle joints.
While maintaining point 1, control your body position so that you can apply pressure to the outside (downhill) ski during the turn—the so-called “outside ski pressure.”
Unfortunately, many skiers are unable to fully control their skis.
In fact, during turns, they often end up being carried by the skis
rather than actively steering them.
Q12. What is the key to mastering parallel turns?
First and foremost, the two fundamentals mentioned in Q11 must be achieved to a considerable degree. Only then can you move on to parallel turns.
In a snowplow turn, your center of mass remains between the two skis forming a triangular stance, allowing stable control at low speeds.
In contrast, a parallel stance requires you to use the centrifugal force generated at higher turning speeds and shift your center of mass appropriately to control the skis throughout each phase of the turn.
The transition from one turn to the next is especially important. Many skiers fail to eliminate the snowplow stance during this transition.
In my lessons, as mentioned earlier, I first explain the mechanics of
the parallel turn
in detail with skis off, and then have students simulate the movement
to feel it in their bodies.
I believe that understanding through this simulation is essential
for efficiently learning parallel turns.
Sadly, many skiers end their skiing life without ever mastering the parallel
turn.
My goal is to help you break free from that pattern.
Q16. What are the characteristics of the slopes at "SNOVA Shin-Yokohama"?
It is Japan’s only fully enclosed, indoor ski slope open year-round.
The indoor temperature is kept near -3°C throughout the year.
There is also an indoor ski area in Tokorozawa (Saitama), but it is not open year-round.
At Snova, there is no lift, but a rubber-belt escalator takes you up the slope.
You must remove your skis when using it.
The slope is about 30 m wide and 60 m long.
The gradient is about 10° at the bottom and 14° at the top.
If you can ski continuous plough turns from the top of SNOVA’s slope,
you will generally be able to manage beginner or lower-intermediate slopes at regular ski resorts
(although falls cannot be completely ruled out).
Typical beginner slopes in ski resorts: 5–10°
Typical intermediate slopes in ski resorts: 15–20°
Rental equipment includes skis, poles, helmets, wear, and gloves.
Quantities are limited, but SNOVA gives priority to lesson participants,
which is why I ask for your sizes in advance.
Some items such as socks are also available for purchase.
For details, please contact SNOVA directly.
5 For your reference, I've put together a map of the train/bus connections
for your visit. Please have a look.:Bus Transfer Map and also SNOVA info
[5, Videos]
１，Oshima sensei's videos
11， Short turn 08 Mar 2026
@ Yellow course Max 19°Asarigawa, Hokkaido
12, Long turn 20 Feb 2020
@ Red course Max 23°Asarigawa, Hokkaido
13, Long turn 20 Feb 2020
@ Blue course Max 27°Asarigawa, Hokkaido
14, Short turn Apr 2009 @Hakuba47, I was so young !
15, Short turn Apr 2009 @Hakuba47
16, Long turn Apr 2009 @Hakuba47
17, Middle turn Apr 2009 @Hakuba47
2, Ms T's videos: She is from Thailand, and has never seen
the snow until joining our first lesson on 28th Dec.2025.
She managed to make primitive parallel turns
in our 8th lesson (16hours) on 12th Mar2026
Her Progress so far: A Look Back at Our Lessons
21, 1st lesson (2hours) on 28th Dec 2025, snow plow stop
22, 3rd lesson (6hours) on 22th Jan 2026, snow plow turns
23, 5th lesson (10hours) on 12th Feb 2026, stem turns
24, 7th lesson (14hours) on 26th Feb 2026, almost parallel
25, 8th lesson (16hours) on 12th Mar 2026, parallel turns
Please refer to No14 in [ 3, Reviews ] section.
Copyright(C)2025.KeitaroOshima, All rights reserved
