Volunteering in Japan; List of organizations and resources
Searching how to volunteer in Japan? You have come to the right place! Having few savings to travel is no excuse for not fulfilling the dream of traveling to Japan.
As in many other Asian countries, more and more young people are encouraged to participate in a volunteer program in Japan, covering a large part of the expenses such as accommodation and food, which are what make the trip more expensive.
Japan is a country that has multiple cooperation programs designed for the integration of young people. There are many international volunteer companies that connect boys and girls of legal age with different collaborative projects.
Nevertheless, the waiting list To be able to participate in these programs to travel abroad are usually long. Especially when it comes to a country as attractive as Japan.
If you want to speed up the process, we bring you an alternative through which you can contact directly with companies and individuals looking for young people to lend a hand in exchange for accommodation.
This may be your ideal opportunity to work in Japan in summer. Live a unique experience and take that trip you have always dreamed of spending the least and enjoying it to the fullest.
In this article you will find ...
What is volunteering?
Volunteering is an activity through which different people provide their services or their work for a specific cause or activity, in a selfless way without waiting for financial retribution.
Although the concept of volunteering entails a free service by the people who offer their help, many young people take this opportunity to go abroad to volunteer for free in exchange for certain exchanges.
These usually involve an unpaid job, receiving accommodation, food, and other non-economic benefits in exchange.
How can you find this type of exchange in a foreign country? For this there are NGOs, sites and volunteer pages that act as a bridge between companies, work projects, and those interested in offering their work, advising and controlling the process so that the exchange is fair and safe.
You may be familiar with the typical volunteer pages for guys who can spend a season doing different jobs in Africa, Latin American countries, and even in Southeast Asia. But did you know that also you can volunteer to japan? More and more Spaniards and Latinos dare to take the step!
Volunteer in Japan
As you can imagine, the jobs to volunteer in Japan they do not have much to do with the projects that are carried out in other countries.
While in underdeveloped countries or in catastrophic areas many young people offer their help to build buildings, teach children or dealing with social or health problems, young volunteers in Japan work differently.
From families looking young boys to teach english to their childrenFrom farms that need help taking care of animals, to hotels or small businesses that appreciate volunteers helping them out in exchange for accommodation and meals.
Of course there are also organizations to volunteer in Tokyo, Osaka ... or anywhere in Japan in a more classic way.
Programs for him care and conservation of nature, help in the event of a natural disaster, organizing camps with children in disadvantaged areas, and even caring for pets in shelters or sanctuaries.
The recommended portals for volunteering in Japan they are usually free, or they include a small fee to register. However, in all cases you volunteer without paying once you have the job or project assigned.
If you want to know many other options for get free accommodation in Japan, do not miss this post from our Alternative Japan blog.
What is volunteer work in Japan?
One of the most successful volunteers in Japan among young foreigners is work in a hostel or hotel, helping with cleaning and maintenance in exchange for accommodation, and in some cases also food.
Taking this type of volunteering in a hotel as an example, the job would consist of cleaning the rooms, bathrooms, common areas, change the sheets, make the beds, and help with some other simple functions.
To be able to go to Japan as a volunteer, it is enough that can you speak english. It is not necessary to know Japanese or any other language.
With a basic level of English it will be more than enough to understand the instructions and communicate with the hosts and colleagues. Although you can also learn japanese for free via Internet.
In addition to being able to work in exchange for accommodation in a hotel or hostel, you can also help in a restaurant, in cafes, shops or reform a house in a rural setting.
Or simply, you can also make a cultural exchange with a family offering your company and a language exchange. You have many options!
All these options for volunteering in Japan are available to young people traveling with the tourist visa or with the Working Holiday.
The average stay that is requested is at least 15 days and up to 3 months maximum, adapting to the duration of these visas.
There are multiple platforms where you can find job offers in Japan with accommodation in exchange.
Let's see which are the best websites to find volunteering in Japan, used by young people around the world, in which to find multiple offers in the main cities and rural areas of Japan.
Workaway in Japan
With thousands of volunteer offers in more than 180 countries around the worlddo, this platform has become the favorite of young people to participate in all kinds of projects.
You can search for offers filtering by country, city or areas, choosing the type of work and the dates that most feel like it.
You have at your disposal many job offers in Japan in cities like Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, and also in small rural towns.
To be able to contact the hosts it is necessary pay an annual fee, whose price varies if it is for a single person or if you want to travel with a friend or your partner.
More information
Worldpackers in Japan
Somewhat less known by the Spanish, but widely used by the european and american boys, is this website that works in a similar way to Workaway.
The hosts they put the offers, and the interested parties can apply to them upon payment of the annual fee. The web is in perfect Spanish.
When paying the fee You can access all the content of the web, with the contact details and extra information of each publication.
Another advantage of paying the fee is that the platform gives assistance before, during and after the trip if you have any problems with the host or if you are not entirely satisfied with the experience.
More information
HelpX in Japan
HelpX was one of the first volunteer exchange websites between individuals and young people from all over the world.
Unlike other platforms, here you can make one free account to start searching. It is a good way to travel for free while working.
However, to have full coverage during the experience abroad, it is advisable to pay a small fee for premium account. It's super cheap!
The vast majority of volunteer offers on HelpX are focused on farm work or home renovation jobs in small japanese towns.
If you want to know the most authentic side of Japan, this may be your opportunity to find the ideal experience on a platform where there is not so much competition with other young people.
More information
WWOOF in Japan
Also focused on working in rural areas, this organization offers volunteers in organic farms, agriculture, aquaculture or ecology projects for young boys of all the world.
In addition to being an ideal excuse to travel to Japan, participating in one of these projects is an exclusive opportunity to add to the curriculum.
On the World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms platform you have countless very curious offers, as helps in the rice fields.
Fill in the form and get ready for the adventure of your life. You can enjoy the experience in Hokkaido, in the prefecture of Kanto, Chubu, Tohoku, Kansai and many more.
Whether in any corner of Japan or the world, you will meet colleagues of different nationalities, participating in light work in exchange for accommodation and meals.
More information
Other volunteer platforms in Japan
In addition to these platforms that we have seen, there are others that they work similarly focused on young foreign volunteers.
We highlight the following with volunteer opportunities very interesting:
Get in touch with them through the contact section writing to them in English or Japanese.
Frequently asked questions about volunteering in Japan
What are the volunteer platforms in Japan?
All these websites work in a similar way. After registering, paying a small fee in some cases, you can contact contact with the different hosts who have published the works.
Apply to those that interest you and wait for an answer. If they have availability, they will gladly accept you. When the date approaches, you will work for them under the agreed conditions, obtaining accommodation and other benefits in return.
How far in advance do you have to look for volunteering?
Keep in mind that the response from the hosts can take a while. If you plan to volunteer on specific dates, for example during your holidays, do it with as far in advance as possible.
You can apply from 6 months before, until a few days prior to the start of the agreed date. Take this into account if you have to travel from your country to book flights, leaving enough time for your organization.
Do they pay for volunteering?
The normal thing is that receive accommodation in exchange, and hopefully include some meals like breakfast or lunch. Being a volunteer job, there are no financial benefits.
However, for specific jobs they may give small salaries. When in doubt, it is best to consult with the host to clarify the conditions of the agreement.
Do you have to pay to volunteer?
The only payment that is made when using these platforms is the annual quota.
To work as a volunteer you don't have to pay for the accommodation or for the services that are included with the work.
What is the duration of the stay?
The normal thing is that for these types of jobs they ask you for a minimum of 15 or 30 days stay. There is no fixed duration. This will depend on your availability and the needs of the host.
Remember that if you are going to be in Japan for more than 90 days you will need to apply for the Working Holiday Visa, since the tourist visa only covers short stays of up to 3 months. You can see all details about the tourist visa or the WH Visa clicking here.
To work in Japan being Spanish, you will need another type of visa and also meet certain conditions. Click here to know more.
What work hours do you have?
The volunteer work offered on these platforms usually has a maximum schedule of a few 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. That is, you will have the whole afternoon or morning free, in addition to 2 full days to be able to do tourism or others activities.
The conditions are indicated in each offer, so that you can have an idea of the approximate schedules.
What does the work consist of?
This will depend a lot on the place and conditions where you volunteer. For example, to work on a hotel in the center of Tokyo or Kyoto, the usual thing is to clean the rooms, make the beds, clean bathrooms and kitchen.
On a farm the work will be different. You can take care of doing light agricultural work, caring for animals, or maintaining the home as if you were one of the family.
Are there other young volunteers?
This will also depend on the needs and ability of each volunteer job. It is common to coincide with other boys of different nationalities, for example in jobs in hotels, shops, restaurants or on farms.
If you are lucky enough to be part of a group of foreign boys, the experience will be even better. You also have the option of travel with a friend, your boyfriend or girlfriend, looking for volunteer jobs as a couple through the platform.
If you have any questions about the operation of these volunteer platforms in Japan, you will be able to find more information about how to volunteer to another country directly in each one of them.
Do not hesitate to contact us through the Alternative Japan blog if you are not sure how to volunteer to Japan. We will be delighted to help you!
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