Help others and help yourself. Volunteer work is an epitome of human kindness and you can find various opportunities in Japan. Whether you’re a resident or a traveler, experience a different feel of Japan take on volunteer work; here is information to get you started.
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Volunteer work in Japan
The Japan experience is on another level; from historical shrines and temples to the modern architecture, this country is on the bucket list for many. But if you have the time, why not give back to the community while you’re in the country?
Volunteering opportunities like English tutoring, caregiving for the elderly, and volunteering at the farm are abundant in Japan. There are many opportunities available for volunteers to gain work experience. Some establishments in Japan offer perks such as free accommodation, food, and others in exchange for volunteering your services, a good barter to help other people, and yourself at the same time. Engaging in multiple volunteering works in one place would be fun too, like for example, housekeeping in tourist accommodation apartments or doing a homestay while looking out for the owner's pet; all, of course, depending on your time availability.
There are a lot of volunteer centers throughout Japan. You can find one in each community. Some volunteering organizations do not require Japanese speakers; for example, FEW or For Empowering Women, aimed to uplift women in Tokyo. More lists of international volunteering organizations in Japan that welcome foreigners are detailed below.
Writer's Pick
Types of volunteer work
English tutoring
If you are fluent and good at tutoring the English language, this type of volunteer work will suit you. Helping the local community to practice their English conversation skills is a great help for them. Activities you can join in are local tours of the community and even participating in their cultural activities. There is always a need for English tutors, as knowing the language proficiently is a big plus. Some of the organization offering volunteer work include
of Hands on Tokyo, and more! Please note that some of these organizations charge a fee for their program, and all programs do not cover costs of flights, visas, and other expenses that may occur outside of what they offer.
Housekeeping and cleaning
A vast number of hotels, restaurants, bars, lodge, and other accommodating establishments offer volunteering services. With or without experience, these establishments are willing to help you learn something on your journey. You can learn cooking while volunteering in a restaurant and bar; this is exciting not only for Japanese cuisine enthusiasts but also for people interested in this field. Usually, they teach you how to prepare and serve the food, clean the establishment, help with guests at the reception, do admin works at the hotel, and others. Some hosts offer payment; others offer free board and lodging. You can check more information on:
Please note that if they offer payment, a work visa is required.
Farming and Gardening
Throw your volunteering enthusiasm into agricultural activities. Numerous farms allow foreigners to assist them. You'll engage in land preparation, fruit picking, planting and harvesting of crops, feeding their livestock, and other exciting actions. Gaining knowledge in farming while meeting the locals doesn't sound so bad, plus you can get free fruits and vegetables! Another alternative is gardening activities like planting and trimming leaves. Many skills can be learned in either of the two, and volunteers may expand their learning while doing volunteering works.
- National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization
- Ojiya Genki Project (OGP)
- Tsukuba Environmental Forum
are some organizations you can check!
Animal caretaking
Lots of animal shelters accept volunteer work from foreigners. If you're into animals, this one you will surely enjoy, surrounding yourself by a bunch of lovable and furry creatures. The usual tasks involve walking the animals, feeding them, giving them vitamins or medicine, monitoring their health, and making sure they are clean.
are some places you can help care for the animals or participate in their fundraising events too!
International events and others
Little that you know, some of the local and especially international events need someone to manage the crowd. They usually require a volunteer who can speak English fluently to help other tourists who can't understand the Japanese language. Peace Boat is another organization that promotes peace and humanitarian values, where they usually need volunteers who can speak both Japanese and English to serve as an interpreter. There are activities within Japan that Peace Boat carries out, while other volunteer opportunities are in Northeast Asia, and most of the time, one would experience activities and travel around the world through a chartered Peace Boat passenger ship.
※Peace Boat, pbv.or.jp/
Humanitarian Organizations
Here are some of the volunteering organizations you can join based on your interests:
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Tokyo River Friends and SEGO Initiative: These organizations focus on environmental awareness. You can participate in beach or river cleanups and other similarly environment-friendly volunteer events.
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Place To Grow (PTG): This organization that aspires to grow a community affected by the Tohoku disaster. PTG has different types of workshops that actively involve volunteers to help locals in various ways.
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Mirai No Mori and Ashinaga: These are volunteer programs in various locations in Japan and around the world that provides educational opportunities, exciting outdoor activities, and emotional support for orphaned students. International students are welcome to get involved in a variety of ways in summer camps, fundraising activities across Japan, and more!
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Second Harvest Japan: This organization is based in Tokyo. It promotes the food banks and pantry systems to provide food support to those in need. Food donations are being distributed to different agencies in Japan, orphanages, and shelters.
There are a lot of domestic and international volunteering organizations to choose from, and opportunities to serve local communities are available in Japan. Another place to find such events is on MeetUp or Facebook communities. Also checking with your local government or neighborhood organization is another way to see if there are opportunities to volunteer.
Benefits of volunteerism
Giving your time and effort for the sake of others can be a blessing both for others and yourself. Volunteering teaches us new experiences. Skills can be acquired since you will engage in different activities or even be learning the language. Some establishments and organizations provide, aside from the common benefits, a free program for learning Japanese to communicate with locals, especially if it is needed and helpful to the type of work you are volunteering at. Another thing is making friends and meeting new people or other volunteers will be beneficial in establishing your network while in Japan. Just sharing your culture and learning theirs can be a huge treasure that few get to experience.
As for practical perks, volunteering in Japan can provide you with free housing or accommodation depending on the terms of your agreement with the organization or establishment. For an exchange of services for a couple of hours per day, - for example, some ask that you provide work or services in the morning while letting you spend the rest of your afternoon for your own activities - time is flexible when volunteering. Some may offer free meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even all day. Some offer to let volunteers use their laundry machine, access Wi-Fi, and other facilities, or offer transportation to attractions nearby. The bottom line is, you may get different benefits depending on your host.
Make sure to do your research to see what is provided and what isn’t, as well as any other requirements necessary to do your part.
Summary
A volunteering experience in Japan should be on your bucket list. Aside from being able to reduce your travel expenses, this can also be an authentic Japanese experience since you'll be living with the locals and interacting with other volunteers too! Benefits can range from free accommodation, food, transportation, and others, as well as possible life-changing meetings and interactions. It feels good to give back to the community, putting smiles on people’s faces and also, to connect with the people in Japan who are like-minded. You never know, opportunities are just right around the corner.
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