Join an English exchange program in Japan! Volunteer in a traditional village to improve English skills through conversation and gain valuable cultural experience.
Program Highlights
Your Schedule at a Glance: (Minimum one-week commitment):
Day 1, Sunday: Arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). You will be picked up from the airport and taken to settle in to your accommodations just outside of Otaki Village.
Day 2, Monday: Volunteers will join a tour of the local area and participate in culture and Japanese language lessons on this day.
Day 3-6, Tuesday-Friday: Volunteers will provide English conversation practice at local community centers and may have the option to do a language exchange at a local kindergarten as well. Volunteers should expect to work 1-4 hours per day. Throughout the week, volunteers will join cultural activities (included) such as visits to natural springs, learning to make origami, joining a matcha tea ceremony, learning to make sushi, trekking and more!
Day 7, Saturday: Departure day for volunteers staying only one week. Free day for volunteers extending.
Remaining Weeks: Remaining weeks will follow the pattern of volunteering Monday-Friday and free weekends to explore.
Program Highlights
- Experience authentic Japanese culture by assisting in a small, hillside village
- Help local community members improve their conversational English language skills
- Enjoy weekly cultural activities such as sushi making, trekking, origami, visits to natural hot springs and more
- Enhance your experience with a travel add-on (see "Travel Highlights" below)
Your Schedule at a Glance: (Minimum one-week commitment):
Day 1, Sunday: Arrive at Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). You will be picked up from the airport and taken to settle in to your accommodations just outside of Otaki Village.
Day 2, Monday: Volunteers will join a tour of the local area and participate in culture and Japanese language lessons on this day.
Day 3-6, Tuesday-Friday: Volunteers will provide English conversation practice at local community centers and may have the option to do a language exchange at a local kindergarten as well. Volunteers should expect to work 1-4 hours per day. Throughout the week, volunteers will join cultural activities (included) such as visits to natural springs, learning to make origami, joining a matcha tea ceremony, learning to make sushi, trekking and more!
Day 7, Saturday: Departure day for volunteers staying only one week. Free day for volunteers extending.
Remaining Weeks: Remaining weeks will follow the pattern of volunteering Monday-Friday and free weekends to explore.
Location of the Project:
Otaki Village, Nagano, Japan
Project length:
Min 1 week - Max 12 weeks
Arrival Airport:
Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
Volunteer Work:
Teaching
Age:
Min age of 18. Age exceptions: Participants aged 16 and 17 may apply with parental consent
Number of Volunteers:
Up to 20 international volunteers
What's Included
Accommodations:
Shared rooms in a homestay or dorm-style accommodation
Food:
Three meals per weekday are provided, two meals on weekends are provided
Airport Transfers:
Airport pickup is provided upon arrival
Orientation:
Volunteers will join a tour of the local area and participate in culture and Japanese language lessons on their first Monday.
Support:
Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.
What's not Included
Flights, visas (if required), travel health insurance, lunches on weekends, return airport transfer (approx. $60 USD), personal expenses.
Japan offers an amazing mix of traditionalism and modernism. From traditional villagers who sleep on tatami mats to the modern city-dwellers of Tokyo, Japan is rich with culture. This program takes place in the traditional village of Otaki, in the mountainous Nagano Prefecture in central Japan. This region is where the 1998 Winter Olympics were held, and is home to many ski resorts, hot springs, parks and beautiful mountain landscapes.
The Otaki village is eager attract more tourists, but many members of the local community lack confidence in their English skills. Volunteers on this program will help improve the community members’ conversational English skills, which will in turn improve the village’s ability to reach out to more tourists. Volunteers should expect to work 1-4 hours per day.
Some of your tasks may include:
Some of your tasks may include:
- Holding informal conversations with members in a local community center
- Assisting with English lessons at a local kindergarten
- Partaking in various, group cultural activities
Internet:
WiFi is available in public areas.
Laundry:
Volunteers should be prepared to wash their clothes by hand.
Accommodations:
Volunteers will stay in shared, single-gender rooms with up to seven other volunteers either in a local homestay or a dorm-style accommodation, depending on availability. Bathrooms are shared, and beds are Japanese-style (tatami mats on the floor). There are hot showers and Western-style toilets. There is no air conditioning, indoor heating or fans. Accommodations are approximately 10-25 minutes outside of the village by car.
Food:
Three meals per weekday are provided, and two meals on weekend days are provided. Meals will be local cuisine and typically include rice and vegetables.
Please take note of this program's minimum requirements:
- Advanced level of English (does not have to be your native language)
- Minimum age of 18 (or 16-17 with parental consent)
- Police clearance
- Interest in traditional Japanese culture
There is endless fun awaiting you in Nagano! During winter, there are many ski resorts to visit, and in summer, travelers can easily find places to hike and kayak. During free weekends, and at their own expense, volunteers can visit:
- Onsen hot springs
- Snow Monkey Park (Home to wild snow monkeys that enjoy bathing in hot springs!)
- Various ski resorts (including those where the Winter Olympics of 1998 were held!)
- Matsumoto Castle
- The Zenkoji Temple and more.
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