We will help their organic farming (weeding in rice and vegetable fields, planting vegetables, taking care of goats and chicken) and also carry the things from the town, renovate the trails, help their house work, etc. Be ready to work for quite a long time (05:30-18:00 with some brakes) and hard.
Accomodation & food:
Building for volunteers in the farm. Very beautiful cultural heritage! Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns. Sleeing bag is necessary.
Location & leisure:
Very isolated, but beautiful place near "Japanese Northern Alps". About 900 meters asl. There are something remained here that most of Japanese areas have lost in modernization.
Requirements:
Good Japanese language is not necessary, but still welcomed. You need to be physically strong and flexible to respect the way of the local host. Motivation letter is needed!
Many preparations in local festivals, doing agricultural work, attending culture exchange events. In Nagi city, volunteers help some manual work at local commercial stores such as café, Soba restaurant, beef production, ｔoy shop, fruit shop. Some activities are involved with local children. Nagi area (Youtube video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2kG_-sEgbfM#t=29
Accomodation & food:
Accommodation: Each volunteer will stay separately in a local host family's house. Volunteers should follow house rules such as "Curfew" at 6:00 PM every day.
Facilities:
Bedding will be provided. There are a washer, a kitchen, a lavatory and a bathroom. Internet may not be available depending on the family. Please always ask your host family when you use, a washer or a kitchen, etc. You may need to do the laundry by yourself or your laundry will be washed together with family's and be asked to help with it. Please be flexible and helpful.
Meals:
Three meals a day will be provided. A volunteer who has an allergy (or preference) in wheat, meat or fish can not be accepted because those are often served in a Japanese meal and a family does not prepare meals by individual request. A volunteer is also expected to eat rice, miso soup, fish (sometimes raw) as well as meat (chicken, pork and beef) on a daily basis without any problem
Location & leisure:
Mimasaka-city (http://kanko.city.mimasaka.lg.jp/ ) is famous for beautiful landscapes and hot springs. The most notable sightseeing spot is the birthplace of Musashi Miyamoto (1584~1645), the strongest swords man handling two swords at the same time. Hayashino Station is located about one and half hours by train (JR Kishin line) from Himeji city in Hyogo prefecture. Their landmark Himeji Castle was designated as a national treasure in 1931, and the World Cultural Heritage in 1993.
Requirements:
1. Japanese language (conversational level) is required (we will check the level on the motivation letter) 2. Every volunteer must be able to ride on a bicycle for 5 km (sometimes up to 20 km) a day. A volunteer is expected to be physical strong and tough under the strong summer sunlight. 3. No volunteer is accepted if he/she has a strong allergy in cats, dogs or house dust 4. It is required that volunteers should prepare and bring things you can perform/display at an international exchange event. Pictures, CD, books, magazines, toys, games or snacks of your country are suggested. You can have your own booth, display them and give presentation about your country at this event. Also, please bring home countries' recipes and ingredients. 20 more people will come to enjoy this event with International volunteer5. A couple is not allowed at all. We accept one volunteer from each organization6. A motivation letter (more than 10 sentences long) is required. Please include your interest, motivation, experience and strength of yourself both in English and Japanese. Clothes suitable for activities, such as T-shirts, pants, and sneakers. Long-sleeved shirts and a hat/cap, sun glasses are a must. In addition to clothing, please bring toiletries, towels, raincoat, medicine (for cold, painkiller) and other things you need for your daily life.Rain boots are needed only those who foot is over 10 inchRegarding the schedule on Sundays, please ask your host family if they have any plan made for the day before you make your own schedules. Keep in mind that you are strongly expected to spend time with your host family on weekends. Please do not make any plan with your friends on weekends without agreeing with your host family in advance. A volunteer needs at least 30,000 JPY in cash if she wants to go sightseeing on free-day.
If the weather is good, help environmental/agricultural activities needed for the community such as mowing the land, painting fences and wall, waxing the area. -Cleaning task at the lodge, drying up the futon mattress, chopping the wood to make firewood. -Making lantern for the lantern festival (August 9) -Attending tanabata festival at the local temple -Cultivating and cutting the farm-Planning for an event where 20 Japanese people get together(mainly local partner's family and relatives)
Accomodation & food:
Accommodation: A western-style lodge
Facilities:
4 rooms with futon mattress, washer, restroom, bath room with bathtub, kitchen, Internet access is available. Convinience store and supermarket are 15 minutes away by car.
Meals:
Volunteers cool by themselves. Food materials will be provided by the host. Sometimes volunteers go grocery together.
Location & leisure:
In 16th century, the battle called "The siege of Kozuki Castle" was held in this area. A memorial tower and ancient architectures still remains. Mr Sakagami has constructed 3 km of walking trails in cooperation with the local volunteers. He is now eager to host a musical recital for younger generations.On day-offs, activities such as trail walking and experiencing watermarking paper called KAMISUKI may be possible. You may have chance to visit HIMEGI city (1 hour by train) for sightseeing. A volunteer needs at least 10,000 JPY in cash if she wants to go sightseeing on free-day.
Requirements:
1.A volunteer has to be between 18 and 27 years old2.A volunteer is expected to be punctual and organized (Those are village rules) 3.It is important that a volunteer is confident of his/her physical strength and engaged in the manual work. 4.A volunteer who is allergic to wild animals and birds cannot be accepted5.A volunteer who has an allergy (or preference) in wheat, meat or fish can not be accepted because those are often in a Japanese meal and a group does not prepare ingredient by individual request.6.A volunteer is also expected to eat rice, miso soup, fish (sometimes raw) as well as meat (chicken, pork and beef) on a daily basis without any problem7.A motivation letter (more than 5 sentences long) is required. Please include your interest, motivation, experience and strength of yourself in English or Japanese. Bring clothing suitable for agricultural work (long sleeved), working gloves, rubber boots, hat, medicine, sun protection cream (or spray), toiletries, bath towels and sanitary goods. Insurance policy documents, Volunteers are requested to introduce their own countries by showing photos, maps, books, musical instruments and recipe, bring at least 20,000 JPY in cash for spending your personal item.
Volunteer's activities may vary according to the artists and locations. There may be work in carpentry, handwork and cleaning. Many of them are international artists who play an active role in international art communities. List of all artists http://oku-noto.jp/en/artists/The hosting committee expects that local residents in Suzu and related organizations can be more conscious of taking an active role in international community by interacting/working with international volunteers.
Accomodation & food:
Accommodation: Volunteer facility
Facilities:
Japanese room with futon mattress (No sleeping bag is needed). Details will be TBD in May
Meals:
Three meals will be provided by the local partner
Location & leisure:
Oku-Noto is the name given to the northern area of the Noto Peninsula on the northern coast of Japan. The city of Suzu is located at the point where the warm current (kuroshio) and cold current (oyashio) in the Sea of Japan meet. The region has a unique geography bounded by the sotoura ("outer harbor") to the north and uchiura ("inner bay") to the south. It is blessed with a verdant natural landscape, where diverse flora from both eastern and western regions of Japan co-exist, nourished by seasonal winds from the continent laden with moisture. Suzu flourished as an important port when maritime trade across the Sea of Japan was active, including Japanese missions to Tang China, official envoys from Bokkai, and the routes plied by kitamae-bune, the freight ships of the Edo-period. However, when the means of transportation shifted from sea to land, Suzu's location became a disadvantage, leading to decline and depopulation. The current population of 15,000 is less than half of the figure in 1954 (38,000) when the city was established.Suzu would be regarded as one of the most isolated places in Japan according to the dominant values of today. However, it remains a fount of Japanese culture where various cultures dispersed across Japan have accumulated over generations, as seen in its festivals and rituals, such as kiriko (giant lanterns), festival floats, and yobare (inviting families, friends and neighbours to feasts on festival days). Paradoxical as it may sound, it is this uniqueness that gives this place the quality of a singularity capable of bearing hope for our contemporary era.
Requirements:
1.Extra fee 18,000 JPY(about 150 EURO). Please pay on arrival. This fee will be used for supporting the local partner to run this camp.2.We look for those who respect other cultures and have an interest in traditional Japanese culture and modern art, and interest of this "SUZU 2017: Oku-Noto Triennale" concept. 3.A motivation letter (more than 5 sentences long) is required. Please include your interest, motivation, experience and strength of yourself in English or Japanese. A long sleeved T shirts and trousers, work clothes (which can get dirty), bath towel, toiletries, work shoes (which can get dirty. No sandal in work days) and hat/cap.
- help children, families and elders with cooking (pizza, udon and somen noodles etc), making crafts, and so on. Age of participants will range from 5 to 80 years old. - Attend cultural exchange lesson with local elementary school students (such as Singing English songs and Q&A time) - Participate in Japanese traditional summer festival called "Matsuri", together with local students. - Maintenance of Fureai-no-Mori (mori means forest in Japanese) forest park and some facilities. ※Since there are many outdoor activities, work may differ if it rains.
Accomodation & food:
Accommodation: A traditional Japanese house.
Facilities:
Japanese TATAMI room with futon mattress, washer, kitchen, Western lavatory, shower. No internet access, Convinience store and supermarket is 5 minutes by car.
Meals:
Volunteers take turns and cook by themselves. Volunteers are asked to go to the store and do groceries.
Location & leisure:
Shunan-city is located in south-eastern part of Yamaguchi Pref., between the beautiful Seto Inland Sea and hillside. It takes four and a half hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen or one and a half from Yamaguchi Ube Airport by train. During the day-offs, volunteers may participate in a traditional summer "MIKOSHI (portable shrine)" festival with local children. A volunteer needs at least 10,000 JPY in cash if she/he wants to go sightseeing on free-day.
Requirements:
1.A volunteer who enjoys cooking. All foods should be prepared by volunteers. 2.Volunteers need to be a self-starter. Those who are open-minded and eager to learn Japanese language and culture are welcome3.There is no internet around this area. Bring pocket wifi if you are in need.4.A motivation letter (more than 5 sentences long) is required. Please include your interest, motivation, experience and strength of yourself in English or Japanese. Clothing suitable for outdoor activities, volunteers will take care of children in the river too (swimwear, shorts pants, T-shirts, sneakers are must) Slippers and sandals are prohibited. Seasonings and some recipes from your country (Please be ready to introduce your home country cuisine to local Japanese people and other international volunteer members), pictures and materials or something you can introduce your hometown, culture, language etc.
Maintain the rice field called "tanada", a traditional Japanese rice field in the mountain area. Tanada here was selected as one of "the 100 most beautiful tanada" in Japan. We will also do some farming work or any work that local people need. We might make signpost of the area for tourists. Disucussion about how to make this village attractive.
Accomodation & food:
Local community center. Meals will be cooked by volunteers by turns.
Location & leisure:
Ojiro-ku, Kami town, located in the north-west the Hyogo prefecture, the middle of the Hyo-no mountain.
Main work is (1) painting the fences (more than 1km!), (2) harvesting rice, (3) cutting brush and grasses for landscape preservation and(4) supporting the local events. We may possibly also support to event with kids/local people and do some other work for the community.
Accomodation & food:
The community center in the village. There are clean kitchen and toilet. Volunteers take a shower in the kindly local people's houses. Please bring sleeping bag! Volunteers prepare the meals by themselves. Wi-fi are not connected basically.
Location & leisure:
Ishikawa prefecture is almost middle of Japan. Campsite is very small village located in South part of Ishikawa prefecture. There are rice fields, shrine, and beautiful nature.
Requirements:
High motivation to work hard and seriously and enjoy simple life. Need idea for local revitalization. Speaking Japanese language is welcomed!
We will do various work to activate Ozuchi village and preserve their culture and nature. Main works are (1) harvesting rice and maintain rice fields,(2) maintaining vegetables' fields for sustainable life (3) school visiting and organizing events with local old people for culture exchange. And do some other work for the community.
Accomodation & food:
Renovated house (Japanese traditional house!). Simple shower room. Clean toilet. You don't need to bring your sleeping bag. Volunteers prepare the meals by themselves. Wi-fi, Internet and mobile cannot connected.
Location & leisure:
The southwest part of Ishikawa prefecture. Ozuchi village is surrounded by mountains, so very isolated, but beautiful place. Charcoal making was main industry.
Requirements:
High motivation to work hard and simple life in the isolated area and respect to the local culture and way of the local organization. Speaking Japanese language is welcomed!
« If anyone is interested in doing some real volunteering and not paying stupid amounts of money to do it just visit VAP's website or drop them an e-mail. »
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