Volunteer Programs in Japan

Looking to apply your talent and expertise to a good cause? Find a program that matches your interests and skills through Volunteer World! We are the largest volunteer abroad comparison platform around the globe, enabling you to seek and compare offers from major travel agencies as well as smaller grassroots NGOs and local specialists in more than 80 countries. All these with just one click! Find projects in wildlife, teaching, community development, and several other areas. Simply choose your desired destination and desired travel date, and our search engine will compare the best volunteer abroad programs on your behalf. Whether you wish to gain experience at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa or teach English at a monastery in Nepal, we've got you covered. Volunteer World guarantees a quick and easy application. We will guide you through this process, as well as help plan your next meaningful trip. We provide free access to quality-checked projects and flexible options. And if anything goes wrong, we've got your back with our qualified support team and our refund guarantee.

Explore ancient castles, Buddhist temples, and modern trends as you learn about Japanese culture during this unforgettable journey through Tokyo and Kanazawa. During the Tokyo Fusion program, you’ll spend time with local students and learn about their school day. You’ll dive into language lessons, draw manga art, and try the art of sword fighting. You’ll see the hot districts in Tokyo and also the hidden gems. Along the way, you’ll savor the food and the new friendships you’ll make on this one-of-a-kind adventure. We also offer a combination program that combines our popular programs, Japan: Tokyo Fusion and Seoul Searching: Modern Korea. For one week, you will explore the hidden alleys of Tokyo and a classic castle in Kanazawa. The next week, you will be off to Seoul, learning to dance like a K-pop star and diving into Korea’s delicious cuisine.

Step into one of the world’s most dynamic destinations with our 5-week Japan Mini Semester. Designed for students aged 17-22 seeking a meaningful gap semester or alternative study abroad experience, this program offers a powerful blend of cultural immersion, outdoor adventure, and personal growth in Japan. From Tokyo’s ultra-modern buzz to Kyoto’s ancient temples, and into the heart of the Japanese Alps and Hiroshima’s legacy of resilience, you’ll live and learn alongside local communities, engage in meaningful service, and reflect on your own potential. Through workshops in leadership, sustainability, and global awareness, you’ll build confidence and skills that last far beyond the program. With all logistics managed, experienced mentors leading the way, and opportunities for optional college credit, this immersive experience will leave you inspired and connected to a culture that honors tradition and embraces the new. Inquire now to explore a gap semester unlike any other... in Japan.

Participate in an internship on a Japanese farm in exchange for complimentary accommodation and meals. These placements are available on Sado Island and in Okinawa. The farms on Sado Island are primarily small, family-run operations focused on growing rice, fruits, and vegetables. In Okinawa, farms cultivate a variety of regional and seasonal products, including (sweet) potatoes, tropical fruits, vegetables, and spices. Tasks involve intensive work, especially during planting and harvesting seasons, but vary depending on the season. Furthermore, you require the correct visa. Many nationalities can enter Japan visa-exempt for up to 90 days under a Temporary Visitor Status. Citizens of the UAE are visa-exempted for 30 days. Alternatively, you can obtain a Working Holiday Visa if you are a citizen of one of these countries: Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Korea, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Ireland, Denmark, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Norway, Portugal, Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Argentina, Chile, Iceland, Czech Republic, Lithuania, Sweden, Estonia, Netherlands, Uruguay, Finland, Latvia, Luxembourg.

Participants are available at the community house in the afternoons and early evenings. Local students often visit to study, work, or spend a few hours. This is your opportunity to ask them about life in Japan and answer their questions about your home country. Be patient and understanding if it takes them a while to form complete sentences. Otaki village, a popular destination for both local and foreign tourists, requires locals who interact with visitors to enhance their conversational skills. You will meet and engage with them to help strengthen their language abilities. Remember, for people who rarely encounter foreigners, you are more than just an English practice partner. Depending on the season and weather, expect to spend about 2 to 3 hours a day in conversation. Lesson planning might take up to 1 or 2 hours per day. This could occur at the community house or other locations in and around Otaki. Occasionally, the local primary school may invite you to practice your English pronunciation through activities such as singing songs or playing games.

Join us for the adventure of a lifetime! Volunteers For Peace (a Vermont-based nonprofit) can place you on a team of international volunteers who contribute to a meaningful community service project designed, planned, and hosted by local partners. We offer the most affordable projects and the best way to meet people from all over the world. Work project types vary by country but may include environmental and wildlife conservation, historic preservation, educational and language learning, archaeology, organic farming, and arts and festivals. We also have social services projects, which could involve working with children, the elderly, or refugees. Projects are designed to combine service with recreational activities and cultural exchange – whether by visiting local beaches, learning local dances, meeting local officials, or volunteering with residents at the place you’re visiting. Each project is unique, but all bring people together for the most meaningful travel experience imaginable. Please note that VFP can only place US Citizens. This is due to our agreements with our international partners.

Live and intern in Tokyo, the world's top mega city! With more than 36 million inhabitants in Tokyo's metropolitan area, it never keeps quiet! This city is not just a high-tech skyscraper jungle where tradition meets the future. It is also an indisputable cosmopolitan city with an abundance of social activities and traditional events to discover. ・Enjoy Akihabara's "Electro City", which is a mecca for otakus and anime ・Have fun at super fashionable Shibuya with unique alternative scenes ・Go to shopping heaven, Shinjuku, with its magnificent night skyline ・Party in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo's international hub ・Visit ancient shrines in Asakusa As your gateway to Asia, Meiji Internships will accompany you throughout your journey. Kick-start your international career with an unforgettable internship adventure in your industry and destination of choice. We work with an extended network of 750+ partner companies in 8 countries to help pave the way for your future! You create your journey! Broaden not just your horizon, but also your professional network in the Far East!

Are you interested in teaching, traveling, and contributing to international development? How about visiting over 22 ports across 18 countries? If so, join Peace Boat for the adventure of a lifetime! The GET Program is Peace Boat’s language training initiative, conducted aboard the Pacific World, our newest and most luxurious vessel. Volunteers travel the globe with our students, teaching practical English and Spanish through GET’s task-based learning approach. They also have the opportunity to learn from diverse guest educators, including academics, peace-builders, sustainability advocates, entertainers, and more—all while circumnavigating the world by sea! We are currently accepting applications for English and Spanish teachers for Peace Boat's 122nd Global Voyage. The deadline is August 22, 2025. Interviews will be conducted online between September 8th-12th, 2025 (JST). Inquire today for more information: https://peaceboat.org/english/volunteer/GET-volunteer

Volunteering with ICYE UK is a transformational experience with real impact. Our ethical programmes promote peace, intercultural awareness and equality of opportunity, encouraging young people from around the world to live, learn and work together. UK residents can apply now to join us on our six or 12-month placements starting in either January or August, and work with locally run NGOs in Asia, Latin America, Africa, and Europe on impactful projects that matter, such as: - Human rights projects - Women’s empowerment projects - Supporting people with compromised health and/or disabilities - Environmental and wildlife conservation - Sustainable agriculture projects - Providing education, care, and support for children from under-resourced communities - Sports, art, or cultural projects - Community development programmes - And many more Additionally, short-term placements of 3 to 5 months with flexible start dates are available in some of our partner countries. Whether you join us on our long-term or short-term programme, you’ll have the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new culture and language, learn, grow, and make an impact! Get in touch to find out more!

Travel to a beautiful, historic city in Japan where you’ll volunteer for 1 to 12 weeks together with participants from around the globe. Choose from a range of project areas - children, culture and education, and environmental sustainability - in Okazaki. Volunteers will have the chance to step back in time while working and exploring Okazaki, a town reminiscent of the Edo period when Japan was in a time of peace and international openness. The country is known for its traditional culture dating back thousands of years while also having a vibrant society that continuously modernizes alongside the rest of the world in technology, fashion, cuisine, and daily life. As a volunteer in Japan, you can choose between working with children in local educational settings, assisting a tea plantation throughout the entire tea-making process, or volunteering with a local artisan’s workshop to make drums, candies, and other handicrafts.