Volunteer
Want to experience life in rural Japan?
We plant rice with no pesticides and no fertilisers, make tea from century-old tea bushes, and provide a good life to goats and chickens.
What we do
Volunteers will weed, feed, plant, harvest, move things, scrub, build, and repair. It is very physically demanding work.
We accept volunteers for June (rice transplanting) and October (harvesting). Applications for 2028 are now open.
What you’ll learn
You will learn about community relations, traditions, and customs of rural Japan, what farming without chemical fertilisers, pesticides, and herbicides entails, and enjoy the company of curious goats and chickens.
What’s provided
Free accommodation (Electricity, water, internet provided)
Free rice
We share the cost of lunchtime groceries, and take turns to make dinner. Breakfast is not communal.
A small 2-seater truck are available to get you between Ryunohara and the volunteer house (15-minute cycle, steep uphill, or 5 minute drive).
Requirements
Volunteers must be able to stay for the entire duration of the volunteer period (about 5 weeks). All volunteers must show proof that they have purchased travel insurance (in case of accidents).
FAQs
What’s the accommodation like?
There are several houses here we use to house volunteers. The main volunteer house is a 5-minute drive away. Volunteers may have to share rooms with other volunteers.
How do I get to Ryunohara?
XJ will pick you up from Kii-Tanabe Station at 3pm on the first day.
How many volunteers are there at a time?
We accept 3 volunteers in June, and another 3 in October.
Can I come for less than 5 weeks?
No, all volunteers arrive and depart on the same date.
Do I have to be very fit?
Most of our activities require a lot of stamina. You can expect to go up steep slopes to tether the goats, or to repair the water pipes for the paddy fields. People with mobility issues or serious chronic pains or injuries will find it difficult to carry out tasks here.
Is there a minimum/maximum age?
You must be at least 18 years old, the age of adulthood in Japan, and no more than 96. Most of our volunteers are in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s. You can volunteer as long as you are reasonably fit.
