Vanguard Backpackers

Hi there! I have traveled around the world for 9 years and visited 102 countries so far. I returned to Japan in 2018 and started a backpacker's hostel and English class for Japanese locals in my house. The house is surrounded by mountains, including Michelin 3-star Mount Takao, and many small rivers, beautiful hot springs, and the Sagami lake. The river right next to my house is beautiful, and you can swim there in the summer. It is still an hour away from Japan's largest downtown Shinjuku(excluding 2 km to the nearest station Sagamiko)

My goal for our volunteers is that they gain more than I offer and build lasting relationships, just like I did with some of our past volunteers. Looking forward to seeing you :) 🙋 What I Need Help With I’d love your help with the following: Maintaining the hostel (cleaning, organizing) Teaching English to my local students Renovating the house (if you have skills or creative ideas!) You don’t have to be from a native English-speaking country. What’s more important is that you speak clearly, slowly, and with patience. 🕒 Work Details Work hours vary depending on the day. When it’s busy, we usually work from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to prepare the rooms. We also have English conversation time in the evenings, lasting between 45 to 180 minutes. I ask that you try to contribute at least 4 hours per day, including cleaning, teaching, or renovation work — totaling 24 hours per week. You will have one day off each week. If I feel that you've worked more than what you're receiving, I’ll try to make it up to you—maybe with a meal out or a sightseeing trip. I want to be at least fair to you. 📚 Our English Class Style We don’t use fixed materials for our English lessons. I want to rely on your creativity to keep our students engaged. Please be encouraging and patient. Let students speak as much as possible—and avoid interrupting them. Also, avoid asking about personal or family matters unless they bring them up first. 🥊 Extra Activities & Community Life I used to be a professional boxer, and I offer free boxing training in the mornings. You're welcome to join anytime! Every Monday, we use the school gym with our students and locals. We play basketball, volleyball, and badminton. It’s more about socializing than skill, so please join even if you’re not good at sports. We’re a small, close-knit community, and we try to do what’s good for everyone here. 🍱 Food & Meals I can cover your food costs. I only eat lunch and dinner, so if you would like to have breakfast, please prepare the ingredients and cook for yourself. 🛠️ What I’m Looking For I really need someone who can take initiative, especially for renovating the hostel or helping me think of ways to expand the business. If you: Want to experience local Japanese culture Enjoy teaching English Love renovating traditional houses …then this is the perfect place for you! 🙏 Final Notes Please be super friendly to our English students, guests, neighbors, and anyone you meet. If you don’t know what to do, just ask me. Try to find something to improve in the hostel. Keep showers short—gas is expensive here. Most of all, have a good time here—just as I probably did when I visited your country. If you ever have suggestions for how I can improve myself or the hostel, I would truly appreciate it.