Volunteer work in exchange for free accommodation (Hirakatashi)

France

5

Really thankful to the school staff, they were super nice, friendly, understanding and respectful. The other volunteers were also great, and we spent such good times together. I would highly recommend the school for anyone interested in visiting Kansai area (Kyoto, the school, Ise, Koya-san etc), it is super convient. There are also a lot of nice Pastry and bakeries around the house :) I would definitely recommend the school!! :)

5 months ago

Germany

5

The school was super chill! Every volunteer gets a private room, and there's a cozy lounge with film nights, Wii/PS2, and an awesome massage chair! Bathrooms are decent too. Ai-Chan & Audrey (Managers) are amazing and the other volunteers made the stay even better. The work is very light: usually 1.5h/day (sometimes up to 3h if there are few volunteers), mostly easy cleaning of common spaces and guest rooms, plus some odd jobs. Had an amazing 5/5 stay, would definitely recommend it to everyone!

5 months ago

Romania

5

I loved my stay at the school! I helped them build the website and with other marketing tasks. It was super reasonable and I really enjoyed working on the project. Everyone at the house is incredibly nice, I felt like home from the first day. The location is perfect, around 30 min from both the school and Kyoto, and about an hour from Nara. So it was great to explore the area, but still come back to a nice and quiet time in Hirakata.

5 months ago

Portugal

5

The school was awesome! Super conveniently located, the staff is amazing, (shout out Audrey and Ai) and the work was very fair. I highly recommend to anyone that wants to visit japan!

5 months ago

United States

5

If you're looking for a place to find international community, volunteering at the school is perfect! The friendships I've made here have expanded my worldview and made Hirakata a home away from home. I'm very thankful to have been part of this wonderful and hard-working team. Ai-chan and Audrey are so welcoming and kind -- I recommend karaoke with these two:). Thank you also to Hide-san for your generosity! Hirakata is a great little city to explore, and also a great home base if you want to explore the school/Kyoto areas. The work and hours are simple and manageable. Would and will come again:)

6 months ago

France

2

The school is far from the school and Kyoto, after few trips, it actually works out cheaper to stay there than here.Tiny rooms and beds so thin you feel the floor. The schedule was poorly managed: we wanted to leave earlier but we were forced to stay 2 extra days so others could take their days off when they wanted. Tasks were unevenly divided. Even after finishing everything, extra work was added just to hit exactly 3h. After 3 weeks (and even extending as they asked) we didn't get any thanks or goodbye from Audrey. But thanks to Ai and her family for welcoming us kindly and saying goodbye respectfully.

about 1 month ago

OEH replied

Thank you for your review. We aim to clarify a few points. Our volunteers appreciate the convenient location as found on our profile:) We're happy to accommodate volunteer needs including private rooms. We would have gladly provided extra mattresses had you asked. As this is a work-exchange, we respectfully ask volunteers to honor agreed dates and the three hour work requirement. Unfortunately, last minute early departures especially by couples create difficulties as we count on your help.

Australia

5

I very much enjoyed my stay here at the school. The staff are very kind, the working hours are good, and the tasks are simple. The people staying there are quiet, respectful and friendly. It's a learning/ study environment, if you like to socialise in a relaxed way, this place is for you. If you like to party, it's not a good fit for you. It's a 15 minute walk to the station, and 5 minutes walk to Lawson convenience store. Thankyou Bill, Hide and AI 🙇

10 months ago

Virgin Islands (Us)

5

I had an amazing time at the school! The location in Hirakata City gave me the opportunity to really immerse in the local culture. I attended local festivals and met so many international travelers. The language exchange was top tier and I was able to have English conversation with some very cool Japanese people who are setting themselves up for success in their careers while utilizing their opportunities to see the world. I plan to return to the school as a volunteer in the near future because I believe in their mission and values. This is definitely a great Worldpackers assignment!

12 months ago

United States

5

Our time volunteering at the school through WorldPackers was incredibly rewarding. We worked the agreed-upon hours, helping with conversational English and keeping the shared spaces clean. The environment was welcoming, and the host was always supportive, making sure we felt at home. The co-living setup encouraged cultural exchange and meaningful connections with both residents and employees. Overall, it's an amazing opportunity to immerse yourself in Japanese culture while making a real difference in students' language learning.

12 months ago

Italy

5

My sister and I are very grateful for the kindness and understanding shown to us by the school staff and the overall atmosphere was very friendly and laidback. Cleaning tasks took about an hour to complete between the both of us. The conversations in English with the school's students were scheduled with care so that they were agreeable for us as well as for the students. This let us have plenty of spare time to invest in exploring the Kansai area.

about 1 year ago

OEH replied

will do.

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