Help with gardening, restaurant; or artistic painting

The experience

We need help maintaining my garden and serving in our restaurant. We also need an artistic painter to help with mural work. If you can paint then you do not need to do garden work. Depending on your interests, we can potentially offer various places and activities where you can experience traditional Japanese culture and manners, such as kendo or tea ceremonies. We will provide ingredients that you can use for cooking every day.

What you offer

20 hours of help per week

Kitchen Hand: Help prepare, finish and serve meals.

Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens

What you get

2 days off per week

Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.

Lunch: You are entitled to a free lunch, every day of your stay.

Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.

Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!

Free Hiking Tours: We’ll take you on excursions and hikes around town. For free!

Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.

Bikes at your disposal: You can use our bikes any time you want.

Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.

Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.

Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely

Requirements

Beginner English or Beginner Japanese

Between 18 and 42 years old

Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers

Be from outside Japan

What's not included

Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa

Program Details

Join Our Family in the Japanese Countryside
We own a small, unique restaurant in a beautiful garden that we maintain ourselves. Our space is not just a business; it's our home, and we want our customers to feel like they're visiting family. This is a place where food and conversation come together. Our location is in the countryside, where few people speak English. As a volunteer, you'll have a chance to practice your Japanese with our customers, while they practice their English with you.

Volunteer Role:
We're looking for volunteers to join us three days a week (Friday to Sunday) at the restaurant. The role also includes two days of work in our garden. If you're an artist, you can create a mural on our walls in place of the gardening work.

Experience the Local Culture:
While we hope to connect volunteers with locals for a chance to participate in different activities and create great memories, we cannot guarantee these opportunities, as they depend on the schedules and willingness of the local community.

We also ask that you put your phone and social media away during both your working hours and any activities you attend. We're looking for people who want to engage with the world around them, not avoid it.

Communication and Cultural Expectations
As the host, I am still learning English, so my language skills are at a beginner level. Due to this language barrier and cultural differences between Japan and other parts of the world, there have been misunderstandings with past volunteers that were not intentional. We ask that you be willing to communicate openly and respectfully. If you have any questions or concerns, please express them in a non-aggressive way so we can resolve any issues together.

Please consider this position carefully before applying.

Activities & Shift

As a volunteer, you'll be joining our team to help with both the restaurant and the garden.

At the Restaurant (3 days/week):
- Schedule: You'll work with us from Friday to Sunday. Our restaurant is open from March to December, with operating hours from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
- Role: Your main tasks will involve greeting customers, showing them to their seats, taking orders using a provided list, serving food and drinks, washing cups, and clearing tables. Essentially, you'll be assisting with general waiter/waitress duties to ensure a smooth and pleasant dining experience.
- Benefit: We'll provide lunch for you on the days you work at the restaurant.

In the Garden (2 days/week):
- Schedule: You can choose your two gardening days from Monday to Thursday.
- Flexibility: We can't do garden work on rainy days, so a rainy day will serve as your day off. Otherwise, you're free to choose your days off, but please communicate your schedule with us at least three days in advance.
- Summer Hours: During the summer, we start gardening early at 6:00 AM to beat the heat. In other seasons, the start time is flexible.

Local Activities and Cultural Norms
It's okay if you don't speak Japanese, but we ask that you have a positive attitude and are willing to initiate/start conversations with local residents and customers. We are looking for volunteers who are open to learning and practicing Japanese, even just a little.

If you get to participate in a class, especially for kendo, it's essential to follow basic Japanese customs. Your ability to participate will depend on your respect for these rules.

Rules

Important House Rules and Guidelines
Our home is not a hotel, so we ask that you respect our space by following these guidelines.

Key House Rules
Cleanliness & Waste: You must keep all areas you use clean and tidy to avoid attracting insects. Immediately after eating, you must wash all dishes and utensils. All recyclable garbage must be washed, and all garbage must be taken to the designated station every day. Always place everything back where it belongs.

Safety & Property: You must not smoke inside the house or use any candles. To prevent insects and snakes from getting in, you must always keep doors and net doors closed. You are responsible for paying for any damage you cause to our home or property. You must not leave charging devices, especially lithium-ion batteries, unattended due to the risk of fire.

Futon Care: Due to the moist air, you must air out and dry your futon at least once a week to prevent mold. If the futon gets moldy, you will be responsible for the cleaning cost. You must also remove the futon and pillow covers when you leave.

Quiet Hours & Courtesy: We ask that you be mindful of noise after 10:00 PM. On workdays, please smile and greet your hosts, Hirin and Susumu-san, and also our customers. We also ask that you say "Hello" to any neighbors you meet while out and about.

Guidelines for Cultural Activities: During these activities, you must not interact with other volunteers, especially in English. This is an essential rule to show respect to the locals and class instructors. If you have any questions, you should ask the instructors or other local class members.

Please consider our rules carefully and only apply if you agree to follow them. If you are selected, we will provide a detailed contract for you to sign on your first day.