Japan Volunteer Quests
Volunteer in Japan: 2-52 weeks

"My experience in Japan was amazing.

I got a chance to understand an eastern culture far from my own, through the children, my host mother and the cultural activities that we participated in. It was a great feeling to not be a tourist in a country so different from my own. I would have never learned as much as I did without being as integrated as I was."

-Sean Iddings, Short-term volunteer in Japan

Visit the United Planet YouTube page
to view a Japan Quest video and more.

Please also visit the Japan Quest photo gallery.

Although Japan is a small country, the land stretches diagonally from almost the 46th parallel to about the 24th parallel, which is almost same latitude as Montreal in the North all the way down to Havana in the South. Due to this large distance, weather in Japan is very different in North and South which affects the life style of the people that live there. Culture in Japan has been always been a hybrid of different styles and influences but has produced something truly unique. Japanese culture has been influenced from China and Korea in ancient times and created its own unique culture from these influences.  Ceramics for tea ceremony, Ukiyoe-painting, lacquer and performing arts such as Kabuki and Noh are widely respected as great Japanese traditional art all over the world. 

The purpose of this Quest is to promote a deeper level of cultural exchange and understanding through meaningful volunteer work at local schools, social activities with the local community, and excursions and cultural activities.

United Planet is working currently with different volunteer opportunities in partnership with local organizations in Japan.

1) After School Quest
Volunteers are needed to work with children with special needs in an after school program. This organization is located in Chiba, near Tokyo and dedicated to improve the environment of children with special needs and provide better opportunities for them to have an active every day life. Volunteers work on a range of activities from indoors to outdoors as well as educational and recreational:teaching English is a main task. Japanese language skills are not required.

2) Orphanage Quest

Volunteers are needed to work in a new orphanage located in the Saitama prefecture. There are children ranging from infants to teenagers at the orphanage. Many of the students study in local elementary and high schools. Volunteers usually teach English to the children as well as organize play groups with them and tend to their basic needs, giving them love and attention. Intermediate conversational Japanese required.

The factory was established in 1980 in Kashiwa, Chiba (half an hour from Tokyo). First, they began by questioning the effects of synthetic detergent on the human body. Next, they started making environmentally-friendly soap. Eventually the soaps of “Sekken no machi” became well-known and are now very popular throughout Japan. In 2004, the factory also started a new project making biofuel. This project is also attracting attention in Japan because of the potential to become a significant alternative energy to petroleum.

United Planet volunteers work at the factory making environmentally-friendly soap Monday through Friday, 10am to 3pm. The factory also serves as a vocational training center for the disabled. Volunteers work alongside the disabled and a supervisor. Volunteers also work off-site with the supervisor, collecting used household oil to make the soap. Volunteers are required to bring with them, or purchase in Japan, an apron, mask, and gloves to work at the soap factory. Basic Japanese required.

We work with our partner, a Non Profit Organization which owns a recycling shop in Sakura, Chiba (one hour from Tokyo). The organization is run by mothers with mentally disabled children. They began in 1994 by opening a community center for the disabled to make a place for their children to spend time, outside of a welfare facility where the mentally disabled are separated from the general life of society. The community center increased in popularity and they expanded their services. In 2001, the organization also opened a recycling shop to employ mentally disabled people.

United Planet volunteers work from Tuesday to Friday alongside a supervisor to help the mentally disabled employees wait on customers and display goods. Sometimes they work off-site, doing such things as cleaning the local park or making Braille name cards at a local office. Volunteers will accompany the employees on these outings with a supervisor.

Japanese language skills are not required.

The Quests take place in the Chiba prefecture, just outside of the Tokyo area, and therefore provides many cultural learning opportunities, through living with host families and interacting with local communities. United Planet also provides cultural activities and excursions, including Japanese language lessons and learning the art of the Japanese tea ceremony! For more information, prices and details on the Japan Quest please visit Japan Prices and Details.

• The Japan Quest runs year round and starts on the first and third Sunday of each month
• Volunteers for the Japan Quest must be 18 years of age unless accompanied by an adult
• Click here for a sample two-week Japan itinerary