Volunteers will have the chance to step back in time and volunteer in Okazaki City, a town reminiscent of the Edo period, when Japan was in a time of peace and international openness. Japan is known for it’s traditional culture dating back thousands of years, while also having a vibrant society that continuously modernizes alongside the rest of the world in technology, fashion, cuisine, and daily life.
United Planet also offers virtual volunteering and virtual internships (1 month to 6 months) in Japan. Learn more about all of our volunteer abroad programs and virtual volunteering and virtual internship countries in Asia.
Our Japan Country Coordinator, Naoko Jin, shares how United Planet volunteers will experience the real lifestyle of Japanese people in historical and beautiful Okazaki City. She is excited to bring volunteers into the city they love.
This short video gives you an inside look—from the classroom to the dinner table—into what it’s like to live, learn, and give back in Japan.
Join volunteers as they:
Whether you’re sharing your skills, picking up new language phrases, or joining a school lunch table, every moment counts. This is more than just a trip—it’s an opportunity to grow alongside your host community.
I enjoyed so much staying with my host family! The family members looked after me so well. They bought T-shirts and stationery as a gift and treated me as their son, and I helped them back to clean the dishes and have fun with their children. So I really appreciated and enjoyed the time in Japan because of those happy experiences.
This experience taught me how much more I could possibly teach children, and how they could learn more than books. I also experienced making my own Matcha tea in a tea ceremony, dressed up in a yukata and painted my own wind bell, and even went fishing after watching the festival that wished for good catches of fishes! An experience full of learning, laughter, and smiles. Leaving it was a bittersweet moment.
United Planet in Japan was beyond ideal; it was very organized and sculpted my first experience in Japan to be the best it could be! Japan is everything I expected and much, much more. The traditional values that shape the everyday lives of the Japanese people are extremely inspiring. The people’s respect for each other and ultimately everything on earth is so admirable. I love it here and I will absolutely be back.
I learned a lot from their positive attitude I have had build up a strong independent character. It was a rich experience at first it was hard to grasp it all the food type and there respect gestures but I got through it with time and other assistance.
Jakob Heck – Testimonial
My time in Japan has been really remarkable. The city where I do my volunteering, Okazaki has been incredibly welcoming, and I feel like I have been able to establish a community around myself here. I have met such interesting people with so many different backgrounds but with a shared interest of learning about different cultures which is something I am passionate about. I have enjoyed both the freedom and the depth of the volunteering. There have been a wide range of options available to me, and although I stuck mainly with bonsai, I’m glad to have tried out different things. My experience here has taught me a lot about myself, mainly that I actually love to help people and build communities, both locally and internationally. Which is an interest I now share with United Planet and makes me appreciate their mission. I know that no matter where I go after my time in Japan, I will pursue this interest. The highlight of my experience in Japan has been the people I have met.
Wendy Grethen – Testimonial
I really enjoyed my time in Japan working with community members to add to their English speaking skills. People were very nice and interesting to work with each day. Naoko was very helpful and clear in letting me know what was going on and when I needed to be at the global language cafe. I appreciate the extra experiences that were lined up with time with the students where they were using their skills to share about the history of Okazaki, about plum and cherry blossoms and even about the anniversary of the tsunami. I value the experiences of learning more about Japanese culture through the music class, cooking class, tours, and staying with the family. The amount of time I stayed for was a good amount of time to meet with some of the students multiple times and keep meeting new students. I shared American treats and books and people there shared Japanese foods and activities. I have many good memories from being in Okazaki. This was my first time to Japan and I came early to spend time in and near Tokyo, went to Kyoto, and also went to my town’s sister city – Isumi City and met with a group there. I’ve never ridden so many trains in my life. I walked many miles everyday and enjoyed viewing everyday life, small shops, grocery store items, and seeing people on bikes and walking. I was often the only non-Japanese person around. In the community not that many people spoke Japanese but through using translation on the phone or through gestures we could still communicate. I liked seeing flowers every day and even early blooming cherry blossoms were out by the river and I went there 5 times. People laughed and were friendly. People shared their interests – like playing the piano, playing drums, learning about wrapping on gifts, history of temples and shrines, and sweets. The weather was cool but warmed up most days. Wind and rain were part of some days but with an umbrella and windcoat it was fine. I found some extra things to do in the evenings, like a square dance group. I always felt safe wherever I walked. I saw many people on my walks from students in their uniforms to people of all ages on bicycles. I took many photos and will treasure the memories for a long time. The global cafe had a friendly atmosphere and learning of different languages by a range of ages of people was going there. I feel people enrich their lives by learning and the cafe was a great place for it. I am thankful for this experience. Everyday was fantastic. I was eager to teach and build skills and eager to learn about Japan and people living there. I tried some new foods and brought back some foods and moments.
Volunteers in Japan will have the opportunity to work with children in a local kindergarten, junior high school, or after school program. Volunteer tasks include helping teach English and other subjects, organizing games and activities, as well as daily tasks like cooking and cleaning.
Available Dates: Quests start on a weekday year-round (except for Dec 15-Jan 15 every year)
Minimum Stay: 4 weeks
Requirements: At least 16 years old to travel alone, all ages welcome with an adult guardian.
Volunteers will have the chance to work with a local tea plantation, learning about the entire tea-making process, from farming and cultivating the tea leaves to processing and packaging.
Available Dates: Quests start on a weekday, year-round (except for Dec 15-Jan 15 every year)
Minimum Stay: 4 weeks
Requirements: At least 16 years old to travel alone, all ages welcome with an adult guardian.
Japan Country Coordinator: Naoko Jin. Naoko and her husband manage a cafe in Okazaki City that provides experience-based tour options for foreign tourists. They live in Okazaki City, located in the center of Japan about 2 hours from Tokyo.
As a United Planet volunteer in Japan, you will be based in Okazaki City. It is the birthplace of Shogun Ieyasu Tokugawa who established the peaceful Edo period, when Japan did not have wars for more than 250 years.
Volunteers will visit Okazaki Castle where the Shogun was born on December 26th, 1542. It is said that a golden dragon appeared from the castle’s well at the time of his birth, becoming well known as “the lucky dragon well”. The castle’s main prayer hall ceiling holds Japan’s largest wooden carved “Roaring Dragon”. Upon visiting the castle, volunteers can dress up in Samurai armor.
Volunteers will join a tea ceremony demonstration with seasonal confectionery at one of the oldest confectionery shops in Okazaki City. Woman dressed in kimono will demonstrate the tea ceremony and of course, volunteers can try on the authentic kimono. Volunteers can also enjoy calligraphy at the studio of Okazaki’s famous calligraphy artist. You can select your favorite Kanji and write on a Washi paper (Japanese paper).
Rent a bike: Okazaki City has many public parks that you can explore during an afternoon or morning bike ride.
Visit an art museum: Witness the incredible architecture of the Okazaki City Art Museum!
Explore local temples: Okazaki City is home to variety of temples, such as the zen temple of Tenonji and the pleasant Ryukai-in Temple.
Indulge and learn about the local cuisine: Visit the local Hatcho Miso Factory to learn about the fermented soya bean paste used in miso soup, one of Japanese cuisine’s mainstays. Take a free tour and enjoy a miso sweet at the end!
United Planet Volunteer shared with us her second experience volunteering.
“I previously went to Mexico for a conservation program for sea turtles and am now assisting the elderly in Japan. I was very pleased with the level of support both provided in both Quests. I became very immersed in both places, learned a lot of the languages and experienced the local culture and cuisine of both places which is what I wanted.”
Japan Quest is offered year-round, and all projects start on a weekday.
For the Japan Quest, volunteers can choose to volunteer from 4 weeks to 12 weeks.
The age requirement for the Japan Quest is 16. Volunteers under 16 can travel with an adult guardian.
There is no language requirement to volunteer in Japan. Volunteers receive 1 hour of Japanese lessons with the opportunity to add more.
We ask that volunteers enroll at least 60 days prior to their anticipated departure date. This gives us enough time to schedule volunteer placements, coordinate in-country activities, and provide sufficient pre-departure training.
United Planet Quests are designed to be immersive, authentic, comprehensive and provide you everything you’ll need to succeed. The program elements allow you to engage fully with a new culture, forge strong relationships, and challenge yourself. Most importantly, we partner with the community to ensure your experience will be important, relevant and helpful to the community you serve.
United Planet provides emergency travel and medical insurance for all volunteers. All staff members participate in extensive health and safety training, and are available at all times by 24-hour phone line. Upon enrollment, you will receive a full emergency contact list. In addition, we register all of our volunteers with US Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). We recommend booking a doctor’s appointment or visiting a travel health clinic a few months out to update your vaccinations. Read more about health and safety.
Due to varying airline prices, United Planet does not arrange or cover the cost of flights to and from Japan. Once you arrive in Japan, you will take a bus from the airport to Okazaki City, where the Japan team will welcome you and bring you to your host family. Public transportation to and from your project is cheap and easy with Okazaki City’s public transportation system or on foot. Daily commuting costs are covered by volunteers.
| 4 Weeks | 5 Weeks | 6 Weeks | 7 Weeks | 8 Weeks | 9 Weeks | 10 Weeks | 11 Weeks | 12 Weeks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $4,621 | $5,121 | $5,621 | $6,121 | $6,621 | $7,121 | $7,621 | $8,121 | $8,621 |
Your Quest Fee supports the resources and infrastructure needed to make your experience safe, meaningful, and impactful — for both you and the host community. As a nonprofit, every cost directly supports essential program elements, not extras.
This includes:
These components are carefully designed to ensure volunteers are prepared, supported, and able to contribute in a responsible and productive way.
We are a mission-driven organization, which means funds are used intentionally to create experiences that are valuable, ethical, and sustainable for everyone involved.
Payment Plan Details: A $300 deposit is required at enrollment to secure your program placement. After confirmation, you may pay the Quest Fee in full or through installments. The remaining balance is due 4 weeks before departure.
