Read FAQs about our programs in Japan.

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If you are under 18 and not accompanied by a guardian on this program, we require a written consent form from a legal guardian confirming that you are allowed to participate in the program and that the legal guardian assumes full responsibility for your actions.

You can travel to Kyoto independently and check into our sharehouse or move into your host family accommodation (can be booked as an extra) on a Friday.

If you need assistance, we can pick you up from Kansai (KIX) or Itami (ITM) Airport on a Friday if your scheduled arrival time is between 8 am and 6 pm. We will accompany you to our sharehouse by public transportation (tickets included). This service can be booked as an extra.

You book your flight to Japan (usually to Kansai Airport) independently.

Many nationalities can participate in this program visa-exempted for up to 90 days. The visa exemption (Temporary Visitor Status) is granted free of charge upon entry at the airport in Japan. Citizens of the UK, Ireland, Mexico, Liechtenstein, Germany, Austria and Switzerland can extend the temporary visitor status for another 90 days. For this, they need to visit a Regional Immigration Office before the first 90 days expire, which issues the extension on the same day. There is an official fee of 6000 JPY for the extension.

Citizens of the UAE are visa-exempted for 30 days.

If you have another visa (e.g., Working Holiday Visa), you can also participate in this program.

Sharehouse in Kyoto

Our sharehouse in Kyoto is located in the Fushimi district in the south of Kyoto. From there, also destinations in Osaka, which forms a metropolitan region with Kyoto, are easily accessible by metro.

The house is a former residence with a shop in a traditional residential area. It features three dormitory rooms for eight people each (with a visual partition in the rooms, making each room more like two four-person rooms, further we try to separate by gender; however, this is not always possible and cannot be guaranteed), three twin rooms, two kitchens, a living room, three showers, two toilets, a small "powder room," and a covered outdoor seating area. Luggage can be stored at no extra cost. You can rent a bicycle at a low cost, and a coin-operated washing machine is available. Wi-Fi is accessible throughout the house.

In the same building, on the ground floor in the former shop space, you will find our support office, where you can easily meet our team members on weekdays. A small supermarket is just a minute's walk away, and a convenience store with an ATM is three minutes away. Nearby, along the Uji River, there is a large park.

The Fushimi district is known for its sake breweries and various temples and shrines, which are popular tourist attractions.

Diploma in International Volunteering – Earn university credit while Volunteering

By participating in the online diploma course, you can be a volunteer in this program and at the same time earn university credit for your studies. The online course provides you with essential knowledge and skills that will benefit your academic and professional future.

The program includes five modules – three are completed before your placement, one during your participation, and one after your return. Each module is completed online, and you can set your own schedule, pace, and intensity, allowing you to learn completely flexibly.

• Focus: Marine Conservation
  Learn about marine ecosystems, work with local communities, and contribute to the protection of endangered marine species. This diploma is ideal if you're interested in marine biology, sustainable tourism, and/or environmental education.
  
  
• Focus: Wildlife Conservation
  Help protect wildlife and their habitats. Gain valuable experience working with conservation professionals and prepare for a career in wildlife management, ecotourism, or animal welfare.
  
  
• Focus: Global Citizenship
  Develop skills in intercultural communication and global engagement. This focus area addresses social, economic, and environmental issues and prepares you for a career in international development, education, and/or sustainability.

Read more about it!

Please let us know your desired focus in the comment box of your booking.

Read more about Child protection in volunteer assignments.