Education Volunteering in Japan

I did so much! From helping create a cafe to teaching English daily, there was never a dull moment. I loved the atmosphere, food, and most of all learning about the deep Japanese traditions in Otaki village.

I enjoyed some of the activites , but not others. The rivre walk and the walk to the koppies was 10/10. No intrenet was challenging , so 7/10. Jane , Precious , Patrick and Lucas were 10/10. I woul recommend this project to anyone who needs a detox from Social media.

New culture, new people, New Life. When we exchange our perspectives, ideas and plans to make a world better place for everyone. It's good to go different places it helps me view life in many directions

Hice 5 años en haiti, me se su idioma, se toda su cultura, me gustaría volver y apoyarlos en todas las dificultades que tienen, ya que ameritan mucha ayuda de todos nosotros, para ellos poder sobrevivir

My experience as a Spanish and English teacher on Peace Boat began two years ago, last August 2023. I think I'm not wrong if I say that it was one of the most enriching experiences of my life. Not only because of the opportunity to do one of the things I love the most: teaching languages while I “live” (in this case travel constantly) abroad, but also because of the people I met ON the ship: The large community that traveled together for more than three months, sharing the same places, food, and constant exchanges of thoughts and ideas made it a truly rewarding experience and fostered immeasurable personal growth. Regarding the language classes—Spanish and English—the participants always showed great willingness and interest in each class or workshop we often held on the ship. Both private and group classes were always well received and helped passengers apply the content they learned on their next stop in the country we would soon visit. Similarly, as is often the case when teaching a language, it's not all about the language, but also the culture. That's why the cultural exchange that took place in those nomadic classrooms that sailed the sea toward our next destination was magical and added that touch of color and curiosity that learning a new language always awakens within you. Of course, it's difficult to convey in a few lines what it's like to teach both languages in such unique circumstances, but it's definitely an experience I recommend to any lover of education, languages, and travel. In addition to all this, I'd like to highlight the great fortune of being on a team with wonderful colleagues, with whom I developed a very good relationship and were always helpful. And of course, two magnificent coordinators: Christopher Lindstrom and Risa Kuwabara, who guided and supported us months before our circumnavigation. Their support and prior experience were essential to making our experience so positive and unforgettable. Sincerely, Genoveva Tomás.

For 2 weeks, I volunteered in Otaki Village, a rural town hidden near Kiso-Fukushima in Nagano Prefecture. For the 2 weeks, I worked with the team, helping local students in Kiso learn English through conversation and cultural exchange. It was such a refreshing break from city life. There was no noise, no rush, just quiet mountains, fresh air, and time that moved a little slower. Outside of teaching, I got to explore beautiful temples and shrines, eat home-cooked Japanese meals, and even made a few local friends who showed me the ruralparts of Japan I never would’ve noticed. It was my first time in Japan, and I’m glad that I was able to experience such first with Otaki Village!! The local team was honestly one of the best parts of the experience. Everyone was kind, patient, and friendly. They allowed me to settle down in a foreign place quickly and made me geel safe. Our accommodation was a small, traditional inn with tatami floors and futons, which took a bit of getting used to, but ended up feeling like home. It felt like I was truly experiencing the Japanese culture. Meals were cooked by the chef of the inn and were always something to look forward to. They were simple, fresh, and delicious. I feel as if focusing more on the “meeting with local students” would’ve made me enjoy the volunteer even further. As a highschooler, it was very cool for me to get to meet highschoolers in a different country. Getting to know them was one of my favorite experiences throughout the volunteer!

Involvement Volunteers International responded to this reviewAugust 25, 2025

It makes us smile to know you enjoyed the project, the people, and the little details that make the experience special. Thanks for being part of it!

The Peace Boat experience is highly recommended. You’ll have the opportunity to contribute to international dialogue, promote peace, and meet people from all over the world. The GET program is a wonderful experience that will leave a lasting memory on you. Don’t wait any longer—send in your application! The selection process is challenging, and the team you’ll be working with is highly specialized. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re motivated and resourceful, you have a good chance of being a suitable candidate.

As a volunteer language teacher on Peace Boat, you will be part of a team that is not only dedicated to their students but to all passengers and volunteers on board. You will experience and learn about many different cultures on and off the boat while you make your way around the globe. There are passengers from around Asia, volunteer teachers, translators and crew from everywhere and guest speakers from the countries you will visit. It is an amazing way to learn about the world.

I would really like to volunteer. I am passionate about charity and showing kindness to the world. Please, give me a chance. Kindly provide Certificate of sponsorship too since I'm not able to provide for myself at the moment. Kindly put my request into consideration.

I volunteered twice as an Advanced English language teacher after securing a TESOL certificate and gaining 18 months of teaching experience overseas. I joined 9 other teachers of both English and Spanish and embarked from Japan to Japan around the entire world! While the majority of the experience happens on board the ship with teaching and learning from educators and professionals around the world, I got to deep dive into Japanese culture and then every 5 days or so, I would wake up to a new port of call in Africa, South America, Europe or North America with the occasional exotic isle like Tahiti or Easter Island. There really was never a dull moment on board with both my volunteer work duties and twelve events every hour on the hour and lots of live music and fun mixer type events.

This an increasingly popular way for individuals to make a meaningful impact in communities around the world. With numerous organizations offering volunteer programs, it's essential to review and research these opportunities to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. *Pros:* 1. *Cultural Immersion*: Living and working with local communities provides an immersive cultural experience. 2. *Skill Development*: Volunteers can develop new skills and gain experience in areas such as teaching, conservation, and community development. 3. *Networking Opportunities*: Volunteers can connect with like-minded individuals from around the world. 4. *Personal Growth*: Volunteering abroad can be a transformative experience, fostering personal growth and self-awareness. *Cons:* 1. *Cost*: Many volunteer programs come with a hefty price tag, which can be a barrier for some. 2. *Safety Concerns*: Volunteers may face safety risks, such as health concerns or political instability, depending on the destination. 3. *Cultural Differences*: Adapting to local customs and way of life can be challenging for some volunteers. 4. *Quality of Programs*: Some volunteer programs may lack structure, support, or meaningful work, leading to a disappointing experience. *Recommendations:* 1. *Research Thoroughly*: Investigate the organization, program, and destination to ensure a safe and rewarding experience. 2. *Read Reviews*: Look for reviews from past volunteers to gain insight into the program's quality and challenges. 3. *Choose a Reputable Organization*: Select an organization with a proven track record, transparent policies, and adequate support for volunteers. 4. *Prepare Yourself*: Culturally, emotionally, and physically prepare yourself for the experience to ensure a smooth transition. By being aware of the pros and cons, doing thorough research, and choosing a reputable organization, volunteers can have a safe, rewarding, and life-changing experience abroad.

As a Social worker i often meet with clients to assess their needs, provide counseling, and develop individualized plans to address their challenges. This could involve sessions with individuals, families, or groups.

I got to meet many different people from different parts of the world. I learned the Japanese culture that is a big part of my own heritage. I also taught english and where I am from to the villagers.

This was absolutely the best internship I could have dreamt of! Robert made this journey unforgettable and offered me the best internship in a local IT company. I had a very intense two months that exposed me to so much learning and coding with Phyton, C++ and Java. THANK YOU for the great work you did!!!

Just finished my 6-Month internship in Tokyo and it was simply amazing. Great people, great food and the lifestyle is a rollercoaster of fun, excitement and adrenaline all the time. They say Tokyo never sleeps and I can approve that 100%! Meiji did a great job in placing me at a great IT startup that helped me developing their European business branch from zero. At the beginning I was like, "Hold on, you want what?" and then I ended up bringing in the first clients after 4 months which sounds like a long time but considering the whole marketing campaign I made together with their designer team it was actually quick. The highlight of my internship was the trading convention the boss took me together to Okinawa, which I will never forget. Now looking back after this great time it is time to get back to my business degree as these people decided to hire me after my studies are done! I can't thank everybody more than enough and I recommend anybody to consider the Meiji experience as it changed my life! Literally!!! I should mention with a grain of salt that we had in the same host company at least 4 other Meiji interns at my time and two of them didn't work well with the working culture and stress in Japan... so before you choose to come to Japan I do recommend to know what you want as Tokyo can become sometimes quite extreme. For me I loved every second and would do it anytime again! Arigatou to Yanagida-shacho for your kind and strict guidance throughout my journey. Can't wait to be back!

I don't know where to start but this IT internship for the past three months was a game-changer for me! I have made so many contacts, developed my Java Script and C++ coding skills to the next level while networking with the local entrepreneurial crowd filled with international IT geeks, locals business man and even a few angel investors, Fukuoka just blew my mind! The best thing about Meiji was how much of a grip and connection they have in Kyushu and really know the whole local companies pretty much. I have hung out with the staff and fellow interns for a couple of dinners and food gatherings and I cannot intensify how much it is important to get out of your comfort zone.

Ever been to a place so amazing you don’t want people to know about it? That’s Fukuoka for me! Before doing this internship I had no idea the place even existed. To be honest I had my eyes set on Tokyo and I was a little worried Fukuoka wouldn't match the hype, but boy was I in for a shock. The place is just… amazing. The people are great, the food is amazing, the city has everything you need, like to the extent I was seriously considering leaving Canada behind forever. I know I sound like one of those corny travel bloggers, but Fukuoka is a real hidden gem. Shout out to Meiji for introducing this place to me because I definitely would’ve never came here otherwise. In addition to being a place of dreams, the internship I did was pretty good too. I will admit sometimes it felt like I had a little too much work, but I guess that’s down to my laziness because an internship should be about work. I definitely still had a lot of time to explore Japan though so I really shouldn't complain. The accommodation was perfect too, something about it felt so wholesome, it was so “natsukashii”. If you’re considering Fukuoka for an internship, all I can say is do it, and just be aware I’m jealous of you because I’d love to do it all again.

I probably had one of the best experiences of my life in Natuwa for a month, feeding the many animals that live there, taking care of them, discovering a different way of life than mine, more minimalist and peaceful. Rodolfo is an extremely understanding man who cares about the well-being of his voluntarios. We had the chance to do several extra activities outside the centre, such as snorkeling near to Isla Tortuga, or swimming at night with bioluminescent planktons, which were dazzling. The workteam is really friendly and allows you to feel integrated quickly and easily. However, you have to expect to work hard sometimes, for example planting trees, doing work to maintain the infrastructure, but this is only a part of the day. outside the centre

I am studying Japanese at uni and learning the Japanese sign language. I have always wanted to live in Japan because I love their culture and how respectful people are. As I am interested in the Japanese sign language as well, I asked Meiji Internships if it would be possible to find my internship in this field, and they found it! I am really thankful for this opportunity. It was an NGO helping children with different types of deafness. I helped organise a fundraising event, went to hospitals to entertain children and many other activities. The children were really cute and they seemed so happy to meet me! It was the best social experience I had in my life, thank you so much for this opportunity.

Tokyo was amazing! My brother did an internship in China, but I wanted to have a different experience, and I had a better feeling with Japan. Even though I don't speak Japanese (or only some basic words), it was not a problem in Tokyo and the company I interned with. My mother was a bit worried because it was my first time going abroad alone, but I really wanted to intern in Asia because the culture is so different and fascinating. It was a good idea to trust Meiji Internship because they helped me with the accommodation, the sim card and so on. They also sent me a newsletter with a list of events, it was really nice. I gained experience and also independence thanks to this internship... amazing!