Our volunteer programme

Live the rhythm of a Japanese bay town while contributing meaningfully. Join a multigenerational oyster-farming family and a small local network to support seasonal farm, kitchen, garden, and community tasks. Expect early, beautiful mornings, fresh seafood days, and plenty of time to learn, explore, and recharge.

Contact us

Who’s it for

  • Curious travelers who value culture, nature, and everyday life over sightseeing checklists

  • Students, gap-year participants, creatives, and remote workers seeking purposeful time in Japan

  • Small groups (2–6) who want English support with local coordination

  • Anyone comfortable with light chores and a flexible, community-led pace

What you’ll do

  • A man wearing a hat and gloves, sitting on a dock, holding freshly harvested oysters in each hand, with a fishing cage filled with oysters in front of him, and boats on the water and mountains in the background.

    Work

    Depending on the time of year you’ll be helping with:

    - Oyster farming, cockle farming, rice farming, orchard farming or dairy farming - working with local communities and learning traditional techniques.

    - Beach cleaning and household chores (cleaning, weeding)

    - English classes, external kimono marketing, light marketing tasks (Airbnb, tours, local tourism)

  • Someone practicing Japanese calligraphy, writing black ink characters on white paper with a brush.

    Activities

    Meet local artisans and learn new skills, including:

    Incense making, Ikebana lessons, Katana workshops, Sake tour & tasting, Silk processing, Lantern making and Calligraphy workshops

  • A row of traditional wooden houses by calm water with green hills and a cloudy sky in the background.

    Day Trips

    The areas around Kumihama have a wealth of culture and beautiful landscapes, which you’ll be driven to and shown by your host.

    - Izushi (theatre, castle, temples, soba noodles)

    - Kinosaki (onsen, yukata, shopping, food, aquarium)

    - Tottori (sand dunes, sand museum, coastal walk)

    - Amanohashidate / Ine (viewpoint chairlift, boat trip, fishing village walk)

  • A sandy beach with two people standing near the water, one holding an umbrella. The ocean extends to the horizon with a mountain range in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

    Free Time

    You’ll have your own time to relax and enjoy the local area:

    - We’re just a 5 minute from beautiful sandy beaches

    - Cycle around the bay

    - Visit Kumihama’s temples

    - Sora ice cream & café

    - Hike Kabuto Mountain

    - Visit Inaba Honke, a traditional house in Kumihama

Example 10 Day Experience

  • Arrival & welcome walk; settle into guesthouse

  • Morning chores (oyster/cockle farm); afternoon calligraphy session

  • Half-day rice or dairy farm; afternoon local temple stroll & café

  • Day trip: Izushi (theatre/castle/temples, soba) (dinner out not included)

  • Cycling loop around the bay; evening English classes

  • Free day (beach, Kabuto Mountain, and café time)

  • Morning tasks; Incense or ikebana workshop

  • Light orchard/household chores; lantern or silk workshop

  • Day Trip: Kinosaki (onsen, yukata, shopping, food, aquarium)

  • Farewell lunch & reflection; station drop-off

Based on 1 free day + 2 day trips; the exact plan adapts to season and group interests.

Includes: accommodation (10 nights), meals, curated activities, translation support, local transfers & small entry fees.

Price upon enquiry

Enquire now

Example 30 Day Experience

    • Neighborhood walks, welcome dinner, basic Japanese phrases

    • First chores rotation (oyster/cockle/rice/dairy as available)

    • One local craft workshop (e.g., incense or ikebana)

    • Cooking with locals, calligraphy/art, cycling routes

    • Day trip #1 (e.g., Izushi)

    • Join a small community project (farm/orchard/marketing/English exchange)

    • Day trips #2–#3 (choose from Kinosaki, Tottori, Amanohashidate/Ine)

    • Final workshops (silk, lanterns, sake tour & tasting)

    • Day trip #4

    • Create a “local story” to share at a farewell gathering

Includes: accommodation (30 nights), meals, 4–6 workshops/collaborations, weekly English support, bicycle/essential materials, local participation fees

Price upon enquiry

Enquire now
Kumihama, Japan during sunset with mountains in the background, a cloudy sky, and a dock extending into the water on the right side.

Where you’ll stay

Kumihama Bay sits where mountains meet the Sea of Japan—quiet, blue, and beautifully local. Fishing boats drift past pine-lined shores, rice fields terrace the hills, and small shrines watch over the water. It’s authentic coastal Kyoto: slow mornings, fresh seafood, and warm community life.

Our traditional tatami rooms in our two-storey guesthouse, backing onto the calm waters of Kumihama Bay.

Learn more

Your Host: Atsushi

I’m a third-generation oyster farmer from Kumihama. Today, I live here with my family, continuing a tradition of coastal craftsmanship and heartfelt hospitality. For over 50 years, our family has operated a seaside guest house, welcoming travellers, students, and culture-seekers who want to experience Japan beyond the guidebooks. Since 2016, we’ve hosted more than 300 Airbnb families and 200 volunteers from around the world.

Atsushi in a blue apron on a floating bamboo dock by the water, handling marine equipment and ropes, with an overcast sky and distant land in the background.
Learn more