Volunteer in Japan
There are many ways to volunteer in Japan, whether in your communities or helping with disaster relief. If you are looking for something close to where you live, we recommend you first contact your local AJET chapter and JETs. Second, internet searches are amazing, but there are few sites in English. Grab a friend who can read Japanese or check with your supervisor or coworkers for help. The following are some of the domestic and international volunteer opportunities available. If you would like more information or know of an organization that can be added to this page, please email the Director of Volunteering.
Nationwide
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| To Be One in a Million | Help translate Satomi Urano’s book “To be one in a million” (100万人にひとりの病気になって). Contact Nami Sasaki for more info. | Email Google Doc Amazon book description | 日本語, English |
| For Empowering Women (FEW) | For Empowering Women (FEW) in Japan has a great English directory of places to volunteer. | PDF about FEW | English |
| Foreign Volunteers Japan | Foreign Volunteers Japan is an English resource with volunteer advice and information for Tohoku disaster relief work. | Website | English |
| United Sports Foundation | Aims to use the power of sport to contribute to development of the public's mental and physical health. Runs camps for students. Requires volunteer leaders! | Website | 日本語, English |
| Ashinaga | Ashinaga provides educational and emotional support for orphaned students worldwide. Get involved in a variety of ways all around Japan. | Website | English |
| International Disaster Relief Organization Japan (IDRO) | IDRO aims to provide disaster relief to those affected by natural disasters. | Website | 日本語, English |
| Mirai No Mori | Empowering Mirai no Mori is a not-for-profit organization that creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected, and orphaned youths in Japan. | Website | English |
| Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center (PBV) | Following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami 2011, NGO Peace Boat established the Peace Boat Disaster Relief Volunteer Center (PBV), a specialist organization to focus on:
| Email Website | 日本語, English |
Block 1 – Hokkaido, Aomori, Akita, and Iwate
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hokkaido International Federation | A non-profit organization that promotes international understanding and contributes to the advancement of world peace through Japanese language study programs and cross-cultural activities in Hokkaido | Website | Hokkaido | 日本語, English (but links are Japanese only) |
| NPO Hokkaido | Prefectural call for volunteers | Website | Hokkaido | 日本語 |
| National Land Afforestation Promotion Organization | Environmental work. This website lists many environmentally focused volunteer organizations for many prefectures. | Tel: (011) 261-9022 Website 1 Website 2 | Hokkaido | 日本語, English |
| Artepia | Volunteer work that focuses on the preservation of the fine arts in Hokkaido | Tel: (011) 644-4025 Website | Hokkaido | 日本語 |
| Tetote | Volunteering for the handicapped. | Tel: (011) 818-0801 Website | Hokkaido | 日本語, English, Français |
| Moriasobi | An organization focused on protecting the forests in Hokkaido by holding events for children, students, and the elderly. | Tel: (011) 592-1030 Website Blog | Hokkaido | 日本語 |
| Aomori Prefecture page | General listing of volunteering opportunities | Tel: (017) 734-9207 Website | Aomori | 日本語 |
| Let’s Raise Vegetables and Flowers for Akita! | Replanting vegetables and flowers in Akita prefecture. | Email Website | Akita | 日本語 |
| Volunteer Akita | Updates on volunteer work done in Akita. | Email Website | Akita | 日本語 |
| Kizuna Baby (Morioka) | Get trained to visit and massage babies and toddlers in orphanages | Complete this application Website | Iwate | English |
| Volunteer Akita’s Rikuzentakata Carnival Event | Help plan and run the Carnival event scheduled for August 31, 2013. | Email Website | Iwate | English |
| NGOJEN | Preparing meals for those in need in Iwate Prefecture. Help clean mud and debris from the tsunami. | Email Website Blog | Iwate | 日本語, English, Français |
| Iwate prefecture website | A general listing of volunteer opportunities in Iwate | Website | Iwate | 日本語 |
| Iwate Social Welfare office | Social welfare volunteer centers | Website | Iwate | 日本語 |
| Volunteer Information | A compilation of volunteer work focusing on tsunami relief | Website | Iwate | 日本語 |
Block 2 – Yamagata, Miyagi, Niigata, and Fukushima
| Organization | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Volunteer center of Yamagata (IVY) | Nursery schools that continued their services after the tsunami disaster.NPOs that strive to establish startups in the areas. | Tel: (023) 634-9830 Website | Yamagata | English, 日本語, 中文, 한국어 |
| Japan Civil Network | JCN is a broad coalition of Japanese NPOs, NGOs, CBOs and private enterprises providing disaster relief. | Website | Yamagata | English, 日本語 |
| Association for International Relations in Yamagata | At this association, we facilitate cooperation among volunteers, private international exchange organizations, municipalities and the prefecture. | Tel: (023) 647-2560 Website | Yamagata | English, 日本語, 中文, 한국어 |
| Yamagata NPO and Volunteer Information | This is a Japanese website that catalogs volunteer organizations in Yamagata and has a great event calendar. | Tel: (023) 630-2122 Website | Yamagata | 日本語 |
| Yamagata City Community Activity Support Center | Community activities in Yamagata city. | Tel: (023) 647-2260 Website | Yamagata | 日本語 |
| Yamagata Volunteer Center | Volunteer activities listings | Tel: (023) 674-7312 Website | Yamagata | 日本語 |
| Volunteer Bus | Clean up of Miyagi Prefecture from the Tohoku earthquake | Tel: (043) 483-5551 Website | Miyagi | 日本語 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Build houses and community centers, clean tsunami debris | Tel: (03) 6459-2070 Website | Miyagi | English, 日本語 |
| It’s Not Just Mud (INJM) | INJM are a non-profit volunteer organisation speclaising in disaster relief and grass-roots support and rehabilitation of disaster areas. | Website | Miyagi | English |
| Be One Tohoku Aid | Activities range from manual labor to helping at community events | Tel: (080) 4491-1721 Website | Miyagi | English, 日本語 |
| Oxfam Japan | The volunteer group aims to create awareness within Japan about the issues Oxfam deals with, and raises funds to support Oxfam’s work. | Website | Miyagi | English |
| Save Minamisoma Project | Take food and drinking water to those living in temporary housing | Website | Miyagi | English |
| The Association for the Revitalization of Ishinomakii (ARI) | An English resource for the work in Ishinomaki | Miyagi | English | |
| O.G.A. for Aid (OGA) | OGA for Aid specializes in recovery projects that focus on economic, social and community revitalization. Their role is as facilitators in building long-term ties between beneficiaries and business and/or educational entities. | Website | Miyagi | English, 日本語, Spanish |
| Animal Friends Niigata (AFN) | Volunteer at the shelter, foster a cat or dog, or send donations or supplies. | Tel: (090) 4624-3301 Website | Niigata | 日本語, English |
| NGOJEN | Help with data input and sending important letters and packages. | Email Website | Niigata | English, 日本語, Français |
| Ojiya Genki Project (OGP) | Restoring the plant-life in Niigata prefecture. | Tel: (0258) 82-2650 Website | Niigata | 日本語 |
| Niigata International Volunteer Center (NVC) | NVC is an NPO aiming to contribute to international cooperation, global understanding, and human resources development in local areas. | Tel: (025) 378-5374 Website | Niigata | 日本語, English |
| Niigata International Association (NIA) | NIA aims to create a regional society in Niigata Prefecture that all residents can feel good about, and to strive towards forming relationships of mutual trust between Japanese citizens, foreign residents, and visitors from abroad. | Tel: (025) 290-5650 Website | Niigata | 日本語 |
| Japan Cat Network | Find temporary housing for pets displaced by the disasters, have shelters to care for those animals | Website | Fukushima | 日本語, English |
| Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation | JANIC is a non-profit, non-partisan networking NGO founded in 1987 to better coordinate activities in Japanese society and facilitate communication with groups overseas. | Tel: (03) 5292-2911 Website | Fukushima | English, 日本語 |
| Foreign Volunteer Center in Fukushima | Volunteering in Fukushima for those affected by the earthquake and tsunami. | Tel: (024) 522-6540 Website Website | Fukushima | English, 日本語 |
| SORA Animal Shelter | An animal shelter for animals who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami. | Tel: (090) 5185-0088 Website | Fukushima | 日本語 |
| Rescue Japanese Animal Victims (RJAV) | Animal shelter in Fukushima | Tel: (070) 6556-5611 Website | Fukushima | English, 日本語 |
| LYSTA | A small animal rescue that solely takes in animals from the Fukushima exclusion zone and also helps do regular feedings for the animals still living there. They are in need of volunteers, donations, foster homes, and dog walkers | Tel: (080) 5732-0377 Website Website | Fukushima | 日本語 |
| Fukushima NPOs PDF | A HUGE listing of volunteer and NPOs in Fukushima. | Fukushima | 日本語 |
Block 3 – Gunma, Ibaraki, Nagano, Saitama, and Tochigi
| Organization | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JOMO JET | Volunteering for cultural exchange events planned and carried out by JETs such as board game nights, craft workshops, and foster home visits. | Email Website | Gunma | English |
| Gunma AJET | Event volunteering opportunities, silent auction event for Tohoku children. | Website | Gunma | English |
| Gunma Disaster Volunteer | Disaster relief volunteer work | Tel: (027) 226-2293 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| Red Cross Gunma | Red Cross related volunteer opportunities | Tel: (027) 254-3636 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| Tenno Gawa (The Milky Way) | Volunteer helpers for the elderly | Tel: (027) 235-0021 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| Gunma Association of Tourism, Local Products & International Exchange, International Relations | Translation/Interpretation, overseas life and culture introduction, event volunteer opportunities. | Tel: (027) 243-7271 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| Gunma Prefectural Library | Shelving, repairs, organization, and event volunteer opportunities. | Tel: (027) 231-3008 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| Gunma Prefectural Museum of Literature in Commemoration of Bunmei-Tsuchiya | Various roles in and around the museum | Tel: (027) 373-7721 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| Kannon Yama Family Park | Volunteer opportunities for various events at a prefectural park. | Tel: (027) 328-8389 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| Gunma Children’s Medical Center | Play with children as they wait for their doctor’s appointments every 2nd and 4th Friday. | Tel: (0279) 52-3551 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| Gunma Society for the Welfare of People with Visual Disabilities | Donate postcards that are unused or unsent because of mistakes. | Tel: (027) 255-6677 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| NPO Volunteer no Hiroba | Information on various volunteering opportunities in the prefecture. | Tel: (027) 226-2293 Website | Gunma | 日本語 |
| Furuse Organization | Protect the plants and culture in Ibaraki. | Website | Ibaraki | 日本語 |
| Tsukuba Environmental Forum | Volunteer work in the local forests (cleaning, tree planting, etc). | Website Event calendar | Ibaraki | 日本語 |
| Yamizo Forest | Local forest cleaning, tree planting, etc. Also woodworking volunteer classes. | Tel: (029) 225-0070 Website | Ibaraki | 日本語 |
| Ibaraki Green | General listing of various volunteer and NPO organizations. | Website | Ibaraki | 日本語 |
| Ibaraki Library Volunteer Work | Shelving, repairing, and organizing books. Reading to children, the elderly, and the visually impaired. | Website | Ibaraki | 日本語 |
| Wakamono Volunteering | Volunteering activities for the youngsters in Ibaraki. | Tel: (029) 226-1388 Website | Ibaraki | 日本語 |
| Sui Subatake | Volunteer work with and raise money for the handicapped | Tel: (048) 291-5047 Website | Saitama | 日本語 |
| SANE | Helping children in Ecuador | Tel: (042) 973-0781 Website | Saitama | 日本語 |
| Green Cross Japan | Volunteer work for the environment around the world | Tel: (048) 874-9099 Website | Saitama | 日本語 |
| Catholic Diocese of Saitama | Disaster relief | Email Website | Saitama | English, 日本語 |
| City of Asaka Volunteer Activity | Please inquire about future volunteer opportunities | Tel: (048) 486-2485 Website | Saitama | English, 日本語, 中文, 한국어, Português |
| Fukushi (Fuku City) Volunteer | Please check the website for up-to-date volunteer opportunities | Tel: (048) 822-1435 Website | Saitama | 日本語 |
| Saitama Volunteer City | Volunteer opportunities | Email Website | Saitama | 日本語 |
| Tochigi NPO Volunteer Network | Listing of NPOs in Tochigi | Tel: (028) 623-3455 Website | Tochigi | 日本語 |
| Tochigi Volunteer Network | Listing of volunteer activities in Tochigi | Website | Tochigi | 日本語 |
| Tochigi Red Cross | Red Cross volunteering opportunities | Website | Tochigi | 日本語 |
| Tochigi Disaster Volunteer Work | Disaster relief information. | Tel: (028) 622-0524 Website Blog | Tochigi | 日本語 |
| Tochigi Prefecture Government | Tochigi Prefecture listing of volunteer groups | Tel: (028) 623-3422 Website | Tochigi | 日本語 |
| Asian Rural Institute | The Asian Rural Institute endeavors to train rural leaders in the value of the interdependence between life and the food that sustains us all. | Website | Tochigi | 日本語 |
Block 4 – Chiba, Kanagawa, Tokyo, Shizuoka, and Yamanashi
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inage Foyer | Assisting those who have dementia or Alzheimer’s | Website | Chiba | 日本語 |
| Environmental Busters | Helping to protect the ocean and rivers. | Website | Chiba | 日本語 |
| GUC・ピアチェーレ | This group is dedicated to introduction people and organizations to environmentally friendly products, machinery, and tools. | Website | Chiba | 日本語 |
| Kizuna Baby (Yokohama) | Get trained to visit and massage babies and toddlers in orphanages | Complete this application Website | Kanagawa | English |
| Association for Assisting Refugees in Kanagawa | Helping refugees who live in Kanagawa | Tel: (046) 268-2655 Website | Kanagawa | English, 日本語 |
| Karabao Association | Helping blue-collar foreigners in Japan | Tel: (045) 662-5699 Website | Kanagawa | 日本語, English |
| AIDS Network Yokohama | Helping those who have AIDS | Tel: (045) 201-8808 Email Website | Kanagawa | 日本語 |
| Japan Blind Marathon Association | This association is dedicated to helping those who are blind get active via sports. And they have a yearly marathon to raise money. | Email Website | Kanagawa | 日本語 |
| Group Tomo | A group home for the elderly. | Tel: (O44) 953－8656 Website | Kanagawa | 日本語 |
| Walkers Collective | Assisting those who have physical disabilities. | Tel: (046) 224-7121 Email Website | Kanagawa | 日本語 |
| Second Harvest Japan | Provide food to those who need it, based in Tokyo. | Website | Tokyo | English, 日本語 |
| NGOJEN | Help with data input and sending important letters and packages. | Email Website | Tokyo | English, 日本語, Français |
| Kizuna Baby (Tokyo) | Get trained to visit and massage babies and toddlers in orphanages | Complete this application Website | Tokyo | English |
| TELL (Tokyo English Life Line) | Based in Tokyo but some long distance opportunities are available. An English referral and listening hotline for those living in Japan. | Website | Tokyo | English |
| Bridge Asia Japan | They carry out developmental assistance activities together with people and communities in Myanmar and Vietnam. | Tel: (3) 3372-9777 Website | Tokyo | English, 日本語 |
| Living Dreams | Focused on enriching children’s lives through technology-based learning. Currently developing a 1 to 1 laptop/tablet program, mainly in Tohoku & Tokyo. | Email Website | Tokyo | English, 日本語 |
| Hands on Tokyo | Hands on Tokyo is an NPO focused on finding work for volunteers in a variety of roles around Tokyo. | Website | Tokyo | English |
| Japan NGO Centre for International Cooperation (JANIC) | This NGO works to facilitate volunteer and fundraising opportunities with overseas networks. | Website | Tokyo | 日本語 |
| Live with Friends on the Earth (LIFE) | The mission of this NPO is to create a peaceful society and a balanced natural environment. They specialise in providing water, protecting forests and environmental training. Volunteer at an event or in the office. | Website | Tokyo | 日本語 |
| Refugees International Japan | RIJ are looking for volunteers with professional skills such as PR, Marketing and web design to help provide opportunities for refugees. | Website | Tokyo | 日本語 |
Block 5 – Aichi, Gifu, Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fukui AJET | Monthly Smile Kids visits to two orphanages, annual JET charity auction, annual talent show fundraiser | Email Website | Fukui | English |
| Indonesian Education Promoting Foundation | They aim to send school supplies to needy children in Indonesia. | Email Website | Toyama | 日本語, some English |
| Asoaso Nature School | They are dedicated to giving elementary and younger children a chance to experience nature and all that it has to offer. | Email Website | Toyama | 日本語 |
| Suzuran Group | They help people who are afflicted with various blood diseases like leukemia, anemia, etc. | Tel: (076) 451-5322 Website | Toyama | 日本語 |
| Mitsuboshi Mountaineering Club | They help the disabled enjoy nature and the surrounding mountains by going on hikes. | Tel: (076) 423-3448 Website | Toyama | 日本語 |
Block 6 – Hyogo, Kyoto, and Shiga
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kizuna Baby (Kobe) | Get trained to visit and massage babies and toddlers in orphanages | Complete this application Website | Hyogo | English |
| Japan Cat Network | Find temporary housing for pets displaced by the disasters, have shelters to care for those animals | Website Facebook 1 Facebook 2 | Shiga | 日本語, English |
| Food Bank Kansai | Volunteer in a variety of roles including food delivery, management, or office administrator. | Website | Hyogo | 日本語 |
Block 7 – Mie, Nara, Osaka, and Wakayama
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nara AJET | Bimonthly Smile Kids visits, an annual study abroad scholarship for junior high and high school students, and an annual bunkasai fundraiser. | Nara | English | |
| Nara Prefecture Council of Social Welfare | Volunteer events and resources | Website | Nara | 日本語 |
| Animal Refuge Kansai (ARK) | Help care for animals at the rescue center. | Website Blog | Osaka | English |
| Be One Tohoku Aid | Help with relief work from the 2011 typhoon | Website | Wakayama | English, 日本語 |
Block 8 – Ehime, Kagawa, Kochi, and Tokushima
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HEART Tokushima | An animal adoption and rescue shelter where you can help with dog walking, socializing with the animals, grooming, general cleaning and fund-raising events. | Tel: (080) 3927-0660 Website | Tokushima | English, 日本語 |
| Japan Earthquake Animal Rescue and Support (JEARS) | JEARs works to support the network of shelters for animals affected by earthquakes. | Tokushima | 日本語 |
Block 9 – Hiroshima, Okayama, Shimane, Tottori, and Yamaguchi
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hiroshima AJET | Monthly orphanage visits. Annual Arts Festival featuring the work of JETs, such as photographs, paintings, music, and clothing design, to benefit Tohoku relief efforts. Annual “Let’s Film Festival” in Onomichi featuring films and commercials created by JETs and community members to benefit Doctors without Borders. | Email | Hiroshima | English |
| Shimane AJET | Annual JET/Japanese mixer fund-raising events, skills auction, annual study abroad scholarship open to junior high and high school students | Email Website | Shimane | English |
| Hiroshima Scholarship Fund | Aims to provide a ¥250,000 scholarship to one student of a Hiroshima Prefectural school enabling them to study abroad. | Website | Hiroshima | English |
Block 10 – Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Oita, and Saga
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oita AJET | Annual Charity Bike Ride, annual Christmas orphanage party | Email | Oita | English |
| Kizuna Baby (Beppu) | Get trained to visit and massage babies and toddlers in orphanages | Complete this application Website | Oita | English |
| Oita Volunteer and Civil Activities Center | Volunteer resources | Tel: (097) 558-3373 Website | Oita | 日本語 |
| Circle Time | Stories and crafts in English with local children held approximately six times per year. | Saga | English | |
| Saga Christmas Charity Party | A fundraising party organized by volunteers in Saga. The party features live entertainment, free food for all guests (prepared by volunteers), a cash bar, and games and activities for children. | Email | Saga | English |
Block 11 – Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Okinawa
| Organisation | Description | Contact Info | Prefecture | Language |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kumamoto Prefectural Council of Social Welfare | Volunteer resources | Website | Kumamoto | 日本語 |
| Kagoshima City Council of Social Welfare | Volunteer resources | Tel: (099) 221-6070 Website | Kagoshima | 日本語 |
| Okinawa Hai | Volunteer resources | Website | Okinawa | English |
| American Red Cross Okinawa | There are many opportunities available for volunteers to gain work experience, everything from administrative and personnel management to assisting medical personnel and teaching. | Website | Okinawa | English |