Home stay in Japan with WWOOF

January 14, 2008 on 10:30 pm | In Travel, Working in Japan | | Email This Post

Someone asked me recently about possible ways to arrange for a home stay in Japan.

Other than the usual study abroad program via a university, or the YFU program (this is how I first came to Japan when I was in high school), the first thing that came to mind was WWOOF Japan (Willing Workers On Organic Farms Japan).

I have never done WWOOF myself, but have met someone who has. Basically you sign up for the program and start looking for potential hosts. Once you have found a host you are interested in, WWOOF helps arrange your visit, and you live with the family while helping them work on their “farm”. The farm work could include anything from actually planting or harvesting crops, to working on a ski resort.  I think WWOOF would be a great way to experience the “real” Japan outside of the major cities.

Does anyone else know of other ways to hook up a home stay  in Japan?

Your advice is appreciated!

- Harvey

Related Posts... (in theory)   Homestay in Japan with Volunteers for Peace    JET ALT/CIR Interview - Part 3    Poopie Swap  

Click here to Stumble Upon it!

8 Comments »

RSS feed for comments on this post.

  1. Gravatar

    COUCHSURFING.COM!!!

    Comment by Kitty — January 15, 2008 #

  2. Gravatar

    I was mildly interested to join years ago, but as my country is not in approved list, there goes my hope.

    Comment by lina — January 15, 2008 #

  3. Gravatar

    I had a friend who went the WWOOF route and found the experience very educational and rewarding, but you really need to speak at least some Japanese to cope (or be with someone who can help you).

    There are some (English language) Japan boards where people ask and offer homestays on various sites. If you can link up with someone who wants to stay in your area, a complete exchange may be possible (they stay with you then you stay with them). A google search turns some of the more recent ones up.

    Comment by Shari — January 16, 2008 #

  4. Gravatar

    Thanks for the info everyone!

    lina! I hope that doesn’t end your Japan quest. Never give up!

    Kitty! I did think about mentioning couchsurfing.conm, but I think if you tried to stay at someones house for six months to a year on that program, you would be more like a “couch squatter”!

    Comment by harvey — January 17, 2008 #

  5. Gravatar

    too bad my coutry isn’t on the YFU list -_-

    Might try out the WWOOF program when my japanese improves

    Comment by Jamaipanese — January 17, 2008 #

  6. Gravatar

    “Might try out the WWOOF program when my japanese improves” - Your Japanese will improve faster if you just go and do it! If improving Japanese is the goal, dive right in. You’ll learn tons faster once you can’t survive without it.

    Comment by Harvey — January 17, 2008 #

  7. Gravatar

    There’s an article on Vagabondish which may add to one’s options in this regard. It can be accessed here. 8 tools to help you travel forever and live rent-free

    Comment by Shari — January 18, 2008 #

  8. Gravatar

    Yeah Harvey - 6 months might be pushing the couchsurfing thing. But it’s a great place to start. Funny - I keep meeting people I know who are signed up for it. Of course most are in their early 20s and travel with a backpack and not 3 pieces of luggage and a laptop like me!

    Comment by Kitty — January 18, 2008 #

Leave a comment

XHTML: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <code> <em> <i> <strike> <strong>

Study Japanese with help from J-List!
Study Japanese with help from J-List!

Mortgage - Loans - Car Insurance - Internet Marketing

Powered by WordPress with Pool theme design by Borja Fernandez.
Entries and comments feeds. Valid XHTML and CSS. ^Top^