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Join the renovation of Tazawako Onsen and help turn a former hot spring inn into a welcoming coliving space for remote workers. Volunteers assist with plastering, painting, light carpentry, and setting up coworking and shared kitchen areas using natural materials. In return, enjoy free accommodation, 24/7 access to the onsen, and an authentic experience of rural Japanese life. 🇯🇵🔨🌿✨
20 hours of help per week
Arts: Help with painting, graffiti, sculpting or drawing.
Painting & Decorating: Help with painting or decorating the property facilities.
Building & Repairing: Help with a wide range of repairs or building.
2 days off per week
Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Shared Dorm: You will have a bed in a shared room, which means you will share the same room with other travelers.
Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.
Free Tours: We’ll take you on tours and rides around town. For free!
Free Events: Get free entrance for the best events in town.
Pick Up: We will pick you up when you arrive, and take you to our property.
Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Basic Internet Access: Basic speed internet for you to work remotely
Dedicated Workspace: Specific space for you to work remotely
Fluent English or Beginner Japanese
Between 18 and 79 years old
Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
Our volunteer program is a hands-on work exchange at Tazawako Onsen Coliving, a renovation project in the mountains of Akita, Japan. You'll join a small international team converting a former hot spring inn into a community coliving space.
Volunteers work 4-5 hours/day, 4-5 days/week (it depends but maximum is like this) in exchange for free private accommodation. We are asking the guest to make your own meal, but often we make community dinner. You'll live on-site, soak in the natural hot spring, and experience genuine rural Japanese life — far from the tourist trail.
We speak English and Japanese, and warmly welcome people from all backgrounds who share a curiosity for sustainable living, natural building, and community.
Morning shift: 9:30–15:30 (with a lunch break)
Afternoon: free time, explore the area, rest, or join team meals
Typical tasks include:
- Applying lime plaster and eco-finishes to walls
- Painting, sanding, and surface preparation
- Setting up coworking space, kitchen, and common areas
- Light carpentry and furniture assembly
- General cleaning and site organization
- Photography or social media documentation (if interested)
Tasks vary depending on the renovation stage when you arrive.
No experience needed — we'll teach you everything on the job.
- Minimum stay: 2 weeks (1 month preferred)
- Basic English or Japanese communication required
- Respectful, open-minded attitude toward team and community
- No smoking indoors
- Please inform us in advance of dietary needs or allergies
- Volunteers are responsible for their own travel insurance
- Quiet hours after 22:00 out of respect for community
- We are a small team — reliability and honesty matter to us
Many worldpackers have been applying to this position recently. The host will probably not be able to respond to all of the applications, so we recommend that you also apply to other hosts in our community and not just this one :)
