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We run a CrossFit gym and a 5-star guesthouse in the rural mountains of Ōtoyo, Japan. Volunteers will primarily assist with cleaning for about 16 hours/wk, across 4 days a week. Accommodation is provided in a staff house equipped with a kitchen and washing machine.
Volunteers receive free access to our gym and can join CrossFit, Hyrox and Yoga classes!
Please ensure you read the full, detailed description below carefully before applying.
16 hours of help per week
Pet Sitting: Taking care of and looking after pets.
Gardening: Help grow plants and cultivate gardens
Cleaning: Help clean the kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms and common areas.
Housekeeping: Help with changing the bed linens and general housekeeping.
3 days off per week
Private Room: You will have a bed in a private room. In other words, a room just for you.
Discounts on Tours: Get discounts for tours and excursions around town.
Free Laundry: You can use our laundry room freely.
Yoga classes: Take free yoga classes at our place.
Use our equipped kitchen: Feel free to use our kitchen and make your own delicious food.
Fast Internet Access: High-speed internet for you to work remotely
Fluent English or Intermediate Japanese
Over 21 years old
Welcomes solo volunteers, couples, and partners of volunteers
Flights, Travel Insurance, Internal Transportation and Visa
We run a high-end CrossFit & HYROX gym alongside a small accommodation business in rural Japan. Due to our remote location and the area’s aging population, it has been challenging to find reliable local staff.
Since April 2025, we have been working with Worldpackers volunteers to support the accommodation side of our business.
We currently operate one guest house (our “Tiny House”), with two additional (old) properties in the pipeline.
Volunteers mainly assist with checkout cleaning for the Tiny House, maintaining the facility grounds (weeding, cutting down small branches etc) as well as preparing newly acquired akiya (vacant homes) for renovation and future Airbnb use. Tasks include cleaning, light gardening, organising, painting, and light DIY work, depending on the week’s projects. Japanese driver’s license (International Drivers Permit) is a plus as we are planning on acquiring a company car in future.
If there are no projects in the week, we may ask you to look after our labrador Vader and take him on walks in the surrounding nature.
We’re looking for reliable, hands-on volunteers to help maintain our 5-star guesthouse and surrounding facilities. We run a professional business, so honesty about your skills and experience is essential.
This position is ideal if you:
-Have cleaning experience,
-Are independent, proactive, and detail-oriented,
-Are comfortable in remote, rural settings with minimal social activity,
-Love nature and dogs.
HOME
The shared house has moved to a smaller traditional Japanese house with a garden, with other international volunteers.
You’ll have your own room (+ bed linen & towels), a fully equipped kitchen, garden area with a BBQ grill and a firepit at your disposal, and FREE access to our CrossFit gym (¥4400/class). Meals are not included. Wifi will be setup by 1st week of July. High speed wifi is available at the gym.
The house is 1 minute from the train station and 4 minutes from the gym and the local grocery store.
Located in Shikoku (ranked 6th in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2022), with Iya Valley an hour away on an e-bike.
TASKS
-Up to 16 hours across 4 days/week, depending on needs.
Routine tasks include:
-Gym changing rooms (weekly)
-Volunteer house (weekly)
-Guesthouse & BBQ area (after checkouts)
Cleaning tasks may include:
-Hoovering, mopping, dusting
-Bed making
-Laundry, ironing, steaming
-Bathrooms, kitchen, mirrors
-Dishwashing
-Rubbish sorting and disposal
-Light gardening around the facility (weeding, cutting down small branches etc)
We currently operate one guesthouse (“Tiny House”) with two more in development. Volunteers support checkout cleaning and help prepare newly acquired akiya for renovation and future Airbnb use.
During quieter weeks, tasks may include basic maintenance (gardening, light DIY) and walking our friendly adult Labrador.
No smoking in or around our facility (we are a CrossFit gym).
No smoking in the volunteer house.
Keep the volunteer house clean and tidy.
Be respectful of other people living with you.
