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Host rating
100 %
Last replied
24 May 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 3 days
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Details
Description
Hello Workawayers!
Are you passionate about cultural exchange, love spending time with children, and enjoy sharing your own traditions and ideas? Then you might be a perfect fit for our community!
We are looking for Workawayers who:
✔︎ Enjoy interacting with kids and families in a warm, casual setting
✔︎ Can live cooperatively in a shared house environment
✔︎ Are eager to actively contribute ideas and energy to our activities
✔︎ Are flexible and happy to join a variety of activities, from cultural events to outdoor adventures
Important: How to Apply
We receive many wonderful messages from people around the world.
To make the application process smooth for both you and us, please send a complete message using the application template on your first contact. The "application template" is at the end of my profile in "What else" section.
If your first message includes all the requested information and we have availability, we usually confirm your stay after just one message. We also use your message to understand how well you imagine yourself contributing to and living here. Since exchanging many back-and-forth messages takes a lot of time, we appreciate your cooperation in providing all the necessary details upfront.
Thank you so much for your understanding — we’re very excited to meet you!
I'm Akino, a 34-year-old mother of three (Wataro, a 7-year-old boy; Momo, a 4-year-old boy; and Nene, a 2-year-old girl). My husband, Yasu, works as a civil servant at a city hall.
In December 2023, I started a cultural exchange community in Isahaya City, Nagasaki, to create a space where people from different backgrounds can connect, share experiences, and learn from each other.
I have a deep love for traveling and cultural exchange. I’ve visited more than a dozen countries and previously volunteered in Australia, New Zealand, and Ghana.
Now, as a mother, I can't travel as freely, so I decided to bring the world to my children and our local community by hosting Workawayers.
What We Offer：
Here, cultural exchange is at the heart of everything we do.
Workawayers become part of a warm, welcoming environment where they can share their culture, connect with locals, and experience authentic Japanese hospitality.
Our Activities：
■ Kids Cultural Exchange Program (Twice a Week – Wednesdays & Thursdays, 15:00–19:00)
Starting in April 2025, this program is designed for children aged 6–10.
Rather than following a traditional textbook-style English class, we focus on real-life communication through play, cultural sharing, and cooking activities.The goal is to help children naturally develop their English skills and foster an international mindset. Children practice introducing Japanese culture by sharing traditional games, foods, and customs. We encourage Workawayers to bring their own ideas and actively help shape each session! As the children are still learning English, patience and a cheerful attitude are essential.
During school holidays (spring, summer, and winter), we may have a special schedule with different events and activities.
■ Parent & Child Cultural Exchange Program (Every Friday, 10:00–14:00)
Also starting in April 2025, this program is for families with children aged 0–5.
Parents and children participate together in activities like crafts, outdoor play, picnics, and traditional Japanese sweets-making. This program is not only for young children but also offers parents a chance for international exchange, casual English conversation, and a refreshing break from daily childcare.
Activities are planned together with the participating families.
■ Community Exchange Events (A few times a month on Sundays & holidays)
We regularly host cultural exchange events where Workawayers can share their talents, ideas, and traditions. If you have a special skill, hobby, or cultural custom you'd like to introduce, we would love to include it!
■ Potluck Parties (Occasionally)
A fun and delicious way to share traditional foods from around the world with the local community.
■ Outdoor Adventures & Camping (Occasionally)
We organize overnight camping trips and day hikes where we cook over campfires and enjoy time together in nature.
■ Local Day Trips & Outings
When we have free time, we love inviting Workawayers to join us for day trips and local adventures.
If there's something you'd love to experience in Japan, let us know—we’ll do our best to make it happen!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Charity Work
Art Projects
Language practice
Teaching
Gardening
Babysitting and creative play
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Self development
Events & social
Culture
DIY & crafts
Languages
Gardening
Cooking & food
Hiking
Outdoor activities
Mountain
Camping
Nature
Yoga / Wellness
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
At our community, you will have the chance to experience authentic Japanese family life and rural culture in Nagasaki.
Through our cultural programs and everyday activities, you can:
✔︎Share your own culture, language, and skills with local children and families
✔︎Experience traditional Japanese customs, seasonal events, and home-cooked meals
✔︎Practice and learn Japanese in daily conversations with locals
✔︎Participate in traditional crafts, cooking, and outdoor activities
✔︎Join local outings and explore the beautiful countryside, hot springs, and historic sites
✔︎Build meaningful connections with both children and adults in a warm, supportive environment
✔︎Gain experience in leading fun, creative activities for kids and families
We believe that cultural exchange is a two-way journey.
While you share your world with us, we are excited to share our culture, lifestyle, and hospitality with you!
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Your main responsibility here is to participate in the cultural exchange programs and events I organize, where you’ll have the chance to connect with local kids and people. Bringing your own ideas for activities or cultural sharing is welcomed!
Schedule:
■Kids Cultural Exchange Program : Wednesday & Thursday, 15:00-19:00
■Parent & Child Cultural Exchange Program：Friday, 10:00-14:00
■Potluck Parties/ Camping / Cultural Exchange Events : Occasionally
Daily programs and events take place 3-4 days per week, typically lasting 2-4 hours each day. You may have to take time for preparation or shopping when you want to organize activities or cultural sharing. Overnight camps take may last a few days in nature. During school holidays (spring, summer, and winter breaks), we may have a special schedule with different activities and events.
You’ll have at least 2-3 full days off per week, with many days offering half-day free time. I provide a monthly schedule in advance if needed.
Housekeeping Duties:
As this is your home during your stay, please take care of daily chores in the community house. Since my family does not live here, you won’t need to spend time assisting us directly. Instead, work together with your housemates to keep things comfortable and organized.
Daily tasks include:
・Cleaning the house (entrance, living room, kitchen, toilet, shower room, bedroom)
・Laundry (including your bed sheets and towels for the community house)
・Taking out garbage on schedule
・Keeping common areas tidy and organized
・ Dishes after using
・Taking care of compost
・Gardening
Languages
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Spanish: Beginner
French: Beginner
Thai: BeginnerThis host offers a language exchange
This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
You can contact them directly for more information.
Accommodation
You will stay in a dedicated Workawayer house in Isahaya City, Nagasaki, where we also host our cultural exchange programs and events with locals.
Our family lives separately, about 1.6 km away, but we often meet for activities, meals, and outings.
The house is a small, cozy, standalone home with:
・One bedroom with two beds
・One living room with one bed (separated by a curtain for privacy)
・A kitchen, toilet, and shower room, all shared among the residents
We typically host 2–3 volunteers at the same time. You will most likely share the house with other Workawayers, or we may accommodate couples or families depending on availability.
Since the living space is shared, it’s important that you are comfortable with communal living, respectful of others, and able to communicate openly with your housemates.
The nearest train station, JR Nishi-Isahaya, is a 14-minute walk (950m) away.
There’s a 7-Eleven about 10 minutes on foot (750m), and a supermarket about 23 minutes away (1.7 km).
For fresh bread lovers, the popular bakery Kamando is just a 9-minute walk (650m)!
We also have a shared bicycle available for your use.
When you arrive in Isahaya, we can pick you up from JR Nishi-Isahaya Station, Isahaya Station, or the Isahaya Interchange bus stop.
If you're flying into Nagasaki Airport, you can take a bus to Isahaya Station.
Food：
We always provide basic ingredients such as rice, seasonings, and other essentials. We also cover the cost of ingredients for meals shared during cultural exchange programs and events.
For these shared meals, we decide the menu together with our volunteers. We would love for you to introduce dishes from your home country or suggest Japanese foods you'd like to try!
You are free to use any crops from our small garden as well. (Please note, depending on the season, there may be limited harvests.) If you help out in the garden during your stay, it would be a great gift to future volunteers!
Outside of program meals, you are responsible for your own food expenses and eating out.
We are open to all types of cuisine and welcome volunteers with dietary restrictions (vegetarian, vegan, etc.). However, please understand that during cultural programs/events, it might not always be possible for everyone to eat the same food, depending on the situation. We appreciate your flexibility and encourage you to share your own food culture with us and the community!
What else ...
Thank you so much for reading all the way!
If you would like to apply, please copy and paste the following template into your message and fill it out:
-----------------------------
★Application Template★
1. Available dates:
(Example: June 1 – July 22)
2. Self-introduction:
(A few sentences about who you are, your background, and your interests)
3. Why you would like to stay with us:
(What attracted you to our project?)
4. Skills or cultural ideas you can share:
(Any skills, hobbies, cultural experiences, or activities you would like to introduce to the community)
-----------------------------
Applications that include all of the above information will be given priority.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions before you apply.
Thank you so much for your understanding — we’re very excited to meet you!
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
This host has indicated that they love having digital nomads stay.
Space for parking camper vans
This host can provide space for campervans.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (19)
The work itself was all about spending time with kids after school: speaking English, cooking together, organizing activities… It was such a lovely experience,… read more
As the first Czech volunteers we welcomed, we had so much fun experiencing cultural exchange with them — from learning about traditional dances to experiencing some very… read more
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(5.0)
Communication:
(5.0)
The work itself was all about spending time with kids after school: speaking English, cooking together, organizing activities… It was such a lovely experience,… read more
As the first Czech volunteers we welcomed, we had so much fun experiencing cultural exchange with them — from learning about traditional dances to experiencing some very… read more
Akino San is an exceptional host. The opportunity she has built for the Isahaya children to meet Workawayers from all corners of the world is very impressive and inspiring.
I learned so much during my stay here. Children will respect you if you can provide… read more
Aviya was always thoughtful, ensuring that her presence would not add to the challenges of raising three children. She… read more
Akino and her family are lovely, we actually stayed with her family for a couple of days and felt welcome which we are very grateful for!
It was nice meeting the children and the cultural exchange was super interesting!
Overall a really good… read more
He truly enjoyed cooking and never hesitated to spend time creating delicious meals—perhaps it’s a French trait? From making crepes together… read more
I stayed there for 2 weeks and loved cooking with and for the kids, playing games with them and participating in the winter camp with them for 3 days !
Akino, the host, is a very impressive person by how many projects she is handling and developping while taking care of her kids and still… read more
She spent a lot of time with the children during their summer break, creating wonderful… read more
It was awesome to prep activities for the kids and also help around the house. To me, the best was cooking with/for the kids and playing in the nature around the house. We still had plenty of time off to travel around the area and the family also took us to nice… read more
Jane is a passionate… read more
The brief month I shared with her and her… read more
I enjoyed every single moment in the house. Akino and her family are such pleasant and kind individuals who were very welcoming and including from the start. As are all the kids and their parents in the community. I had so much fun with them.
If you like to play with kids, enjoy cooking,… read more
He prepared Shakshuka and Hummus at one of our events, exciting everyone with these delicious new flavors.
He had a natural talent for connecting with children, who… read more
This is a very pleasant and warm place, ideal for meeting other workawayers, children, their parents with whom you… read more
To give you an idea about the workload, there is afterschool… read more
Despite being a volunteer, she gave 120%… read more
The house has everything you could need and is comfortable to share with other volunteers. There’s also an amazing bakery nearby!… read more
She organized several cultural exchange events. Her events were so engaging… read more
She was willing to do any kind of work. She organized activities with the… read more
The intentions of the project are very pure and Akino is using her experiences and knowledge of self sufficient community to manage it beautifully.
I want to thank everyone for this adventure, for welcoming me in this immersion and the way you shared all you did… read more
He interacted well with the children and the locals and everyone loved him. For our children's events, he researched and mapped the safe forest around our house and organized a treasure hunt game. The kids had so much fun that they often ask for more treasure hunts now… read more
They were enthusiastic about their work and worked hard at everything they did.
Although not mentioned in their profile, they are great teachers and can teach English to children in fun and exciting way.
They are also very good at babysitting, as if they had extensive experience raising children.
They… read more
The house is very cool, with the traditional sliding doors and paper walls. The area is quiet and not bad for walking around. The previous Workawayers had prepared a lot of guides for how to use the various appliances which… read more
We have much admiration and respect for Akino. The place is her new comminuty project. She has a beautiful vision of what she wants to create. It will surely have profound impacts on everyone joining the… read more
They are thoughtful and kind to everyone. I'm really happy to have them as my first workawayer.
They did the job with a level of perfection that exceeded my expectations.
Catherine came up with fun and wonderful ideas for arts… read more
