Profile information
Host rating
90 %
Last replied
28 Apr 2025
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 2 days
Feedback
56
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Email verified
Host offers payment
Badges (4)
Details
Description
We are a Japanese / Dutch-Canadian couple. We love to travel, explore and stay active (we surf, snowboard, hike, ...). We spend winters in the mountains and summers by the sea. We are able to live our dream by sharing our life-style and space with like-minded travelers, and workawayers like you!
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Help with Computers/ Internet
Interests
Vegetarian or vegan
Plant care
DIY & crafts
Art & design
Photography
Gardening
Cooking & food
Adventure sports
Nature
Winter sports
Mountain
Beach
Water sports
Hiking
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
There is plenty of time to explore and experience the area. We live near the sea! Enjoy fishing, surfing, body-boarding, hiking along the rugged coast line or spend your days chilling on the beach. Although we live in a beach town and get plenty of tourists, the town, especially our neighborhood has a real local vibe. There is no night life, no movie theaters. Most places close well before midnight. There are a few local festivals and some fire works events in the summer. Almost everyone here grows their own veggies and has their own rice paddy. Small unattended veggie stands along the road lets you have your share for cheap and sometimes free! I've seen ¥0 leeks for "sale"! Locals are friendly and are likely to greet everyone with a "konichiwa".
Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage
This host offers accommodation and payment.
Help
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Workawayers tasks and hours depend on the time you would be joining us, and skills you have to share. We will need some help with housekeeping, room-making, gardening, and general maintenance. Anyone good at bicycle maintenance could help us keep our bikes rolling. Web and graphic designers, writers, photographers, painters, carpenters, also needed.
Hourly rate is ¥1050. We also can provide project based pay if preferred.
During high season workers work up to 25 hours a week, 3-5 hours a day, 5 days a week. During quieter times there could be a lot less hours.
Experienced gardeners always welcome.
Other positions are also available by contacting us direct.
We prefer to have people who can commit to one of the working periods from questions 4 below. Shorter stays may be considered for independent projects and/or a last minute basis.
To apply please respond to the questions below. We will reply to everyone's messages. If we think you are a good fit and we have availability during your requested dates we will ask for an online interview via Skype. The interview is not just for us, it's your chance to ask any questions you may have so be prepared! We don't make any decisions the day of the interview. We ask that you give serious consideration to the opportunity. We will get back in a week to let you know what we can offer. If you are then ready to confirm your stay with us, we will organize a pick-up at Izukyu-Shimoda Station.
PLEASE NOTE:
We are CLOSED from October until end of March. We DON'T need helpers during that time. Check our calendar first!
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️If you are interested in joining us please COPY & PASTE the questions below and respond to them in detail. Feel free to add anything else you would like to share with us. If you have PHOTOS of previous work, projects, skills etc share them too, or provide LINKS to your portfolio, ig account etc.
1) The type, length, and expiration of the VISA you have. Japanese citizens are of course also welcome to apply!
IF YOU ARE CURRENTLY IN JAPAN : Where have you been & what have you been doing?
IF YOU ARE NOT YET IN JAPAN: Please contact us once you have your visa and flight organized.
We do not provide sponsorship for visas. Please contact the Japanese embassy near you for more information.
2) Your age
3) Your RELATED skills, abilities, and interests. Any previous work or volunteer experiences working in accommodation, doing housekeeping, service industry work that includes cleaning or specific cleaning jobs? And/or construction, maintenance or gardening skills and experience? Bicycle repair? (please ONLY include your related skills. Babysitting, pet-sitting and house-sitting experiences won't work for us).
4) Your preferred schedule. We now have positions available for the following time periods:
C) 5/25 - 6/25
Women: dorm is full
Men: available
Couples: No room available
D) 6/27 – 7/23
Housekeeping, maintenance, gardening work, bicycle repair.
Previous cleaning experiences essential
**Creative work: Some
Women: available
Men: available
Couples: private self-contained apartment available. Tenants must cover all costs.
*E) 7/23 – 8/20
Housekeeping
Previous housekeeping experiences essential
**Creative work: NO
Women: available
Men: available
Couples: private self-contained apartment available. Tenants must cover all costs.
F) 8/20 – 9/25
Housekeeping, maintenance, gardening work, bicycle repair
**Creative work: YES
Women: available
Men: available
Couples: available
5) Do / Will you have travel / basic medical insurance? (required)
6) Do you require accommodation? We have rooms with shared facilities available. Bedrooms may be private or shared depending on availability. We may or may not have a private room for a couple. If you require a private room as a couple, please let us know.
7) Will you have other commitments during your stay? Online work, classes, outside work?
8) Are you generally a positive person (happy, grateful, considerate, active, pro-active)?
9) Do you have good communication skills? Ask questions when you aren't sure? Do you consider yourself approachable?
10) Are you meticulous? Can you follow a list to a T?
11) Do you have professional skills? Do you wish to collaborate with independent projects? If you have ideas we'd love to hear them! Are you a builder, painter, sewist, photographer, videographer, graphic designer.....? If you have creative skills to share, please provide links to your work, and propose your awesome ideas!
12) If you are contacting us from overseas: Have you been in touch with the Japanese embassy in your country to find out about travel/work/volunteer regulations and their required visas?
13) Nature abounds! The spiders here are big, really big! We also get centipedes, and other creepy crawlies. Wild boar roam around. Monkeys travel in packs, crabs come out to play after the rain.... Will you able to deal with it? Cleaning up bugs is a part of the job.
You will NEED sandals & comfortable clothes. No need to dress up here. Summers are hot so bring loose-fitting clothes, beach sandals (easy on/off) that can get wet are best! Bring your bathing suit. We are within walking distance to the beach!
Looking for HaPpY positive active people who work hard and play hard. People who make the most out of their stay by enjoying the sea, hiking, and exploring the area are best suited.
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Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Japanese: Fluent
Accommodation
Shared Japanese style room with tatami floors and futons in rooms or house we rent. The staff house within walking distance of the place of work and the beach!
We can not promise private rooms for couples. Our staff house has 2 bedrooms, 1 for women & 1 for men. If you are a couple and prefer to have your own place we may be able to organize a simple Japanese style apartment but we do not cover the rent.
All of the accommodation options have a small kitchen with cooking facilities, stove, microwave, toaster oven, fridge.... You will be responsible for your own meals.
24 hr. Convenience store is 5 minute walk. You can walk or ride a bike to a drugstore with fresh groceries and staples available. Supermarkets are all in the center of town which is 4-5 kilometers away. You can walk, ride a bike (but it's hilly!) or take a bus (10 minutes) to the center or town. The bus stop is 5-10 minutes walk from the accommodation. Post office is within walking distance. Some cafes & restaurants within walking distance. Bike or bus for access to more places. Check google map to learn about the area. Other then bikes, we do not provide transportation other then pick-up & drop-off at the train station.
We are tucked into a green valley surrounded by mountains and trees. The Izu Peninsula is hilly and rugged, and UNESCO geo-park. We live on the side of a valley, the road to the driveway is not paved. Nature abounds! We see wild boar almost daily. If you are afraid of insects or other creatures this is not the best place for you. If you have trouble walking/cycling uphill this is not the place for you. Summers are very HOT and very HUMID. You need to be able to work hard and efficiently while coping with the summer heat.
*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️We are looking for people who are fun but mature and responsible. We are busy and get a lot of enquiries. We will respond to everyone who contacts us but PLEASE DO NOT BOTHER TO CONTACT US IF YOU WILL NOT RESPOND TO OUR REPLIES. *️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️*️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️️
What else ...
Walk or ride a bike to the beach, go swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, skim-boarding, snorkeling, hike beautiful hiking trails along the coast, enjoy hotsprings, go to local festivals and other events...etc. Convenience stores, restaurants, cafes, are all within walking distance.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
Please let us know if you have independent projects you will be working on and the amount of time you expect to work on such projects. Some of our helpers work/study online. If you have similar endeavors what time and for how long do you need to spend online. If you will conduct meetings or provide classes online, we ask that you use a public co-working space so that you do no disturb your room mates.
Space for parking camper vans
We can not provide parking for people living in their vans but we have plenty of parking available if you choose to bring a car or van.
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Feedback (31)
Kisami and Shimoda are beautiful, the nature and the sea are incredible, I went to cycling and swimming almost everyday!
The work wasn't too hard, but you need to follow the instuctions, do your best and… read more
Beyond her work, she was incredibly kind and considerate to… 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:
(4.9)
Cultural exchange:
(4.6)
Communication:
(5.0)
Kisami and Shimoda are beautiful, the nature and the sea are incredible, I went to cycling and swimming almost everyday!
The work wasn't too hard, but you need to follow the instuctions, do your best and… read more
Beyond her work, she was incredibly kind and considerate to… read more
Work was totally fair and there was great communication. We got to tear down the bike shed and build two raised beds for the veggies, did some housekeeping and fixed… read more
Work was fair enough, 4h a day and then you are free. Angela and Yasu have many stories to share and are always helpful in any circumstances.
Thank you so much.
The work is fair and very varied, and communication is organised through an app.… read more
The location is just marvellous, living almost in complete nature and with the closest beach less than 5 minute walk away~ The only downside for me might have been that in August, it is sooooo hot in Shimoda that I kind of mostly sticked to the fan in the living room ^^.
The workflow is… read more
On the day I arrived, Yasu picked me up at the nearest station and explained the place and details of work, so it was very easy to join their project and I immediately felt at home.
Normally working time starts at 10am (depends on the shift you have and also… read more
The place is in the middle of the nature, beautiful jungle and beaches all along the coast, the closest one just 5 minutes walk from the staffhouse, perfect to swim, body board, surf or just sun bath.
I… read more
When we arrived it was the low season so work was always different. They were happy for us to show them our skills and it was great they could teach us new things. In the high season the main jobs were house keeping and cafe work. Work is clear and well organized. Yasu does a great job… read more
This was my first workaway experience and I couldn't have asked for a better one. I lived in the staffhouse with four other… read more
Hans has various skills and was happy to help out whenever and wherever needed. Hans helped us mostly with painting, bicycle maintenance, and some demolition. He worked hard and was very approachable. In fact, he would ask us for feedback. Everyone really enjoyed his… read more
Stine helped us out for 6 weeks over the summer. We were really worried that she wouldn’t be able to handle our hot humid summer considering she is from Denmark but she never seemed to have any problems… read more
Katy is very mature and responsible but also lots of fun to have around. She fit in beautifully with… read more
I was supposed to stay for 3 weeks but I stayed a month. I just couldn't leave.
The work environment is pretty good. Very clear tasks and great balance in leisure and work.
The beach… read more
The work itself wasn't hard (especially if you have some good podcasts handy). Angela and Yasu were… read more
