Village and lodge life while discovering Japanese Alps in Nozawa Onsen, Japan

Details

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  Description

  We are a small, owner-operated luxury short-term rental business in Nozawa Onsen — a traditional onsen village in the Japanese Alps, about two hours from Tokyo by Shinkansen.
  
  Our properties sleep between 2 and 10 guests and are designed to offer a genuine village experience alongside high hospitality standards. We run a tight, hands-on operation and take pride in the details — from the welcome packages we put together for every arrival to the way we maintain our properties between seasons.
  
  Summer is our quieter season, and we use it well. The main focus is our lodge properties: general housekeeping, linen and laundry, and minor maintenance. Alongside that, our owners are in the middle of a house move and a private building project, so there will also be hands-on help needed with the relocation, carrying and organising, and various tasks around that process. It's varied, physical work — no two days look exactly the same — and you'll always be able to see the results of what you do.
  
  We're based in the village full-time and will be around to work alongside you. Outside of working hours, Nozawa Onsen has a lot going on in summer. The village has a strong community feel, and the warmer months bring a young, social crowd — plenty of people to meet, things to do, and a pace of life that's hard to find anywhere else. Add to that 13 free public onsen baths, hiking trails through the mountains, and good local restaurants and cafés, and it's a pretty good place to spend a few months.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Help around the house

  General Maintenance

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Interests

  

  Music

  

  Languages

  

  Photography

  

  Cooking & food

  

  Architecture

  

  Animals

  

  Cycling

  

  Fitness

  

  Mountain

  

  Yoga / Wellness

  

  Nature

  

  Camping

  

  Winter sports

  

  Outdoor activities

  

  Adventure sports
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Nozawa Onsen is a mountain village with deep roots but a living, evolving community. Alongside long-standing traditions — public onsen baths, local festivals, a tight-knit village structure — there's a younger generation opening businesses and bringing new energy.
  Living here over the summer, you'll get a real feel for Japanese mountain village life while being part of an international community. We'll help you find your feet and introduce you to the right people. You'll also pick up a practical look at how a small hospitality business runs in Japan, and some everyday Japanese along the way.

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  Host offers payment in line with the minimum wage

  This host offers accommodation and payment.

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  Help

  Lodge & Housekeeping
  The core of the work is keeping our properties in good shape over the summer season. This includes regular housekeeping, laundry and linen management, cleaning between guest stays, and general tidying and maintenance of the lodge spaces inside and out.
  
  Moving Project
  Our owners are relocating within the village and managing a private house build alongside that. We'll need practical help with the move — packing, carrying, organising.

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  Languages spoken

  German: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  Japanese: Fluent
  Malay: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  Private room in a shared house

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  What else ...

  Nozawa Onsen is an easy place to fill your free time. The 13 free public onsen baths are a highlight in themselves. From the village you can hike straight into the mountains, and the surrounding area has rivers, lakes, and easy day trips to explore. Iiyama is 25 minutes by bus, with Shinkansen connections to Nagano and Tokyo.
  In the village there are good cafés, restaurants, and bars — a mix of local institutions and newer spots run by the international community. Summer brings local festivals and outdoor activities within easy reach.
  You don't need Japanese to get by — many people speak English and the community is welcoming — but a few basic phrases go a long way, and we're happy to help with that.
  We will be paying an hourly wage in accordance with japanese law.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  Two

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  My animals / pets

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