Tea Internship

＊Please contact us when you have made a decision and let us know your desired date and duration

＊We want people who are interested in tea to come.
If you are not interested in tea, your stay here will not be interesting...

＊If you do not receive a reply, please contact us again.

＊Please arrive on a day other than Saturday.

＊Please check this page for information on internships. No further information is available, so please review the information here to make your decision.

Our volunteer tea internship provides an opportunity for tea enthusiasts to experience Japanese tea culture first hand on our organic tea farms. You will be exposed to organic farming methods and aid with various aspects of our work from planting to harvesting to packaging. The work you will be helping with will depend on the season and the specific needs of the tea farm at that moment. Depending on your unique skills, you can also start your own initiative or project!

Please notice

＊We can’t help you getting a visa

＊Please get insurance

＊We are tea farmers and do not have time to answer each applicant's question each time. Please take a look at this page and decide.

＊After you have made your decision, please contact us with your preferred date.

＊Do not use perfume or strong scents during your stay. People with strong fragrances will not be allowed to stay as it will affect the tea.

Acceptable Period、2024　

~ end of October

Acceptable Period、2025

① March 20 - Acceptable (only if you can attend on March 21)

A factory completion ceremony and organic market will be held on March 21. Only those who can attend on March 21 will be accepted from March.

② April 1 ~ May 30

③ June 16 ~ August 8

④ August18 ~ end of October

* Long-term stays are available（Within the above dates）

Please come with your own visa（We can’t help you get a visa）

Tea Farming Calendar

Spring (March – May)
Weeding
Kabuse ( Early April:covering tea trees )
Harvesting ( Mid April~Early May )
Processing at the green tea factory ( Tea is processed by machine, so the work is to clean the factory )

Summer (June,July – September)

Weeding
（The majority of the work will be weeding.
This is the most important work in organic farming!）

Harvesting (Middle of June)

Fall (September – October)
Weeding
Harvesting（October）
Processing green tea ( Tea is processed by machine, so the work is to clean the factory )
Composting

Winter (November – February)
Sorry, we are not available.( It's cold )

Accommodation & Meals (Free)

You will get to sleep on traditional tatami and we will provide you with futons, pillows and blankets.

On workdays, you will enjoy freshly cooked Japanese lunch and dinner.

（Meals on your days off from work are not included.）

（Please eat your own breakfast）

If you have any dietary restrictions, feel free to let us know and we will prepare accordingly.

＊Meals are vegetable-based.　　

＊Our tea is free to drink. If you drink coffee, please bring your own（No coffee maker）

＊Sorry, no meat-eaters please, as we cannot cook meat for every meal.

Internship/Volunteering Expectations

From Monday to Saturday, our workdays typically start at 8am and end at 5pm. Sunday is a day off.
If you want to have time off for a day trip or just need some rest, talk to us and we will take care of it!
You don't need to know how to speak Japanese, although we will be happy if you are interested in language exchanges.

Experience Life in Japan's Countryside

This is a great opportunity to learn not just about Japanese tea, but about traditional Japanese life in general. This is your possibility to experience a side of Japanese life that is available to few visitors. In your free time, there are local restaurants and cafes that you can explore. With our farm close to Fujieda City and half an hour away from Shizuoka City, there are lots of opportunities for sightseeing! Shizuoka offers something for everyone — whether it be pottery classes, beer festivals, or traditional woodworking. Situated in a beautiful mountainous area, our place is perfect for anyone who enjoys biking, running, and hiking (we can share our favourite trails!).

Qualities of an Ideal Intern

• Positive :)

• Hardworking

• Problem solver

• Creative

• Passionate about the environment

• Appreciates and respects Japanese culture and values

• Loves tea!

・Most people come alone ( Occasionally a couple will come )

However, we do not recommend that you join a group with your friends if you want to build a deep relationship with someone here.

What should you bring

・MEDICATION (cold medicine, stomach medicine, headache medicine, Insect bite cream etc)

・RAIN JACKET and PANTS

・LONG SLEEVE SHIRTS

・ LONG PANTS

・ HIKING BOOTS

・ LONG SOCKS

・ SUN HAT / CAP

・SUNGLASSES

・SUNSCREEN

・WATER BOTTLE

・EARBUDS

What Interns Say About Us

One of our lovely tea interns, Narm from Thailand wrote an article about her tea internship experience with us!
Read about her tea internship experience here.

Join Us at the Tea Farms Today!

If you are interested in volunteering, please submit this form at least 1 week before your desired start date.

Please write a cover letter detailing:
1. Why you are interested in completing a tea internship with us, and
2. What you hope to gain from the experience

Climate Averages in Shizuoka

https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/japan/shizuoka/climate

・March and early April are cold at night. You will need a jacket at night.

・From July to mid-September, it is hot.

・From October, it is cold at night. You will need a jacket at night.

We look forward to seeing you soon! 🍵