Tea Internship

 
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!
 

Tea Farming Calendar

Spring (March – May)
Weeding
Kabuse (covering tea trees)
Harvesting
Processing at the green tea factory

Summer (June – September)
Harvesting
Processing black tea
Trimming
Weeding
Composting

Fall (September – November)
Weeding
Harvesting
Processing green tea
Composting

Winter (November – February)
Trimming
Weeding
Planting tea trees
Paving farm roads
Making new tea fields
Compost
Dry grass 

Accommodation & Meals

Our intern guesthouse has many comfortable rooms for your stay.
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.

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

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 need not 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!
 

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

We look forward to seeing you soon! 🍵