Culture and Homestay in Mimasaka #2/OKAYAMA
Japan
Culture
Environment
Culture
Environment
Fixed dates
About the project
Culture and Homestay in Mimasaka #2/OKAYAMA
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
MIEA (Mimasaka International Exchange Association) was founded in 1998 with Mimasaka citizens who are eager to be a liaison between Mimasaka area and outside of the country. The founder started off with a small group who practice English conversation with a few native speakers. Then, they start looking for an opportunity to do a bigger international exchange. By having a slogan of “Open your eyes, mind and soul to the world”, MIEA is hoping the locals to be more proud/confident of their hometown by introducing their cultural values and tradition to international members. By learning other cultures, local children have more positive images of going abroad and making friends in other countries. CIEE Japan has started recruiting international volunteers since 1998 and we have been hosting their summer workcamp for 18 years.
MIEA (Japanese) http://www.miea.or.jp/
MIEA (English) http://www10.plala.or.jp/COOLMOON/miea/index.htm
MIEA (Facebook) https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mimasaka-International-Exchange-Association-MIEA/206215862756330
💼 What the programme involves
-A lot of cleaning (temple, riverside, town-owned facility, mountain railroad
-Doing river condition survey
-Joining English lesson at local high school
-Interacting with local elementary school children and their mothers
-Experiencing Japanese traditional culture
-Participating a local MATSURI festival/welcome party/farewell event
Up to two MTV female volunteers (CIEEJ1620) join this workcamp.
Volunteers are expected to work collectively in a group, and work well.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation:
Each volunteer will stay separately in a local host family’s house.
Volunteers should follow house rules such as “Curfew” at 6:00 PM every day.
Facilities:
Bedding will be provided. There are a washer, a kitchen, a lavatory and a bathroom. Internet may not be available depending on the family.
Please always ask your host family when you use, a washer or a kitchen, etc. You may need to do the laundry by yourself or your laundry will be washed together with family’s and be asked to help with it. Please be flexible and helpful.
Meals:
Three meals a day will be provided. A volunteer who has an allergy (or preference) in wheat, meat or fish can not be accepted because those are often served in a Japanese meal and a family does not prepare meals by individual request. A volunteer is also expected to eat rice, miso soup, fish (sometimes raw) as well as meat (chicken, pork and beef) on a daily basis without any problem
📍 About the location
Mimasaka-city (http://kanko.city.mimasaka.lg.jp/ ) is famous for beautiful landscapes and hot springs. The most notable sightseeing spot is the birthplace of Musashi Miyamoto (1584~1645), the strongest swords man handling two swords at the same time.
Hayashino Station is located about one and half hours by train (JR Kishin line) from Himeji city in Hyogo prefecture. Their landmark Himeji Castle was designated as a national treasure in 1931 and the World Cultural Heritage in 1993.
Regarding the schedule on weekends, please ask your host family if they have any plan made for the day before you make your own schedules. Keep in mind that you are strongly expected to spend time with your host family on weekends. Please do not make any plan with your friends on weekends without agreeing with your host family in advance.
A volunteer needs at least 5,000 JPY in cash if she/he wants to go sightseeing on free-day.
⚠️ Requirements
Conversational Japanese is recommended
Other requirements are the followings:
1 A volunteer must be between 18 - 25.
2 Every volunteer must be able to ride on a bicycle for 5 km (sometimes up to 20 km) a day
A volunteer is expected to be physical strong and tough under the strong summer sunlight
3 No volunteer is accepted if he/she has a strong allergy in cats, dogs or house dust
4 It is required that volunteers should prepare and bring things you can perform/display at an international exchange event. Pictures, CD, books, magazines, toys, games or snacks of your country are suggested. You can have your own booth, display them and give presentation about your country at this event. Also, please bring home countries’ recipes and ingredients. 20 more people will come to enjoy this event with International volunteer
5 Clothes suitable for activities, such as T-shirts, pants, and sneakers. Long-sleeved shirts and a hat/cap, sun glasses are a must. In addition to clothing, please bring toiletries, towels, medicine (for cold, painkiller) and other things you need for your daily life.
6 Rain boots are needed only those who foot is over 10 inch
7 A couple is not allowed at all. We accept one volunteer from each organization
ℹ️ Additional information
You will be frequently asked to introduce yourself to local people especially in cultural exchanges settings. Please be prepared and enjoy that exposure.
You are expected to have a good relationship with their host family. Therefore, you must help housework actively and refrain from going out at night.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
CIEEJ1602
14/07/2016 → 31/07/2016
Volunteers registered
0 / 8
♂ 0/4
♀ 0/4
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–25 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Okayama, Japan
Japan
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Japan Yen (JPY / ¥)
Exchange rate
1 JPY = 0.005641 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken
English
Japanese