Where to Volunteer in Tokyo

Poste date: Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Volunteering is a good thing to do the world over and Tokyo is no exception. Volunteerism has been rising in popularity in Japan in recent years following the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster and resulting Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, and there are numerous nonprofit organizations (NPOs) dedicated to all manner of causes that take thousands of hours of volunteer help in order to accomplish their social missions. The good news for those of us English speakers is that there are quite a number of opportunities and NPOs that can employ non-Japanese speakers, some of which we are uniquely suited for.

Grama Seva Japan

Grama Seva Japan does their best to give quality meals to homeless individuals in need at Yoyogi Park, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo Japan, with the love and assistance of a small group of volunteers.

Habitat for Humanity Japan

Habitat for Humanity collaborates with individuals in your neighborhood and throughout the world to help them construct or improve a house. Habitat homeowners work with volunteers to build their own houses and pay a reasonable mortgage. Habitat homeowners gain the strength, security, and independence they need to build a better life for themselves and their families because to your help.

Hands on Tokyo

Hands on Tokyo is a dedicated portal for bilingual volunteering devoted to connecting individuals and groups with meaningful volunteer service opportunities in and around Tokyo. Once you register on their site, you can sign up for a variety of service projects coordinated by Hands on Tokyo through the website. This includes various disaster relief projects, serving in children’s and senior homes, teaching English classes, running sports camps for people with disabilities, making rice balls, making balloon art to decorate children’s homes, and various other opportunities. All projects are run by volunteer leaders who recruit volunteers, provide orientation, and coordinate all projects so you never have to worry about a project falling apart due to lack of leadership.

Japan Association for Refugees

Japan Association for Refugees (JAR) was an independent NPO established in September, 1999 to fulfill its mission by providing refugees and asylum-seekers with relevant legal and social assistance; advocating for the rights of them through government bodies, local authorities and media relations; and advancing policy analysis and information-exchange about them. It anytime welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds, and appreciates any help you can offer! Most JAR staff speak English and Japanese, so you can sign up for volunteer work in English via email. Main volunteer tasks are sorting donated clothing by gender and clothing type and picking up food donations to provide free meals to refugees and asylum seekers.

Mirai no Mori

Mirai no Mori is a non-profit organization in Japan that develops life-changing outdoor activities for abused, abandoned, and orphaned children, assisting them in becoming happy and successful adults.

Nature Conservation Society of Japan

The Nature Conservation Society of Japan is an independent NPO focused on conservation and advocacy. The organization has been around since 1949 in one form or another and they work through a variety of programs to contribute to the conservation of natural ecosystems and biodiversity around Japan. Their “Way to Biodiversity” project focuses on connecting people with nature through field trips and various other activities that seek to support biodiversity.

Refugee Empowerment International

Refugee Empowerment International is a non-profit based in Japan and Australia that raises funds to support projects for those who have been forced to flee their countries due to violence, conflict, or persecution. Projects that allow people to give back to their communities while simultaneously rebuilding their own future.

Second Harvest Japan

Second Harvest Japan is the local affiliate of the Second Harvest organization and its focus is on poverty and disaster relief through distribution of food and essential supplies to welfare agencies, orphanages, shelters, the homeless, and others in need. Volunteers generally serve 2.5 hour shifts in one of Second Harvest’s numerous operations, including food pick-up and delivery, food preparation, packaging of food for distribution, food drives, food distribution, and various office activities. Specifics of upcoming volunteer activities can be found on their event calendar.

YouMeWe

YouMeWe is a non-profit organization located in Tokyo with over ten years of experience establishing supportive connections with local children's homes (orphanages). Their goal is to assist children who are growing up in institutionalized families in becoming completely capable and financially self-sufficient young people as they approach the age of 18 and prepare to leave the home - whether for university, technical school, or a new career.

Other Resources

Here are some links to other resources where you can find details on volunteering in Tokyo.

・ Tokyo Volunteer Action Network: Promotes volunteerism in Tokyo and works with a variety of local community organizations to establish volunteer opportunities.
・ Amnesty International Japan: The local affiliate for Amnesty International that works to promote and protect human rights.
・ Shine on Kids: Shine on Kids supports children with cancer / other serious illness in Japan and their families.
・ CWAJ: College Women’s Association of Japan is based in Tokyo, they are an organnization of multinational women who are interested in cultural exchange, education and friendship.
・ The English Life Line (TELL): (TELL) Offers volunteer opportunities including working with their 24-hour lifeline and various other events supporting the mission of TELL.