Hospitality & Tourism Internship in Japan
Become a valued member of one of the world’s top ten hospitality industries and embark on a transformative journey to enhance your career in the realm of hospitality, all within the enchanting backdrop of an exotic destination.
Immerse yourself in the renowned hospitality brand of Japan, renowned for its excellence in the industry, and unlock the ultimate training experience tailored to your professional aspirations. This exceptional opportunity will not only refine your existing skills, but also equip you with new knowledge and hands-on expertise. Prepare to be inspired and guided by the industry’s finest experts, as their wisdom becomes the catalyst for your extraordinary success.
Join our Immersion Internship in Japan!
Join our hospitality and tourism internship in Japan for foreigners and international students! Regardless of the role bestowed upon you during this internship, rest assured that you will seize a lifelong opportunity for personal and professional growth. As you navigate this transformative experience, you will leave an indelible mark on your career trajectory, armed with unforgettable memories and a profound sense of accomplishment. With these invaluable assets, you will undoubtedly stand out wherever your future endeavors may lead you.
Location: Nagoya, Japan
Duration: Join from 1 week
Starting Dates 2024:
June 3rd, June 10th, June 17th, June 24th, July 3rd, July 8th, July 15th, July 22nd, July 29th, August 5th, August 12th, August 19th, August 26th, September 2nd, September 9th, September 23rd, September 30th, October 7th, October 14th, October 21st, October 28th
Welcome to Japan
Your time in the Nagano Prefecture of Japan will be spent in a small village, amid spectacular mountains, with just about 800 residents. Otaki is a wonderland of nature that hosts many guests, especially during the winter months when there is a nice coat of snow on Mt. Ontake. Japan’s second highest volcano not only is home to a ski resort, but also attracts many spiritual groups and forms of Buddhism. Mt. Ontake is surrounded by an array of different shrines and sacred places and a popular destination for pilgrims.
Your Arrival
Get ready for a warm welcome to Japan! Your program begins the moment you arrive, with our pick-up at Shinjuku Bus Terminal in Tokyo on Sunday. To ensure a smooth transition, we’ll provide you with all the necessary arrival and contact details when you book your program. The local team will be waiting for you, ready to transfer you to your accommodation.
The Cultural Introduction
To kickstart this journey, you will start with an Orientation. This will immerse you in the local culture and customs, where interns will have the opportunity to learn about the vibrant local culture, language, and customs.
During your first day, you will embark on an immersive journey that will shape your experience and set the stage for success. Allow us to guide you through an enlightening introduction to our comprehensive program, ensuring that you are well-prepared to embrace the unique opportunities that lie ahead.
Embrace this transformative phase of your journey, where knowledge meets cultural immersion, and seize the opportunity to lay a strong foundation for your upcoming internship. Together, we will pave the way for your remarkable growth and empower you to excel in the captivating realm of hospitality.
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.
Schedule
Introduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice and handling of documents.
Japanese Do’s and Don’ts, Japanese Culture Lessons and Japanese Language Lessons.
Tour around the compound and local area; where to find local shops, and arrange a sim-card if necessary.
Lunch
Introduction to the Project, Project site and start participating on the project
Your Accommodation
Your accommodation is included in your package from Sunday night until Saturday morning of your last week, so you can rest assured that you’ll have a comfortable place to call home throughout your journey.
You’ll be staying in shared rooms with other participants, giving you the perfect opportunity to make lifelong friends from around the globe. You’ll be accommodated in single-gender dorm-style rooms, ensuring maximum comfort and privacy.
But that’s not all – we’ve got your meals covered too! You’ll enjoy three delicious meals per day from Monday to Friday, and two meals per day on weekends.
While in Otaki Town, Nagano Prefecture, you will be staying in local accommodation.
Weekdays you will enjoy three meals a day (breakfast, lunch and dinner) and two on weekends, during your stay. Meals will be local cuisine and you can expect that they will include rice and vegetables.
The village of Otaki features an ATM, two convenience stores and a post office. These may not be in walking distance from your accommodation, but you’ll have the chance to stop by there several times during the week.
Besides your program you will join some cultural or outdoor activities every day. These depend on the season and local circumstances.
Some examples:
Visit typical local neighborhood house
Learn about Japanese bathing culture and how Japanese shower
Visit a natural hot spring
Take a traditional bath over a fire
Learn about local plants and flowers
Go to the river and cool down
Learn how to make origami
Join a Matcha tea ceremony
Trek up a hill to a viewpoint. Spot animal traces on the way.
Dye textiles with natural colors
Go to Otaki’s convenience store and ATM
Climb up to a sacred shrine above Otaki
Trek on the pilgrims trail leading up into the mountains
Join a traditional purification ceremony under a sacred waterfall ※add pay money
Make Japanese paper
Practice Kendo (Japanese sword fighting)
Sights & Surroundings
Otaki is a nature lover’s paradise with many outdoor activities possible year round. Great place for skiing, snowboarding, hiking, biking and kayaking on the lake. Major points of interest include: Mt. Ontake, Shintaki Waterfall and Tanoharatenen Park.
Your Internship
Hospitality & Tourism Internship in Japan
Help out in a local restaurant, campsite or hotel and organizing empty houses and support a local initiative to develop more sustainable tourism.
Otaki village, about 6 hours from Tokyo, offers an idyllic setting and an abundance of nature. Work with the locals to service Japanese guests, learn about tasks and routines in tourism and lend a hand to a group of locals who try to grow Otaki into a place for learning about sustainability and self- sufficiency.
Otaki village and the surrounding area are a known spot for regional outdoor tourism. For a few weeks in summer and a few weeks in winter, Japanese tourists are flowing in to enjoy hiking, canoeing, camping in summer and a variety of winter sports in the cold time of the year.
In international tourism though, Otaki is still in its early steps.
Some of the villagers have formed a strong initiative, seeking to develop tourism in the area further. One of the leaders of the initiative helped out in Fukushima after the nuclear disaster in 2011 and has since been pursuing a more sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. This has influenced their view on tourism as well, aiming to revive traditional crafts such as making charcoal and recreate traditional housing, to offer tourists not just an outdoor attraction but rather a long-lasting learning experience.
During this internship, you will either help out in a local restaurant, at a campsite, at a local hotel or at another tourism-related facility. Besides taking care of guests, you may be asked to support development projects, often involving light construction work. That way you can learn not only about the daily routine in tourism but also get involved in developing the area, allowing you to learn even more.
In summer most activities will be outdoors and could be some of the following:
Serving guests
Dishwashing
Preparing firewood
Gardening / Farming
Light construction work
In winter you would rather:
Serve guests
Scrap snow
Preparing firewood
Help at a ski resort
Expect about 2-4 hours of work per day. Besides, you will join other participants in Otaki to learn about local culture and explore the surroundings.
Aims & Objectives
Assist the local staff and develop your skills through hands-on activity
Create cultural exchange opportunities through your efforts with the locals
Gain a greater appreciation of natural surroundings
Schedule
Monday to Friday
Breakfast
Perform a variety of tasks related to the internship
Lunch
Cultural or outdoor activities together will all participants in Otaki
Complete additional tasks related to the internship
Dinner
Cultural or outdoor activities together will all participants in Otaki
* This schedule can be changed and/or amended depending on weather conditions, local conditions and unforeseen circumstances.
Internship Price
875 Euro per week
955 US$ per week
What’s included:
– Internship placement
– Guidance, Supervision, and on-the-job training
– Welcome and pick-up at the airport
– Accommodation
– Introduction & orientation
– Meals
– 24-hour local support
Not included:
visa, flight, travel insurance, vaccinations, criminal background check, return trip to the airport, 5% international banking fee
Requirements to join:
– Participants need to be minimum 18 years old
– Provide your CV, motivation letter, and qualifications
– An established background in an affiliated field of study
– Participants are required to provide a criminal background check (if unable to obtain a criminal background check, you can provide two character reference letters instead)
– Participants are required to have their own travel insurance
– You need to be able to speak and understand English