@gyuujuice: WWOOF isn't something you apply for, like JET or something. You just pay the membership fee (5500 yen) and then contact hosts about positions. The only concern you might have is trying to do it on a tourist visa - I think someone mentioned they had probs with this in the past, because WWOOF is considered work, even though it's unpaid...? No worries for those of us who can get working holiday visas, but the US don't have a working holiday arrangement with Japan, do they? Either way, I guess if you just don't say you'll be WWOOFing, there shouldn't be a prob.

I'm planning on doing some working holiday WWOOFing later this year and next year. Found out about the program from some Japanese WWOOFers over here last year (met them while fruit picking in the western districts on NSW - they were doing it for meals and accom, my friends and I were doing it for the cherries ). They were absolutely  loving it. So glad to hear from Babyrat that there are good hosts in Japan, too

I guess you can look at it this way: most jobs pay you cash, which you use to pay rent and buy food. WWOOF just cuts out the middle step. Overly simplistic? Yep. But that's how a lot of volunteering/voluntourism works.

... uh, yeah. I'm referring to why the Japanese government would look upon it as a job. I'm not suggesting that I would consider it a job. I would expect significant monetary compensation for 'work', but obviously wouldn't for volunteer positions. Also, I did concede that it was an overly simplistic example.

Volunteering is about what you get out of it, but not in a tangible sense. New skills, meeting new people (be it contacts for future professions, or friends), seeing new places, memories to tell the grandkiddies when you get old, etc. Wow, starting to sound like a Hallmark card, ugh. Even at what looks like a purely altruistic level, you're still getting the warm and fuzzy feeling of helping others.

Well, there you go, no worries then, hey?

Could've sworn someone (here or another messageboard or on a blog somewhere) said they got detained at immigration when they tried to go WWOOFing on a tourist visa... I think the suggestion was that they should have been let through, but someone misinterpreted the law or somesuch. I've done way too much research for this working holiday, though, so I can't keep track of who said what where... Also, being doped on Codral isn't helping - I'm surprised that I'm even coherent.

EDIT: Just read your edit - I'm pretty sure that was the case: immigration officials didn't know the program or how it worked. Also, point 2 of those conditions is doing my head in.

Last edited by auxetoiles (2010 April 12, 9:45 pm)

shadysaint wrote:

Volunteering isn't about what you get out of it.

It absolutely is.  The experience and the chance to help others are what you get.  For some people that is better than money.

I agree totally with this. Nowadays I want to do something I enjoy and love, not something I can get a lot of money out of. But money is important as you need it to survive.