Environmental Educator & Sustainable Tourism Developer in Japan (April to October 2025)

Do you want to spend the summer on a beautiful island in Japan while teaching about environmental issues and supporting an 87-year-old monk in raising funds for the preservation of his historic temple through tourism activities?

You will stay at the temple believed to have been founded by the Buddhist saint Kukai in the year 807. It houses a large number of cultural assets, including three eleven-headed Kannon statues, which have been declared Nationally Important Cultural Properties and are said to have been created by the saint himself.

Due to the aging and declining population in rural Japan, the number of people attending the temple for religious reasons is very small, and most of them are elderly with limited financial means. As a result, the temple generates little revenue, leaving insufficient funds for its maintenance—threatening its cultural heritage.

Although the temple is visited by many domestic and some foreign tourists, the monk needs support in monetizing these visits.

The Project

In collaboration with World Unite! Japan KK, the temple runs a seasonal program from April to October to generate funds. During this time, primarily foreign guests stay in tents in the temple's garden, help with temple preservation, participate in cultural activities on the island (such as attending local festivals), and engage in volunteer work related to sustainable farming, sustainable living, and habitat restoration (including increasing biodiversity on abandoned rice paddies). Many of these activities are carried out together with local schoolchildren and conservation groups. However, the number of program participants is limited, and there are periods when no participants are present.

Your Role

Your responsibilities will cover two main aspects:

• Developing and implementing strategies to increase temple revenue from visitors. There are various potential initiatives, such as guided tours, overnight stays at the temple, and special events. You would be required to be the active part with this - developing these initiatives into "products" and marketing them. You can get support for this from World Unite Japan KK.   
• Serving as an instructor for the seasonal program's activities. This includes defining, planning, and conducting activities related to sustainable farming, sustainable living, and habitat restoration. You will need to provide explanations, share background knowledge, and assist volunteers with fieldwork. This will be conducted in English.

For both aspects, you will collaborate with local partners, including rice farmers, conservation groups, the Buddhist monk, local individuals, the Sado Tourism Office, and organizations such as World Unite! Japan KK. While you will receive an introduction and orientation, you will be expected to work relatively independently.

Compensation

Due to limited funding, this position does not offer a salary. However, you will receive:
Free accommodation
Meals
A monthly stipend of 60,000 JPY
Support with travel costs

If you are passionate about environmental education, sustainable tourism, and cultural heritage preservation, this is a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact while experiencing life on a historic Japanese island!