Internship

Obubu's Internship

Obubu’s Japanese Tea Internship

Kyoto Obubu Tea Farms is an agricultural social enterprise. We want to use our tea to contribute to society and spread our passion for tea around the world. We are looking for passionate individuals who love tea and wish to improve their knowledge and understanding of Japanese tea and culture. Our program offers a unique opportunity to connect with people from all over the world, to gain intercultural experiences and build meaningful relationships. 10516472_10203174386673478_1129111352_oFULL SIZE During your time at Obubu you can expect to learn about brewing, preparation and basic tea chemistry. Obubu’s internship offers a unique experience, which allows you to follow the process of traditional tea production from leaf to cup. You will have the opportunity to interact with our Japanese employees, farmers and local community members. You will experience Japanese culture firsthand through events, social interaction, and daily living. We offer an internship with a twist. Daily schedules are dependent on the seasons. A typical day can consist of farming, packing, tea processing, tea tour hosting, or other related activities. You may also contribute your own skills through individual and group tasks and projects. However, within your schedule there will be regular contact with Obubu staff members, which will offer guidance and access to relevant resources. Obubu interns will be expected to be involved in the following*:

  • Tea tours
  • Tea farming
  • Tea packing
  • Community events
  • Social media and publicity
  • Engagement with local media
  • Website content
  • Program management
  • Hospitality for clients and guests
  • Household maintenance

Individuals in the past have contributed through:

  • Tea farming
  • Blogging
  • Photography
  • Graphic design
  • Filming and video editing
  • Web design and management
  • Translation
  • Community outreach
  • Event management

We’re looking for individuals who are prepared to immerse themselves within a different culture, with cultural awareness and an open mind. Fluency in English is a requirement and conversational Japanese would be preferred for the internship. You must have patience when faced with language barriers as well as living in a peaceful, farming town.

Internship Duration and Application Deadline

The duration of the internship program is 83-88 days (~3 months). In most countries, foreigners are allowed to stay in Japan for up to 90 days on a “Temporary Visitor Visa” without any additional application or paperwork. For more information, please contact your local Japanese Consulate General. Also, please only apply if you can come by the start date, have no special plans during the weekdays from 9:00 to 18:00, and can stay until the end of the internship. You are expected to check in at your accommodation in Wazuka one day before the Program Start Date before 5 p.m. The first day of the internship will start with an orientation at 9 a.m.

Internship 2024 Schedule (Dates subject to change)

SlotExpected Arrival DateProgram Start DateProgram End DateApplication Deadline
324/04/202425/04/202418/07/2024Closed
406/06/202407/06/202402/09/202413/03/2024
518/07/202419/07/202414/10/202415/04/2024
602/09/202403/09/202428/11/202410/06/2024

Applicants that pass application review will be invited for a Skype interview after the application deadline. You can expect to know the result within a month after the application deadline.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement to have travel insurance upon arrival. We advise you to look into options independently, to find the level of insurance that suits you. You must be covered for the duration of your stay.

What you need to bring

PC (required to work on a project), Farming clothes, Raingear and waterproof boots, Towels, Personal belongings * Please note that you will be required to bring a PC to work on a project and make sure that it has enough capacity since we use several cloud services (goodle calender, google drive, Asana etc.) for schedule management and project management.

Accommodation 

The provided accommodation has common spaces, a shared kitchen, and bedrooms. Tatami mats with futon, mattresses, bedding and linen are provided in each bedroom. You will either be living in a single or double room and must be prepared to share with another Obubu intern. The house has two toilets and a bathroom to be shared with all residents.

Cost

  • Rent will be 30,000JPY per month
  • The rent for 3months(90,000 JPY) must be paid via Card Payment as a program cost before arrival.
  • The rent will also include rice and basic condiments.
  • There are two small grocery stores in the town, a short walk away. Food can range from 3000JPY – 7000JPY per week depending on your diet
  • Travel to and from Nara, Osaka, and Kyoto (the Kansai Region) will range from about 2000JPY – 3500JPY

For a more detailed guide to our Internship Program check out our Obubu Intern Handbook ! If you want to know more about day to day activities, check out our blog “Five Types Of Activities At Obubu For Interns”! If you want to know our previous interns experiences please watch Amazing Tea Internship In Japan and visit Previous Interns Page!     If you are interested in joining us, please fill the application form below:

Application Form

DISCLAIMER: Living and working in the small town of Wazuka may be very different than what you are used to. If you do not speak Japanese, there will be language barriers that require patience and understanding. If you wish to work in the fields, you must be physically capable and understand that the conditions can be less than comfortable (hot and humid weather in the summer, heavy machinery, wildlife etc.) By completing this application you are acknowledging these factors in the experience and confirming that you are fit and able for the job.

Application Form

Learn more about intern’s projects and work: