Work Exchange–Inspired Long-Term Stayat a Traditional Guesthouse Surrounded by Tea Fields | Sky Tea House
- Jiro Sakamoto
- Sep 7, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 31, 2025
Hello. This is Jiro from Sky Tea House, a traditional mountain village guesthouse.
Sky Tea House HP
I once traveled the world for 2000 days, and after many adventures, I finally arrived here in the mountains of Yame. After that, I met my wife Chai, who is from the Philippines, and now we live together with our son Ryunosuke and cat Kojiro.
We run a guesthouse and an organic tea plantation, occasionally help out in the local community and hold events, and I am currently serving as city council members.
The reason for starting this place was to make the villagers and visitors alike feel joy in the interactions they have here. this house is a renovated former tea farmer's home that had been vacant for many years.
in 2017. It was reborn as a guesthouse and has welcomed many visitors from all over Japan and the world, receiving countless media coverage.
It started as a traveller's lodge as backpacker style, but has now evolved into a homestay style.
In addition to regular guests, we also offer arrangements for budget travelers and people who wish to be more deeply involved with Sky Tea House.
These arrangements are similar in spirit to traditional work exchange or flexible helper-style stays, similar to Wwoofing, Helpx, Workaway but are not exactly the same.
Activities You May Be Involved In
Depending on the situation and your interests, activities may include:
Cleaning and basic management of the guesthouse
Work on the organic tea farm (planting, harvesting, processing, depending on the season)
Small local community help, playing with children
House sitting, caring for the cat
Skill-based collaboration (cooking, art, photography/video, social media, writing, language exchange, etc.)
Accommodation & Stay Conditions
Minimum stay: 1 week
Room type: Dormitory room (please note: no windows, as shown in photos)
※ Outside peak seasons, a windowed shared room or a private room may be available
Important Note on Legal Matters
※ Typical work exchange styles for international travelers may violate Japanese law if the visitor does not hold a valid work visa.For this reason, Sky Tea House follows the structure below.
1. First Week / Off-Season Plan
Accommodation fee:¥10,000 per week (50% of our normal long-term rate)
Work:We do not assign or require any work during this period.
Food & shared expenses:¥10,000 per week(includes meals, toilet paper, detergent, electricity, water, gas, etc.)
Total cost to stay per week:¥20,000
What’s included:
Dormitory bed
All meals
Unlimited Yame tea
Wi-Fi
Shared kitchen and facilities
Trial Period (Not a Work Exchange)
Unlike typical work exchange programs, the first week is not a work exchange.
It is a trial period for both sides to see whether our personalities and daily rhythms match.
During this time, we will not ask you to do any work or tasks.
At Sky Tea House, stays are closer to shared living rather than a hotel-style stay.
As part of everyday shared life, guests may voluntarily help with light tasks such as:
tidying common areas,
simple cleaning,
caring for the cat,
or staying at the house when the host is away.
These are part of living together as housemates and are not considered labor or work.
This plan is ideal for people who want to relax in the countryside, focus on recovery, remote work, or artistic activities.We encourage longer stays and meaningful interaction with other visitors.
2. Busy Season Plan (Tea Harvest / Summer, etc.)
※ Only for Japanese citizens or those with a valid work visa(such as a Working Holiday visa)
After staying for one week, and after both sides confirm compatibility and expectations, paid work may be offered by mutual agreement.
This plan is not a work exchange, but a proposal for short-term paid work. Depending on the situation, it may feel similar to a work exchange in practice, but it is never a condition or assumption.
Stay costs
Accommodation, food, and shared expenses are generally the same as in the first-week plan.
Example tasks
Tea harvesting and processing
Daily support related to guesthouse operations
Those with special skills — such as web design, creative work, cooking, carpentry, art, massage, etc. — may receive preferential consideration depending on their contribution.
Wages
Wages are discussed individually based on:
task content,
experience,
and skills.
※ The minimum wage in Fukuoka Prefecture is ¥1,057 per hour (effective from November 16, 2025).
In periods of extreme busyness, and only with prior agreement, this paid-work plan may be offered from the beginning.
Heating Fee (Winter)
During colder months, a heating fee of ¥500 per day is charged.If heating is not needed in your room, it can be turned off.
Access
There is no public transportation to Sky Tea House.We will pick you up upon arrival — please let us know your arrival time in advance.
A fuel fee of ¥1,000 one way is charged for pickup from the Kurogi bus stop.This fee may be waived if you can adjust your arrival time to match school pickup schedules for our child.
Contact
📩Phone: +81-90-7263-5544Email: skyteahouse@gmail.com
Jiro Sakamoto
Sky Tea House
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