A Summer Like No Other: Applications Open for 'Traveling Volunteer 2026 Summer' – Free Travel for Under-25s

The Nippon Foundation Volunteer Center (hereinafter 'Nippon Foundation Volunteer Center,' Minato Ward, Tokyo, Chairman Yasushi Yamawaki) has launched recruitment for 'Traveling Volunteer 2026 Summer,' a project enabling young people to gain new experiences, connections, and learning through travel and volunteering. 'Traveling Volunteer (Tabi-Vo)' is a program created with the vision of 'Expanding the world for every young person.' Participants join peers from across Japan on a 3-night, 4-day trip, engaging in volunteer activities and exchanges within local communities. Open exclusively to those aged 25 and under, the program covers all travel expenses. This year’s destinations are 'Wakkanai, Hokkaido' and 'Yoron Island, Kagoshima Prefecture.' In northern Japan, support someone running a marathon. In southern Japan, help protect the blue sea. Over four days, participants will meet new friends, engage with local challenges, hear the stories of people sustaining these communities, and discover new values and charms rarely encountered in daily life. Applications are open until Friday, July 17, at 17:00, via the dedicated 'Traveling Volunteer' website (https://tabi-vo.jp). \ Key Features of This Program! / ★ Travel free of charge—fully supported to empower young people’s challenges! ★ Choose between two destinations: Wakkanai, Hokkaido, or Yoron Island, Kagoshima! ★ The 3-night, 4-day itinerary includes free time—perfect for independent sightseeing! ★ Meeting new friends and experiencing unfamiliar places will expand your personal and global possibilities! \ Recommended for You If… / ★ You haven’t decided your summer plans yet ★ You want to travel somewhere you’ve never been ★ You’d like to meet people you wouldn’t normally encounter ★ You’re eager to try something new Details and Pre-Registration Here 'Traveling Volunteer 2026 Summer' Overview [Hokkaido / Wakkanai] September 4 (Fri) – 7 (Mon) A journey to Japan’s northernmost tip, embracing the sea, wind, and peace. (Meeting and departure at Haneda Airport) Peace, community revitalization, sports volunteering Support operations for the 9th Japan’s Northernmost Wakkanai Peace Marathon 2026, learn about Wakkanai’s history and culture Support participants in the marathon alongside peers from across Japan, get to know local residents, and through shared conversations, broaden your worldview. By the end of the trip, you’ll have met people you want to see again and discovered a new version of yourself ready to take on challenges. https://tabi-vo.jp/pdf/report_wakkanai.pdf [Kagoshima Prefecture / Yoron Island] September 2 (Wed) – 5 (Sat) A journey to protect an island paradise living in harmony with the sea. (Meeting and departure at Itami Airport) Island revitalization, clean oceans, cooperation Beach cleanups, agricultural assistance, learning about remote island culture Through activities that protect the island’s pristine sea—beyond typical tourism—you’ll experience island life, culture, and interactions with locals, encountering unfamiliar values and ways of life. Supporting others through new connections and local challenges will spark personal growth and broaden your horizons. https://tabi-vo.jp/pdf/report_yoronjima.pdf Participation Fee: Free (round-trip transportation to/from meeting/dismissal points is at your own expense) Eligibility: Aged 25 or under Number of Participants: 10 per destination (selection process applies) Application Deadline: Until 17:00, Friday, July 17 How to Apply: Applications accepted via the 'Traveling Volunteer' dedicated website https://tabi-vo.jp/ Organizer: The Nippon Foundation Volunteer Center (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) Participant Voices Various young people have participated in past 'Traveling Volunteer' programs: ・High school students (18 years and older) ・Junior college students ・Vocational school students ・University and graduate students ・Working professionals ・Individuals on gap years Q. What motivated you to join? ・I wanted to challenge myself with something new ・I wanted to go on a trip ・I wanted to make new friends ・I wanted to see a beautiful ocean Q. How was the Traveling Volunteer experience? ・Everything—the itinerary and the people—was absolutely amazing ・Spending time with new friends in a new place became an irreplaceable treasure for me ・I grew as a person and broadened my perspective and values Q. What would you tell future participants? ・It’s fun, of course, but you’ll gain experiences you can’t get on regular trips or in classrooms! ・It was incredibly fun! I never expected to become so close with ten strangers so quickly. ・I realized Japan still holds so many charms I didn’t know about ・The low cost made it accessible, and I experienced things I couldn’t have on my own ■ About Traveling Volunteer Launched in summer 2022 with the mission of 'Expanding the world for every young person,' this project offers 3-night, 4-day trips where participants enjoy local nature and cuisine while engaging in volunteer activities along the way. Open exclusively to those aged 25 and under, the program welcomes not only students but also working adults. Participants from diverse backgrounds and regions work alongside local farmers, support festivals and events, and interact with community members, discovering new versions of themselves and new perspectives on the world. To date, six recruitment rounds have been held, with programs conducted in Wakkanai, Hokkaido; Yoron Island, Kagoshima; Kumejima, Okinawa; Yamakoshi, Niigata; and Karuizawa, Nagano. Trip reports and participant testimonials are available on the dedicated website. https://tabi-vo.jp/#archives ■ Recruitment History: Six rounds since launch in 2022 ・1st Round (September 2022): Wakkanai, Hokkaido / Yoron Island, Kagoshima ・2nd Round (February–March 2023): Kumejima, Okinawa / Yamakoshi, Niigata ・3rd Round (September 2023): Wakkanai, Hokkaido / Yoron Island, Kagoshima / Karuizawa, Nagano ・4th Round (February–March 2024): Amami-Oshima, Kagoshima / Kumejima, Okinawa ・5th Round (February 2025): Yoron Island, Kagoshima / Kumejima, Okinawa ・6th Round (September 2025): Wakkanai, Hokkaido / Yoron Island, Kagoshima ■ Overview of The Nippon Foundation Volunteer Center (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) The Nippon Foundation Volunteer Center was established in 2010 as the NPO Japan Student Volunteer Center, initiating support for student volunteer activities. By March 2022, it had dispatched over 12,000 students to disaster-affected areas following the Great East Japan Earthquake. In 2021, it changed its name to 'The Nippon Foundation Volunteer Center' (Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) and expanded its mission to serve broader age groups beyond students. The organization has contributed to volunteer training programs for the Tokyo 2020 Games, large-scale events like the World Athletics Championships, and supports volunteer groups nationwide. It has established collaboration agreements with 120 universities across Japan. Its volunteer platform website 'Bokatsu!' has attracted approximately 550,000 registered users within five years of launch.