Working at Goen
Over the years, many people from Japan and abroad have stayed at Shimayado Goen and got to know the place through the work of the inn and life on the island.
The work is mostly the steady, unglamorous kind that keeps an inn running each day — cleaning rooms, serving meals, welcoming guests. But within that everyday routine are real encounters, with island people and with travellers.
We accept enquiries and applications year-round. What we can offer varies with the season, the length of stay and how things stand at the time — so the best first step is simply to get in touch.
The work
Helping run Shimayado Goen and everything around it:
- Room cleaning, bed-making, general cleaning
- Serving breakfast and dinner, clearing, simple kitchen help
- Check-in / check-out, looking after guests
- Harbour pick-ups
- Helping at Melody Box
- Other support for the inn and related facilities
Depending on your experience and how long you stay, we might also ask for help with photography and video, social media, English-language guest support, or planning. (Not everyone does everything — we work it out together.)
Conditions
- Pay
- From ¥1,050 per hour (may change with the role, the season and changes in law).
- Hours
- Shifts within 5:00–20:00; roughly 5–7 hours of actual work a day (early mornings only as needed, not every day).
- Length of stay
- Short stays from about two weeks; longer stays welcome too — let's talk.
- Days off
- Around 1–2 days a week, adjusted to your stay and the shift pattern.
- Housing
- ¥100 per day (shared).
- Meals
- ¥300 per day.
Conditions can change (for example with changes in law). We'll confirm the current terms when you apply.
A day, roughly
Shifts follow the rhythm of the inn. You won't work straight through from dawn to night — you come in for the morning, the daytime, or the evening, depending on the day.
- Morning: serve and clear breakfast, check-outs, room cleaning
- Daytime: cleaning, preparing supplies, pick-ups, social media and other assigned tasks
- Evening: check-ins, serve and clear dinner
Just an example — hours and times are worked out with each person.
Living on the island
Housing and meals may vary with room availability and the time of year; we'll explain when you apply. If staff housing is full, we may arrange something different.
For getting around the island, we can usually lend an e-bike or similar (subject to availability).
Who we'd love to hear from
- People with no experience; students
- People thinking about a short stay
- People curious about living on a remote island
- People who like being around others
- People who can do the cleaning and inn work with care
- People who speak English or another language (a plus)
- People good with photos, video or social media (a plus)
- People with a driving licence (a plus — not required)
There's no age limit, and you can apply without a driving licence.
Workaway & international exchange
Goen has also hosted people through Workaway and international exchange. That is separate from paid staff recruitment.
We're open to talking with people coming from abroad. But to work for pay, you need a status of residence that allows legal employment in Japan. We can't give definitive advice on visas, residence status or labour conditions from our side — please ask first.
If you’d like to work at Goen
Once you’ve read the details and conditions above, please apply using the form below. What you enter is used only for your application, screening and contact.
If the form won’t send, you can also email us directly at shimayadogoen@gmail.com (phone: 6:00–20:00).