Most of our activities are not farm work but cooking at the cafe.
Volunteers work as chefs and staff at the restaurant.
We look at the ingredients in the kitchen and freely cook whatever we like.
Depending on the season, we also do activities other than cooking, such as:
- Helping out at nearby small-scale organic/pesticide-free farms
- Responding to requests and concerns from local residents
- Cleaning, carpentry, laundry, etc., to make the space comfortable for everyone
Table of Contents
Daily Schedule
Harappa Cafe is open for both lunch and dinner, and our volunteer team works together to make each service run smoothly.
We usually divide into lunch and dinner shifts.
Shifts are decided through discussion and written on the schedule board in the kitchen.
While there’s no fixed schedule we have a maximum of three staff per each dinner shift.
But please feel welcome to switch your shifts day by day.
Each shift typically has 3 to 6 staff members. If it’s a busy day with lots of guests or a large group reservation, we may gently ask for a hand from those on the other shift.
Morning (Lunch Shift)
7:45
The owner unlocks the cafe and opens up the space for the day.9:00
Lunch shift staff begin their work. If you’re having breakfast, please finish by this time.
Please wash, dry, and put away any dishes or utensils you used for breakfast.
We start with cleaning—kitchen, dining area, floors, and restrooms—and refill water and tea pots for customers if empty.9:30
Time to start cooking!
Once dishes are ready, place them on the buffet table for serving.
If there are leftovers from the previous day that can be reused, feel free to get creative and give them a new twist.11:50
The cafe opens—even if not everything is fully ready.
Some regular guests sometimes drop by early and enjoy what’s already out.14:00
We close for lunch service.
Now it’s our turn to enjoy a meal together in the dining area.
If the food sells out, we might need to cook our own meals.
(If seats are free, we may be able to start eating before closing.)
After eating, we clean up as a team—washing dishes, wiping tables, and tidying counters and stovetops.
Leftovers that can be served again at dinner are transferred to fresh plates and arranged nicely.15:00
Work for the lunch shift ends. Take some well-earned rest!
Evening (Dinner Shift)
16:00
Dinner shift staff begin their shift.
We start with cleaning the kitchen and dining area, plus refilling water and tea as needed.
Then it’s time to cook!
Dishes go on the buffet table as they’re ready.
Take a look at any leftovers from lunch or the day before—feel free to remake them into something delicious.18:00
The cafe opens for dinner—even if the food isn’t all out yet.
As with lunch, some regulars might come early and enjoy what’s already available.20:00
Dinner service ends.
Time for the dinner team to sit down and enjoy their meal.
If the food sells out, we might need to cook our own meals.
(We may be able to start eating a little early if seats are free.)
After the meal, we clean up—dishes, tables, counters, and stovetops.
Leftovers are stored in containers, labeled with the date and the cook’s name (if known), and placed in the fridge.21:00
Work ends for the day.
On some evenings, we like to relax together—chatting, playing card games, or sharing stories.
Just please be aware of noise levels—the second floor is a private residence.22:30
The owner locks up the cafe.
If you’d like to keep chatting after this time, feel free to move to the music room in the house.
(You can read more about the music room on the About Your Stay page.)
Greeting Guests
When guests arrive or leave, we kindly greet them with a warm “Welcome!” or “Thank you!”
English is perfectly fine, but if you’d like to try saying it in Japanese (“Irasshaimase!” or “Arigatou gozaimashita!”), our regulars always appreciate the effort.
Meals Outside of Shift Hours
You’re welcome to enjoy the meals prepared during the day—or leftovers from the previous day—outside of your shift.
If you’d like to eat dishes that were served during service, please wait until:
- 1 PM for lunch items
- 7 PM for dinner items
This helps ensure we don’t run short for guests!
Days Off
While WWOOF guidelines suggest one day off per week, we offer two days off here at Harappa Cafe—Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when the cafe is normally closed.
We’re able to offer this extra rest because we gently ask for your support outside of shift hours in small ways, such as:
- Helping out with post-meal cleanup after service
- Stepping in during unexpectedly busy times or for large reservations
Birthday Month Party
Every month, we celebrate with a birthday month party on the last Tuesday—even if no one’s birthday is coming up.
Even though Tuesdays are usually days off, we kindly ask each staff member to prepare one dish or dessert for the gathering, which includes community members who are connected to the cafe.
The party starts around 6 PM, so please plan your cooking accordingly.
Participation is completely optional—we just love sharing good food and good vibes!