Labo In-Japan Homestay Program

My Host Family

Labo Party Fun

Labo Winter Camp

Snow activities

Cooking

With my host sister

Winter Camp

An amazing experience

Shrine Visiting

With my host sister

Labo In-Japan Homestay Program 2026 ~ 2027

Late applications maybe accepted

If you cannot make it this year

Important details

Dates: Thursday 10th December 2026 to Tuesday 5th January 2027
Program duration: 26 nights
Location: Proposed – Western Japan
Age: Open to New Zealand students – Year 9 to 13
You must be a NZ citizen or a permanent resident.
If you are a holder of a foreign passport and require a visa to enter Japan, it is your responsibility to apply for an appropriate visa. Visa application fee is not included in the program fee.
Applications close Friday 8th May 2026
Cost: NZD$8,695 (including taxes)

Included in the fees are:

Pre-departure orientation, dinner and overnight at Holiday Inn, Auckland Airport Hotel
Return Flights on Air New Zealand
Accommodation throughout the program including homestay, camp and Tokyo accommodation
All meals
Delegation leader to travel with the group from New Zealand
24/7 support and a structured program arranged by the Labo International Exchange Foundation

Not Included in the fees are:

Travel Insurance – you must arrange and pay for own travel insurance policy – with unlimited medical cover and thorough repatriation cover.
Transports costs between your home and the Auckland Hotel prior to departure and transport home after arriving back to Auckland International Airport.
Personal Spending Money

Conditions

All costs are subject to change without notice due to tariff rises and currency fluctuations until paid in full. *Non refundable deposit per person is required at time of application. Once paid in full cancellation conditions apply. See Ts and Cs for details

*Note: refund in full if the program is cancelled due to insufficient numbers or your application is not accpeted.

Important Dates and Program Timeline

Application status

Late Application will be considered

Deposit

$870 is required to confirm your application. The balance due later in the year.

Info pack I

Sent to you in July

Online group meeting #1

Late August. You will be sent invitations to join

Balance of program fees due

Early September (on invoice)

Info Pack II

Sent to you November

Online group meeting #2

Mid November. You will be sent invitations to join

Host information

Sent to you mid to late November

Stay overnight in Auckland

Thursday 10th December

Departure Day for Japan

Friday 11th December

Stay period in Japan – the land of the rising sun

Friday 11th Dec 2026 ~ Sunday 3rd January 2027

Depart Japan

Monday 4th January 2027

Arrive Auckland International Airport

Tuesday 5th January 2026

Program Key Points

Application and participants
The program is open to any student studying in New Zealand high schools in year 9 to 13.
NOTE: This trip is not a sightseeing tour. It is a genuine cultural immersion experience.
Students will live with a carefully selected Japanese host family, becoming part of everyday life in Japan. Rather than travelling from attraction to attraction, participants will experience authentic community life through shared meals, family routines, and local activities.
The emphasis of this programme is cultural integration, language development, and personal growth.
Teacher Chaperones
A limited number of spaces are available for accompanying adult chaperones depending on the participant numbers.
Meeting in Auckland
Participants will meet at the Auckland Airport Hotel for a pre-departure orientation, dinner and overnight in the hotel. Participants are required to make their own way there.
NZ Departure
The group will transfer to Auckland International Airport, flight check in and depart.
Japan Arrival
The group will fly into Narita International Airport, Tokyo where Labo staff will meet them. As part of the orientation students will stay the night in Tokyo. The following day after the orientation, participants will make their way to their respective homestay locations, which may be anywhere in Japan.
The Homestay
Homestay with a Labo host family. During the homestay an additional 3 nights are spent at the popular Labo Winter Camp. You will experience normal family life in Japan during the school term and also during the winter vacation. The actual experiences you have will differ from family to family and also from region to region. All Labo host families have children in the home and Labo will do its best to match a family with a similar age child and gender as you.
Labo Camp
One of highlights of the trip is spending 3 nights with other Labo members and youth exchange participants from other countries at one of famous Labo camps. (see more on Labo Camp)
Labo Parties
Your host will be a member of a Labo Party which they attend once per week. You will be welcomed and encouraged to join in with the Labo Party activities. The Labo Tutor who heads their particular Labo party will be a familiar face for you on the program and will also be a big part of the Labo support network.
Japan Departure
The group will depart their respective host homes on Sunday 4th January 2026 and meet in Tokyo for a final night before the journey to Narita International Airport for the overnight flight back to Auckland.
Handling and Support
The program is being handled by the Labo Exchange Foundation in Japan and NZ Study Tours, New Zealand.

Labo area staff and local tutors will be in regular contact with participants.

New Zealand Coordinator:
NZ Study Tours
Contact: Mr Stuart Cundy
45 Grange Road, Otumoetai, Tauranga 3110
Mobile 027 294 3144

Japan Coordinator:
Labo International Exchange Foundation
Lucid Square Shinjuku East 2F, 1-3-21 Okubo
www.labo-exchange.com

Labo In-Japan Homestay Program

The trip to Japan was a great life experience. I tried many things that I would never be able to do in New Zealand. The host family was very kind and thoughtful, teaching me Japanese customs and traditions that I will follow and do in New Zealand. I encourage everyone interested in visiting Japan to go to this program and experience life in Japan!

My exchange was fruitful. I was able to experience many traditional and modern aspects of the culture, while living with a totally welcoming family set on improving their English. The memories I made throughout my trip are invaluable, ones that I will hold dear to me for years. The whole Labo organisation and staff was terrific and I would encourage others to participate in the homestay exchange.

Every step of this journey is well planned and you are guided through everything from the first night in Auckland to the flight and meeting your host family. I highly recommend the Labo trip, it is very organised and an amazing opportunity to practice your Japanese, and experience real family life in Japan. Don’t think about it, just do it!!

I encourage anyone to take this trip if they’re willing, because it was the best three weeks of my life. Dare I say it, but I barely missed my family in New Zealand, it was too much fun for me to have time to. My best advice would definitely be to try out everything that’s offered to you. Most of the things I wasn’t too keen on actually turned out to be my favourite things when the trip had ended.

I was able to do many great activities with my host sister and family while in Japan. I visited my host sister’s school, I was lucky enough to go to karaoke twice, so much fun attempting Japanese songs. I walked up a shrine on New Year’s Day, took a trip into Tokyo with my host and we went up Sky Treeto see the beautiful Tokyo night lights. I took many Purikura (photobooth photos) with my host sister and her friends. I was even lucky enough to go and see a Kis-my-Ft2 concert at Yokohama Arena, my host sister is a huge fan. These are only some of the amazing experiences I had in Japan. I feel so incredibly lucky and grateful to be able to have lived them.

Those three weeks in Japan was a best thing ever for me. Firstly, it was my first time to Japan, and I could hardly believe I was in Japan the day we arrived… And I think I was really lucky with my host family. I felt I fitted in the family very well because of our common interests. My homestay family was really nice to me and I truly felt like it was my second home! Secondly, the three days at Daisen camp was really special, The kids were very cute and the activities were really fun and enjoyable. On the last day I received little notes from all the people in my group, it was touching, even now I still love to read those notes now and again. The last day, I got an album from my homestay, it was made by my host sister. There were lots of memorable photos and lovely messages for me. I was cried when I saw it at the airport. It was my best memory ever!! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to have been on this program. Thank you labo!!!!

This trip is an awesome opportunity and experience. You are fully immersed in the Japanese culture, everyday is planned and packed with lot's of new and exciting learning and knowledge, and the hospitality is amazing. It is a trip of a life trip, and I would highly recomend it.